I think it's yet another example of RGB-sRGB confusion. IsmaeL is probably talking about sRGB and you're thinking in RGB terms. 230 sRGB = 203 RGB, so both of you are right :]
Ah, right! Thanks.
That's definitely something I need to read more about...
Are you using the Corona Color Picker, than it is sRGB or better yet, Gamma 2.2 because sRGB is a colorspace and Max does not handle colorspace. But since sRGB has a Gamma of 2.2 and whitepoint of D65 we commonly say sRGB.
If you use the Max default picker than you work in linear space with a Gamma of 1
Corona Color Picker max is 230 maybe 240 for snow
Max Color Picker max is about 210
In fact, the CoronaMtl shader comes with a diffuse color of 180 sRGB with is 119 linear RGB, and that is the standard you use to test exposure. So by default as a reference a CoronaMtl in Override is very dark.