my bad, i said the wrong thing at the top of the page, but if you look at #15, which is about where you came in the conversation by the way, i clearly say the correst ratings. 3000max, 1700rms. so, a misunderstanding on both our parts. but, back to the topic at hand. i don't really turn my stereo volume more than half way. i believe i have it set correctly. it's a pioneer deh-p6800mp.
gain at 1/3 means absolutely nothing. and it could be anything. you playing clipped songs, clipping your headunit by using some setting on it, volume too high, voltage drop leads to clipping as well.