I e-mailed Alan Loft on this very subject, i.e. overdriving the ep600 (in my case)to the point of self destruction since I am just learning the limits of this fine piece. I would hate to learn retrospectively how not to set it up. Alan advised me that I could set the gain to the eleven oclock position without fear of damage. That the dsp would limit the output when it sensed distortion.

I have used this setting for several weeks now without sign of damage.

"Never, never, never give up "... Winston Churchill