I’m probably wrong, but I thought that when in direct or pure direct there was no EQ applied and it was just straight stereo??

I’m also quite curious just what SPL levels you are experiencing when you say it clips. I can’t be in the same room with just the 3808 driving my M80’s. Way too loud. Well over 100 DB.

One other thing to be cautious about, is if you are actually hearing clipping, you’ve already crossed over to a clipping state well before you hear it. I’d stop doing that before you screw up your drivers.