clipping and max rated watts/max volume

The Kappa 9s are the culprit.

Wow! It's quite a testament to the late Professor Leach that his amp can handle those speakers. As I'm sure you're aware, they are widely known as being "amp killers."

Best regards,
-- Al

I thought pre amps were built to max out the average amp right around half way on the dial. This has been my experience, I think. Except for my Oppo BDP95 at 2v out direct to my LSR&D monos with 2.4v in. But I can get the clipping indicators on the amps to flash. Why would that be? Wrong specs?

Just a FWIW in addition to Al's comments- there is no 'standard' to max out the amp around half way on the dial. Amplifier sensitivity varies from 50 db in some rare cases (The Antique Sound Lab Hurricane being an example) to only about 12db as in the case of some SETs!

In addition, "practical" speaker sensitivities vary over a 20 db range. So its a bit of a dance between wild parameters that a preamp designer must contend with- and likely will either design for specialty concepts (for example, only works with low gain amps) or otherwise might ignore the outlier situations of amplifier gain and speaker sensitivity.

Wow IS the word. I mean in reference to the Kappas. The amps output 375 watts at clipping but capable of 600+ watt peaks @8ohms. I would estimate about 110db out of the Kappas. I managed to round up another pair of identical LSR&D monos which are on their way. I have gone through lots of amps and these are the most transparent non-fatiguing amps I've ever heard. The gut-wrenching drive and slam is astonishing. I also have two 125wpch diy versions I've ordered chassis for so I'll have eight channels for my JBL project.