How are you getting the feeling it is happening at the DSP and not the output?

Technically, I don't know. And I'm not sure that distinction needs to be made, even. Whether it's happening digitally inside the DSP, or analog in the line-level output stage just past the DSP, either way it's clipping when I haven't done anything that should have made it clip.

I am certain that the clipping is not happening in my amplification, speakers, or headphones. It's definitely happening somewhere internal to the player, I went to great pains to be sure.

Can you reproduce this in the home settings by copying the exact configuration to a home EQ setting with a standard kernel?

Haven't gone that far yet. I really hate re-installing the player software because then I have to re-do the replaced graphics for the visuals and also re-install XML interface.

Wait, Mark publishes a raw compiled Beta11 kernel doesn't he? Okay, I'll try that. Should only take a couple minutes to punch everything in...