I think by default it's set to +18dBFSD just to prevent monitor damage if you accidentally create a feedback loop. It mutes the output rather than "limits"... Edit: if you're hearing limiting, maybe you've something in your interface catching the overs. What are you using? REAPER uses floating-point maths, so won't clip, but fixed-point audio interfaces receiving the audio feed will, unless they have some mechanism to counter it... >