Thanks for your thoughts. I am intrerested in the Leviathan to replace my Alpine MRP-F600 and Rockford 400.a4. The Leviathan would give me alot of headroom and dynamics for my needs. I have read about the volume upon start up thing, what else sends the amp into protect? Do you use this amp for long periods of time? has it ever overheated? do you have it mounted flat or sideways? That is the only time I've have the protection problem was on start up. Not to big of a deal as you just turn the amp off for 6 seconds then turn it back on. Amp is mounted flat. I have never had a problem with over heating, my test usually is a 4 hour drive to my cabin up north which I listen to the stereo all the way up the whole time and I have never had a problem with the Leviathan.