is this normal?

So I went to set my gain on my amp this morning... I had the volume on the head at the highest level I listen to... (about 23 ) I can not put it any higher I still have stock speakers When setting the gain I had it at 0db and no clipping what so ever? here are the settings I have on my amp now

Deck alpine 9833 (Sub volume is at 15)

Amp Alpine MRD-M500 powering 1 12" type r (dual 4ohm)

Low pass @ 71hz

Subsonic @ 15 hz

param eq @ 50 hz width 3 and level 12

Bass Comp on

I have put the gain back to -8 as I dont feel safe running with it all the way up... But shouldnt the over indicator be flashing like mad?? Or is it because the volume on the deck is not up high enough?

Oh yeah on a side not I took you guys advise and built a new box 1.25 cubes... It sounds awesome THANKS!!!

The EQ is too high in my opinion.  Turn it off or keep it to a very low level if you want a tiny bump around 50hz.  I know this doesn't answer your question, but it should help improve your sq.

The stock speakers will play well past the head unit's clean power, so if you started getting crappy sound after level 23, then you found the max clean output of the head unit.  I wouldn't use the base comp control at all, you can adjust bass response with your deck's sub volume.  It shouldn't hurt anything to keep the amp gain at a less sensitive level, but I would suggest trying to set the gain to match the HU output.  Listen to the bass response and stop when you hear the sub starting to sound forced.  Turn back a hair at that point.  When you are at the proper gain setting, a hair means just that, a hair.  I've noticed using a meter that when you are at that point in setting the gain, the slightest movement makes a lot more or a lot less voltage.  I would just insert the phillips head screwdriver into the screw (on my 4-channel), with the meter connected, and see the voltage jump.  The gain seems to adjust on a curve.. gradual at first, then very touchy when you are at the right setting.

Then, turn back your sub level control on the head unit.  It should be at 0 when you are playing heavily-recorded bass CDs, like Bass Mechanik and most new hip-hop, and then you can adjust it up when you have other music playing.  If the bass response is still too loud with the bass-heavy music with the sub control at 0, then you could touch the amp gain down a bit.

I will try that with a volt meter... As far as the gain its fully digital and increases by 1db... it goes from -24 to 0 db

I know this is probably going to be hard to explain... but how do I know when the sub is distorting... Caus honestly when I had the gain @ 0 db it sounded good just way louder I had my ear right beside the sub

Set the gain with your meter, then.  It is hard to hear distortion from a sub at full blast, even standing several yards away.  Going by the amp's rated power in watts at the ohm load you are using (2 ohms, I presume, with that DVC 4 ohm driver), find the voltage by using the formula:  voltage =square root of (power in watts X resistance in ohms), and read the AC volts on the two terminals the sub is connected to.  Unhook one speaker wire so the sub doesn't play while you are setting gain. 

If the amp's RMS power rating is higher than the speaker's RMS rating, use the lower one to set the gain.