You may have a sub-sonic frequency peak caused by a cartridge/arm mis-match or set up. This is not heard but you will see the woofer cones pumping and sucking up a lot of watts, perhaps going into clipping which you might well hear in the higher frequency, i.e. distortion.
Assuming your woofers have grill covers, take them off and watch the woofer cone movement when your amp is showing overload.
FWIW.
Assuming your woofers have grill covers, take them off and watch the woofer cone movement when your amp is showing overload.
FWIW.