UR-RT4 INPUT CLIPPING

I purchased a Steinberg UR-RT4 not long ago and i can’t get it to work right. I use it only as a preamp unit (i use the direct out of the UR-RT4 to go in the analog input of a Lynx Aurora 16) and all the input seems to clip very easily. Even if i plug a passive pickup guitar directly in the input of the UR-RT4, if i play a little harder on the string, the input clip. I tried to plug the guitar in a active Direct box (with a -15db pad) and then in the preamp of the UR-RT4 and in still clip with the knob at zero. Is there something i can do to get more headroom or is my unit defective or am i using it the wrong way…? Thanks