I've been really enjoying tunes through grado black -- ATP12T -- Thorens TD124 -- seduction (stock) -- P&G 10K -- paramounts -- JBL 4320/4333a. The ATP12T, Thorens and seduction are on loan from the generous xcortes (thanks, dude). The grado black is not the right cartridge for the ATP12T (to be replaced with one from the Nagaoka line of low compliance MM's), but it is functional for the moment. I find the overall gain of the system interesting. The grado has a nominal output of 5mV (the nagaokas will be more like 3mV). I had been using a pair of 15K:600 MQ B7's after the P&G 10K's and the overall gain was low, so while I re-arranged the passive, I hooked up the seduction directly to the paramounts and JBL's (96dB-ish). I had to work quickly because there was an amazingly clear, 37-foot long harpsichord bearing down on me in the meantime 
. So, with the step-down's now out of the picture, the gain is just right -- the P&G is continuous, not stepped and I think that even with a cartridge with half the output I still wont be able to turn it all the way up. It makes me realize that the seduction + new paramour would also be a really simple, elegant solution. I haven't yet figured out my way forward with the system, since there are still too many great options. Most intriguing would be a bi- tri-amping platform for the 4320 and 4333a versions, respectively, of the JBL's, and adding a pair of S.E.X. amps to the mix, which would be fun to attempt for the active XO, which I've got pretty much figured out on paper (thanks, PJ), and along the way I could compare progress with the ultra-simple S.E.X. amp running the JBL's fullrange. I'll need to get a very short tonearm cable (these look nice http://cgi.ebay.com/SLC-SOLID-SILVER-TONEARM-CABLE-CARDAS-BULLET-1-25m-/270650555650?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item3f0407bd02#ht_894wt_1141) and also very short interconnects (suggestions?), since I am clearly in IC purgatory, at the moment
. So, with the step-down's now out of the picture, the gain is just right -- the P&G is continuous, not stepped and I think that even with a cartridge with half the output I still wont be able to turn it all the way up. It makes me realize that the seduction + new paramour would also be a really simple, elegant solution. I haven't yet figured out my way forward with the system, since there are still too many great options. Most intriguing would be a bi- tri-amping platform for the 4320 and 4333a versions, respectively, of the JBL's, and adding a pair of S.E.X. amps to the mix, which would be fun to attempt for the active XO, which I've got pretty much figured out on paper (thanks, PJ), and along the way I could compare progress with the ultra-simple S.E.X. amp running the JBL's fullrange. I'll need to get a very short tonearm cable (these look nice http://cgi.ebay.com/SLC-SOLID-SILVER-TONEARM-CABLE-CARDAS-BULLET-1-25m-/270650555650?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item3f0407bd02#ht_894wt_1141) and also very short interconnects (suggestions?), since I am clearly in IC purgatory, at the moment 
