Thanks, Chuck - lots of information in your last post.
From 11:00 to 3:00 is four steps, or 12dB. The difference between 1.6mV and 5mV (the design target for Seduction) is 10dB. So that's the deal - it's a fairly low output cartridge. Seduction was designed around 5mV cartridges, with an acceptable range of 2.5mV to 10mV. You can reduce the gain on the CD channel with larger resistors as described in the Foreplay III manual, and even increase the gain on the Seduction channel with a smaller resistor, as small as 15K will work.
The Seduction will not be entirely without hum when used with such a low output cartridge, but if I read between the lines correctly (it's always hard to interpret subjective observations!) there may be some other source of hum. See below. I don't think it should be as bad as you describe. Trying the older Foreplay might tell you something useful, so please report what you hear when you try that.
You said "Unplugged CD player from Foreplay and all is quiet. " - does that mean the phono operation is quieter with the CD disconnected? That strikes me as odd; such a situation would suggest there is a ground current problem with the CD player but the Foreplay III switches the grounds as well as the signal lines, specifically to break such potential ground current loops so it should not be the happening that way. If the CD player has a reversible power plug, try it both ways in the power strip or wall socket - that might tell us something useful. In some situations it helps to route all power cords close together (minimizing the loop area enclosed by the power cord ground or neutral wires). Hum is a shape-shifter, sometimes very hard to track down!
Dan (Doc B) will have to answer about shows; we have done more as part of the Tape Project than as Bottlehead lately, but have never been into shows or advertising or reviews.
If the Paramours produce enough power, and are low enough in hum, with your speakers, then I'd go for the Magnequest upgrade iron. The Paramount stock iron is pretty good if I do say so myself, but I still feel the Magnequest has the edge. If you want a bit more power (Paramount 300B is 8 watts) or a bit less amplifier hum (Paramount has DC filament supplies) that would be the way to go. The direct coupling in the 2A3 Paramount has an advantage comparable (in my opinion, YMMV) to the advantage of Magnequest iron. Of course, Paramount with Magnequest iron would be the best - but that's not the question you asked!
