.. A Conundrom....

Your suspicions may be correct regarding the possibility of a higher output cartridge, but obviously I have no clue about that, so I won't bother to address that part of your post. (Good luck with that if you're unfortunately correct!)

However, before giving up, I would change the resisters on the phono card to decrease the gain in the K-1xe. (This will push the volume control higher for your phono section, up closer to the 12 o'clock position that you like.) I don't know if you realize it, but when Ayre did the Evolution upgrade to the K-1x, it actually increased the maximum gain from 60 (as listed in the manual), to 70 db. (In case you are wondering, I got this information directly from Charles Hansen himself via a Audio Asylum post a couple of years ago). It can't hurt, and who knows, maybe it will solve your problem.

Now, with that being said, I recently upgraded my Shelter 90X (0.60 mv output), to a Dynavector XV-1S (0.30 mv output). I tend to listen at pretty realistic sound levels, and with the Shelter, my volume control was typically around the 9:00 position. However, after the change to the Dynavector, I typically run around 10:00 to 10:30. (So, it does sound like you might have a cartridge with 0.60 - 0.80 mv output.)

Good Luck, and hang in there!

Thanks Kurt_tank... Its odd that Ayre didn't change their owners manual. Also, I was speaking about this very issue to Mike W - who is in charge of production at Ayre who didn't mention this to me. I do thank you for that information however, will adjust the resistors, and get back with the results. This is exactly what is so valuable about these discussions. Thanks again Stan

Wow what a difference. It sounds absolutely effortless now, whereas it sounded as though it was shouting before. What a difference!! Thanks Kurt_tank.