How are we wiring our Mono systems?

Hello.

I'm building a mono system* out of stuff I have laying around:

CJ PV-1 (or H H Scott LK-72 if I can't get the CJ pots unstuck)

Bryston 2B

Harbeth HL Monitors

Thorens TD-165

I see mono cartridges that have 2 pins out and 4 pins out; the 4 pin people (Grado) say just use one pair but shouldn't a single generator moving in just one direction need only two pins? I'm confused...

Ok, after that it's a single RCA cable to the preamp and a single RCA cable to the amp and single speaker cable to the (single) speaker, correct?

Where should I set the Stereo/Mono and Balance knobs? I guess that will depend a bit on the particular  preamp in question of course. Try and see is always a good way to go. Depending on how the preamp is wired it might be possible to use two speakers but isn't that not mono? 1950 hi-fi magazines say as much...

If you enjoy a mono system please share how yours is set up, or was set up if you've taken it apart.

*Please don't come here to poop on mono, or throw your weight around about how smart you are and how dumb everyone else is, it's childish and frankly, boring.

I'm interested in a positive discussion.