Down to JBA Long Tubes or Kooks -- Decision Time

I'm replacing my entire exhaust system on my 2001 supercharged mustang gt. JBA now makes 304 stainless steel headers same as Kooks. If I go with Kooks I will have to go with a catted x pipe. If I go with JBA's only option is a catted H pipe. I want catted because of the exhaust fumes. That's one reason I'm replacing my system. By the way, I've got JBS shorties on there now. They came with the car. I understand the x pipe makes a tad more high rpm hp, but the H pipe is going to sound better. I prefer the lower rumble to a higher pitched raspy sound of an x pipe. I can get the JBA's for almost 800 bucks cheaper. Anyone running long tube JBA's? I see plenty of people singing the praises of Kooks, but not sure it's just something that's been repeated so often people take it as gospel.

I would really like to hear from anyone with real world experience with catted x pipe vs.catted h pipe. Is there really a discernible performance increase with x pipe, or is it all on paper?