Stopping the knock: Lower compression and ported heads...

Read this again.

93 octane? I have 91 here. 2 points does make a difference.
11.5 with a more aggresive cam? Sorta sounds like a wash to me compared to mine.
I was at 11.0 using 91 octane.

So if its a wash...never mind. Good luck. I hope you get this thing dialed in to your liking.