Onkyo A-9555 and Benz Ace L: step-up? preamp?

since the onkyo has a pretty capable pre already, a phono pre would be logical.

I'd recommend an SUT only if you know that it will work well with that particular cart. Don't know what your budget is but the ZYX pre-pre is a very good battery operated active gain head amp which works very well with a couple of different phono stages I have tried it with.

Allow me to quote Robert Deutsch's Stereophile review of the Onkyo A-9555 from the Sept. 2007 issue:

Phono
Yes, folks, the A-9555 has a phono section. It's designed to accommodate moving-magnet rather than moving-coil cartridges, and the cartridge in my phono setup is a low-output MC, so I couldn't plug it in directly. However, I still had a Bryston TF-1 step-up transformer that I'd bought many years before, and this combination worked well—in fact, although my intention was to only briefly check the sound quality, I ended up listening to several LPs that I hadn't heard for some time. The sound was well balanced from top to bottom, with a nice "open" quality. Interested in Onkyo's claim that the A-9555's phono section has been designed to optimize high-frequency transient response, I paid particular attention to its reproduction of vocal sibilants, which tend to reveal problems in this area. I heard nothing untoward: the highs were smooth and extended, with no sibilant harshness.

If your phono source consists of a Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn turntable and Clearaudio Goldfinger cartridge, you probably won't be looking at the Onkyo A-9555—but I found the A-9555's phono section far better than is to be expected at the price.

I already had a Cambridge 640P when I bought my A-9555, so I used the 640P as my phono stage from the beginning. But a few days ago I decided to try the Onkyo's built-in phono stage, and I like it better than the 640P. Not only do I now hear more clarity, bass extension, imaging, soundstage, and inner detail, it also doesn't have the midrange glare I had before with the 640P in the signal chain. I find the Onkyo phono stage more compelling to listen through.

Based on that, I'd have to say to either be prepared to get a significantly more expensive MC-capable phono stage like the Dynavector P75 or better, or get an SUT for the Onkyo's phono stage. I'm so smitten by the Onkyo's phono circuit I'd try the SUT route first.

johnnyb53 makes a great point. i would nix the benz for a better high output cartridge, and use the onkyo. no disrespect to the ace, but there are comparable carts for less money.