Recommended phono stage to go with McIntosh

Great advice @avanti1960  and @jsm71 

I tried the phono pre section on the C2200 @russbutton  but even with adjusting the trim I don't get enough gain out of it. Maybe I'm doing something wrong. Manual says phono section for MM carts, that's what's playing. 

@knollbrent   If you're not getting enough gain through your Mac phono preamp, then I suggest you try through at least a couple of other standard phono preamps.  What that will tell you is if your cartridge just has an unusually low output or if your Mac phono preamp is defective in some way.  Questions:

Have you tried to play a different phono cartridge through your Mac phono preamp?

Have you written to the cartridge manufacturer and explained your situation to them?  

Is it possible that you have a defective or otherwise not properly operating cartridge?

Is it possible that the Mac phono stage is not operating properly?  Could there be a bad tube in there?

I'd do more research on this before you conclude that you need a new phono preamp.  I've never heard of a MM cartridge that had such a low output.  Something somewhere is most likely just not operating properly.

Fixed the gain situation @russbutton   Read thru manual again and the Aux input setting needed to be set to phono   It's up and rolling. I'm going to give it a listen and report back! Thanks for chiming in!

One more thing @knollbrent   You can make big changes to how any piece of tube gear sounds by changing out the tubes.  They call it "tube rolling", and that would cost you a LOT less than buying other phono preamps.

The phone section I heard on a vintage Mac C22 is one of the best I've ever heard.  That's a GREAT piece of gear and I'd expect your C2200 to essentially the same circuit, but with modern, and hopefully more quiet and better sounding caps, resistors, etc.

What you already have is the envy of many.  Enjoy!

@russbutton what tubes would you suggest for a great tube roll?