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a dilemma for cartridge/phono stage combination

the cantilever of my Benz-Micro MC-20E2 "High Output" cartridge was broke.
fixing it will cost more than a new one.
benz offered me what they call  repair/exchange with a nice 40 % discounted price.
i'm thinking to go on it.
my dilemma is between a high output cartridge like mc silver, which is kind of equivalent to the one i had, or to the low/mid output.
i'm working now without external phono stage and with my 2.0 mv that i had i used to raise the volume of my intagreted amp not more than 11-12 clock.
i read that generally low output mc are better quality that the high one's.
another cartridge that i have with 0.4 mv ( monster cable alpha 2) gives me very thin and dull sound, so i guess i will need an phono stage for the low output cartridge.
if it'll give me a real sound improvement i am ready to spend on a phono stage.
i know that benz micro also sell those. 
the models i consider for my budget limit are :
Benz Micro MC Silver
https://artsexcellence.com/benz-micro-mc-silver.html

Benz Micro MC Gold
https://artsexcellence.com/benz-micro-mc-gold.html

Benz Micro ACE-S low
https://artsexcellence.com/benz-micro-ace-s-low.html

Benz Micro ACE-S medium
https://artsexcellence.com/benz-micro-ace-s-medium.html

Benz Micro ACE-S high
https://artsexcellence.com/benz-micro-ace-s-high.html?___store=ae_en&___from_store=ae_nl

my turntable and arm are well tempered.

i'll appreciate very much some guidance .

stone1
stone1's avatar
stone1 OP
112 posts
 
tried to find out prices of Jensen sut’s.
do you mean one of those?
https://www.cs1.net/products/jensen_transformers/MC-2RR.htm

maybe i don’t understand how it works , but i don’t see there any way to change some factor, like you usually have in a phonostage/ preamp.
let say compare to this one.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1432618-REG/rolls_mt502_moving_coil_matching_transformer.html
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,174 posts
 
in several places i read that low output mc are generally better in sound then high output .
Low output cartridges generally have more bandwidth.
tried to find out prices of Jensen sut’s.do you mean one of those?
https://www.cs1.net/products/jensen_transformers/MC-2RR.htm
I do, but you will have to find a way to load the output of the transformers.

mr_m
1,900 posts
 
I think the OP would benefit greatly if he could  find a local "bricks and mortar" store (dealer} whom is versed at analog TT set-up. They could at least, steer him in the right direction to solve his problem and help him with choices. IMO.
stone1's avatar
stone1 OP
112 posts
 
can you please explain?
   "you will have to find a way to load the output of the transformers."  
stone1's avatar
stone1 OP
112 posts
 
mr_m1 - i believe that my choices are limited to adding a phono preamp/stage , or SUT or both.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
i know that my dilemmas here are not simple for you to give me a clear cut answer, and i apologize for that.
i am also kind of frustrated from the situation and will try to simplify it.
right now i’m thinking of going on a careful side and buy a phono preamp.
try to work with my mc alpha 2 cartridge , or buy a new mc cartridge, if i’ll not like the result of the above.
my system right now can be hardly called high end ,and i’ts kind of something that i’m planning to replace in the future, so i’m trying to match the additional components for a reasonable price, according to that.
i’m trying to find not expansive phono stages, let say something between 100-200 $.
one of the options is the bellari VP130 – Tube Phono Preamp.
other is Cambridge Audio - Azur 551P - MM Phono Preamplifier.
those two are just first examples that i found.
i’ll be glad for recommendations to that direction, and sorry again if i confused you.
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