Phono Stage, How much do I need to spend, New or used.

Hello,
I have a great recommendation for the VPI and your cart. Sutherland KC Vibe. $899 for a really nice preamp.
https://sutherlandengineering.com/products/kc-vibe/
 I have the Mani also. It is nice on a cheap cart. But on a VPI with a nice cart you need really good equipment. I agree with the Herron but it is up there in price. Also, you have to be careful with tubes. On some systems they can be to mellow. Sutherland handles both types of carts with good selection. I liked 47k and 50db of gain. there are more expensive models. The sweet spot is the 20/20 for $2200 and $400 more for an upgraded power supply 
https://sutherlandengineering.com/products/2020/
I have heard both of these. The KC Vibe was really nice on my $500 TT. If you are in the Chicagoland area I use 
https://holmaudio.com/
I am still deciding which VPI I want and will match it with the 20/20 or the Little LOCO. They have an upgrade program. So I can start with the VPI prime scout and a Sutherland KCVibe and trade up to a VPI prime and a Sutherland 20/20 a year from purchase in case I win the lottery. I hope this helps because I have listened to all of this myself so I am coming from experience. To fill the room upgrade your speakers or your regular preamp. 

iFi Audio iPhono 3 would be my recommendation for a good starting point, for a $grand, new.
if you have more in the pot then anything from Allnic Audio should deliver, assuming you’re not averse to tubes. Haven’t heard the Herron phono that people are recommending but given its following I’m sure it sounds good.

Don’t listen to anyone that says vinyl/phono won’t fill a room, that’s utter nonsense!

+1 for the Herron. I had one for a little while, loved it! It if you want something 

No, it's true. That is why I have to sit in the middle of the room. With CD the music fills the whole room, you can even see it going out the door into the rest of the house. Records however barely fill the sweet spot. As best I can tell there is no sound anywhere else. One of the most closely guarded secrets of analog, but now the cat is out of the bag. 

The musical fidelity lx-lps is a terrific mm/mc phono preamp. Comes with both loading and capacitance plugs. Excellent specs as well. I think it is still avail at $499. Still have mine, even though I moved up to a tavish design tubed phono preamp.