Mcintosh MA9000 Phono Stage

The internal phono stage is good not great. 
 

if you are looking to improve your system- I would start with phono stage then consider  a cartridge  upgrade then upgrading your table. 
 

 Consider contacting the folks at VPI for their thoughts as well if you like your table. 

There is no benefit per se to having an outboard phono stage. What I mean is that the phono section in your Mac should be judged for what it is, not for whether it is outboard or onboard. I have no idea of the performance of the phono section of your Mac or how it stacks up to other candidates, but having the phono and linestages on the same chassis does have the advantage that you do not have the signal traversing an output connection, an interconnect, and an input connection, in order to get from the phono to the linestage. These links in the chain inevitably degrade performance, no matter how miniscule that effect may be. Moreover, when designers have to create a stand alone phono stage, they have to include an output circuit to properly drive the downstream linestage. When the phono and line stages are on the same chassis, the connection can be vastly simplified by a good engineer. This potentially confers another sonic advantage to an all in one unit. So, think twice before you leap. Or maybe consider stepping up to a better full function preamplifier.

@lewm I agree with your statements and the internal phono stage is good not great. And I'm suggesting it will quickly become the weakest point in the chain for vinyl.