Do I need a phono preamp?

Cartridge IS the most important.

IF your phono sounds great; IF you can hear differences between cartridges, then I would not even consider changing the phono stage until you change the preamp and/or amp.

I would consider these changes in the future:

1. Turntable with Two Tonearms, (If into Jazz: Mono ready to go, back to Stereo in seconds in a listening session). One arm easy height adjustment and changeable headshell. Other, perhaps longer arm, perhaps fixed cartridge. Consider method of choosing which Tonearm.

2. Low Output MC Cartridge, which means: new SUT to go to existing MM Phono; or New MM/MC Phono Stage with SUT built-in. Have PASS to send MM cartridge thru the SUT/Phono Stage unchanged. Consider MC SUT (internal or external) optional xFactors and optional impedances for future cartridges.

3. Tubes! Thus if new Phono Stage: Tubes, separate, or in tube preamp, or tube integrated with Phono or you go separate tube phono.

4. Speakers: to easily try tubes, high sensitivity/efficient speakers are important. Existing? New?.

Less needed power decreases cost/weight/heat; increases competition in that power category, increases placement options

Phono stages are as important as the turntable / cartridge. Over a period of ten years with a VPI Aries / Van den Hull Frog and originally a A rated (Stereophile) $200 Phonostage (which sounded simply terrible), then the 1980s Audio Research PH2, 2SE, 3…etc until I got to the ARC PH8, each increment brought very important improvements in sound. It was not until the PH8 did I feel as if the phono stage was not significantly holding back my turntable sound quality. At that point the PH8 was about the same cost as the turntable / cartridge.

I have upgraded my vinyl end now to nearly the maxed out Linn LP12 with an Audio Research Reference 3SE. The turntable/cartrige value roughly equals the phonostage. Outstanding phonostage are made by Audio Research, Presto and a couple other companies.

while I have probably heard the Mac phono, I don’t remember it well enough to comment. But typically a separate high quality phonostage makes a big improvement. Someone with more intimate knowledge will have to comment on this particular one.

McIntosh MP100 is excellent. Should work with variety of cartridges. I heard it in my system with Hana EL and Hana ML. Table was MoFi UltraDeck.