MC phono stage without transformer?

The thing that puzzles me in all of this is in absolute terms, how much performance can be obtained with a very low-output MC cartridge that requires a step-up transformer and/or a high-gain transformerless phono stage, as compared to a medium-gain MC cartridge that's happy with a wide variety of medium-gain tube phono stages. All things being equal in the phono section, are .1-.3mV MC cartridges inherently superior to .4mv and higher cartridges, more cost-effective, or both?

As an aside, the best medium-gain MC cartridge that I've had in my system is a .5mV Helikon. I'm curious whether a high-gain transformer-less phono stage(with say 70db gain) can achieve similar or greater performance with a relatively inexpensive cartridge with output in the .2-.3mV range.

Dear Plinko, To be truthful, I probably could not afford a new MP1, so some years ago I bought mine used at a rather low price, because it had been badly abused by a series of owners, but it had been originally built with many expensive extras, like an all-Vishay S102 attenuator. I then spent about a year completely rebuilding it back to the latest MP1 spec, with Atma-sphere assistance and with a few twists of my own thrown in in recent years. (Ralph is a really great guy.) I learned a great deal in the process. Nevertheless, I refer back to my first post on this thread: I think a new MP1 or Raul's preamp or the Vacuum State and a few other full function preamps at around the $10k price point are relative bargains, because you do get such high performance and versatility for the buck, at a time when there are some outlandishly priced separate line and phono stages on the market that go way over $10K.

Lew, I would agree. If one wants value, look at the full function preamps. I moved away from separates and bought one myself.

The PS Audio PS II outboard preamp that I bought about 1980 is spec'd (and measured) with RIAA within 0.1 dB. So I guess that's not such a big deal. It uses a passive equalization network.

Hi Viper,
What's left over from my old system is a vacuum tube Supratek preamp with built in phonostage that will drive a MC cartridge with a output voltage as low as 0.2 mv WITH OUT the use of step up devices.

The Chenin model are quite good and would be very difficult to beat, if at all for the used selling price.

Keep an eye out for a used one, stock unit prefered, totally unmodified.
Their web site is still up @ supratek.biz/preamp.htm