Step up device or new cartridge?


I have a Oracle Delphi MK II with an early Graham arm. My cartridge is a Monster Alpha Genesis 1000 with low hours.
I recently bought a BAT VK 30 SE with the $ 500 phono stage.
The trouble is the phono section does not have quite enough
gain for the cartridge.

Should I get a step up device or get a higher output cartridge such as a Benz Micro Glider? Budget does not allow both! Any help would be greatly appreciated.
ck
Huh, I came real close to swapping my Lehmann Black Cube for a BAT phono stage to use with my VK30. I guess I should be glad I didn't go through with the swap. You could sell your BAT phono card and get a higher gain outboard phono stage like the Cube, or...pick up the Benz or perhaps a high-end Grado. The beauty of keeping your current phono stage is it is an add-on to the BAT preamp, reducing clutter and interconnects by having the RIAA/step up internal to the preamp. I'd lean towards updating your cartridge and enjoy the music.
I assume you have switched the card to the hi-gain setting. If so, it depends on how much you like the cart. I do believe that it is a pretty low output mc and would benefit from a step-up device. The advantage of buying one now would be the ability to use any cart in the future. The advantage of going with a new cart is that the Monster is probably pretty old and even with low hours may be nearing the end of its useful life vis-a-vis the suspension.
You're in the situation where you have two counterfactors:
High output compromise in transparency and detail to the low output cartridge and the secondly, step-up transformer brings harmonic distortions to the signal.
A good step-up transformer will cost more than Benz Glider for sure. In most cases you should use the high output for built-in phonos.