a dilemma for cartridge/phono stage combination


the cantilever of my Benz-Micro MC-20E2 "High Output" cartridge was broke.
fixing it will cost more than a new one.
benz offered me what they call  repair/exchange with a nice 40 % discounted price.
i'm thinking to go on it.
my dilemma is between a high output cartridge like mc silver, which is kind of equivalent to the one i had, or to the low/mid output.
i'm working now without external phono stage and with my 2.0 mv that i had i used to raise the volume of my intagreted amp not more than 11-12 clock.
i read that generally low output mc are better quality that the high one's.
another cartridge that i have with 0.4 mv ( monster cable alpha 2) gives me very thin and dull sound, so i guess i will need an phono stage for the low output cartridge.
if it'll give me a real sound improvement i am ready to spend on a phono stage.
i know that benz micro also sell those. 
the models i consider for my budget limit are :
Benz Micro MC Silver
https://artsexcellence.com/benz-micro-mc-silver.html

Benz Micro MC Gold
https://artsexcellence.com/benz-micro-mc-gold.html

Benz Micro ACE-S low
https://artsexcellence.com/benz-micro-ace-s-low.html

Benz Micro ACE-S medium
https://artsexcellence.com/benz-micro-ace-s-medium.html

Benz Micro ACE-S high
https://artsexcellence.com/benz-micro-ace-s-high.html?___store=ae_en&___from_store=ae_nl

my turntable and arm are well tempered.

i'll appreciate very much some guidance .

stone1
i am open to your suggestions.
i'm sure that it isn't the major to buy something.
but it's a bit of temptation to buy from benz since the offer me a big discount.
maybe i should start with the  SUT  and the  phono stage , try the alpha 2 and decide then.
those components can serve me later on for other cartridges.
especially since i am planning sometime to go for a new amplification that mower days come usually without a build in phono stage.
since i didn't have before any of those , i understand that with only sut i connect it to the phono internal stage.
and with both of them i connect to a regular line ( like aux, cd etc.
so you are saying that there is more sound advantages using both of them compare  to only a phono stage?
two questions:
1. those two models ( the sut and phono stage) that you specified are to your opinion the best from that company? since i saw there several other models.
2.if i want to go step by step i understand that you recommand to try first the SUT ?

regarding your cartridge suggestion, one of the things that are very important to me ,more then details, stage etc. is the naturalism of the sound , how much it close to the real instruments and voices.
can't stand cartridge with coloration even if it gives me many other sound advantages.





sorry for asking more.|
it’s because i don’t have experience with those components.
i read that the SUT:
"moving coil step up transformer that raises the low level of a moving coil cartridge up to a moving magnet level. Making your moving coil cartridge compatible with your phono preamp. "
so what is the reason i want to "convert" my MC to a MM?
and so what does the phono preamp?
it’s aloud you to adjust the best loading or impedance for your cartridge, but also to raise gain?
and what is the reason the the SUT MT502 cost 499 $ and the Vp 549 149$?


just to explain my self, i’m not arguing and really appreciate very much your help.
just want to understand what i’m going for and what is the purpose and the tribute of each of the two.
Apparently, your major responder, Robjerman, is under the impression that your current phono section is a type built for "high output" cartridges, most typically a moving magnet type.  However, if I read your own posts correctly, you did have enough gain for your high output MC Benz cartridge that is now broken.  Such "high output moving coil" cartridges typically put out 1-2mV, whereas a typical MM cartridge is more like 4-5mV in output.  Probably the reason your Monster cartridge sounds dull and lifeless is because the gain of your phono stage is not sufficient to bring it to life.  Do you find that your volume control is near to its wide open position, when you listen to the Monster?  If so, then you do lack the gain necessary for a low output MC.  In which case, you need either a SUT or a new phono stage with higher gain, or both if you also want an improvement in overall SQ.  A "Step-UP Transformer" or SUT is a transformer that increases the signal voltage output of a low output cartridge, to make it suitable for driving a low gain phono stage such as yours.  The SUT adds no real "gain" per se, but it converts current to voltage; most low output MC cartridges make a decent amount of current but only very low signal voltage.  Your MM phono stage is voltage-driven, so it benefits from the SUT placed in between the output of the tonearm and the input of the phono stage.  There is more to it, if you want to know more.
@lewm nice clear explanation.
@stone1 read that slowly 5 times, there is a lot of important information in that post.

The model & specs for the phono section built into your integrated would be very helpful(e.g. phono stage gain, line stage gain, loading-maybe 47k ?, capacitance). Until you figure out what would properly feed the phono stage you already own, you would be foolish to simply take @roberjerman 's suggestions and just buy what he likes. However, if you clarify the options to use:
SUT into your phono input
SUT + other phono stage into a line level input
Other phono stage (with X amount of gain) alone into a line level input
then your are in a much better position to decide which cartridge will be a good match.
Perhaps then the specific items suggested or alternatives best be considered; I'm not disagreeing with @roberjoberman's choices, just saying to figure out what you need then choose it. Don't just buy to try without understanding which paths could make sense for your long term plan and budget. 
BTW, no everyone agrees that SUTs are best idea vs. higher gain active phono stages. That's a highly debated whole 'nother conversation.
FWIW, if you do decide to pursue a separate phono stage, a used Benz Lukashek was recently listed. Might be some synergy there to go with a Benz cartridge...just a thought, I don't have a strong opinion on that item. Cheers,
Spencer