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
@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
thanks again everyone for trying to help, since i’m a bit lost here.
to emphasize that, i purchased recently , after reading very good reviews, a Pickering XSV 3000 /Stylus D3001E , and was very disappointed from the result.
right now i’m working with an old MM audio technica cartridge i had at home (at11e) . the gain is o.k and sounding reasonable, but i’m not planning to stay with it.
the benz micro i had was 2.0 mv.
i’ll try as much as i know to bring relevant info about my amps.
i have right now two integrated amps.
one is the creek audio 4240 that come originally with line output only, but there was an option to fit a phono MM or MC pcb to replace the aux line level, and i did it.
i think it was kind of a printed card, or something like it.
i don’t know if it was MM or MC , think MM but not sure.
the original amp inputs are " in the reagion of 350 mv’s".
that’s all i know.
the second one, and the one i’m using now since i preferred it a bit in my current circumstances, is a vintage Pioneer SX-880 receiver.
"Input sensitivity: 2.5mV (MM), 150mV (line)".
that all i know about it.
i suppose that some time in the future i’ll buy a better amp.
maybe tube or highbreed, but right now this is my system.









lewm - you are totally right about my situation with the alpha 2.
i have to raise the amp gain almost to maximum and it still not enough .


sbank - unfortunately i don't have any info about the  loading and  capacitance .

If you like your phono preamp rather than replace it I would get a Step Up Transformer (SUT) **if** you decide on a low output cartridge.

The SUT will have to be properly loaded (which is usually a resistor-capacitor combination) depending on the cartridge. Some of the very best SUTs are made by Jensen Transformers. They have loading information for a large variety of cartridges.
The Hana is a very good recommendation BTW.
thank you.
right now i don’t have an external phono preamp and i can’t say if i like the one that build in.
i am on the way to buy a new cartridge .
i had one with 2.0 mv output.
in several places i read that low output mc are generally better in sound then high output .
right now if i’ll buy a low mc it will not work well with my preamp,
so i’m trying to decide what combination will be best for me.
i read that there are some disagreements about what is better SUT or phono stage.
some say that SUT can add some coloration, hum, and you must find a very accurate calibration.
since i didn’t decide yet which cartridge i’ll buy , it can be one of the benz micro, or using my monster alpha 2 that i have at home, i’m a bit confused what to do.
and which sut or phono preamp will be the best match with my cartridge?