At 0.5 mv output I would think that is normal if the VTL and your amp both have moderate-high gain.
phono stage question
I plugged my Lyra Helikon cartridge into my VTL 5.5 MC stage and the gain was so high I could barely move the volume control. I then plugged into the MM stage of the same preamp and it sounds OK and I have good use of the volume control. Is this OK ? The Helikon is MC cartridge. Is this unusual ?