SL-1200GME Turntable

One last question here before I begin looking at vendors, Will I need a specific step up transformer to get the best sound from the Tube phono stage that I have? It's a really early version model and the circuit board inside doesn't appear to have any gain or impedance adjustments whatsoever. just 2 small jumpers to switch between MC or MM

I don't know if a step up transformer is needed for MC , I would think that less is better frankly

In the manual it has

"Gain listed at 60db (MC)"

Signal to noise 70db (MC) 

Thank you

@velocityofhue  - I've got a Technics SL1200G and it pairs great with my Hana Umami Red cart; no stepup transformer needed for my Herron Audio tube phono stage, the volume I set it not much more than it was for my previous Clearaudio MM cart. 

"In the manual it has

"Gain listed at 60db (MC)"

@velocityofhue 

Your phonostage is ready for .5mv LOMC 

 Look at higher performance Audio Technica -ART9 or 20 

Audio Technica - AT-ART9XI Dual MC Phono Cartridge - Music Direct

Audio Technica - AT-ART20 Dual MC Phono Cartridge - Music Direct

Lyra

Lyra - Delos MC Phono Cartridge - Music Direct

Lyra - Delos MC Phono Cartridge - Music Direct

If I spent $7K on a table, I certainly would look at more upscale carts than the AT33 or Nagaoka suggested. Good carts, but you can do much better.

Based on your expenditure, you're not too concerned with "bang for buck/value."

OP,

https://www.vtl.com/products/phono-preamplifiers/tp2-5/

you have 1 MM and two MC gain settings; and several MC impedance settings

this is a chart, two vertical columns, the lines dissapeared

left column is MC, right column is MM

Congratulations on your new GME.  I have the older GAE and from that experience offer the following thoughts.  Your arm is medium mass, stick with the OEM head shell unless the cartridge you settle on has very high mass and very low compliance, in which case you should use a higher mass head shell.  That would be a very unusual choice.  Your GME will work well with the vast majority of cartridges on the market.  It is quite versatile.  You will find that it works quite well and is compatible with both MM and MC cartridges from any of the major manufacturers.  I have used mine successfully with cartridges that retailed ranging from sub $500 to $10,000.  In terms of your question about SUTs, it has been my experience that for low output cartridges, the insertion of a transformer between the cartridge and the phono stage is always serendipidous.  I use the 47 kohm input with an SUT in preference to high gain direct stages, even though I have the option.  That is true both using my solid state and tube phono preamps.   If you really want to dig into the technical arguments for transformers, I believe you might find something by or about the work of John Curl on this subject.