Looking for help with a Benz SL low output cartridge

I’ve had a lot of carts and Benz SL (or older L2) are about as easy-peasy as LOMC come. 0.4mV is conveniently high (for a LOMC), and 12 ohm coils are a *little* on the high side for 0.4mV, but still quite reasonable and easygoing. 

You can pair it perfectly with a SUT 10x - 20x and normal MM stage (38 - 46dB). OR you can pair it with any fully active MC stage 60dB - 72dB. Or pair a JFET head-amp or transimpedance step-up again to an MM stage. All of them can sound great with this cartridge (I’ve tried), and it’s really a matter of preference and taste. Also the MM stage can be tubes or SS and sound great either way. 

It’s rather hard to mess up here, given a few simple guidelines / parameters. Now IF later you upgraded to a Benz Ruby / Gullwing / LP, THEN you’re in for a more difficult matching exercise: 0.34 mV with 38 ohm coils makes those carts a tough match for SUTs and transimpedance devices (I was never happy with any SUT match to my LPS). It's the non-magnetic ruby former (instead of iron) of those models that causes this. 

Anyways don’t overcomplicate this (analysis paralysis) and enjoy - I really like that cart model and have kept a couple in my collection. Glider is very similar and also very very good but strips out a touch of the wood’s body / warmth. 

I went from a Sutherland KC Vibe to a Sutherland TZ Vibe.  I’m using it with a Hana ML moving coil cartridge. It sounds really good.  You could speak to Ron Sutherland if you want to verify compatibility. 

https://sutherlandengineering.com/tz-vibe/

so much for me to digest. I currently use a Lamm 2.1 deluxe pre. I don't know the gain. I too, don't think I have enough gain on the KC Vibe. Upscale Audio is who suggested the SUT. Coincidently I have a friend who just listened to a Bob's device and he acknowledged quite an improvement. I am waiting to hear from Ron. I will look into other options mentioned above. Sorry I can't get them all individually.

thanks

The gain on the Lamm is 18db. Add that to the gain on the phono stage!

@dpm2340 

cartridge is 0.4 mV signal, 12 ohm coil, correct?

Gain settings: 40, 45, 50, 55 or 60 dB
Loading: 100, 200, 475, 1k or 47kOhms

have you changed the jumpers inside the unit to:

gain 60 db (max signal boost)

loading 100. (you could also try 200, but start with 100)

after those changes: NOT ENOUGH VOLUME?