Most of the phono pre-amps I have seen have between 35-40 db of gain. If the 2150 has 60 db gain there is no way to get a stronger signal by going to a different pre-amp, unless you spend a lot of $$$. Even then the highest gain I have seen is around 66 db. The input sensitivity of the 2150 is 3.3mv so anything higher than that ought to produce full output. I have heard and read really good things about the Ortofon 2M Red and it will likely be my next cartridge if the Black Pearl dies. The pearl is over 20 years old and still sounds pretty good. Remember something about comparing systems or anything else audio, the louder version always sounds better, so getting a higher output cartridge will likely sound better but might not be better.