Step-up Transformer, what's lost?

I have the ARC SP-8 preamp with a MM phono section for years. I have gone through many step-up transformers including the last one I had (Counterpoint SA-2 Tubed pre-preamp) which I thought was the best of them all. In my opinion, even the best step-up will deteriate the sound quality to a certain extent. The best sound is the most direct path from your source to your speakers. Anytime you add another piece of component and interconnect you will loose in sound quality. I had the Benz Ruby (0.35mV) and had experimented with or without any step-up. The results have always been better in sound quality without step-ups but without the proper dynamics. I love the SP-8 and don't want to replace it with a MC phono stage which could be very expensive. I have always liked the details coming from MC cartriges and don't want to use a MM catrdge. The problem was just about all MC cartridges are low output. In recent years, there are many very good quality HO MC cartridges coming onto the market. I finally sold the Ruby low output and bought a HO MC cartridge. Now, the sound quality remains and the dynamics is there too. To me, the best step-up should be right at source. Most MC phono stages have built-in step-up transformer as well as tubes to reach the gain they need. Most tubed MM phono stages use only tubes for the gain. I think that makes a difference. Before, we didn't have too many choices but now we have choices of many good quality HO MC cartridge. Good luck.

G_m_c and Sidssp are right. 65 db gain in your phono should have enough gain for your cartridge.

Consttraveler,
I believe you won't be satisfied with step-ups. However, many audiophile use them with satisfaction. I guess it all depends on your expectations. I was not satisfied with step-ups because I knew what the sound quality was supposed to be like without step-ups even though without dynamics. The sound did changed for sure. I never liked SS step-ups. I had tried 4, including the one made by Benz Micro. Tubed step-ups are very difficult to perfect because of different tubes have different sonic characters, trying to get the sound you want to match tubed step-up and your tubed preamp and phono section means endless tube rolling. I did all that and through with it.
Your choices are, if you don't want to change cartridge, to try different step-ups. Based on 0.23mV output, your phono must already be a high gain phono. Be very careful when you add a step up. Too much gain will really be a bad thing, I have tried that, it sounded aweful. Or, get a phono stage with even high gain. If your phono stage is already high gain, do not use a step-up period.