If you plan to upgrade the phono preamp any time soon, I would hold off on the transformers until you have that preamp in hand. The Denon is not so low that you can't run it straight in with many preamps, and if you can do so it will be more transparent, with greater impact and bandwidth.
If you keep your phono section, then it sounds like you may need a transformer. I will second the Jensen transformer vote; they are some of the most neutral we have seen.
If you keep your phono section, then it sounds like you may need a transformer. I will second the Jensen transformer vote; they are some of the most neutral we have seen.