Hana “E” Moving Coil Cartridges

Description

MY TAKE: The Hana cartridges are quite wonderful and represent outstanding value in the world of high end moving coil cartridges. They offer an exceptionally musical presentation, never becoming dry or anlytical, and yet reveal substantial detail so even hard-core audiophiles will be able to revel in the subtleties of better recordings. - Galen Carol

HANA (華 which means “brilliant and gorgeous” in the original Japanese) phono cartridges use high rigidity aluminum cantilevers, Alnico 9 magnets, and cross-shaped armatures, providing you with brilliant and gorgeous sound.  Hana “EH” and “EL” use elliptical tips.  Hana “SH” and “SL” use nude natural diamond Shibata tips, capable of excellent high frequency response, giving you supreme transparency and excellent trackability.  Hana cartridges are produced by Excel Sound Corporation of Tokyo Japan, a long time OEM cartridge producer.

The magnets structure is made from highly prized Alnico.  Alnico has a justified reputation for “tone”.  When you hear the Hana cartridges, and you are struck by a sublime quality you’ve probably never heard, it’s the Alnico.  Yes, magnets do sound different.  More powerful magnets, like the Platinum magnets used in some hugely expensive cartridges, allow fewer turns of wire, and give a totally different sound.  Neodymium is different from Platinum and Alnico, and they sound different (even allowing a different structure).  They all have a peculiar sound.  The famous Shure V15mk3 used Alnico V, then changing over to different magnets when cobalt became extremely expensive and almost impossible to obtain in the late ’70s.  Alnico is your friend.

The Hana range of cartridges is manufactured by Excel Sound Corporation, a 50 year old company based in Tokyo, who started off manufacturing low cost cartridges, such as the highly regarded Excel ES70. By 1978 the company was producing MC cartridges, with particular expertise in high output MC cartridges and specializing in OEM cartridge manufacture.

Excel Sound Corporation are perhaps seen as one of those slightly underground Japanese companies and they will certainly not reveal which cartridge brands they have manufactured for over the years.

Excel Sound Corporation prides themselves on their manufacturing quality and quality control processes at every stage, ensuring their handmade cartridges offer consistently perfect results.

The high performance Hana S range “SH” and “SL” cartridges use a nude natural diamond Shibata-stylus which the company say is capable of “excellent high frequency response with supreme transparency and excellent trackability”. The S range comes in two output options offering either high output 2.0mv/1KHz (SH) or Low output 0.5mv/1KHz (SL). Both options are £447 each which places them as a relatively modestly priced offering.

REVIEWS:

"What immediately impressed me with both cartridges was the very low surface noise and how quiet they were overall. There was no hum even with the level turned well up and this made for an easy listen where the music was highlighted without being drowned out with irritating surface noise. I am sure the Shibata stylus helped contribute to this performance and proves what a clever design it is. High frequencies were clearly portrayed and detailing was very good on instruments like cymbals, hi-hat etc. and background detail was easily retrieved, making for an enjoyable listen. Vocals were clear and well projected in the sound stage which itself had good depth and spread. Bass was also well defined and detailed.

"I really liked these cartridges as they were fuss free and just got on with their job of producing great music. The low output for me was better but this doesn’t mean the high output was poor or wouldn’t be preferred by some listeners. If you only have a moving magnet input on your amp or pre amp then the high output version is a no brainer.

"£447 is not cheap, but for a good quality moving coil it is very good value and is the lower end of a popular choice of cartridge type for audiophiles into their vinyl.

"Full marks to Hana, who obviously know what they are doing, for putting their name to a range of excellent value for money cartridges for the less ‘well to do’ vinyl fanatic.

"Both cartridges work well in both budget and higher-end turntable/ arm combinations and are well worth seeking out." - Hi-Fi Pig

SPECIFICATIONS:

HANA-EH or HANA-EL

• Stylus Elliptical Nude Synthetic
• Cantilever Aluminium
• Output level 2mv/1kHz (EH) or 0.5mv/1KHz (EL)
• Output balance <2dB/1KHz
• Vertical Tracking force 2g
• Trackability 60μm/2g
• Channel separation 22dB/1KHz
• Frequency response 15-25,000Hz
• Impedance 130Ω/1KHz (EH) or 30Ω/1KHz (EL)
• Suggested load Impedance 47KΩ (EH) or >400Ω (EL)
• Compliance 10x10 -6
• Cartridge weight 5g
• Body Colour Moss Green