Pundit
Post by simonb on Jan 17, 2019 17:18:59 GMT 12
Creating a thread for information and shared experiences of Hana Cartridges. Simon Brown Design Build Listen Ltd Distributors of Hana Cartridges
As a first post, information about the new Hana ML including a link to the just published Witchdoctor review. witchdoctor.co.nz/index.php/2019/01/hana-ml-offers-depth-and-solidarity-in-sound/
Key differences of the Hana ML (or MH high output version) -Nude Microline stylus -High purity copper coils, cryogenically treated -More substantial body (Delrin) and mounting system (Brass top and threaded inserts) 9.5g weight 
Simon Brown
Design Build Listen Ltd,
Makers of The Wand Analogue Products
Distributor of Hana Cartridges
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Post by foveaux on Jan 17, 2019 21:07:58 GMT 12
Thanks Simon Hana are on a roll... Hana fanboy here, my SL is a wonderfully balanced and musical cartridge - good value too. Richard's review confirms incremental audio improvements, while maintaining the cost/benefit proposition. In due course I guess we'll see the ML in 'shoot-out' against comparable cartridges in the audio media overseas. I'm looking forward to this - as to date, Hana have excelled against all-comers. These comparisons seem the main means of comparison/information these days; as our minimal home market cannot (easily) avail us of home auditions of the various/limited options. In any case, I bet this new Hana ML continues their winning formula. We appreciate your commitment in getting Hana into NZ - great for us kiwi audiophiles, we all need Hana in our systems!
"I see music as a lifetime affair." [Rory Gallagher]
"Free - I miss that band, but when I look back, we were very young" [Paul Rodgers]
850 posts
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Pundit
Post by simonb on Jan 18, 2019 5:57:20 GMT 12
Thanks for that. Yes, I didn't know what to expect (as I think the Witchdoctor review is the first review on the Internet). I thought it might be simply an even more detailed SL but it seems to have a lot more other good qualities too. It is the cartridge I am going to use at home (when I can get it back...). I only had a couple of hours with it before sending it off for review.
Simon Brown
Design Build Listen Ltd,
Makers of The Wand Analogue Products
Distributor of Hana Cartridges
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Post by cartridgeguyonline on Jan 18, 2019 11:41:24 GMT 12
Hi all,
Yes count me a fan as well. Have had the EH, SL and ML all running in my main system (detailed below). My thoughts :
EH: took me a while to find the measure of this cart. Initially sounds a lot like a more refined Grado gold, then got to thinking it was maybe too smooth, too bland, but after a goodly amount of time I found myself listening to it more and more, its a real grower. The detail is all in there but its not in your face at all, its well presented and sounds lovely.
SL: Initially quite disappointed with this, after reading the rave reviews etc. loses the warmth and humour of the EH, replaced by a more sterile presentation in my set up. However it should be noted that I have no provision for MC cartridge loading as my pre amp is set for 100 ohms and that is your lot. Customers have informed me that it sounds a lot nicer working into a 400 ohm load so I fully accept that I may not have got the best from this cartridge.
ML: In short everything that I hoped the SL would be. Warmth, musicality and some lovely soundstaging to go with it all. Nice inner detail allows you to hear whats going on in the mix and follow any instrumental or vocal line that you want. Really nice cartridge.
And yes Foveaux these are available for home audition.
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Post by foveaux on Jan 18, 2019 15:06:36 GMT 12
Thanks cartridgeguyonline, Yes, Simon kindly let me audition Hanas in my system, which led to me getting the SL (from him). I meant it appears a tricky proposition to sort a side-by-side demo in your own system at home with cartridges from different retailers. e.g. I'd like to hear the ML against a Dynavector XX2. Don't get me wrong here, I'm very pleased that we do have such a great selection of cartridges available in NZ and have smart retailers who have 'filtered' for us. We shouldn't go too far wrong. Appreciated your helpful impressions of the ML - I plan to hear it in the near future!
"I see music as a lifetime affair." [Rory Gallagher]
"Free - I miss that band, but when I look back, we were very young" [Paul Rodgers]
850 posts
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Post by Owen Y on Jan 18, 2019 20:58:59 GMT 12
SL: Initially quite disappointed with this, after reading the rave reviews etc. loses the warmth and humour of the EH, replaced by a more sterile presentation in my set up. However it should be noted that I have no provision for MC cartridge loading as my pre amp is set for 100 ohms and that is your lot. Customers have informed me that it sounds a lot nicer working into a 400 ohm load so I fully accept that I may not have got the best from this cartridge. ML: In short everything that I hoped the SL would be. Warmth, musicality and some lovely soundstaging to go with it all. Nice inner detail allows you to hear whats going on in the mix and follow any instrumental or vocal line that you want. Really nice cartridge. Generally, most modern Low Output MC cartridges have coil impedance in the order or 5-10 ohms. Hence load impedance of 100 ohms or more provides a 1:10 to 1:20 loading ratio giving good power delivery (bass) & low distortion. However, older style AlNiCo magnets deliver less output & generally require more coil windings, typical examples being the Denon DL103 (40 ohms coil imped) & also the Hana SL (30 ohms coil imped). The DL103 tends to sound best into 470 - 1000 ohms phono input loading. (My guess would be 270 - 560 ohms for the Hana SL.) The Hana ML has been designed, according to specifs I've seen, with only 8 ohms internal imped. - so a good place to start for this would therefore be 100 ohms phono input loading.
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Post by cartridgeguyonline on Jan 19, 2019 14:37:47 GMT 12
Hi Owen,
yes I dont think I got the best out of the SL as I dont have loading options on my pre amp. 400 ohms is the manufacturers recommendation, customers have confirmed that it seems to work best into that load.
Cheers
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Pundit
Post by garym on Jan 19, 2019 17:18:40 GMT 12
Loading... Be cautious about dogma and engineering based loading calculations. Yes 10x the source impedance is technically appropriate but always experiment. When developing our LV-1 phono preamp it was always found to deliver the best when set to 47k. Irrespective of cartridge and on all systems it was tried in.
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Post by colinf on Jan 19, 2019 21:00:20 GMT 12
That’s interesting, Gary. What have you found that lowering the MC loading impedance below 47k does to the performance? I’ve found that high impedance above 47k and low capacitance works well for the majority of MM cartridges.
AMR-iFi R&D
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Post by Owen Y on Jan 19, 2019 22:38:13 GMT 12
I should add that my experience with loading MCs comes entirely from my listening.... For years, I could never understand why I couldn't get expensive low output MC cartridges to sound good (to my ear), into a 47kohm phono input. Then I found that loading down (a little) would tame the top end, whilst still maintaining low end power. Which seemed to concur with what what others were doing.
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Post by michaelw on Jan 20, 2019 9:31:19 GMT 12
a lot also depends on the phono stage you are running the cartridge into and the line stage. once free of the linn-naim nexus, most of my phono listening has been into 47k.
i wouldn't buy a phono stage not capable of running mc's at 47k
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Pundit
Post by simonb on Feb 8, 2019 14:02:30 GMT 12
HiFi World (UK) review of the Hana ML received today. Noel Keywood gave it five Blobs and a pound sign, which means he really liked it ant thought it was good value. (He was less enamoured about the MH but I would observe that he is not a fan of high output MCs) His verdict was; The ML is a smooth and svelte moving coil with deep insight, fabulous detailing and imagery. (if anyone wants more extracts, just PM me)
Simon Brown
Design Build Listen Ltd,
Makers of The Wand Analogue Products
Distributor of Hana Cartridges
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Post by Owen Y on Aug 1, 2019 16:10:09 GMT 12
Stereophile's Herb Reichart reviews the HANA ML flagship cartridge (US$1200) and makes (favourable) comparison with an ETSURO-URUSHI Cobalt Blue MC cartridge (US$5400). " Overall, the Hana ML produced a beguiling, tubelike sound... a stunning-sounding, artfully engineered phono invention that loves all music, and a fantastic bargain. " 
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Pundit
Post by simonb on Aug 1, 2019 18:55:24 GMT 12
Thanks Owen, I have been a tad remiss posting reviews of the ML given how special sounding it is. 
Simon Brown
Design Build Listen Ltd,
Makers of The Wand Analogue Products
Distributor of Hana Cartridges
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Post by cooksferry on Aug 29, 2019 7:37:41 GMT 12
Review of the ML by Geoff Husband at TNT Audio. Becoming clearer by the day what my final cartridge purchase is going to be. Bit of a fan of Husband's reviews, not loaded down with bull shit and he's a died in the wool Dynavector man from way back . www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/hana_ml_e.html
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Post by foveaux on Aug 29, 2019 10:07:30 GMT 12
Review of the ML by Geoff Husband at TNT Audio. Becoming clearer by the day what my final cartridge purchase is going to be. Bit of a fan of Husband's reviews, not loaded down with bull shit and he's a died in the wool Dynavector man from way back . www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/hana_ml_e.htmlYep, I'm with you and Mr Husband. www.excelsound.jpEtsuro Urushi and Hana, quite a line-up!
"I see music as a lifetime affair." [Rory Gallagher]
"Free - I miss that band, but when I look back, we were very young" [Paul Rodgers]
850 posts
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Post by cartridgeguyonline on Aug 29, 2019 12:31:01 GMT 12
Yes im enjoying the ML too. About to give the SL another crack as well seeing as how I have a couple of new phono stages incoming.
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Pundit
Post by simonb on Aug 31, 2019 11:31:08 GMT 12
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Pundit
Post by Dom on Aug 31, 2019 13:58:15 GMT 12
Well, after an insurance payout on a ding-donged Benz Glider, I've ordered an ML. It was on the strength of these reviews - not to mention much comparison with and bandying-about of the "K" word. It will initially go on my LP12, which I will use while my twin-armed "Ray Harryhausen" 301 is being created. Thanks to the patient chaps at Turned On. And no, no-one else has ever had one do that before, either!
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Post by michaelw on Aug 31, 2019 14:56:11 GMT 12
never seen a cartridge broken like that.  how did that occur ?
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Post by cartridgeguyonline on Aug 31, 2019 16:32:44 GMT 12
Ive still got a couple of Sumiko Bluebirds that look exactly like that...
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Pundit
Post by Dom on Sept 2, 2019 8:58:16 GMT 12
never seen a cartridge broken like that. how did that occur ? I brought my turntable in from the car (where it was resting on a cushion) placed it on the kitchen table and the cart just popped off. Superglue had died? D
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Post by michaelw on Sept 2, 2019 10:42:05 GMT 12
CGA claim ?
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Post by foveaux on Sept 30, 2019 11:01:56 GMT 12
Well, after an insurance payout on a ding-donged Benz Glider, I've ordered an ML. It was on the strength of these reviews - not to mention much comparison with and bandying-about of the "K" word. It will initially go on my LP12, which I will use while my twin-armed "Ray Harryhausen" 301 is being created. Hi Dom, Any impressions you can share on your ML listening? thanks.
"I see music as a lifetime affair." [Rory Gallagher]
"Free - I miss that band, but when I look back, we were very young" [Paul Rodgers]
850 posts
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Post by cartridgeguyonline on Oct 1, 2019 18:03:01 GMT 12
Hi Foveaux,
You realize that you dont need to rely on other peoples impressions of these as im sure that Simon would be only too happy to send you one for a listen ?
( If Simon is away or out of stock, I have one here, just drop me a line)
Cheers
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Pundit
Post by simonb on Oct 1, 2019 18:16:26 GMT 12
Sure! (But it's horrible.... .....horribly nice....)
Simon Brown
Design Build Listen Ltd,
Makers of The Wand Analogue Products
Distributor of Hana Cartridges
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Post by foveaux on Oct 2, 2019 14:06:25 GMT 12
Hi Foveaux, You realize that you dont need to rely on other peoples impressions of these as im sure that Simon would be only too happy to send you one for a listen ? ( If Simon is away or out of stock, I have one here, just drop me a line) Cheers Thanks CGoL All good and appreciate your offer. Always interested in local punters experiences of items c.f. overseas articles. One of the excellent benefits of our DL forum. Cutting through the (international) marketing BS out there is insightful for me. Will be getting my wand arm to Dunners for a ML fitting in the near future  (thanks Simon)
"I see music as a lifetime affair." [Rory Gallagher]
"Free - I miss that band, but when I look back, we were very young" [Paul Rodgers]
850 posts
|
Pundit
Post by simonb on Nov 19, 2019 20:56:37 GMT 12
Just a heads up that I have been avoiding changes in the NZ Exchange rate for the last year (or so) but must adjust NZ Hana pricing to be more in line; -EL/EH will now be $695 -SL/SH/S Mono will be $1150 -ML/MH will be $1795 Also there is a great HiFi Plus review of the ML; www.hifiplus.com/articles/hana-mh-and-ml-moving-coil-cartridges/
Simon Brown
Design Build Listen Ltd,
Makers of The Wand Analogue Products
Distributor of Hana Cartridges
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Pundit
Post by Dom on Nov 25, 2019 15:05:14 GMT 12
Hi Dom, Any impressions you can share on your ML listening? thanks. Hi foveaux, sure, I can.
It's a superb tracker and this is most relevant to me because one of my favourite jazz rabbit-holes is the vibraphone. My Benz was definitely tired so could sizzle a little on these. So now, I can be 100% sure it wasn't my pressings or arm set-up or a case of the old inner-groove distortion blues as everything's the same, set-up wise.
The Hana seems to love the double-bass as well, whether on a jazz recording or not.
Now, I confess, I can't honestly compare it with my Benz Glider as that was an EsCo retip jobbie but I am certainly hearing more details with the Hana, it feels quite a step up from what I was used to - ie, a wearing-out, re-tipped, probably-decade-old cart.
Hope that helps.
Cheers, Dom
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Post by foveaux on Nov 25, 2019 15:40:35 GMT 12
Cheers Dom Appreciated. A musicians ear is highly greatly valued 
"I see music as a lifetime affair." [Rory Gallagher]
"Free - I miss that band, but when I look back, we were very young" [Paul Rodgers]
850 posts
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(thanks Simon)
