Oct 14, 2019 8:46:05 GMT 12 Owen Y said:

Oct 14, 2019 4:15:05 GMT 12 belbo said:

So VTA & VTF probably needs to be readjusted after 50 hours (so it's fully run-in)?

It's normal that it takes some time (depending on cartridge) for the new cartridge suspension material to 'run-in' - similar to loudspeaker suspensions. The sound may change a little & the VTA also possibly, as the suspension loosens and/or possibly 'settles'.

What cartridge & tonearm/TT?

Haven't set it up yet but I'm buying the Hana EL for my Denon DD.

Oh good - trhe interesting thing about the Hana cartridges is that they use Alnico magnets I hear - which should give them a more mellow, more 'traditional' MC tone (I expect) - compared with most modern MC carts which use dense rare earth type magnets.

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

Got a Hana SL coming here shortly too, will be interesting!

AMR-iFi R&D

Not heard the EL but I have the high output version EH here, and mellow would be a good description. Its one of those cartridges that you seem to get more out of the longer you listen to it. After you get over the initial impression of warmth you then start to notice all the details in there as well. Nice Cartridge and excellent value for money IMO. What are they worth there belbo ?

Oct 17, 2019 6:47:03 GMT 12 cartridgeguyonline said:

Not heard the EL but I have the high output version EH here, and mellow would be a good description. Its one of those cartridges that you seem to get more out of the longer you listen to it. After you get over the initial impression of warmth you then start to notice all the details in there as well. Nice Cartridge and excellent value for money IMO. What are they worth there belbo ?

Thanks for your thoughts, I'm really looking forward to it! Price is 400 Euros roughly. 

The SL here is running in still, opening out gradually, especially from the midrange up. It likes a loading impedance of 400 ohms or so minimum with it sounding more free above 2k. The shibata stylus wants to have the VTA set just so or it sounds less defined, even dirty, in the treble. The EL may not suffer from that so much. It’s definitely an enjoyably warm sounding cartridge.

AMR-iFi R&D

Typical bloody Frenchman, posting in the wrong place again....

Think he’s Danish?

AMR-iFi R&D

My comment was aimed at citroen, but its been moved now. Looks like we have 2 Hana threads....

Dec 1, 2019 20:25:47 GMT 12 colinf said:

Think he’s Danish?

Me?

I think Colinf was referring to you, but he was a bit confused. Its the solder fumes I think ?

Never mind the solder fumes, what about the 4 computers and their screens!
How is your Hana, Belbo?

AMR-iFi R&D

I'm the satisfied owner of two Hana carts but have to say there's one thing that really pisses me off about them and that's the small, fiddly stylus guard. Since my eye op I'm now a bit challenged with close in stereo vision and the Hana guard is now proving to be so intimidating I leave it off. Wish it was like my Dyna XX2 that a blind man with two thumbs could fit.
Since I'm the only one that uses my music room leaving the guard off shouldn't be a problem but I think the ML especially deserves something a little more user friendly.
Rant over.

Something similar to this?
Hmmm...

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

That's the one. Not a lot of room around the stylus tip. Scared I'm going to end up bending the cantilever.

I have an SL here and although the stylus guard is a nice positive fit, I agree. It is a bit of a fiddle to put on compared to the XX2 and reasonably easy to catch the cantilever, the very thing you’re meant to be protecting!

AMR-iFi R&D

Jan 21, 2020 9:51:28 GMT 12 colinf said:

I have an SL here and although the stylus guard is a nice positive fit, I agree. It is a bit of a fiddle to put on compared to the XX2 and reasonably easy to catch the cantilever, the very thing you’re meant to be protecting!

Glad I'm not alone on this.

You guys have got me baffled by this. Why are you using the stylus guards ? Do your arms not have decent arm rests ? The only time I use stylus guards on any of my collection is when I am mounting or unmounting them. FWIW I quite like the Hana stylus guard: On the S and E models you can even fit the mounting nuts in there while you mount up the cart. I dont much like the Ortofon 2M stylus guards which are opaque so you cant see exactly what you are doing.

Turntables with lids, definitely no guard.

I do leave the guard on the front cart of my Aura as its
1. For mono and not used as much
2. It sits at the front of the table, so more likely to get accidentally damaged by guests.

cartridgeguyonline I understand people like guards to protect them from kids, pets, house cleaners, visitors... their drunk self's!?

Ah that makes sense: My kids have all left home, the cat takes off as soon as it sees me, the house cleaner doesnt intrude on my music room, and I dont drink or have visitors.

Kids, related or not, are all threatened with death if they touch my turntable.
The last cat I had that liked spinning things was rehomed.
The last house cleaner that snagged my cartridge with their sleeve on my Dynavector DV20XL is nowhere to be seen...
And all visitors are vetted, unlike the drunks

Audiophiles are loners, so you should have no visitors
However my wife has been threatening to employ a house cleaner (if I don't do the chores )

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

I totally concur, they are a waste of energy unless transporting. Even then, I never had one for my old Benz, with its "extremely threatening" and highly exposed business end. Why endanger your cart twice more than you have to, each listening session?

D

Singer/songwriter at: www.dominicblaazer.net
180g album, "The Lights of Te Atatu" released 2018

MICHAEL FREMER (Analog Planet) reviews the HANA ML & HANA MH cartridges:

HANA ML:

" Fast, timbrally neutral, non-mechanical-sounding, transparent and delivering levels of detail usually heard from more costly cartridges, the Hana ML is in every way an impressive sounding and performing cartridge. "

HANA MH:

"...while it sounds similar to the ML, the MH loses a bit of transparency, detail and especially the ML’s liquidity and delicacy. "

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

Hana Umami Red
US$3,950
Launch: Sept '20




www.analogplanet.com/content/hana-introduces-umami-red-mc-cartridge



the Ferrari GT250 of the cartridge world?  

"I see music as a lifetime affair." [Rory Gallagher]

I see that this new model uses a samarium/cobalt magnet, not Alnico as in the other Hanas.
That alone should provide a different tonal flavour.

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

Not sure the world needs another uber expensive cartridge ? Does look pretty though. I find it difficult to think of how much better than the ML you can really get ?

$3950 is not that uber expensive in the world of phono cartridges...

Interesting although it feels a bit like a stretch offering such a wide range of products. In a way Hana is playing where Dynavector plays offering everything from entry level to high end. F

Hi Fi World reviews Umami