Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- Pleasingly rhythmic, energetic, and cohesive music experience
- Colorful and clear vocals and instruments, allowing good tone perception
- Good all-around nature that gets the listener involved in the music and all its aspects like rhythm, timing, timbres, and emotion
- Small elliptical stylus minimizes pops and clicks from older records
Product Considerations
- Bass, while lively and enjoyable, could benefit from improved definition and clarity
- High-frequency range could be better, with improved high-frequency extension
- Might require adding extra weight to the headshell due to its light weight (5g)
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to the Denon DL103, the Hana EL improves on the shortcomings with better treble response, tighter bass, and wider, more stable imaging
- Compared to the Sumiko Blue Point No. 2, the Hana EL offers a more involving and gripping LP playback experience, while the Sumiko sounds 'plain vanilla'
Takeaway: The Hana EL is a delightful cartridge that offers a good balance of musicality, detail, and emotional involvement. It is worth buying to upgrade the listening experience and to have clear and good tones from favorite vinyl records.
All
Hana EL
reviews
Manufacturer details
Cartridge Specifications
- Stylus: Synthetic Elliptical
- Cantilever: Aluminum
- Output Level: 0.5 mV @ 1 kHz
- Output Balance: < 2 dB @ 1 kHz
- Vertical Tracking Force: 2g
- Trackability: 70 µm @ 2g
- Channel Separation: 25 dB @ 1 kHz
- Frequency Response: 15 - 25,000 Hz
- Impedance: 30 Ω @ 1 kHz
- Suggested Load Impedance: > 400 Ω
- Cartridge Weight: 5g
- Body Color: Moss Green
- Warranty: 2 years
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- Hana leverages Excel Sound Corporation's half-century of experience as an OEM cartridge manufacturer for other well-known brands, combining time-honored techniques with modern materials.
- The brand distinguishes itself through its "Umami" series, drawing inspiration from Japanese culinary arts to describe the synergistic blending of materials and design elements aimed at creating a uniquely rich and flavorful sound experience.
- Hana incorporates unique design elements like the Auricle cartridge body, inspired by the human ear, and specialized material treatments, such as cryogenic processing and melamine thermosetting, to enhance sonic performance.
Select products
Hana EH
- Positioning: Entry-level line, designed for affordability and ease of use.
- Description: Offers a high-output moving coil design with a special cross-coil generator, providing strong bass and dynamics. It is ideal for users upgrading from starter MM cartridges, offering compatibility with MM phono stages, unlike the more advanced models which require MC phono stages.
Hana SH Mk II
- Positioning: Mid-range line, offering enhanced performance and value.
- Description: Features a new tapered aluminum cantilever for improved rigidity and sound clarity. It incorporates advanced materials and processes from higher-end models.
Hana Umami Blue
- Positioning: High-end line, combining traditional craftsmanship with modern engineering.
- Description: Uses a CNC machined Duralumin body and boron cantilever, offering excellent musicality. It shares key components with the Umami Red but at a lower price.
Hana Umami Red
- Positioning: Flagship line, representing the pinnacle of Hana's cartridge design.
- Description: Combines ebony wood, rare-earth magnets, and Urushi lacquering for a rich sound experience. It is the most sophisticated in the lineup.
Our take on the brand
Look inside the brand
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
What's your approach to customer support?
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
What other products pair best with yours?
Used
Hana
What if you spend more?
The MK II upgrade to our globally best-selling Hana S series cartridges enhances their musical performance and value. Master cartridge designer Masao Okada-san implements a new tapered Aluminum cantilever with increased rigidity, resulting in a remarkable improvement in transferring groove modulation from the vinyl record to the cartridge generator. The S Series MK II cartridges feature higher specified parts, advanced materials, and unique technical processes from Hana's higher-priced elite cartridge models, furthering the Hana "brilliant and gorgeous" sound.
Hana S Series MK II cartridges use a new tapered aluminum cantilever with higher rigidity and effective mass reduction at the stylus tip. This results in greater clarity and increased music transfer from vinyl records to cartridge generator. Critical parts, including the Yoke, Pole-pieces, and gold Terminal pins, have been cryogenically treated for a more natural sound.
The improved, non-resonant body shape, modeled after the Hana M Series, is damped with a matte Soft Feel Black elastomeric resin paint and features a brass cap with threaded cartridge mounting fittings. The heavier MK II cartridges offer better coupling and expanded compatibility with a wider range of tonearms, improving bass and dynamics.
The SL MK II generator, as found in the Umami Blue and ML, incorporates an Alnico magnet and cross-coil using high-purity 30-micron copper wire with an 8Ω impedance. This improves signal-to-noise, reduces moving mass for higher resolution and trackability, and optimizes performance for a broader range of phono stages.
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Our summary
Product Strengths
- Larger soundstage, better macro and micro dynamics, and more openness on the top end than the original SL
- More information retrieval and better separation of instruments compared to the original SL
- Presents a coherent musical picture with great dynamic expression and good musical flow
- Threaded holes for easier mounting
Product Considerations
- Stylus guard design is the same as the original SL, which is considered contentious to deal with
- Falls short in terms of ultimate openness on the top end and probing the depths of a bassline
- Output level is reduced to 0.4mV from the original SL's 0.5mV
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to the Hana SL (MK I), the MK II outperforms the original in every aspect of sound, with stark differences in sound quality
Takeaway: The Hana SL MK II is a significantly improved cartridge offering a quantum leap in performance compared to its predecessor, making it a worthwhile upgrade for current SL owners and a great value for new buyers. It delivers excellent sound quality and musicality.
Video review
Our take on the brand
The MK II upgrade to our globally best-selling Hana S series cartridges enhances their musical performance and value. Master cartridge designer Masao Okada-san implements a new tapered Aluminum cantilever with increased rigidity, resulting in a remarkable improvement in transferring groove modulation from the vinyl record to the cartridge generator. The S Series MK II cartridges feature higher specified parts, advanced materials, and unique technical processes from Hana's higher-priced elite cartridge models, furthering the Hana "brilliant and gorgeous" sound.
Hana S Series MK II cartridges use a new tapered aluminum cantilever with higher rigidity and effective mass reduction at the stylus tip. This results in greater clarity and increased music transfer from vinyl records to cartridge generator. Critical parts, including the Yoke, Pole-pieces, and gold Terminal pins, have been cryogenically treated for a more natural sound.
The improved, non-resonant body shape, modeled after the Hana M Series, is damped with a matte Soft Feel Black elastomeric resin paint and features a brass cap with threaded cartridge mounting fittings. The heavier MK II cartridges offer better coupling and expanded compatibility with a wider range of tonearms, improving bass and dynamics.
The SL MONO MK II two-coil design and unique Shibata diamond needle profile will ensure you get the best possible detail and accuracy from your mono records.
Our summary
Product Strengths
- The Hana SL Mono extracts more musical information, offering a more complete account of the recording than stereo cartridges
- It delivers a solid, controlled bass response, making the most of bass-shy recordings
- Surprisingly quiet, minimizing groove noise for a smoother listening experience
- It enhances the impact, rawness, rhythm, and swing of classic recordings
Product Considerations
- The Hana SL Mono is a low-output design
- Fitting the cartridge may require a detachable headshell, unless swapping cartridges for mono listening
- The Shibata stylus is an unusual choice, as older mono cartridges generally used a stylus with either a conical or elliptical tip profile
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The SL Mono revealed previously hidden depths and treble information that was lost with the Benz Micro Ace
Takeaway: The Hana SL Mono is a must-hear for serious listeners who want authentic monophonic audio, and is capable of revealing hidden depths in mono recordings. Its superior tracking ability and quiet performance make it a valuable addition to any vinyl enthusiast's setup.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Uses a Neodymium magnet, the world's most powerful commercially available magnet, enabling unique generator geometry and performance previously unattainable in moving magnet designs
- Has a nude elliptical stylus which provides exceptional tracking accuracy and extracts greater levels of detail from the vinyl groove
- The optimized pole gap gives superior linearity and cross talk characteristics, resulting in a far wider soundstage
- Miniaturized parallel coils wound in-house using 38-micron wire with just 1275 turns produce a low inductance, low impedance generator giving vastly improved high frequency response
- More refined, clean and open sound with much more shine in the treble and a relaxed and nuanced presentation
Product Considerations
- Premium pricing may be a consideration
- Requires careful setup for optimal performance
- The essentially plastic nature of the Nd body could be a concern, though Rega states the threads are durable
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Rega Exact: The Nd5 soundly trounces the outgoing Exact in every department, with a bigger soundstage, more open and sweeter sound, and more grip and grunt
- Vs Goldring 1042: The Nd5 is considerably more refined, clean and open, with much more shine in the treble and a presentation that is relaxed and nuanced by comparison
Takeaway: The Nd5 offers high-end audio quality and brings new life to vinyl, with neutrality, clarity, and excellent tracking ability. It delivers performance approaching high-end moving coil designs with the practicality of a moving magnet.
Video review
Our take on the brand
The familia red body which has always been a feature of the 10X series which has undergone minor improvements has now been manufactured for more than forty years.It represents Dynavectors most popular ever model, favoured by music lovers and audiophiles all over the world.
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Enhanced musical detail and resolving power due to lighter coils
- More extended and airier sound compared to the high output version
- Vivid and rich musicality, mirroring the high output version
- Very low noise level during playback, suppressing surface noise
- Tracks warped records surprisingly well
- Requires a quality moving coil phono stage or step-up transformer due to low output (0.5mV)
Product Considerations
- Can be highly dependent on tonearm matching for optimal performance
- Some reviewers found the sound dynamically restrained and less involving in certain setups
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Dynavector DV-10X5 MkII (High Output), the low output version provides superior sonic performance with more detail, extension, and airiness
- Vs Dynavector DV20x2, the DV-10X5 MkII L can have more dynamic impact, incisiveness, and PRaT, though this may depend on setup
Takeaway: The DV-10X5 MkII L cartridge is a good choice for listeners who want enhanced detail and a more open sound from their vinyl. With a good phono stage, this cartridge can bring listeners closer to the music.
Video review
Our take on the brand
What competes at this price?
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- A Neodymium N55 magnet is used, the world's most powerful commercially available magnet, potentially providing more power and lower overall mass
- A noticeable signature style of sounding spacious and open is delivered, bringing a sense of air usually associated with moving coil cartridges
- Impressive instrument separation with a much wider soundstage
- An optimized pole gap provides superior linearity and cross talk characteristics, which provides a far wider soundstage than the previous models
- The three-point mount system simplifies alignment, particularly for Rega turntable owners and ensures perfect alignment when used with Rega tonearms
Product Considerations
- The counterweight side of things was a little trickier than some other models because there's no traditional kind of dial and numbers on the counterweight
- The connection pins on the back are smaller than those on the Carbon, so the delicate tags had to be carefully squeezed so that they made a tight fit on the new cartridge
- It is a little reserved in the mid-range, which some listeners may seek out, while others maybe not so much
- Holes do not have brass inserts for the bolts to screw into, but a thread is cut into the body; given that the body is plastic, concern that tightening with the Rega torque driver might strip the thread
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Ortofon 2M Red: Impressive instrument separation with a much wider soundstage
- Vs Rega Carbon: It is open and extended in the treble and superbly timed for its asking price, which really makes the Carbon sound course and dull in the high frequencies
Takeaway: The Nd3 is a step up from entry-level cartridges, providing a noticeable improvement in sound quality, like greater detail and better instrument separation, and it brings welcome sound characteristics and sophistication at an affordable price. The Nd3 is well-suited for those looking for a more open and dynamic listening experience.
Video review
Our take on the brand
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