Hana SL Vs AT33PTG/II

[RobbieGong]

Forgot about the AT33SA Rob,it does look a tasty proposition.

To be honest the Denon 301 mk2 is right up there with the best I have heard in my system and I am nervous of spending a load of dosh on another cartridge at the moment.

No harm in having an eye on the next one though!

Totally understand Jimbo. I'm a one cart kind of guy. If it hits the spot in that special way it's job done for me until such time.

[CageyH]

I think you would be happy with either.
I have just popped the AT33 back on and after the EPC-U205mk3 with it's elliptical stylus, it sounds superb.
Deep powerful bass, glorious mid range and extended (but not bright) highs.

[Jimbo]

I think you would be happy with either.
I have just popped the AT33 back on and after the EPC-U205mk3 with it's elliptical stylus, it sounds superb.
Deep powerful bass, glorious mid range and extended (but not bright) highs.

You are probably right there Kevin. No cartridge gives you absolutely everything you want but you can find much to like with many and I would presume the Hana and AT33 hit the spot in different ways.

I sometimes think cartridges are like boxes of chocolates, there are many in there that are very different but you can enjoy them all for there own unique flavour!

[Clive197]

YeHa! Finally my Hana SL has arrived at Clive Towers. Over the weekend and through next week I intend to run both cartridges (Hana SL & AT33PTG/II) and the do a comparison the following week-end. I don't think they will match or better my Cadenza Black but you never know I could be in for a surprise.

[Clive197]

Here we are 8 days after my last post. I have spent considerable time running-in the 2 cartridges which are the subject of this thread. After watching the Michael Fremer video that Bob4333 kindly posted I spent some hours setting both cartridges up with the tools I had available, so that obviously excluded oscilloscopes and specialised computer software that Michael Fremer says are needed.
I used the latest HiFi News Test Disc to establish tracking & Bias (both cartridges set at 2grms using a digital scale with platter mat removed as per the video) also checked the resonance frequencies for the cartridges in my Origin Live Encounter IIIA.
The reasonant frequency for the Audio Technica AT33PTG/II was 9hz with the Hana SL coming in at 11hz, both being within the green zone according Vinyl Engine. Interestingly both cartridges needed a slight lift of 2mm at counterweight end to get tonal balance correct to my ears. This according to Mr Fremer gives an extra half a degree vta.
Both cartridges failed to track as well as my Cadenza Black, close but no cigar.
I'm sure that it's the SQ that you are most interested in. Both cartridges truly excelled with the Hana SL just taking it giving a little more body and depth than my Cadenza but not quite as detailed and smooth. A truly excellent result considering that it's less then a third of the price. My only criticism is that it looks cheap and plasticy which is not for the same price what the AT33PTG/II does. This looks expensive and is well made. The AT also has great low end grunt but I found the top end a little brighter (certainly not as much as some AT's I've heard) than I prefer however much I fiddled with the vta.
To summerise, both cartridges are keepers and give my Cadenza a great run for the money, you would not be disappointed with either cartridges (plasticy Hana aside, which may in the future give an opportunity to modify the shell in the same way as a lot of you guys do to the Denon DL103).

[bob4333]

Clive, thanks for taking time out to write this - user insights are always helpful. The Hana is something I'd not heard of until this thread but sounds like it should be on anyone's list when thinking of an MC cart in this price range.

The change in SQ with the AT33PTG/II as the hours accumulate has been more marked for me than any other cartridge I've owned. Makes you wonder what's going on in there, but as you say, a keeper.

Good stuff.

[mikeyb]

Note that price of the SH and SL versions are set to rise by £100+ (to £549) on 1st June, so if you fancy one is buy now 😉

The cheaper models will rise approx £60 too.

[helma]

To summerise, both cartridges are keepers and give my Cadenza a great run for the money, you would not be disappointed with either cartridges (plasticy Hana aside, which may in the future give an opportunity to modify the shell in the same way as a lot of you guys do to the Denon DL103).

I have the Benz MC20E2-L which was also made by Excel. The electrical specs seem to indicate the generator is at least very close to the Hana models (also made by Excel) if not identical. It's an excellent cartridge for the money it used to go for (about 200EUR around 2010 or so), but it's held back by it's bonded elliptical stylus, and the built quality is horrible. It's ok where it matters the most, ie. stylus & cantilever, but the body is made of very skimpy plastic and the cart only weighs something like 4g. Being a relatively low compliance design, it was shipped with a 3g spacer/weight which is mandatory with most tonearms. I've always felt that cartridge has more in it that it's able to put out in stock form. The Hana range has obviously addressed the stylus tip issue and hopefully the body is also less resonant despite appearing 'plasticky'.

[anubisgrau]

I have the Benz MC20E2-L which was also made by Excel. The electrical specs seem to indicate the generator is at least very close to the Hana models (also made by Excel) if not identical. It's an excellent cartridge for the money it used to go for (about 200EUR around 2010 or so), but it's held back by it's bonded elliptical stylus, and the built quality is horrible. It's ok where it matters the most, ie. stylus & cantilever, but the body is made of very skimpy plastic and the cart only weighs something like 4g. Being a relatively low compliance design, it was shipped with a 3g spacer/weight which is mandatory with most tonearms. I've always felt that cartridge has more in it that it's able to put out in stock form. The Hana range has obviously addressed the stylus tip issue and hopefully the body is also less resonant despite appearing 'plasticky'.

it seems to be very popular to run some cartridges nude, especially those with plastic bodies prone to resonance. maybe you can try MC20E2/L like that...

[helma]

it seems to be very popular to run some cartridges nude, especially those with plastic bodies prone to resonance. maybe you can try MC20E2/L like that...

The body construction is such that I don't think nuding it would be easy, but I have a solution... consisting of the stock spacer, a DIY graphite spacer and quite a bit of blutack. The cartridge is quite ugly in it's stock form with the 'hot pink' plastic body, adding some bluetack takes it into the truly horrible territory. It sounds pretty good though. I prefer the Ortofon MC10 Supreme, but I probably like the Benz better than the AT30E, though that one could go either way. The Benz has more oomph and sounds more dynamic, while the AT is more refined up top and generally more laid back.