View Full Version : Hana MC cartridges?
Has anybody tried one of these?
http://hifipig.com/hana-s-range-moving-coil-cartridges/
I've not heard of the cartridges or the company, Kevin. However, I like the description:
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.
Sounds to me a bit like Jelco: a huge and very successful Japanese company, which produce OEM tonearms for many 'famous names', but which also make their own, sold under their name, so you get the same quality of product, as that sold by the 'famous names, without paying for the 'badge'!
That's right up my street, and almost certainly means high SPPV. It should also mean top-notch quality, based on years of experience and the possession of all the right tooling, in order to create economies of scale, thus passing the resulting savings onto customers.
It's the main reason, for example, why the Denon DL-103 is so cheap, and has remained so for years, along with the fact that it was originally aimed at the professional market, which doesn't succumb to often ridiculous 'audiophile pricing'. That's a business model I like :thumbsup:
Someone here needs to get hold of one and let us know what it's like - perhaps you? If I were in the market for another low-output MC, the Hana is certainly one I'd be tempted to take a punt on :)
Marco.
This is what drew my attention to them - http://audio-forum.gspaudio.co.uk/brilliant-and-gorgeous_topic2722.html
RobbieGong
22-01-2016, 15:47
Yep and the quality in the Shibata stylus profile too makes it very interesting :)
Interesting, and also not surprising to note that it's competing well with some rather more expensive 'badged' cartridges! ;)
Just what I thought.... I'd defo give one a go. I seriously doubt you'd be disappointed, and just like with the MC-5000s, you might uncover another AoS 'giant-killer' :eyebrows:
Marco.
RobbieGong
22-01-2016, 15:56
Interesting, and also not surprising to note that it's competing well with some rather more expensive 'badged' cartridges! ;)
Just what I thought.... I'd defo give one a go. I seriously doubt you'd be disappointed, and just like with the MC-5000s, you might uncover another AoS 'giant-killer' :eyebrows:
Marco.
Not to mention Yannis' cables and so on and so on... ;)
Oh there are quite a few 'AoS endorsed' products around... It's something that I particularly like to concentrate on and develop :eyebrows:
It's at the very core of what AoS is all about!
Marco.
Reading the reviews, people seem to think that the SL is better than the SH, which again means I would need a head amp/SUT.
I really should stop looking at new stuff, and enjoy what I have!
RobbieGong
22-01-2016, 16:21
Oh there are quite a few 'AoS endorsed' products around... It's something that I particularly like to concentrate on and develop :eyebrows:
It's at the very core of what AoS is all about!
Marco.
Too right !
RobbieGong
22-01-2016, 16:23
Reading the reviews, people seem to think that the SL is better than the SH, which again means I would need a head amp/SUT.
I really should stop looking at new stuff, and enjoy what I have!
What do the reviews say Kev, in terms of traits of the cart(s), presentation and so on ? I'd expect great detail retrieval with the Shibata for starters ...
The reviews are on the first link.
Good detail retrieval for sure, but a ATN150SA will take my AT150MLX up a notch with the new cantilever and shibata tip.
RobbieGong
22-01-2016, 16:54
No linky, double post Kev :o :)
I ran across these a few months ago when I was researching tonearms and thought they looked really interesting. Someone here should take the plunge.
Double post fixed :)
Marco.
The Hana cartridges have received a very favourable review in the latest issue of Hi Fi World. At around £350, they look to be excellent VFM.
hifi_dave
22-01-2016, 18:10
I will have a couple of them here next week.
Prices are EH and EL = £276. Sh and SL = £447.
No linky, double post Kev :o :)
The first post Rob, and the link to the Graham Slee forum have reviews.
RobbieGong
22-01-2016, 18:15
The first post Rob, and the link to the Graham Slee forum have reviews.
Cheers Kev :)
RobbieGong
22-01-2016, 18:24
A good, almost conservative review.
Review (http://www.soundwaves-turntables.com/img/HiFi-World-Feb-2015-Review.pdf) of the Hana EL and EH cartridges.
And this review (http://hifipig.com/hana-s-range-moving-coil-cartridges/) of the SL and SH variants.
Interesting. I'm not 100% on this, but I think Excel was the OEM of at least the Benz MC20E2 & various Audioquest MC cartridges from the 80s or 90s, since all those carts looked identical except for different color on the plastic body and it was also sold as Excel MC-100 at some point. The Benz at least is a decent entry level cartridge and the electrical specs of the generator seem very close to the Hana range, so it's possible it might be a distant if not close cousin at least.
Reading the reviews, people seem to think that the SL is better than the SH, which again means I would need a head amp/SUT.
I really should stop looking at new stuff, and enjoy what I have!
They look really interesting Kevin, might have to put them on my list for MC,s as they almost seem budget price compared to a lot of the high end stuff.
If you see any more reviews post them up mate.:thumbsup:
RobbieGong
24-01-2016, 16:08
The Hana EL and EH were reviewed in Hifi World I think I saw it in, whilst having a browse at WHSmith. Both received 5 stars and at £276 were regarded as a bargain. The EH = Elliptical High output and EL = Elliptical Low output of course :) The EL was slightly favoured over the EH.
(The higher end Hana SH and SL = Shibata High output and Shibata Low output.) All of these (EL, EH, SH, SL) are mc's.
walpurgis
24-01-2016, 16:42
If these Hana cartridges are made by Excel, I'd expect them to sound pretty decent. Excel's own cartridges were well respected. I had one of their MMs a few years ago and it was more or less as good as my very capable ADCs.
If these Hana cartridges are made by Excel, I'd expect them to sound pretty decent. Excel's own cartridges were well respected. I had one of their MMs a few years ago and it was more or less as good as my very capable ADCs.
Do you know who else the Excel corporation made cartridges for Geoff?
A few top brands I think although they are very secretive.
Well, I've a Hana EL on the way. I'll have it early next week. It will be interesting to compare with my modified other carts and will hopefully be a real step up rather than the usual step sideways.
My current carts consist of:
Modified Denon DL103, mahogany body, thinner solid aluminium cantilever, elliptical tip
Modified Denon DL303, thinner solid aluminium cantilever, shibata tip
Empire 4000 D/I with Jico shibata stylus
Grado Reference Platinum 1, microtracer tip
Modified Shure SC35C, Aluminium threaded body, Jico V15 III Hyper Elliptical stylus
I'll let you know of my findings
Sent from my Redmi Note 3 using Tapatalk
Nice selection of cartridges there Matt, if you had to choose which one would you put at the top of your list?
walpurgis
16-09-2016, 09:08
Do you know who else the Excel corporation made cartridges for Geoff?
No. I don't.
Ammonite Audio
16-09-2016, 09:13
Well, I've a Hana EL on the way. I'll have it early next week. It will be interesting to compare with my modified other carts and will hopefully be a real step up rather than the usual step sideways.
My current carts consist of:
Modified Denon DL103, mahogany body, thinner solid aluminium cantilever, elliptical tip
Modified Denon DL303, thinner solid aluminium cantilever, shibata tip
Empire 4000 D/I with Jico shibata stylus
Grado Reference Platinum 1, microtracer tip
Modified Shure SC35C, Aluminium threaded body, Jico V15 III Hyper Elliptical stylus
I'll let you know of my findings
Sent from my Redmi Note 3 using Tapatalk
Be aware that the loading requirements for the Denon 103 and Hana are worlds apart, so make sure you load the Hana with >400ohms as recommended by the maker or you won't be hearing it at its best.
Sibatech is a big company.. make lots of nice stuff.
Floyddroid
19-09-2016, 19:45
Lurcher is the chap to talk to about these cartridges. He loves em. He brought one along to Nebo 7 and once fettled in the correct arm sounded pretty darned good.
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