View Full Version : Hana ML or AT Art-9?
Has anybody compared the two?
If so, how do they compare? What are the differences?
And I’ll also add the Goldring Ethos to the list.
Haven't compared the two, but picked up a 40hr Ex-demo ML to see what all the fuss was about.
Didn't think it would be up for the fight against a Transfiguration Axia S, (£1.9k vs £995) but it stomped all over it, its really shocked me how bloody good, no, stunning it is. No wonder HiFi Plus said it was the best 3-4k cart you could buy for a grand.
It's sound is rich & full bodied but with great air, nuance and finesse, bass is deep, tight and textured.
You won't go far wrong with the ML and it's £300+ cheaper than the new Art9 Xi.
Sent from my I3312 using Tapatalk
I believe you are also using a BB3?
Yep BB3.
Sent from my I3312 using Tapatalk
Iceman16
03-04-2021, 17:40
Another BB3 + Hana ML user here. Haven’t heard the Art-9 but the ML is probably the best cart I’ve heard at this price or even higher. Lurch description of the ML is spot on.
Mikeandvan
03-04-2021, 18:34
A £1000 for a cart is just bullshit.
Thank you for your contribution.
Far more worthy than the same amount spent on 1m of cable marinated for 3yrs in Unicorn pee then polished with Dodo feathers or whatever the latest in-vogue marketing twaddle is.
Atleast in this instance you will definitely hear the difference between a £50 mm and the ML/Art9, whether the difference if vfm only you can decide.
Sent from my I3312 using Tapatalk
I use the Hana ML and BB3 combo, having been through several phono stages up to £3000 worth and many cartridges up to £1000 this current setup is the best I've heard here.
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
Jac Hawk
03-04-2021, 19:20
Far more worthy than the same amount spent on 1m of cable marinated for 3yrs in Unicorn pee then polished with Dodo feathers or whatever the latest in-vogue marketing twaddle is.
Atleast in this instance you will definitely hear the difference between a £50 mm and the ML/Art9, whether the difference if vfm only you can decide.
Sent from my I3312 using Tapatalk
100% In my mind the cartridge is where the rubber meets the road, get that right and everything else falls into place
WullieD20
03-04-2021, 21:24
A £1000 for a cart is just bullshit.
Fixed: "In your humble opinion". . . .:lol:
WullieD20
03-04-2021, 21:27
Despite owning a few AT carts, I have never heard an ART9 (unfortunately).
However, I have to agree with others re the Hana(s), which are amazing VFM regarding their comparable performance with lots of more expensive cartridges.
Good luck.
Out of interest, is there anywhere on the inter web where you can hear samples of cartridges?
It could be a useful guide.
i think when you get to this level kevin it boils down to personal taste,ive heard the art 7 and 9 but not the hana,i nearly went with a hana when i damaged my cadenza bronze but in the end went with a new bronze. if i were in your position id go with the hana as its cheaper.
guy at puresound will lend you a demo hana so id give him a shout.
i think when you get to this level kevin it boils down to personal taste,ive heard the art 7 and 9 but not the hana,i nearly went with a hana when i damaged my cadenza bronze but in the end went with a new bronze. if i were in your position id go with the hana as its cheaper.
guy at puresound will lend you a demo hana so id give him a shout.
Thanks Jamie. Being in France, I am sure he won’t be quite so happy to send me a demo cartridge, but thanks for the thought.
if you dont ask mate you will never know,worth a go surely? you do have a put a deposit down mind you.
Brexit complicates this type of thing with courier fees and VAT.
Mikeandvan
04-04-2021, 09:34
I just don't see where the value is being created, why does a £1000 cart cost 10 times more than a £100 cart to produce? This sought of pricing is just taking audiophiles for a ride, in their heads equating price with performance. You can get a decent TT for the same price as one of these 'high end carts, think of all the materials and work that went into creating a 1210 or a Rega rp6, and then spend the same on a cart, not a chance. I actually think £300 is a rip off too, a dinky bit of plastic.
walpurgis
04-04-2021, 09:46
I just don't see where the value is being created, why does a £1000 cart cost 10 times more than a £100 cart to produce? This sought of pricing is just taking audiophiles for a ride, in their heads equating price with performance. You can get a decent TT for the same price as one of these 'high end carts, think of all the materials and work that went into creating a 1210 or a Rega rp6, and then spend the same on a cart, not a chance. I actually think £300 is a rip off too, a dinky bit of plastic.
Mike, have you listened to a £1000 cartridge in a system of the quality to match? As with everything else, the law of diminishing returns applies, but if you want something good, you pay the price. A £100 cart may play music, but the £1000 item will do it better, as it should.
Actually, £1000 is just loose change in cartridge prices! :D
Mikeandvan
04-04-2021, 10:00
Mike, have you listened to a £1000 cartridge in a system of the quality to match? As with everything else, the law of diminishing returns applies, but if you want something good, you pay the price. A £100 cart may play music, but the £1000 item will do it better, as it should.
Actually, £1000 is just loose change in cartridge prices! :D
That may be so, but how does manufacturing a £100 cart cost exponentially more than manufacturing a £100 one?
Mikeandvan
04-04-2021, 10:06
To be more specific, the pricing ladder of carts is way too crazy. Let's say a range starts at £150, fine, now you want to go 'up' the ladder, next one is say £500, whoah! Then next one up is £1000, its mad. It should be £150, then £225, then £300.
Why should it be?
Are you going to stick with a VM95 then?
Cheap, it plays music. Why do you need more? It is a step up from a rusty nail.
A €1k cart in my system is a reasonable level compared to the rest of the system.
It is probably the most important part in vinyl replay, so why not spend more than £300?
You are welcome to your opinion, but you original comment added nothing to this thread.
That may be so, but how does manufacturing a £100 cart cost exponentially more than manufacturing a £100 one?Simple.
Better quality materials, cost more.
Tighter tolerances, cost more.
Specialist processes, cost more.
Better diamond profiles, cost more.
R&D to increase performance, costs more.
And so it goes, with each step adding costs, and if done correctly improving performance.
Case in point being AT mm carts, the 91 starts at around £29 then you go to the 95s that run from around £45 upto £190, all with differing levels of performance that can be plainly heard.
If you can't afford it, or object to the rationale of pricing/peoples desire to aim for better, then ignore such threads and keep your negativety to your self.
For me, Iceman and others on here the Hana ML has proved itself in the real world by the level of performance it produces against our previous benchmark carts.
The ML, in the real world represents very good vfm simply by the way it performs, producing a sound that equals or exceeds that of carts that are hawked out at 2x to 4x its retail price, its that good.
Sent from my I3312 using Tapatalk
That may be so, but how does manufacturing a £100 cart cost exponentially more than manufacturing a £100 one?
I think you missed out a 0 somewhere.
Some more expensive carts are handmade.
There is also economy in scale to take into consideration.
Jac Hawk
04-04-2021, 10:21
I just don't see where the value is being created, why does a £1000 cart cost 10 times more than a £100 cart to produce? This sought of pricing is just taking audiophiles for a ride, in their heads equating price with performance. You can get a decent TT for the same price as one of these 'high end carts, think of all the materials and work that went into creating a 1210 or a Rega rp6, and then spend the same on a cart, not a chance. I actually think £300 is a rip off too, a dinky bit of plastic.
You are paying for the skill, time and workmanship that goes into a high end cartridge, unlike a Rega Carbon they aren't just churned out, they are hand made by craftsmen, also because the workmanship is finer the amount that don't pass QC will be higher. i use an Art9 it's a fantastic cartridge i have it on an Audiomods series 6 arm on a TD160 Super and it sounds brilliant, the thing with all hifi is the more you pay the less the increase in SQ that's a fact and at this level it's more about the sound it produces matching your taste
To be more specific, the pricing ladder of carts is way too crazy. Let's say a range starts at £150, fine, now you want to go 'up' the ladder, next one is say £500, whoah! Then next one up is £1000, its mad. It should be £150, then £225, then £300.
Out of interest, how much was your Audio note Soro? The cheapest I see available on HiFi shark is about €2.5k, second hand, yet €1k for a cartridge is “bullshit”. :scratch: I am sure it is very nice, and I hope you got it cheaper than that.
Did you think that it offered much better value for money compared to a cheaper phono stage?
A wise man once said, if you have nothing positive to say, say nothing at all....
Mikeandvan
04-04-2021, 18:25
You are paying for the skill, time and workmanship that goes into a high end cartridge, unlike a Rega Carbon they aren't just churned out, they are hand made by craftsmen, also because the workmanship is finer the amount that don't pass QC will be higher. i use an Art9 it's a fantastic cartridge i have it on an Audiomods series 6 arm on a TD160 Super and it sounds brilliant, the thing with all hifi is the more you pay the less the increase in SQ that's a fact and at this level it's more about the sound it produces matching your taste
I'm sceptical, I think the cartridge makers are taking us for fools, and we should go on a strike!
Mikeandvan
04-04-2021, 18:30
Simple.
Better quality materials, cost more.
Tighter tolerances, cost more.
Specialist processes, cost more.
Better diamond profiles, cost more.
R&D to increase performance, costs more.
And so it goes, with each step adding costs, and if done correctly improving performance.
Case in point being AT mm carts, the 91 starts at around £29 then you go to the 95s that run from around £45 upto £190, all with differing levels of performance that can be plainly heard.
If you can't afford it, or object to the rationale of pricing/peoples desire to aim for better, then ignore such threads and keep your negativety to your self.
For me, Iceman and others on here the Hana ML has proved itself in the real world by the level of performance it produces against our previous benchmark carts.
The ML, in the real world represents very good vfm simply by the way it performs, producing a sound that equals or exceeds that of carts that are hawked out at 2x to 4x its retail price, its that good.
Sent from my I3312 using Tapatalk
I don't know, I can't see there is a huge difference in the production of various 'levels' of carts, only a huge difference in the pricing, to a gullible audio-ence equating price with quality, expectant of amazing things because of the amazing amount of money that's just left their bank accounts.
Mikeandvan
04-04-2021, 18:32
Out of interest, how much was your Audio note Soro? The cheapest I see available on HiFi shark is about €2.5k, second hand, yet €1k for a cartridge is “bullshit”. :scratch: I am sure it is very nice, and I hope you got it cheaper than that.
Did you think that it offered much better value for money compared to a cheaper phono stage?
A wise man once said, if you have nothing positive to say, say nothing at all....
The soro is an integrated, there's a lot inside, more than a tiny piece of plastic with a needle sticking out of it.
But what makes it better than a £300 integrated? It is just a box with a few components soldered together in it.
So why the large price difference? Does it give you that much of an improvement in sound quality?
€5850 for an integrated amp "is just bullshit".
I don't know, I can't see there is a huge difference in the production of various 'levels' of carts, only a huge difference in the pricing, to a gullible audio-ence equating price with quality, expectant of amazing things because of the amazing amount of money that's just left their bank accounts.
Your opening three words above, about sums up your knowledge of production methods and materials.
I have spent many years as a manufacturing systems engineer and QUALITY COSTS!!! Yes you can make stuff from lower spec parts to perform a job, but it won't perform as well or for as long as something made from better materials with tighter tolerances.
After all a Trabant will transport you from A to B th e same as a Ford Mondeo, the journey however would be far more pleasant in the Modeo.
Stop pissing in everyone's cornflakes, if you can't see the point in paying £500+ for a cart then butt out and don't make unhelpful comments just ignore this thread. The thread after all, is aimed at people who have been willing to spend good money on a cart and are willing to offer opinion on the performance of those cart.
You don't own one, you'd not be prepared to shell out for one, therefore your opinion is irrelevant with regards to the OPs question.
Iceman16
04-04-2021, 20:27
The soro is an integrated, there's a lot inside, more than a tiny piece of plastic with a needle sticking out of it.
Well just stick with a cart which can be a tiny piece of plastic with a needle sticking out of it and save some money then. 😀
Mikeandvan
04-04-2021, 21:06
Your opening three words above, about sums up your knowledge of production methods and materials.
I have spent many years as a manufacturing systems engineer and QUALITY COSTS!!! Yes you can make stuff from lower spec parts to perform a job, but it won't perform as well or for as long as something made from better materials with tighter tolerances.
After all a Trabant will transport you from A to B th e same as a Ford Mondeo, the journey however would be far more pleasant in the Modeo.
Stop pissing in everyone's cornflakes, if you can't see the point in paying £500+ for a cart then butt out and don't make unhelpful comments just ignore this thread. The thread after all, is aimed at people who have been willing to spend good money on a cart and are willing to offer opinion on the performance of those cart.
You don't own one, you'd not be prepared to shell out for one, therefore your opinion is irrelevant with regards to the OPs question.
A manufacturing systems engineer, for what? Unless its cartridges then my opinion is as valid as yours. I've 'shelled out' good money for carts before, I spent £400 once on an AT one, 440 I think, I had hayfever and it went skipping across a record and snapped, there's your £400 gone. I recently started buying Nag carts direct from Japan, a significant saving on UK outlets, the MP200 is quite a nice cart, and at what used to cost me £230 a steal at the prices you mugs are paying for whatever cart so and so reviewer has been given a few free ones to big up.
Mikeandvan
04-04-2021, 21:08
Well just stick with a cart which can be a tiny piece of plastic with a needle sticking out of it and save some money then. ��
Yeh,I'd rather spend £200 on my bit of piece and needle than £2k, you shyster, are you industry?
Mikeandvan
04-04-2021, 21:09
But what makes it better than a £300 integrated? It is just a box with a few components soldered together in it.
So why the large price difference? Does it give you that much of an improvement in sound quality?
€5850 for an integrated amp "is just bullshit".
Sir, you seem to lack perspective, to put it politely.
WullieD20
04-04-2021, 21:20
Jeez. . . The manufacture of high quality (expensive) cartridges is no less similar to other components of our hobby: Speakers that cost three quarter of a million pounds, amplifiers that cost a similar amount and even a vinyl album that comes in at £180!
These items are no different to many other items in life such as: A Breguet or Rolex watch that costs £20k upwards, a Meile washing machine (or even a bottle of whisky!) that costs £1.5k?
Others have tried to explain, but haven’t attempted to justify the necessary ‘mark up’ at each step of the retail chain from OEM to customer. They haven’t mentioned the time (man-hours) taken to develop a low volume item, which may have taken years; they haven’t discussed the fact that dealers will take the time to bring equipment to your home, leave it for you to evaluate and take it away without complaint if you don’t happen to like it. All this comes at a cost! They haven’t included the fact that these expensive items are sold in VERY small numbers and are designed to be sold to ‘those that can’ – all of which increase the price of ANY consumer product.
Whether you believe in any form of justification is completely irrelevant in today’s world where people will pay the price for something that falls into an ‘elite’ description for something THEY believe to be special, individual and outperform all other cheaper choices in the marketplace.
You may not agree, but that and that alone is your prerogative. Your argument is no more or less valid with ANY other consumer product that is there for us to choose, but it should be directed in an appropriate thread and not ‘pissing in other folk’s Cornflakes’ as John stated quite ‘politely!
Mikeandvan
04-04-2021, 21:58
Jeez. . . The manufacture of high quality (expensive) cartridges is no less similar to other components of our hobby: Speakers that cost three quarter of a million pounds, amplifiers that cost a similar amount and even a vinyl album that comes in at £180!
These items are no different to many other items in life such as: A Breguet or Rolex watch that costs £20k upwards, a Meile washing machine (or even a bottle of whisky!) that costs £1.5k?
Others have tried to explain, but haven’t attempted to justify the necessary ‘mark up’ at each step of the retail chain from OEM to customer. They haven’t mentioned the time (man-hours) taken to develop a low volume item, which may have taken years; they haven’t discussed the fact that dealers will take the time to bring equipment to your home, leave it for you to evaluate and take it away without complaint if you don’t happen to like it. All this comes at a cost! They haven’t included the fact that these expensive items are sold in VERY small numbers and are designed to be sold to ‘those that can’ – all of which increase the price of ANY consumer product.
Whether you believe in any form of justification is completely irrelevant in today’s world where people will pay the price for something that falls into an ‘elite’ description for something THEY believe to be special, individual and outperform all other cheaper choices in the marketplace.
You may not agree, but that and that alone is your prerogative. Your argument is no more or less valid with ANY other consumer product that is there for us to choose, but it should be directed in an appropriate thread and not ‘pissing in other folk’s Cornflakes’ as John stated quite ‘politely!
Yeh, you don't get it either do you, a proper Swiss watch, with all its intricate workings is vastly different to a bit of plastic with a needle sticking out of it, if I were you I would drop the comparisons with other products, unless they are supremely silly such as designer clothing. I buys carts myself, you may have noticed that, and I cannot see the justification for the huge hikes in price between one and other. And I'm sorry but the low volume crap just won't cut it with me. Unless someone on here with real knowledge can tell me the exact processes that make a £1000 cart justify its price tag over a £100 cart, then I'll come around to your houses tomorrow and sell you life insurance, or a used car may'be, it'll all be 'high end' of course.
A manufacturing systems engineer, for what? Unless its cartridges then my opinion is as valid as yours. I've 'shelled out' good money for carts before, I spent £400 once on an AT one, 440 I think, I had hayfever and it went skipping across a record and snapped, there's your £400 gone. I recently started buying Nag carts direct from Japan, a significant saving on UK outlets, the MP200 is quite a nice cart, and at what used to cost me £230 a steal at the prices you mugs are paying for whatever cart so and so reviewer has been given a few free ones to big up.
So you are clumsy as well? I have never broken a cartridge, yet.
Why would a reviewer get several cartridges?
So if I understand correctly, a £1k cartridge is Bullshit, and everybody who has responded here (except for you) is a mug?
Ok.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Trolls.jpg
I politely request that if you don’t have anything positive to add to this thread, then don’t add anything more.
Your responses to my question serve no useful purpose. You have no experience of the cartridges I am interested in, so your opinion is worthless.
WullieD20
05-04-2021, 06:09
I politely request that if you don’t have anything positive to add to this thread, then don’t add anything more.
Your responses to my question serve no useful purpose. You have no experience of the cartridges I am interested in, so your opinion is worthless.
:clapclapclap:
walpurgis
05-04-2021, 06:41
This thread doesn't seem to be headed anywhere happy. Please stick to direct responses to the OP folks.
Thanks.
Clive197
05-04-2021, 09:47
For my two penny worth, I have never heard an AT Art 9 so can make no comment. I have heard the Hana ML as I’ve owned one for some time. To me it’s one of the finest cartridges I’ve ever heard and I bought it to replace a Ortofon Cadenza Black which is not in the same league as the ML in my opinion. I also own an AT OC9XSH which while very good bears no comparison to the ML either. Should the OP decide to buy a Hana ML he will not be disappointed as many others on this thread have attested to.
Jac Hawk
05-04-2021, 10:30
Luckily i was in the trade and my employer had an account with Audio Technica so i got my Art9 with a massive reduction in cost, that being said it's a fantastic cart which punches well above its weight so i would happily buy another at dealer prices.
To choose between the 2 is going to be a tricky business and it's as much a part of how the carts sound to you and which work best with your system as actually this one is better than that one, my advice is see if you can get both of them on loan preferably at the same time, if you're serious and the dealer has them both on demo then it shouldn't be an issue, but either way i don't think you'll be disappointed
Thanks.
The issue is that we have just entered a 4 week lockdown. All non essential shops are closed...
Getting a listen to both will be difficult.
Jac Hawk
05-04-2021, 11:51
Thanks.
The issue is that we have just entered a 4 week lockdown. All non essential shops are closed...
Getting a listen to both will be difficult.
The best thing to do then is wait until they open, personally i think £1k is a lot of cash and you need to know you've done all you can to make the right decision, luckily the choice is between 2 cartridges and not 20, once you've agreed on a price for each with a dealer and paid a deposit he's going to be happy enough to loan you them if he has them so that you can make up your mind.
I would like to hear the Goldring Ethos as well.
A big ask for a dealer to have all three, but you never know.
I have contacted a dealer about a loan. I will wait for his response, but I am in no rush.
I would love to try both the ART 9 and Hana ML myself Kev but it would mean a £2000 investment for me as I would have to add in a MC phono stage.
If I were to get a choice of only one I would probably go for the Hana ML myself but obviously the only way to know is to hear one in your own system with your own kit as personal preference and system synergy will determine if it hits the spot? I have a feeling the ART 9 would be more about detail and resolution where as the ML from what I have gathered would be the more musical of the two.
I will be very interested to hear your thoughts if you get to try either or both.:)
I would love to try both the ART 9 and Hana ML myself Kev but it would mean a £2000 investment for me as I would have to add in a MC phono stage.
If I were to get a choice of only one I would probably go for the Hana ML myself but obviously the only way to know is to hear one in your own system with your own kit as personal preference and system synergy will determine if it hits the spot? I have a feeling the ART 9 would be more about detail and resolution where as the ML from what I have gathered would be the more musical of the two.
I will be very interested to hear your thoughts if you get to try either or both.:)
You need the Hana MH then? ;)
The problem is, the Art-9 has been replaced by a more expensive version, with is about €300 more than an ML.
Then there is also the 20X2 from Dynavector, the Phasemation etc.
How the hell are you supposed to pick just one?
lol its a nightmare isn't it,i spent weeks reading up on cadenza's and hana's in the end i just went with my gut feeling.
Then if I am going for a new Art-9, why don’t I step up to the Dynavector XX2 Mk II that I have heard, and like?
But I didn’t mention Benz, or clear audio, or Ortofon...
Then we have ZYX.
Or I could get another MI, like a Sound Smith.
Or stay blissfully ignorant, and wear out my current stock of MMS and the Music Maker Classic.
I need to find somewhere that will lend me a cartridge to try at home, for sure.
Jac Hawk
05-04-2021, 16:24
You need the Hana MH then? ;)
The problem is, the Art-9 has been replaced by a more expensive version, with is about €300 more than an ML.
Then there is also the 20X2 from Dynavector, the Phasemation etc.
How the hell are you supposed to pick just one?
From what i've been told by guys i know at AT the new Art9 is no more than a model consolidation and re brand between the Art7 and Art9 with the bodies having screw threads added and a price increase.
Thanks. I saw you had posted that information before, which is useful, as it put me off spending more just for a rebranding.
I may still be able to find an Art-9 for sale, but no demo will be possible if I go this route.
From what I have read, anyone who owns either the Art-9 or ML seem happy with it.
Now if only I had a friend who had a friend in the trade, who could get me them at trade prices, I could try both (And I am not referring to you Mike).
why don’t I step up to the Dynavector XX2 Mk II that I have heard, and like?
If you’ve heard it and like it, go with that!
Would love to hear an MC on my Rega.
If you’ve heard it and like it, go with that!
Would love to hear an MC on my Rega.
It’s about €600 more than I really want to spend.
It’s about €600 more than I really want to spend.
Fair enough, but if you buy something else and don’t like it that ain’t cheap in the long run.
What about a lower model Dynavector, I’m guessing they have a similar house sound which you’ll still like.
Jac Hawk
05-04-2021, 22:28
Must admit I like my dynavector 10x5
Ammonite Audio
06-04-2021, 09:03
You need the Hana MH then? ;)
The problem is, the Art-9 has been replaced by a more expensive version, with is about €300 more than an ML.
Then there is also the 20X2 from Dynavector, the Phasemation etc.
How the hell are you supposed to pick just one?
I'd certainly recommend keeping the Phasemation PP-200 on your list. Phasemation cartridges offer an unusually spacious and refined sound character, with low surface noise and MM-like tracking ability, and the PP-200 is well priced. Since you're in France I can't offer any help, but it would be worth speaking to François at Ana Mighty Sound in Paris.
I have the ART-9 and it is a superb cartridge the best I have ever owned, however it has one of the smallest stylus on a cartridge that I have owned or seen, and being a special line contact type stylus I believe it sits deeper in the groove of the vinyl than most other styluses, The only problem I found with that is that I find it is not too forgiving on worn, dirty or lightly scratched vinyl, it really needs pristine vinyl to play on, and then it comes into its own, so unless your vinyl is of pristine condition I would not spend so much on a cartridge.
Jac Hawk
06-04-2021, 09:32
I have the ART-9 and it is a superb cartridge the best I have ever owned, however it has one of the smallest stylus on a cartridge that I have owned or seen, and being a special line contact type stylus I believe it sits deeper in the groove of the vinyl than most other styluses, The only problem I found with that is that I find it is not too forgiving on worn, dirty or lightly scratched vinyl, it really needs pristine vinyl to play on, and then it comes into its own, so unless your vinyl is of pristine condition I would not spend so much on a cartridge.
I'd agree the Art9 does tend to dig a little deeper and the stylus is incredibly slim, but i've found a decent RCM sorts out your dirty vinyl leaving it in good enough condition that the cartridge is happy
If you’ve heard it and like it, go with that!
Would love to hear an MC on my Rega.
Thanks to John for pointing it out, I have a low hours XX2 Mk II on it’s way to me.
:cool:
It works out cheaper than the ML, and I know I like it.
Great, hope it works out Kevin.
Mikeandvan
06-04-2021, 22:02
Apologies for trolling this thread yesterday, hope your XX2 brings you joy.
Apology accepted. :thumbsup:
Now get back to enjoying the music.
The XX2 will be kept for “Sunday best”.
Firebottle
07-04-2021, 15:35
I'm sure it will sound excellent Kevin.
I bought a very low hours Dynavecta Karat Ruby that has a microline stylus and it's superb :thumbsup:
I'm sure it will sound excellent Kevin.
I bought a very low hours Dynavecta Karat Ruby that has a microline stylus and it's superb :thumbsup:
I just need to finish my BB3. ;)
The XX2 has arrived. :cool:
Unfortunately, only one channel works, :(
Further troubleshooting suggests that it is a wiring issue.
Either in the cartridge tags, or in my pre-amp.
I fitted a different cartridge, and I have the same problem.
Time to break out the multimeter....
The green tag fell off. I guess I found the problem.
Re-soldered in place, and both channels are working. :champagne:
Phew! :cool:
:thumbsup:
My thoughts exactly. The cabling looked ok, till the tag fell off....
supapeet
21-06-2021, 09:19
I was able to get my Orbe SE to the dealers, they used my amp and similar speakers and I demoed both the Hana and AT Art 9. I eventually went with the Art 9 over the Hana, now don’t expect me to wax lyrical about why, it just sounded better and got more detail from the music.
Just sat here reading through this thread and listening to the Stones Let It Bleed and wow, the Stones are in the room.
CableMaker1
26-12-2022, 00:33
It's been years since being on this forum. I've been reading this thread and may be able to contribute with some words of wisdom that may help understand on how to help Mikeandvan understand the passion that we have with our audio obsessions which I think will be eye opening experience to everyone on this thread.
Spending $100 on a cartridge is a bull shit move. Anyone who cherishes their high fidelity record collection knows that investing in a cartridge phono preamp combo starts at $800 and up. Thank you everyone for investing your time on these words of wisdom. I know you will cherish these words as gospel in the quest for audio nirvana.
Thank you. And merry Christmas to all here!
That being said, I am thinking of upgrading my fantastic performing AT AT33EV MC cartridge to either a Hana ML or AT ART9XI/XA. Maybe I get both and have them in my collection. I am not sure yet, but based on everyones experience on this thread, you can't go wrong with either. Just wish I could audition both though.
It will be going into my beloved 36 year old heavily modded Technics SL1200MK2 which will be used on my first and only ps audio gcph modded phono preamp which can accept mm and mc carts with different impedances.
See my signature below for the all-out assault on the mods performed on my tt's.
What do you guys think?
I think that price is not a performance indicator.
My phono stage cost me less than $800, and it would take a lot more to better it.
CableMaker1
26-12-2022, 16:09
I think that price is not a performance indicator.
My phono stage cost me less than $800, and it would take a lot more to better it.
Same here. Totally get it. But I had my phone preamps (I have two for two turntables on two systems) modded with upgrades that took it to a whole other level which pushed them over the $1000 mark. I would put them against phono preamps that would cost 3-5 times the cost.
I have a large number of phono pre amps, but the BB3 I built is my favourite.
It is not about what is best, but which one you like the most.
Pigmy Pony
27-12-2022, 09:11
I have a large number of phono pre amps, but the BB3 I built is my favourite.
It is not about what is best, but which one you like the most.
Exactly! If it sounds right to the listener, it is right, regardless of cost. There will always be something "better", but most of us don't have bottomless pockets, and money spent chasing that nth degree of resolution is money not spent on music. Which for me is what it's all for :)
oceanobsession
17-01-2023, 19:38
Never heard the art9 , but own the hana ml use with a hasimoto hm3 step up , also have a cadenza blue , hana ml sounds fantastic , cant fault it ,
betters the cadenza blue . phil.
I just came across this post and I'd like to know what the setting on the phono preamp settings (gain and loading) should be for the Hana ML cartridge. I have the low output variant.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.