Based on the listenability reviews I've read, I picked out a Hana SL cartridge for my birthday present. It'll be a while before I get to mount it up and have a listen, but I wanted some impressions from people here who've had some experience with this particular cartridge, especially if there are any particular concerns with arm adjustment and loading.
I was thinking of pairing the cartridge with some Beyer Dynamic step-up transformers. I'll cite the Beyer part number when I have a chance to get home and have a look at the transformers. Ill be comparing this cartridge to a less expensive AT low output moving coil cartridge - model number to follow..
Addition - the cartridge I have for comparison is the AT-OC9ML/II
I was thinking of pairing the cartridge with some Beyer Dynamic step-up transformers. I'll cite the Beyer part number when I have a chance to get home and have a look at the transformers. Ill be comparing this cartridge to a less expensive AT low output moving coil cartridge - model number to follow..
Addition - the cartridge I have for comparison is the AT-OC9ML/II
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Congratulations! Really good cartridge. Hana SL has very musical and sweet sound.
I listened for a week AT-OC9ML/III and Hana is better. Give it minimum 20 hours before comparing.
I listened for a week AT-OC9ML/III and Hana is better. Give it minimum 20 hours before comparing.
Happy Bday too youuuuu!
No experience with Hana, but I like ATOC9, have few around. Nice cart with just slight uplift in heights. Some may like it, some not. I do have Benz ACE and I like it even better than AT.
No experience with Hana, but I like ATOC9, have few around. Nice cart with just slight uplift in heights. Some may like it, some not. I do have Benz ACE and I like it even better than AT.
The Beyer transformers I have directly on hand are the TR/BV 351 015 006, which have a turns ratio of 15:1. These may be right on the money for the Hana. I'll have to check the loading specs for the AT cartridge to determine its suitability for this turns ratio..
The Hana is the lastest incarnation of a generator that started life in the Coral MCs of the 70s. Was also used in all the sumiko blue point series so has had a long life. Hana is the house brand of Excel so in theory is better value as skips a layer of markup.
Beyond that can't say anything as not a cartridge that has particularly interested me, but seems to get a lot of love.
Beyond that can't say anything as not a cartridge that has particularly interested me, but seems to get a lot of love.
I'm also familiar with the HANA EL which I thought was a rather nice cartridge that punches well above its price point. This was installed on an early production version of the Sorane ZA-12 on a TD-124 into a Muscovite phono stage (one of mine) at Lone Star a couple of years ago.
I had one too! I think like you it was probably my first decent cartridge. It was replaced by a Monster Alpha II which was very good until I wore it out.
Congrats & Happy Belated Birthday greetings.
I have one. Dull as dishwater.😀
jeff
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A lot of time ago, really I don't remember how was the sound, but surely not so good as you say.
I did some scratching around, and it looks like the Hana cartridge will be best suited with a 10:1 step ratio if I keep a 47k resistor at the input of my preamp to accommodate the AT moving magnet cartridge (AT440MLB) I'm using to evaluate the performance of my preamp with cartridges that are fiddly about excess loading capacitance.
On the other hand, the AT-OC9ML/II will be happier with the 15:1 step-up ratio, as it wants a lower impedance load than the Hana. That's kinda the opposite of what I expected. Fortunately, I have enough MC/microphone step-up iron lying about to give both cartridges what they need, though not necessarily at the same time...
On the other hand, the AT-OC9ML/II will be happier with the 15:1 step-up ratio, as it wants a lower impedance load than the Hana. That's kinda the opposite of what I expected. Fortunately, I have enough MC/microphone step-up iron lying about to give both cartridges what they need, though not necessarily at the same time...
I was thinking of placing the MC step-up transformers inside the preamp chassis, but I might instead do a separate box with 10:1 and 15:1 transformers inside. That way, I have the best of both worlds, and can freely swap cartridges.
You may find switches a problem if you use them at these levels - I have built a bunch of SUT using Lundahl transformers, and the simplest, most direct path has generally performed notably better.
If there are separate taps you could just connect RCA jacks to each as some manufacturers have done.
These cartridges IIRC have comparatively high output (0.5mV) so even a 1:6 might be suitable. Some of the old Partridge mic transformers work well.
Another viable option would be a solid state head amp or a couple of 6DJ8 paralleled up to increase transconductance. (4 sections in parallel should be about 6dB quieter than a single triode)
If there are separate taps you could just connect RCA jacks to each as some manufacturers have done.
These cartridges IIRC have comparatively high output (0.5mV) so even a 1:6 might be suitable. Some of the old Partridge mic transformers work well.
Another viable option would be a solid state head amp or a couple of 6DJ8 paralleled up to increase transconductance. (4 sections in parallel should be about 6dB quieter than a single triode)
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