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Hana EL or EH?

willboy said:
Before you dismiss Hana carts on the back of just one or two opinions, it might be worth having a read of this SH thread...no shortage of real-world opinions/reviews there...
https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/hana-cartridges.494064/
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Thanks Willboy. I looked at the last few pages, where the final judgements are: some great reviews!

I still wish there was more comparison to more MCs, not just "the usual suspects". I have some vintage LOMCs that are magic. They were "the greatest" in their day... which was also "Vinyl's Golden Age". They're often available for much less than the EL, NIB NOS. People are wary of old stuff but I've had no issues, suspensions seem perfect. And they have the exotic cantilevers and stylus shapes still highly prized in today's "high end".

I'll probably never hear a Hana and never know, because my oldies-but-goodies have years left on them.

PS — Just read you're buying the AT. A bit of both worlds: a "vintage classic" so good it's still in production, with new tweaks here and there. Plus warranty. Your Review is almost mandatory at this point!
 
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rothwellaudio said:
In theory, you could just use 47k. In practice there's no advantage to using a load impedance higher than it needs to be and there's a possibility that the cartridge could produce noise above the audio band with a high impedance load. With a lower impedance that noise would be damped.
Many cartridge manufacturers state the recommended load as "greater than X ohms" rather than a particular figure and the importance of the "correct" load and its effects on the sound are a matter of debate. In the case of the Hana cartridge, maybe it is unusually sensitive to load impedance. If the OP has doubts about it there are plenty of other cartridges to choose from.
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After I posted my question, I did some more online research. What I learned is that some people have indeed advocated doing just what I suggested: running low-output MCs into 47k. The late Harry Pearson, founder of The Absolute Sound, advocated running LOMC carts "wide open." However, apparently many who've tried it with carts intended for, say, 100 ohms, feel the sound becomes simultaneously too thin and too bright. Note that do not currently possess a low-output MC, and I've never tried one. But overnight I ordered an Audio-Technica AT-OC9ML/II. So I'll be able to experiment with this 100 vs 47k myself.
 
SPEC2man said:
Well, FWIW I went from a Denon DL103r to a Hanna SL over a year ago. I had it setup at Echo Audio in Portland OR by Kurt Doslu - a guy that knows quite a bit about analog. He recommended it over another Denon. I was all setup to run with a Grado Sonata II but Kurt really liked the new Hana carts. I ended up going with his recommendation with some trepidation. I'm currently running a Jolida JD 9. I set the input resistance to 300 ohms (with the options being 100, 300, 1K and 47K). Overall I have been very pleased - I think it bested the Denon 103r. I wanted a more laid back presentation; I am running a Sumiko Blackbird LO on my other system and it seems a tad bright at times. I guess some would call it "detailed" or "sparkling" but I like a fatter midrange. I have a couple different phono preamps so your thread makes me want to play a bit with the settings on the Joloda and maybe swap it out for the Modwright SWP.
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Interesting about the move from the 103r to the SL as I've been toying with the same idea. I've got a Phonomena II+ on the way and I would like to see how much more I can pull out of the 103r first. Also considering the 103 aluminum Cap. https://www.denonaluminumbody.com/ Can anyone share their experience with it specifically with the 103r?

My understanding is that the recommended loading for the SL is > 400 ohms. Just curious if you tried that and if there were any noticeable improvements. In all fairness to the 103r the SL is $750 vs $279 for the 103r.

Here's a YT video of Michael Fremer visiting Excel Sound Corporation Japan. They mfg. Hana. Not what I was expecting.

 
Calypte said:
After I posted my question, I did some more online research. What I learned is that some people have indeed advocated doing just what I suggested: running low-output MCs into 47k. The late Harry Pearson, founder of The Absolute Sound, advocated running LOMC carts "wide open." However, apparently many who've tried it with carts intended for, say, 100 ohms, feel the sound becomes simultaneously too thin and too bright. Note that do not currently possess a low-output MC, and I've never tried one. But overnight I ordered an Audio-Technica AT-OC9ML/II. So I'll be able to experiment with this 100 vs 47k myself.
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Many here on AK do it. I do when the preamp is only 47K, and they sound great. But this is with either a head-amp or SUT: that changes the loading, esp SUT.

@Calypte I have the first AT-OC9 and like it a lot. Got it ages ago and stored it, so it's new, and new to me. Yours, with the ML, will have more detail (though mine isn't lacking). Let us know how you like it.
 
bimasta said:
Many here on AK do it. I do when the preamp is only 47K, and they sound great. But this is with either a head-amp or SUT: that changes the loading, esp SUT.

@Calypte I have the first AT-OC9 and like it a lot. Got it ages ago and stored it, so it's new, and new to me. Yours, with the ML, will have more detail (though mine isn't lacking). Let us know how you like it.
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My choice of the OC9 has some history. As I said, I've never owned a low-output MC. Back in the 1980s, Gramophone (a British classical music reviewing magazine) tested the first version of the OC9, and their reviewer praised it highly. So I've always been curious about it.
 
I was ordering from LP Gear when I run into this disclaimer: "Average ground delivery time ranges from 7-14 business days (not guaranteed)". Again: I need it to arrive before the 16th.
Hence the question: how long do domestic ground shipping usually take, over there? (the expedited option costs 40 bucks more).
 
fedocable said:
Update: this would be shipping from Nevada to San Francisco. Logic indicates it should take very short time.
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For me, it was between LPGear and NeedleDoctor (at $80 more for the A-T OC9!). When I went to place my order, it said free shipping for orders over some minimum, which I was easily exceeding. For $80, it's well worth it to me to wait a few extra days, if it comes to that.
 
Calypte said:
For me, it was between LPGear and NeedleDoctor (at $80 more for the A-T OC9!). When I went to place my order, it said free shipping for orders over some minimum, which I was easily exceeding. For $80, it's well worth it to me to wait a few extra days, if it comes to that.
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The problem is that I don't live in the States, and will only be there for a week until the 16th. I would think it's safe to assume that 12 days is enough for a package to arrive from Nevada to San Francisco; how does it sound to you? In your experience, how long does a LP Gear shipping usually take?
 
BTW, bringing this back to Hana (the title of the thread), the questions I directed at Mr. Rothwell Audio were occasioned by the Hana EL's optimum loading being ">400 ohms." With my Parasound phono preamp, I have a choice of 100 or 47k. I was wondering if there'd be much audible difference between 400 (which I can't provide) and 47k. I still have the inert carcass of an Emotiva XPS-1 phono preamp. It has (had!) four load settings for MC, including 470 and 1000, either of which would probably suit the Hana perfectly. The XPS-1 was blown out by a direct lightning strike on the house in 2014. It looks so beautiful and cool, and the power LED even lights up. But it's dead for audio. It was out-of-stock at Emotiva when I tried to get a new one, so I never replaced it.
 
fedocable said:
The problem is that I don't live in the States, and will only be there for a week until the 16th. I would think it's safe to assume that 12 days is enough for a package to arrive from Nevada to San Francisco; how does it sound to you? In your experience, how long does a LP Gear shipping usually take?
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I personally have no experience with LPGear, although others here have recommended him. I note that the business address is a private residence in Henderson, NV, a suburb of Las Vegas. I'm guessing that his inventory is in a storage locker somewhere nearby. The fact that he doesn't have a storefront or an office in a commercial building is probably why he can't promise speedy shipping. It's a garage operation.
 
I think I'll just need to wait and hope they answer soon enough. It would be a damn pity, after all the sleepless (and workless!) hours I put into this!
(PS. Sorry I got so off the thread subject!)
 
Calypte said:
My choice of the OC9 has some history. As I said, I've never owned a low-output MC. Back in the 1980s, Gramophone (a British classical music reviewing magazine) tested the first version of the OC9, and their reviewer praised it highly. So I've always been curious about it.
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Relying on Gramophone is pretty safe: they're all about Music, not gear. They weren't the only ones: every UK magazine at the time called it 'bargain of the century', 'true high end for a steal', etc. Adding the ML can't hurt. Apparently they changed internals in the Mk3 version, and it's not as well liked. But I never heard one so no comment.
 
This weekend I will play around with the loading on the Modwright SWP 9.0 - I will bring the Hana setup (Rega P-25) into the main room and have some fun. The mancave is sitting at about 50 degrees (my converted garage) and isnt really going to be ready for prime time for another month. I have been listening to the Rega P-9 with the Sumiko Blackbird for about 6 months - maybe it's time for a change. Just got a bunch of new LP's in the mail - so Friday might be prime for some experimentation. Like mentioned before - I read reviews and often have a hard time buying into the evaluations. In particular, LP reviews. I guess I'm fortunate enough not to be gifted in picking out subtle nuances. I gave up on using critical gear reviews to narrow the field years ago but I still read them. I can pick plenty of good information out of a review and leave the opinions at the door. The only real opinion that matters is mine - but to that I will mention the room, equipment, speaker placement and the LP all play a part. Is Fremer's opinion likely to follow mine? Not all the time - and I get it, I dont have $250K to put into an analog setup. Doesn't make him wrong, just an apples to oranges synario. On a side note - I am off to Mr. Pig's house this weekend for a demo of all his new gear. Half tempted to bring the Rega P25 and have it run with the big boys. He will certainly have some thoughts regarding cartridge selection. Thanks to all that have contributed to this thread, it has me thinking about cartridge loading and system synergy again. Too often I find myself getting things set up and just living with the results vs. trying to squeeze all I can out of a product. I'm a happy camper with the Hana cartridge but I'm certainly up for some tweaking.
 
Mr. SPEC2man: I've learned a lot, too. As a result of this thread and Mr. Rothwell Audio's comments, I spent a lot of time googling articles on proper cartridge loading, particularly LOMC loading. It's been very educational. Thanks, guys!
 
Thanks. That's certainly encouraging, but at this point I'll better wait for a reply confirming stock and shipping time. After all, choosing the cartridge was the tricky part -getting it is only a matter of time.
 
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I own the Hana SL and love it. I heard the EH at Acoustic Sounds while visiting and was very impressed. I have many HOMC carts and wanted to go with the SL. I honesty I don't think you will disappointed if you are limited by budget. The LOMC may give you more granularity with loading depending on what pre you own.
 
skandl said:
I own the Hana SL and love it. I heard the EH at Acoustic Sounds while visiting and was very impressed. I have many HOMC carts and wanted to go with the SL. I honesty I don't think you will disappointed if you are limited by budget. The LOMC may give you more granularity with loading depending on what pre you own.
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Currently on my third Hana EH so no need to say how much I like it. I haven't heard many other cartridges for comparison, but it's in a different league to the Denon DL110 it replaced in my set-up, which it should be at more than twice the price.
 
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