I’ve heard lots of good things about Hana Cartridges so an update that’s also an upgrade certainly comes as news of the “good” variety.
Upgrades across the line for the new Hana MK II Series include a new tapered aluminum cantilever, better spec’d parts, cryo’d yoke, pole-pieces, and gold terminal pins, and an improved non-resonant body shape.
What’s the difference(s) between the models?
Between the SL and SH, namely output level and impedance with the SL being a low output moving coil, while the SL Mono is, well, not stereo.
The price for the new Hana SL MK II Series cartridges, that will arrive on September 23, 2024, is $850 a piece, a $100 up-charge from the existing SL Series.
Here’s the press release from Musical Surroundings:
Musical Surroundings Introduces MKII Versions of the Popular Hana S Series Cartridges
Musical Surroundings today announced a MK II upgrade to its world-wide best selling Hana S cartridge series. The Mk II upgrade enhances both the line’s musical performance and value. Master cartridge designer Masao Okada implements a new tapered Aluminum cantilever with increased rigidity, resulting in a remarkable improvement transferring groove modulation from vinyl record to the cartridge generator. The S Series Mk II features higher specified parts, advanced materials, and unique technical processes drawn from Hana’s higher-priced elite cartridge models, furthering the Hana “brilliant and gorgeous” sound.
Critical parts, including the Yoke, Pole-pieces, and gold Terminal pins, have been cryogenically treated for a more natural sound.
Improved, non-resonant body shape, modeled after the Hana M Series, is damped with a matte Soft Feel Black elastomeric resin paint, and features a brass cap with threaded cartridge mounting fittings. The heavier Mk II cartridges offer better coupling with expanded compatibility to a wider range of tonearms, improving bass and dynamics.
The SL MK II generator, a found in the Umami Blue and ML, incorporates an Alnico magnet and cross-coil using high purity 30-micron copper wire with an 8Ω impedance. This improves signal to noise, reduces moving mass for higher resolution and traceability, and optimizes performance for a broader range of phono stages.
Hana S Series MKII Specifications
Stylus – Nude Diamond Shibata
Cantilever – Tapered Aluminum
Magnet – Alnico
Yoke & Polepiece – Pure Iron/Cyro treatment
Coil Wire – High Purity Copper
Armature – Permalloy/Cross-coil
Output Pins– Gold Plated/Cyro treatment
Cartridge Housing/Cap – Elastomeric coated ABS/Threaded Brass
Cartridge weight – 8.6 grams
Cartridge color – black
Output level – 0.4mV/1KHz SL MKII and SL Mono MK II, 2mV/1KHz SH MKII
Coil Impedance – 8Ω SL MKII, 23Ω SL Mono MKII, 130Ω SH MKII
Load impedance – ≥80 ohms SL MKII, ≥230Ω SL Mono MKII, 47kΩ SH MKII
Frequency response – 15 – 32,000Hz
Channel separation – 28dB/1KHz SL MKII and SH MKII
Output balance – <1.5dB/1KHz SL MKII and SH MKII
Vertical tracking force (VTF) – 2 grams
Trackability – 70µm/2gr
Dynamic Compliance – 10×10-6cm/dyne
US Retail price – $850
US Distributor Website: Musical Surroundings