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Hana EL MC

Cartridge

Relative price

below typical

Among the 89 cartridges in the catalogue, this one is below typical.

A band places a component against its peers and carries no price. It is deliberately the only price indicator on this page: a second one, measured against a different set, would narrow the two together far enough to give the figure away.

What it is

Hana E-series entry MC (elliptical/aluminium). Compliance is a family [E] estimate — flag.

Competition record

Assessed against 16 rivals across the sixty systems: 2 head-to-heads won, 59 lost.

Where it gives ground

The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.

  • speed stability ×41
  • quietness at rest ×19
  • low-level clarity ×7
  • midrange truth ×1

Who it comes up against

van den Hul The Frog

20 lost · Anchored, Artisan, BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Twin Arms

Against the Anchored brief, the van den Hul The Frog keeps the slot decisively.

With the Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

With the Vertere Groove Runner X, the pairing gives up most on speed stability.

On its own merits the Hana EL MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

remarkable job tracing groovesPositive Feedback (Gibbs) 2018

van den Hul The Crimson

15 lost · Anchored, BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Twin Arms

Against the Characterful brief, the van den Hul The Crimson keeps the slot decisively.

With the Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

With the Vertere Groove Runner X, the pairing gives up most on speed stability.

On its own merits the Hana EL MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

remarkable job tracing groovesPositive Feedback (Gibbs) 2018

Goldring Eroica HX MC

4 lost · Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Goldring Eroica HX MC keeps the slot decisively.

With the Whest Audio 60Se Pro, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

On its own merits the Hana EL MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

remarkable job tracing groovesPositive Feedback (Gibbs) 2018

Sumiko Blue Point No.3 Low MC

4 lost · Artisan, Cavity-Native, PRaT, Reference

Against the Artisan brief, the Sumiko Blue Point No.3 Low MC keeps the slot by a whisker.

With the ProJect Tonearm 8.6 Carbon (Debut PRO), the pairing gives up most on speed stability.

On its own merits the Hana EL MC is the stronger cartridge — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the ProJect Tonearm 8.6 Carbon (Debut PRO) gives up speed stability under the Artisan weighting.

van den Hul The Colibri

3 lost · Artisan, Reference

Against the Artisan brief, the van den Hul The Colibri keeps the slot clearly.

With the Vertere Groove Runner X, the pairing gives up most on speed stability.

On its own merits the Hana EL MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

Linn Kendo MC

2 lost · Twin Arms

Against the Twin Arms brief, the Linn Kendo MC keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Hana EL MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

Etsuro Urushi Gold MC

2 lost · Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the Etsuro Urushi Gold MC keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Hana EL MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

Etsuro Urushi Cobalt Blue MC

2 lost · Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the Etsuro Urushi Cobalt Blue MC keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Hana EL MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

van den Hul MC One Special

2 lost · Romantic, Twin Arms

Against the Romantic brief, the van den Hul MC One Special keeps the slot clearly.

With the Technics S-shape magnesium tonearm (SL-1200G), the pairing gives up most on speed stability.

On its own merits the Hana EL MC is the stronger cartridge — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Technics S-shape magnesium tonearm (SL-1200G) gives up speed stability under the Romantic weighting.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

Koetsu Azule Platinum MC

1 lost · Twin Arms

Against the Twin Arms brief, the Koetsu Azule Platinum MC keeps the slot clearly.

On its own merits the Hana EL MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

Koetsu Onyx Platinum MC

1 lost · Twin Arms

Against the Twin Arms brief, the Koetsu Onyx Platinum MC keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Hana EL MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

Ortofon MC Quintet Black S

1 lost · Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the Ortofon MC Quintet Black S keeps the slot clearly.

With the Roksan Attessa Unipivot tonearm, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.

On its own merits the Hana EL MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

exceedingly natural, organic rightnessStereophile (Reichert) 2016

Rega Nd3 MM

1 lost · Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Rega Nd3 MM keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Hana EL MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

Linn Koil MC

1 lost · BBC Sound

Against the BBC Sound brief, the Linn Koil MC keeps the slot by a whisker.

With the ProJect Tonearm 8.6 Carbon (Debut PRO), the pairing gives up most on speed stability.

On its own merits the Hana EL MC is the stronger cartridge — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the ProJect Tonearm 8.6 Carbon (Debut PRO) gives up speed stability under the BBC Sound weighting.

entry-level MC for those stepping up from AdiktCymbiosis dealer + Linn cartridge family overview

Goldring Eroica LX MC

0 lost· 1 won · Twin Arms

Against the Twin Arms brief, the Hana EL MC takes the slot decisively.

On its own merits the Hana EL MC is the weaker cartridge — yet it wins here on fit: the way it sits with the rest of this system under the Twin Arms weighting.

Goldring 1042 MM

0 lost· 1 won · Twin Arms

Against the Twin Arms brief, the Hana EL MC takes the slot decisively.

On its own merits the Hana EL MC is the stronger cartridge for that brief.

Systems it is part of

What the reviewers said

rich Hana E-series consensus (inherits the documented Hana house character; see batch2a ML/Umami records)· Tonal body
entry Hana E-series (elliptical stylus)· Spatial resolution
natural Hana owner consensus· Tonal consistency
25dB channel separation at 1kHz SPEC: channel separation 25dB @1kHz (manufacturer)· Spatial naturalness
Technicolor mids, liquid highs Stereophile (Reichert) 2016· Presence & articulation
exceedingly natural, organic rightness Stereophile (Reichert) 2016· Harmonic texture
extra warmth, midrange glow The Audiophile Man (Rigby) 2016· Tonal body
remarkable job tracing grooves Positive Feedback (Gibbs) 2018· Electrical noise floor

How it scores

Clarity

  • Spatial resolution 70 from listening evidence

Voice

  • Tonal body 76 from listening evidence
  • Presence & articulation 82 from listening evidence
  • Harmonic texture 82 from listening evidence
  • Spatial naturalness 70 from listening evidence

LowerVolume

  • Tonal consistency 71 from listening evidence

Specifications

cartridge typeMC
output mv0.5
internal impedance ohm30.0
recommended load ohm400
tracking force g2.0
compliance dynamic um per mn15
weight g5.0
stylus profileelliptical
cantilever materialaluminium
frequency response hz15/25000
channel separation db25.0
notes