Hana SL MKII Cartridge

The MKII features a new tapered aluminum cantilever for increased rigidity and a non-resonant body damped with a specialized elastomeric resin. These upgrades, combined with cryogenic treatment of critical components, result in improved clarity and a more natural, dynamic sound profile.

Yes, as a low-output moving coil cartridge, the Hana SL MKII requires a phono stage or step-up transformer capable of handling moving coil (MC) inputs. You will need to ensure your preamp has enough gain to accommodate the 0.4mV output.

Absolutely. The integrated threaded brass cap eliminates the need for fiddly nuts when mounting the cartridge to your headshell, allowing for a more secure and straightforward installation process.

The MKII has been designed with a slightly heavier mass to improve coupling with a wider variety of tonearms. With a dynamic compliance of 10x10(-6)cm/dyne, it performs best on medium-mass tonearms.

The Shibata profile is designed to track the groove walls more precisely than elliptical styli, extracting more detail from the high-frequency range. Because it distributes tracking force over a larger surface area, it can also help reduce record wear when properly aligned.

Yes, the cartridge is engineered to perform optimally at a vertical tracking force of 2 grams. We recommend using a high-quality digital stylus force gauge to ensure you hit this target precisely for the best balance of trackability and sound quality.