Hear the MC Phono Cartridges Driving the Audiophile Press Wild: Price-to-Performance-Leading Hana SH and SL Provide Stellar Transparency, Definition, Extension, Separation
The Absolute Sound, Stereophile, Hi-Fi Choice, Hi-Fi World, and other audiophile press outlets agree: The Hana SH and SL MC phono cartridges offer price-to-performance quality, constant musical engagement, and refined sound few (if any) other models offer at this cost. A winner of a TAS Editors Choice Award, Hana SH and SL (for high- and low-output, respectively) offer tight balances, great separation, and exceptional frequency extension. Anchored by a top-rate Shibata stylus, Hana SH and SL also feature alnico magnets and cross-shaped armatures. Once you hear this red-hot cartridge line for yourself, youll fully understand why the critics are raving about Hana. This is no small upgrade to your analog setup.
In particular, SH and SL excel at producing musical engaging experiences—the very exploits audiophiles value most and which transcend the numbers attached to any measurement. You’ll enjoy remarkable transparency, edge-free transients, even-handed linearity, and bottom-end weight that take you into the performances. The levels of soundstaging, coherency, and definition also far exceed that what should be possible at this price point. If you want a no-frills cartridge that allows you to sit back, listen, and forget about your surroundings, SH and SL more than fill the role—they define it.
"The level of transparency generated by these Shibata cartridges at this price point is something to admire."
– The Absolute Sound, Editors Choice and Product of the Year Awards
"The Hana-SL gives a really sophisticated performance, which is very involving and refined... Both (Hana-SL & Hana-SH) are superb cartridges and are strong challengers to rival big-name brands at the price."
– Neville Roberts, Hi-Fi Choice, Recommended review
"Each Hana SL played records as if it cost not hundreds but thousands of bucks."
– Herb Reichert, Stereophile, Class B Recommended Component
"Both these moving coil cartridges bring genuine advantages to any listening session at a low, low price. Terrific value for money."
– Paul Rigby, Hi-Fi World
"This is performance that any more costly cartridge should equal at a bare minimum, and that some dont."
– Andre Jennings, The Absolute Sound, Golden Ear Award (SL model)
SH: 2mV
SL: 0.5mV
Stylus shape: Shibata
Internal ohms:
SH: 130Ω/1kHz
SL: 30Ω/1kHz
Suggested Loading:
SH: 47kΩ
SL: >400Ω
Weight: 5.0g
Tracking: 2.0g
Warranty: 2 years
Warranty Form (PDF, 23 KB)