Hana

The HANA-Umami Blue high-end moving coil cartridge combines the vision of Master cartridge designer Okada-san with the history of unique materials, classic Japanese techniques, and modern audio engineering. The Auricle™ body design, unique and exclusive to our Umami series, is CNC machined from Duralumin. Sharing key Umami Red ingredients, including the precision-cut diamond stylus, Boron cantilever, and high-purity copper wires, then combining these with the Alnico magnet-based generator found in the famous Hana ML, creates the exceptionally musical Umami Blue.This synergistic relationship in MC cartridge design between specific materials, unique body design, a sophisticated generator, and hand-built precision is critical for outstanding cartridge performance. This creates a memorable and emotional experience, reminiscent of a meal at a Michelin 3-star restaurant, with every element and detail working in concert.All the major parts in a HANA-Umami Blue are manufactured in-house by Excel Sound with its rich history spanning over 50 years. Excel’s highly trained craftsmen skillfully hand assemble the HANA-Umami Blue ensuring an intensely musical experience furthering the HANA “Brilliant and Gorgeous” sound quality.

The HANA-Umami WayThe HANA-Umami Red high-end moving coil cartridge combines brilliant materials and classic Japanese techniques with modern audio engineering. Ebony wood, rare-earth magnets, precision-cut diamond, high-purity copper wires, Urushi lacquering, and CNC machined Duralumin synergize under the vision of Hana designer Okada-san.The synergistic relationship in MC generators between magnet, armature, and coil windings is a critical aspect of outstanding cartridge design; and like a signature dish at a Michelin 3-star restaurant, every element and detail working in concert results in a memorable and emotional experience.All the major parts in a HANA-Umami Red are manufactured in house by Excel Sound with its rich history spanning over 50 years. Excel’s highly trained craftsmen skillfully hand assemble the HANA-Umami Red ensuring an intensely musical experience furthering the HANA “Brilliant and Gorgeous” sound quality.Umami Sound - Wonderful Taste in Music

One of the world’s best High Output Moving Coil cartridges, the MH combines the technological advances of the Hana M Series with the optimal interface for moving magnet phono stages.M Series Nude Microline stylus – Higher Specification Part Befitting its name, the M Series uses a Nude Microline stylus, mimicking the cutting stylus and fitting more precisely into the vinyl groove. This enhances tracking to capture the most delicate musical details with better frequency reproduction, stereo imaging, and resolution. Delrin© cartridge body – Advanced Materials The M Series cartridge body is injection molded from Delrin©, a high-tech polymer with improved mechanical characteristics for better resonance damping, to reveal more low level information and enhance dynamic range. Cryogenic Processing - Unique Technical Treatment Cryogenic processing is Cold Annealing at near absolute zero temperature that restructures metals at the molecular level, especially important in the Alnico based magnetic electro-motive circuit (cartridge signal generator). The M Series parts treated include the front yoke as well as center and rear components. The result is a more precise and controlled magnetic flux field for greater linearity and musical sound quality. Brass Cap with Threaded fittings - Superior Mechanical Interface The Delrin© cartridge body features an integral machined brass cap providing constrained mode layer damping and its heavier 9.5 gram weight provides expanded compatibility with a wider range of tonearms and turntables. Built into the M Series Delrin© cartridge body are metal threaded fittings for headshell mounting hardware, offering easier attachment and a superior mechanical interface for better bass and dynamics.

Building upon the foundation of the critically acclaimed HANA sound, the ML aspires toward affordable perfection and represent the further evolution of the “Brilliant and Gorgeous” quality that has earned HANA its worldwide reputation.M Series Nude Microline stylus – Higher Specification Part Befitting its name, the M Series uses a Nude Microline stylus, mimicking the cutting stylus and fitting more precisely into the vinyl groove. This enhances tracking to capture the most delicate musical details with better frequency reproduction, stereo imaging, and resolution.High Purity copper wire – Higher Specification Part Very high-purity copper wire is used for winding the ML coil with a new low impedance generator for optimized performance with a broader range of phono preampsDelrin© cartridge body – Advanced Materials The M Series cartridge body is injection molded from Delrin©, a high-tech polymer with improved mechanical characteristics for better resonance damping, to reveal more low level information and enhance dynamic range.Cryogenic Processing - Unique Technical Treatment Cryogenic processing is Cold Annealing at near absolute zero temperature that restructures metals at the molecular level, especially important in the Alnico based magnetic electro-motive circuit (cartridge signal generator). The M Series parts treated include the front yoke as well as center and rear components. The result is a more precise and controlled magnetic flux field for greater linearity and musical sound quality.Brass Cap with Threaded fittings - Superior Mechanical Interface The Delrin© cartridge body features an integral machined brass cap providing constrained mode layer damping and its heavier 9.5 gram weight provides expanded compatibility with a wider range of tonearms and turntables.Built into the M Series Delrin© cartridge body are metal threaded fittings for headshell mounting hardware, offering easier attachment and a superior mechanical interface for better bass and dynamics.

The Hana SH combines high output with high resolution, courtesy of its special coil design and Shibata stylus. Compatible with standard MM phono stages, a high-output MC provides dynamics, drive, and excellent stereo imaging. With over 50 years of experience in cartridge design and manufacture, Excel Sound builds many of the most highly regarded high-output MC cartridges.  

Hana SL is the most reviewed and awarded Hana cartridge to date. It is distinguished by its black body and a Shibata stylus expertly mounted to its aluminum cantilever. The Hana SL features tighter channel balance, greater channel separation, and improved high-frequency extension. “A first-class MC cartridge” – STEREO (Germany)  “Remarkably smooth frequency response…terrific value for the money.” – HiFi World (UK) “In the same class as a cartridge costing 10x the price.” – TNT Audio (France) Stereophile Recommended Component USA The Absolute Sound USA Golden Ear Award 2017Rocky Mountain International HiFi Press Award winner  2018 and 2019

The Hana EH high-output moving coil cartridge represents the best way to upgrade from “starter” MM cartridges that typically come packaged with most entry-level turntables. Weighing in at only 5 grams, and possessing great tracking ability, the Hana EH cartridge’s distinctive moss green body houses a special cross-coil generator, reproducing great bass and dynamics. The elliptical stylus mounted to an aluminum cantilever easily extracts the music in the groove as it effortlessly traces you LPs.The EH is plug-and-play compatible with MM phono stages found in integrated amplifiers and AV receivers. 

The Hana EL provides high-end musical performance from a low-output moving coil cartridge at an extremely attractive price. Handmade in Japan, the EL uses ALNICO magnets and affords the listener the textural, imaging, and musically involving qualities associated with the best MC cartridges.Long prized by audiophiles and music lovers, affordable low output MCs such as the EL are a perfect match to today’s generation of high-gain phono stages.