The Hana E Series comes in high- and low-output versions. The MK II has an improved body and generator.
The Hana sound is "honest, even-handed, and natural."
Nobody would guess that one of audiophilia's epicenters is an unassuming building on a narrow street in a largely residential part of Yokohama, Japan. A small sign by the main door identifies the business as Excel Sound, but nothing gives away that this is where some of the world's best phono cartridges are made.
It's totally on-brand for Hana then that Sean-Paul Williams, our analog manager, describes its house sound as "honest, even-handed, and natural. It's my personal definition of 'neutral.'"
Excel Sound employs a team of artisans who handcraft every Hana, from the $11,500 Umami Black to the $550 E Series MK II. And it's the latter cartridge that we're excited about today, as Excel keeps a tightly focused model list and issues upgrades only when it has something significant to say.
Sean-Paul leads us through the E Series MK II's upgrades. "It now has the generator from the S, M, and Umami Blue. So, yes, same guts as a $2,500 Hana. The body is improved, so it's heavier and less resonant."
When Sean-Paul describes the new threaded mounts as "possibly the best upgrade of all", you know this is an expert who has spent untold hours fiddling with tiny mounting bolts and chasing minuscule settings. The MK II's new threaded brass inserts make it much easier to mount, plus, as the previous E was very light, the added mass makes tonearm choice and setup much easier.
The E in E Series stands for 'elliptical,' and Sean-Paul describes these cartridges as being perfect for tables without a good VTA adjustment, "since the elliptical stylus is less needy."
Listeners with VTA-capable tables who don't "wanna tweak out about it" are also well-served by the Hana E, which comes in high- and low-output models. The EH (high) works with pretty much any MM phonostage, and for the EL, Sean-Paul recommends a good MC phonostage with about 60 dB of gain.
The Fifth Taste
What if you love what you're hearing about the brand, but are ready to push a little past the E? Sean-Paul has a Hana secret to share. "The ML is the dark horse until they update it or change the price. It's been $1,200 for 7+ years."
Notably, the ML has the same generator and stylus as the Umami Blue, just without the boron cantilever and duralumin body. "So you get all that natural and honest Hana signature sound with just a bit less detail and clarity than the Umamis. Still mind-blowing and a no-brainer for $1,200."
Of course, the Umami range is where you go if you want the complete taste of Hana. These are the models Sean-Paul regularly picks for our showcase analog systems, whether for in-store events or audio shows. But it's telling that he's every bit as excited about a new version of the entry-level E as he is about the flagship, diamond-cantilevered Umami Black. "Hana cartridges do everything well."
Hiroshi Ishihara of the company that distributes and publicizes Hana sums up our excitement about the brand. Writing on the company website, he says, "The Hana 'brilliant and gorgeous' sound is now globally available to all music lovers without an extreme financial burden on your equipment budget. Indeed, a Hana purchase allows you to buy more of your favorite vinyl records, which is the real reason for buying a good phono cartridge in the first place!"
Perfect stylus drop, Ishihara-san. Readers, contact our analog specialists to see if Hana is a good fit for your setup.