Hana EL MKII
Overview
Replacing the cartridge supplied with the turntable with a hand-assembled Japanese moving coil cartridge has been the role of Hana’s E series since the brand launched in 2015. This second generation of the low-output version borrows the brass-topped body, damping coating and 8-ohm coil generator from the more expensive models in the range. The elliptical stylus and aluminium cantilever remain those of the original EL.
A generator borrowed from higher-end models
The most significant change is inside the cartridge. The EL MKII receives the generator with Alnico magnets and 8-ohm 4N copper coils developed for the Hana ML, then adopted by the Umami Blue and SL MKII. Alnico, an alloy of aluminium, nickel and cobalt, is the magnet material Hana uses throughout its range, from the E series to the Umami Black. The generator’s sensitive components and the output pins undergo cryogenic treatment, a process applied to all the brand’s cartridges.
Compared with the original EL, coil impedance drops from 30 to 8 ohms and output voltage from 0.5 to 0.4 mV. The recommended load falls in the same proportions: where the previous version required more than 400 ohms, the EL MKII needs only a value above 80 ohms. The 100-ohm setting offered by most MC phono stages becomes the natural starting point, without having to look for an intermediate value that some preamps do not offer.
A heavier body, with brass and elastomer
The moss-green housing, a signature of the E series, now adopts the shape of the M series housing. It has an elastomer coating that damps the shell’s mechanical resonances and is topped with a precision-machined brass cap. This cap has threaded holes: the screws tighten directly into the cartridge, with no nut to hold with your fingertips beneath the headshell. Mounting screws and a small Allen key are supplied.
The brass increases the weight from 5 g on the original EL to 8.6 g. This additional weight brings the cartridge closer to the weight range expected by most tonearms on the market and makes the coupling with the headshell firmer. With very lightweight tonearms, or those whose counterweight has only limited travel, it remains advisable to check that balancing is possible with a cartridge of this weight.
Elliptical stylus and groove tracking
The series’ “E” denotes the elliptical profile of the synthetic diamond stylus, mounted on an aluminium cantilever (the stylus carrier). An elliptical tip has a narrower contact radius on the groove walls than a conical tip: it follows fine high-frequency modulations more accurately, at the cost of slightly more demanding alignment, as a setup error has a greater impact than with a conical profile.
The recommended tracking force is 2 g, a value at which the cartridge tracks modulations with amplitudes of up to 70 µm, providing a comfortable margin for heavily modulated recordings. Frequency response extends from 15 Hz to 25 kHz, channel separation reaches 25 dB at 1 kHz and channel imbalance remains below 1.5 dB.
Which phono preamp for 0.4 mV
With an output of 0.4 mV, the EL MKII clearly belongs to the low-output moving coil family. It requires an MC phono input with high gain (around 60 dB or more), whether on a separate phono preamp or the MC stage of an integrated amplifier. A standard MM input, at 47 kΩ and around 40 dB of gain, does not provide enough amplification: the level remains low, and turning up the volume brings up the background noise.
For a system equipped only with an MM input, Hana offers the high-output version of the same generation, the EH MKII, which shares the brass-capped body and elliptical stylus. The other solution is to insert a step-up transformer suitable for low-impedance cartridges between the turntable and the MM input.
Technical specifications
Type and audio performance
- Type: low-output moving coil (MC) phono cartridge
- Output level: 0.4 mV at 1 kHz
- Frequency response: 15 – 25000 Hz
- Channel separation: 25 dB at 1 kHz
- Channel balance: < 1.5 dB at 1 kHz
Electrical specifications
- Coil impedance: 8 Ω at 1 kHz
- Recommended load: 80 – 100 Ω
Playback and adjustment
- Stylus: bonded elliptical
- Recommended tracking force: 2.0 g
- Tracking ability: 70 µm at 2 g
Construction and materials
- Cantilever: aluminium
- Magnets: Alnico
- Coils: 4N copper
- Body: elastomer coating with brass base
Weight
- Weight: 8.6 g
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name EL MKII mean?
The “E” refers to the series’ elliptical stylus, the “L” to the low output voltage (low output), as opposed to the high-output EH. MKII denotes the second generation. Hana, 華 in Japanese, means “brilliant and sumptuous”.
Where and by whom is the cartridge manufactured?
Hana is the brand of Excel Sound, a phono cartridge manufacturer based in Yokohama and founded in 1970 by Masao Okada, who still designs the brand’s models. Every Hana cartridge, from the E series to the Umami Black, is assembled by hand by the same team of artisans.
Can the stylus be replaced by the user?
No. As with all moving-coil cartridges, the stylus tip and cantilever are integral to the generator: there is no clip-off replacement stylus, as found on many moving-magnet cartridges. A worn stylus tip requires workshop servicing or replacement of the cartridge.
Which step-up transformer ratio should I choose?
A transformer multiplies the voltage by its ratio and divides the load seen by the cartridge by the square of that ratio. With a 1:20 ratio (26 dB) connected to a 47 kΩ MM input, the cartridge sees approximately 117 ohms, above the 80-ohm threshold, and the MM input receives around 8 mV, a level comparable to that of a typical MM cartridge. A higher ratio would lower the load below the recommended value.
My preamp only offers 47 kΩ and 100 ohms: which setting should I choose?
Both values exceed the recommended threshold of 80 ohms, but the 100-ohm setting matches Hana’s recommendation for this cartridge. Intermediate values, if the preamp offers them, remain within the accepted range and can be used to fine-tune the balance depending on the rest of the system.
Does the cartridge fit all headshells?
It uses the standard two-screw mount with half-inch spacing, common to the vast majority of tonearms and removable headshells. Turntables with a proprietary cartridge secured by a manufacturer-specific system are not compatible with it.
Can you play 78 rpm records with the EL MKII?
No. Shellac 78 rpm records have much wider grooves than microgroove records and require a stylus with a larger tip radius. The EL MKII’s elliptical diamond stylus is designed for 33 and 45 rpm vinyl records.
- Eco-contribution included in the sale price.
