They are fabulous! The Hana cartridges offer exceptional sound quality at an affordable price.

I had the chance to test the Hana EH and SL cartridges, which are produced by Excel Sound Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer specializing in moving coil cartridges. The Hana range includes both low and high output models, with a rigid aluminium cantilever and a low resonance plastic composite body.

An MM phono amp is all you need

One of the best things about Hana cells is that they can be used with a regular moving magnet (MM) phono input, as well as with turntables with a built-in phono stage. This means you don't need specialised audio equipment to enjoy incredible sound quality.

An unbeatable value for money Hana MC

I know that some audiophiles may be sceptical of low-cost, high-performance MC cartridges, but I can assure you that the Hana-EH is absolutely incredible. I listened to a diverse selection of vinyl, from jazz to rock, and every record was reproduced perfectly with exceptional sound quality. The EH cell has no problem tracking records and there is no extraneous noise.

And let's not even talk about the SL cartridge!

It is simply amazing. The same songs I listened to with the EH revealed more detail and presence with the SL. Armstrong's trumpet is more articulate and conveys more emotion, while the overall presentation is much more vivid and finely etched. Low frequencies are well held and high frequencies are extended.

Both Hana cartridges perform incredibly well for their price. The EH is the best MM cartridge I've heard, while the SL can compete with most cartridges priced around e1,000. I can't recommend these Hana cartridges highly enough.