I started out in the 1960s and '70s with MM cartridges including a top of the line Shure V-15. Using first a Garrard changer, then Miracord 50H, and, bought in Hong Kong on R&R in 1969, a Thorens TD 125 turntable with Shure SME 3009 tonearm, efforts were made to achieve better reproduction. Despite these turntable upgrades, there was little, if any, improvement.
In 2001, a VPI TNT 3.5 with 10" JMW Memorial tonearm and a Grado moving iron cartridge were acquired with little enhancement. Transition to a Shelter MC cartridge occurred in about 2005 with a Clearaudio Concerto cartridge followed by a Clearaudio Stradivari V2. The MC cartridges did offer noticeably better reproduction, but at a cost in the case of the Stradivari of over $3,500.
A couple of years ago, I read a very favorable review of the HANA low output MC cartridge. Since there was by then quite a bit of stylus time on the Stradivari, I bought the HANA.SL for just $750. I was amazed at the improvement. For the first time, I realized what was recorded on an LP; it was far more "life-like" than I heard on vinyl before and on CDs, too, for that matter. The accuracy of the sound and the ambience was as close to live reproduction I had heard.
When the HANA ML came out, I bought one. It was surprising to find that as good as the SL was, the ML was noticeably better. There is no longer any impetus to continue the search for a better phono cartridge, although the Hana Umami Red Moving Coil Cartridge is tempting. It's price is in the neighborhood of the Stradivari, though, which is intimidating.
The two preceding designs had JFET input stages, but a low-noise BJT is a better choice when the output impedance of the driver (phono cartridge) is low. This is the case with with MC cartridges.
In 2001, a VPI TNT 3.5 with 10" JMW Memorial tonearm and a Grado moving iron cartridge were acquired with little enhancement. Transition to a Shelter MC cartridge occurred in about 2005 with a Clearaudio Concerto cartridge followed by a Clearaudio Stradivari V2. The MC cartridges did offer noticeably better reproduction, but at a cost in the case of the Stradivari of over $3,500.
A couple of years ago, I read a very favorable review of the HANA low output MC cartridge. Since there was by then quite a bit of stylus time on the Stradivari, I bought the HANA.SL for just $750. I was amazed at the improvement. For the first time, I realized what was recorded on an LP; it was far more "life-like" than I heard on vinyl before and on CDs, too, for that matter. The accuracy of the sound and the ambience was as close to live reproduction I had heard.
When the HANA ML came out, I bought one. It was surprising to find that as good as the SL was, the ML was noticeably better. There is no longer any impetus to continue the search for a better phono cartridge, although the Hana Umami Red Moving Coil Cartridge is tempting. It's price is in the neighborhood of the Stradivari, though, which is intimidating.
The two preceding designs had JFET input stages, but a low-noise BJT is a better choice when the output impedance of the driver (phono cartridge) is low. This is the case with with MC cartridges.