What should my next cartridge be?


Currently running the Hana SL MC cart. I love it but think I’m ready for something new... I’m looking for something with great all-around performance like the Hana. Thought about going up to the Hana Microline but also open another brand. 
Here’s the rest of my system: 

Clear Audio Concept Turn Table

Herron Audio VTPH-2a Phono Stage

Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II integrated power amplifier 

Bowers and Wilkins 805 D3 stand mount loud speakers

REL S/510 stereo subs

paulgardner

Showing 5 responses by chakster

I would advice to look for Miyajima cartridges (Kansui or Madake), but i’m not sure you have an appropriate tonearm for very low compliance cartridges.

I’m ready for something new... I’m looking for something with great all-around performance like the Hana.


It is easy to exceed performance of Hana if this is what you’re looking for, and it’s important to match a cartridge to your tonearm. You need to know effective mass of your tonearm first (and your cartridge dynamic compliance at 10Hz too).

As i can see Clear Audio own MM and LOMC cartridges have compliance figures between 9-15cu. It is LOW and MID compliance.

If you can use low compliance then definitely read about Miyajima cartridges.

As for the mid compliance you can get superb performance with some of the best vintage MM and MI cartridges on your tonearm (within the price of Hana). Using them you will get not only the best (user replaceable) stylus profile, but also advanced cantilevers like titanium, beryllium, sapphire, boron or even diamond ... that you will never get from Hana (Excel Sound Inc.). You will save a lot , without compromise in performance, if you will try vintage (NOS) cartridges. 

As you might know Hana was made by Excel Sound, you can look at the cost of their top models called Etsuro  with exotic cantilevers (you’ll be shocked), here is the thread about some unknown models made by Excel Sound back in the days in comparison to new Etsuro.

 

how do I figure out if the Koetsu Black Goldline is comparable with my tone arm? Another one I have my eye on is the KOETSU Rosewood Signature.

Read it and look at this
You must know tonearm effective mass and cartridge dynamic compliance at 10Hz (not at 100Hz) and cartridge mass with hardware to calculate compatibility of your arm/cartridge in terms of resonance.

When you own a cartridge you'd better use this test LP to measure resonance. 

This is all you need.   

Miyajima cartridges are different, depends on the model, Kansui and Madake are two models to look for, not lower models. What model are you talking about @agrippa ?

For those who trust the reviews read about Kansui and you will never find a bad word about it, absolutely rave reviews from everyone in high-end press. And even lower model Shilabe became favorite cartridge for all those reviewers.

US distributor offered free trial for all of them and it easy to try and return if it’s not what someone is looking for. He said no one returned any Shilabe when it was introduced and offered for trial.

Kansui is much better. High mass tonearm must be chosen for Miyajima.

Catridge for certain genre of music is a myth (no matter what cartridge). But it's fine that different people prefer different cartridges and it's system dependent for sure. I could not live with one cartridge.  




Sorry I thought that the highest end Hanna was much more expensive and closer to the price of the Hiyabusa.


High-End cartridges from the manufacturer of Hana (Excel Sound Inc.) called Etsuro and they are at least twice as much in price than Mu-Tech Hiyabusa :) Some Etsuro models are over $8k