2. analog
  3. 187081-541

Still looking for a new Moving Coil Cartridge

I noticed that Music Direct has 20% off cartridge sale on select cartridges. I am still using a ZU/Denon DL103 MC cartridge Series 1 with the cartridges tightest tolerances. I purchased it here from “Audiofiel” back in 2010 and have used it sparingly since. I had been using a Dynavector DV20XL cartridge which I bought a couple of years ago but my 6 yo nephew destroyed it (that’s another story) so I am back to the ZU/Denon.

My table is a Technics SL1200G which I truly love. I have been looking at the Hana Low out put MC cartridges. I am interested in the low output “S” series as the $600.00 price is right where I want to be. Now, the million dollar questions: I listen to 95% 60’s, 70’s and 80’s Rock and want whatever cartridge I purchase to make the records sound good without excessive surface noise. Will the Hana S be up to the task? My Mac C2500 tube preamp has cartridge loading from 50 ohms up to 1000 ohms so I should be ok. I just want to be sure this cartridge will be very musical and full bodied sound. I do no want a thin sound. So there you have it, yay or neigh?

128x128stereo5
bigkidz
3,324 posts
 

Forget all the suggestions above and buy the Denon DL-103 cartridge.  Then get the wood body for it and you are done.  We own the Gold Bug cartridge and Denon makes that also.  For the price of the DL-103 and the combination with the wood body you would be hard pressed to match the sound quality no matter what you buy at any price.

Happy Listening.

stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,371 posts
 

I have an Ortofon Winfield and a Benz LPS (my favorite)...both excellent

jayctoy's avatar
jayctoy
3,741 posts
 

Bigkidz I think the OP is upgrading from DL 103 to Hana SL. I both have the DL and SL. Both are excellent.

fleschler
1,922 posts
 

With 28,500 LPs and 60 years experience, I prefer the Dynavector 20X2 L cartridge. It works great with my modified SME IV, with the Zesto Allesso SUT as well as EAR 864 and EAR 912. It is so highly valued by friends and myself because it permits us to enjoy ALL our LPs, from 1948 monos to current production. I had higher end cartridges and they made newer (post direct to disc era) LPs sound fantastic but not as good with early stereo and mono (I should purchase a mono cartridge though as that is better suited to mono 1950s LPs grooves). My best friends also own the Denon 103 in both plastic and remodeled ceramic body versions. Both great choices.

hsounds
133 posts
 

Hello, All of these choices seem great for different reasons. I think I agree with getting the Hana SL. Also, Sometimes Hana has an upgrade deal in case you want to move up to the ML later on. For rock I would keep at the 2.0 gram weight/ VTF for rock/pop. If you have the kids, pets, or cleaning person coming too close to your tt then remove the head shell after you are finished listening. I put my stylus guard on my Hana in case the cat gets curious. Music Direct is where I bought my Hana. I might get a second headshell so you can swap out. Also, I would buy the 7mm Funk Firm record mat. It sounds great. I think MD sells all of this with free returns in 60 days. I hope this helped. 

More to discover