New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Brilliant and Gorgeous
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Welcome to the Graham Slee Audio Products Owners Club

 

Open to all owners plus those contemplating the purchase of a Graham Slee audio product wishing to use our loaner program: join here
Subscribe to our newsletter here (Rules on posting can be found here)

Brilliant and Gorgeous
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123 6>
Author
  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
morris_minor View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar

Joined: 27 Mar 2012
Location: Surrey
Status: Offline
Points: 5358 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote morris_minor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Brilliant and Gorgeous
    Posted: 14 Dec 2015 at 4:28pm
"Brilliant and gorgeous" is what Hana means in Japanese according to the distributor of the new line of MC cartridges under the Hana name.

Feeling the need (Embarrassed) for a new cartridge to add to my little collection I pre-ordered a Hana EL (elliptical stylus, low-output) - there's also a Shibata-tipped version, and both have high and low output variants.

The low output versions would seem to compete head to head with the likes of Ortofon's Quintet. I've never heard a Quintet, but have a Vivo Red and Rondo Blue which came in either side of the EL price point, so these are my main points of reference, as well as a more expensive Zyx R100.

So, I hear you cry - what's it like? Well, from the off it sounded punchy and detailed throughout the range, and now with around 10 hours on the clock it's getting more refined. With that tell-tale MC sparkle, a deep, controlled bass and liquid mid-range that renders vocals very appealingly, I'd say it was excellent value for money. The Shibata version probably has more detail, and the high output versions (2mV) are likely to sound almost as a good. 

The cartridges are made by the Excel Sound Corporation, who apparently have been (are?) a big producer of OEM cartridges. This is probably the reason for the competitive price/performance.

I feel no need to return to the Zyx any time soon, and the Vivo and Rondo are going to be languishing in the drawer for quite some time, I think.

BTW all listening done with the Accession and Elevator EXP. Here's a pic, playing Alan Parson's "On Air" . . .
Bob

Majestic DAC/pre-amp
Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V
Solo ULDE, Novo, Lautus USB and digital, Libran balanced, CuSat50
2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links
Back to Top
Richardl60 View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 04 Nov 2014
Location: Yorkshire
Status: Offline
Points: 1468 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Richardl60 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Dec 2015 at 5:14pm
Not sure I fancy it if it turns all of your records blue!!!

Richard
Back to Top
Drewan77 View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 25 May 2013
Location: Chester,England
Status: Offline
Points: 1544 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Drewan77 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Dec 2015 at 5:22pm
Originally posted by Richardl60 Richardl60 wrote:

Not sure I fancy it if it turns all of your records blue!!!

Richard
Maybe this cart this cart is so good that it creates 'audio porn?'Cool
Older than I once was, younger than I'll be
.............................
Andrew
Back to Top
morris_minor View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar

Joined: 27 Mar 2012
Location: Surrey
Status: Offline
Points: 5358 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote morris_minor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Dec 2015 at 8:05pm
Originally posted by Drewan77 Drewan77 wrote:

Maybe this cart this cart is so good that it creates 'audio porn?'Cool
Well, it is becoming quite addictive . . . Shocked
Bob

Majestic DAC/pre-amp
Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V
Solo ULDE, Novo, Lautus USB and digital, Libran balanced, CuSat50
2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links
Back to Top
Fatmangolf View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar

Joined: 23 Dec 2009
Location: Middlesbrough
Status: Offline
Points: 7409 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Fatmangolf Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Dec 2015 at 8:19pm
Nice. I am expecting to replace my Zyx before long. Is this a good replacement Bob?
Jon

Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC.
Back to Top
Ash View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 18 Mar 2013
Location: Dorset
Status: Offline
Points: 3886 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ash Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Dec 2015 at 8:24pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BGYWvcyYKU


I think "hana" in Japanese means either "flower" or "nose" depending on the context and exact way it is written.
Back to Top
McHolmeM View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 14 Jul 2014
Location: Wantage, Oxon.
Status: Offline
Points: 206 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote McHolmeM Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Jan 2016 at 11:37am
New year and for me a new cartridge upgrade comes calling. 

Currently using a Rondo Red via a Reflex C but can't stretch to a Dynavector Karat 17D3 as recommended by OL for use in their arm. The Hana EL or SL appear to be more affordable - what's the verdict on the performance of your EL now its had a few more hours usage? 

New year wishes to all GSP users for many hours of happy listening in 2016! 
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123 6>
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.01
Copyright ©2001-2018 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.064 seconds.