Cartridges — HANA SL Mono MK II

The SL Mono MK II is a moving-coil mono phono cartridge from HANA, built specifically for mono record playback, sharing the SL MK II's Shibata stylus and low output. The SL Mono MK II brings HANA's more accomplished current engineering to serious mono analogue vinyl reproduction.

Key specs that matter

The stylus profile is a Shibata tip, mounted on a tapered aluminium cantilever, specifically configured for mono-only signal reproduction. Output voltage is a low 0.4mV at 5cm/second, typical of a low-output moving-coil design requiring a capable phono stage. Frequency response spans an exceptionally wide 15Hz to 32,000Hz within plus-or-minus 3dB. Internal impedance is 23 ohms. Weight is 8.6g.

Sound and use context

Expect the exceptionally detailed character HANA's Shibata stylus technology is broadly known for, specifically optimised for mono record playback, which mono cartridges handle with lower surface noise than a stereo cartridge played through a mono-summing circuit.

Pairing

The low 0.4mV output requires a phono stage with substantial MC gain or a dedicated step-up transformer, and buyers should confirm mono-specific phono stage or preamplifier compatibility.

Alternatives

HANA's own SL MK II offers the stereo counterpart sharing the same Shibata stylus technology within the same broader catalogue.