HANA EL Moving Coil Phono Cartridge

The Hana EL ("Elliptical Low") is widely recognized as one of the greatest values in high-fidelity audio, serving as the perfect entry point into the mesmerizing world of Moving Coil (MC) playback. Handmade in Japan by the skilled artisans at Excel Sound Corporation, the EL combines traditional craftsmanship with high-quality materials to deliver a sound that is musically involving, textured, and surprisingly expansive. By pairing a synthetic elliptical stylus with the same premium Alnico magnets found in Hana’s more expensive models, the EL offers a taste of the "brilliant and gorgeous" Hana sound at an incredibly accessible price point, making it the ideal upgrade for audiophiles moving up from standard Moving Magnet cartridges.

Key Features:

• Low Output Moving Coil: A true low-output (0.5mV) design that leverages the lower moving mass of MC coils for superior detail retrieval and transient response.
• Synthetic Elliptical Stylus: Features a precise synthetic elliptical stylus profile that offers excellent tracking ability and a forgiving, musical presentation.
• Alnico Magnet System: Utilizes classic Alnico magnets, prized for their saturation-free linearity and ability to produce a warm, natural, and three-dimensional sound.
• Aluminum Cantilever: A rigid, lightweight aluminum cantilever ensures accurate transmission of groove vibrations to the generator.
• Moss Green Body: The distinctive moss green composite body is not just aesthetic; it provides essential damping to minimize resonance and coloration.
• Handmade in Japan: Meticulously hand-assembled by expert craftsmen, ensuring strict quality control and consistent performance.

The Natural Warmth of Alnico

At the core of the Hana EL is its Alnico magnet system. Unlike the harshness sometimes associated with modern rare-earth magnets, Alnico (Aluminum-Nickel-Cobalt) is revered by audiophiles for its high magnetic flux density and inherent linearity. This gives the EL a distinct sonic character: warm, textured, and deeply natural. It avoids the clinical "edge" of budget cartridges, replacing it with a fluid and cohesive presentation that highlights the emotion in the music rather than just the mechanics.

Precision Elliptical Tracking

The EL employs a synthetic elliptical stylus bonded to a robust aluminum cantilever. This stylus shape is an excellent all-rounder, digging deeper into the groove than a conical tip to extract high-frequency detail and spatial cues, while remaining forgiving of older or less-than-perfect vinyl records. It strikes a perfect balance between resolution and musicality, ensuring that your records sound lively and engaging without emphasizing surface noise.

The Low Output Advantage

As a Low Output Moving Coil cartridge, the EL features coils wound with very fine wire, resulting in significantly lower moving mass compared to High Output or Moving Magnet designs. This reduction in mass allows the stylus to start and stop more quickly, capturing the subtle leading edges of transients and the decay of instruments with greater accuracy. With a 0.5mV output, it requires a dedicated MC phono stage (or a step-up transformer), allowing you to unlock the lower noise floor and higher dynamic range inherent to the MC format.

Aesthetic and Acoustic Balance

The Hana EL is instantly recognizable by its "Moss Green" body. This housing is manufactured from a specialized composite plastic designed to control resonance. By effectively damping internal vibrations, the body ensures that the generator reads only the information in the groove, not the ringing of the cartridge itself. The result is a cleaner background and a more focused stereo image, proving that affordable high-end audio can look as good as it sounds.

The Listening Room Difference

We’re a third-generation family business with a brick-and-mortar showroom in Chestertown, Maryland, and a reputation built on trust, not hype. Whether you’re visiting in person or ordering online, we bring decades of experience, personalized service, and honest guidance to every interaction. We don’t just ship boxes. We help build systems, answer your questions like real humans, and make sure every detail of your setup is right, from the cables to the final connection. Our passion is helping you get the most out of your gear, with support that lasts well beyond the sale.

Specifications