HANA SH MK II Moving Coil Phono Cartridge

The HANA SH MK II is the high-output (2.0mV) version of Hana's second-generation S Series moving coil cartridge. It pairs a nude Shibata stylus and tapered aluminum cantilever with a 130-ohm, 47kΩ-loaded Alnico generator that plugs straight into any standard MM phono input. No MC stage, no step-up transformer. Master designer Masao Okada-san built the SH MK II for buyers who want the Shibata-tipped Hana sound and a clear path toward the Umami Blue without rebuilding their preamp first.

Key Features of HANA SH MK II Phono Cartridge

• Nude Shibata stylus: a hyperelliptical line-contact diamond that sits deeper in the groove than a conical or elliptical, with a longer vertical contact patch that reads more high-frequency information per pass.
• Tapered aluminum cantilever: stiffer than the straight aluminum tube on the original SH, with reduced effective tip mass for cleaner transient transfer from groove to coil.
• Alnico magnet, cross-coil generator wound for high output: the same magnet architecture used across the S MK II line, wound to deliver 2.0mV at 1kHz so the cartridge feeds a standard MM input directly.
• Cryogenically treated yoke, pole pieces, and gold terminal pins: Hana cools the critical magnetic and signal-path metal parts to below minus 300F to refine grain structure and lower noise.
• Non-resonant body with brass mounting cap: elastomeric resin body shape modeled on the M Series, with threaded brass top so the headshell screws bite into metal, not plastic.
• 2.0mV output, 130-ohm impedance, 47kΩ load, 8.6g weight: compatible with any moving magnet phono input on the planet, and heavy enough to load mid-mass tonearms in the 9 to 13 gram effective-mass range.
• Soft Feel matte black finish: elastomeric resin paint on the body damps body resonance and gives the cartridge a fingerprint-resistant matte surface during installation.

Tapered Aluminum Cantilever and the Shibata Stylus

The headline mechanical change from the original SH is the cantilever profile. The straight aluminum tube has been replaced by a tapered aluminum cantilever, thicker at the coil end and thinner at the stylus tip. The result is higher rigidity along the cantilever's length and lower moving mass at the point where the diamond contacts the groove. Lower tip mass lets the stylus accelerate more quickly when the groove modulation changes direction, which is most of what high-frequency tracing comes down to.

The stylus is a nude Shibata, the same line-contact profile Hana uses on the higher-tier S Series cartridges. A nude Shibata is a single-piece diamond mounted directly to the cantilever (rather than a tipped diamond bonded to a metal shank), which keeps tip mass low and contact geometry consistent. The Shibata profile sits deeper in the groove than a conical or elliptical, with a longer vertical contact patch that reads more of the recorded modulation per pass and reduces stylus wear at the contact point.

High-Output Generator and What It Means at the Phono Stage

The SH MK II generator shares its Alnico magnet, cross-coil armature and 30-micron high-purity copper winding with the SL MK II. The difference is the number of turns. The SH coil is wound for 2.0mV at 1kHz with a 130-ohm impedance, recommended into a 47kΩ load. That is a standard moving magnet input. Any MM phono stage, any phono-equipped integrated amp, any vintage receiver with a Phono switch will run the SH MK II directly. No MC input required, no step-up transformer required, no 60dB MC gain stage required. For a buyer with a 0.4mV cartridge, the math gets thornier fast: high-quality MC stages start above $400, and good step-up transformers add their own pairing puzzle. The SH MK II skips that question.

Cryogenic Treatment of Critical Parts

The yoke, pole pieces, and gold-plated terminal pins are cryogenically treated. Cryogenic treatment is a slow controlled cool-down to roughly minus 300F followed by a slow return to room temperature. The process refines grain boundaries in the metal, reduces internal stresses left over from machining, and (in audio applications) is associated with lower noise floor and better signal coherence. Hana applies it to the parts of the SH MK II that carry magnetic flux and the signal itself.

Non-Resonant Body and Brass Mounting Cap

The SH MK II body is a redesigned shape modeled on the M Series, finished in a matte "Soft Feel" elastomeric resin paint. The elastomer damps body-borne resonance, and the new shape is heavier than the original SH at 8.6 grams (up from 5 grams). Heavier cartridges couple more positively to mid-mass tonearms and tend to give more bass authority and dynamic snap. The top plate is a brass cap with built-in threaded mounting holes, so the headshell bolts thread into metal rather than into plastic body inserts. Installation is faster and the mechanical coupling between cartridge and headshell is more consistent over time.

Tonearm and Phono Stage Matching

Effective compliance is 10 x 10-6 cm/dyne at 100Hz, recommended tracking force is 2.0 grams, and cartridge weight is 8.6 grams. That puts the SH MK II in mid-mass tonearm territory. We pair it most often with the Rega RB330, Rega RB880, Michell T8, and Oracle Paris. Buyers stepping up usually move to the Rega RB3000 or Michell TecnoArm 2. On the phono-stage side, the 2.0mV output and 47kΩ recommended load make the SH MK II compatible with any moving magnet phono input. Buyers with an existing MM stage are good to go. Buyers shopping a dedicated MM/MC unit at this cartridge's price point land most often on the Primare R15 MM/MC ($1,399) or the Chord Electronics Huei ($1,810), both of which give meaningful headroom for a future cartridge upgrade into the M series.

Why Buy the SH Instead of the SL MK II

The SH MK II and SL MK II are the same cartridge mechanically. Same Shibata stylus, same tapered aluminum cantilever, same Alnico generator architecture, same cryogenic treatment, same body, same brass cap, same 8.6g weight, same 2.0g tracking force. The only difference is the coil winding. The SL MK II is wound for 0.4mV output with an 8-ohm coil impedance, which requires an MC phono stage with at least 60dB of gain or an MM stage paired with a step-up transformer. The SH MK II is wound for 2.0mV output with 130-ohm coil impedance, which feeds any MM input. If you already own an MC phono stage, the SL MK II is the slightly more refined choice (lower coil impedance generally tracks with a slight reduction in distortion at the generator). If your phono stage is MM only, or you want the simplest signal path, the SH MK II is the right pick. Both are $850.

Explore the HANA Cartridge Lineup

Companions in the S Series MK II line, plus the next step up:

• HANA SL MK II: low-output (0.4mV) version of the same cartridge, for MC phono stages and step-up transformers.
• HANA SL Mono MK II: dedicated mono cartridge for original mono pressings, single-coil design with no vertical compliance noise.
• HANA MH: the one-step upgrade. Microline stylus, Delrin body, same 2.0mV high-output format, $1,200.

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 exceptional service and relentless passion for hifi. 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.

HANA SH MK II Phono Cartridge Specifications