HANA SL Mono MK II Moving Coil Phono Cartridge

The HANA SL Mono MK II is a dedicated mono moving coil cartridge built on Hana's S MK II chassis. It pairs a nude Shibata stylus and tapered aluminum cantilever with a single-coil Alnico generator that reads only lateral groove modulation, the kind mono records carry. No vertical pickup means surface noise drops dramatically and the music sits at full dynamics.

Key Features of HANA SL Mono MK II Phono Cartridge

• True mono single-coil generator: reads lateral groove motion only, ignores vertical motion (where mono records have no signal but stereo cartridges pick up surface noise).
• Nude Shibata stylus, 0.27 x 1.57 mil profile: a hyperelliptical line-contact diamond mounted directly to the cantilever, sized for the wider grooves of mono pressings (modern reissues and original 1950s-60s LPs both).
• Tapered aluminum cantilever: stiffer than a straight tube along its length, lower effective tip mass for cleaner transient transfer from groove to coil.
• Alnico magnet, 30-micron high-purity copper coil: single-coil mono winding at 23-ohm coil impedance and 0.4mV output, recommended load greater than 230 ohms.
• 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.
• 0.4mV output, 8.6g weight, 2.0g tracking force: compatible with most quality MC phono stages and step-up transformers, mass-matched to 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.

Why a Dedicated Mono Cartridge Matters

A stereo cartridge has two coils oriented at 45 degrees from vertical. It reads any motion the stylus makes, lateral or vertical, and converts both into electrical output. On a stereo LP that is exactly the point: the left and right channel information lives in a combination of lateral and vertical groove modulation. On a mono LP it is a problem. Mono records carry signal only in the lateral plane. Vertical groove motion on a mono record is surface noise (record wear, dust, original mastering imperfections). A stereo cartridge picks all of that up and feeds it into your phono stage at full strength. The result is the familiar surface-noise haze that mono LPs are known for on stereo systems, and a noticeable reduction in perceived dynamic range.

A true mono cartridge replaces the two-coil stereo generator with a single coil oriented to read only lateral motion. Vertical stylus motion produces no electrical output. Surface noise drops, the music sits at full dynamics, and the soundstage condenses to the dead-center it was originally mastered to occupy. The change is not subtle, especially on original-pressing mono jazz or early classical, and it is easily audible on modern mono reissues from Acoustic Sounds, Analogue Productions, and Mobile Fidelity.

Tapered Aluminum Cantilever and the Shibata Stylus

The cantilever is the same tapered aluminum design used across the S MK II line, 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.

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. Hana publishes the SL Mono MK II tip dimension as 0.27 x 1.57 mil, sized to sit comfortably in the wider grooves of mono pressings without forcing extra contact at points where stereo grooves would have additional vertical modulation.

Mono-Tuned Generator and Phono Stage Loading

The SL Mono MK II generator is a single-coil winding using high-purity 30-micron copper around an Alnico magnet. Output is 0.4mV at 1kHz with a coil impedance of 23 ohms, recommended into a load greater than 230 ohms. That puts the SL Mono MK II in standard low-output MC territory. A moving-coil phono stage with at least 60dB of gain is required, or an MM stage paired with a step-up transformer (1:10 to 1:20 turns ratio). Most modern MC phono stages will load the SL Mono comfortably at 250, 470, or 1k ohms; any of those is a reasonable starting point. The 23-ohm coil impedance is higher than the 8-ohm SL MK II stereo generator, which broadens phono-stage compatibility and tolerates a wider load range without obvious tonal shifts.

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 SL Mono MK II that carry magnetic flux and the signal itself.

Non-Resonant Body and Brass Mounting Cap

The SL Mono 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 SL Mono at 8.6 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 in line with the rest of the S MK II line and the cartridge tracks at 2.0 grams with an 8.6-gram mass, putting it squarely 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 0.4mV output and 23-ohm coil impedance want a moving-coil input with at least 60dB of gain, loaded above 230 ohms. Common pairings at this cartridge price include the Primare R15 ($1,399) for value entry and the Chord Electronics Huei ($1,810) for the sweet spot, both with adjustable MC loading.

Mounting Strategies for Mono and Stereo Use

The most common approach is a second tonearm or second turntable dedicated to the SL Mono MK II, so swapping between mono and stereo playback means changing arms (or tables), not cartridges. Buyers who play significant mono volume usually go this route. The alternative is a second headshell with the SL Mono MK II already aligned, which most modern detachable-headshell tonearms support (Rega's standard headshell mount, SME-type bayonets, Technics SL-series headshells). Swapping a headshell takes about 30 seconds and is meaningfully easier than realigning a cartridge each time. We can advise on the cleanest setup for your specific arm and table; call or text Mike at 410-239-2020.

Explore the HANA Cartridge Lineup

Companions in the S Series MK II line, plus the closest M-series upgrade:

• HANA SL MK II: stereo low-output (0.4mV) version on the same chassis, for buyers who play primarily stereo records.
• HANA SH MK II: stereo high-output (2.0mV) version of the same chassis, runs straight into MM phono inputs.
• HANA ML: the upgrade in the stereo M series. Microline stylus, Delrin body, $1,200. There is no current M-series mono cartridge; serious stereo and mono collectors typically pair an SL Mono MK II with an ML or above on a second arm.

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 SL Mono MK II Phono Cartridge Specifications