Denon DL-103 versus HANA EL

[MikeT.]

Since the change in distribution, the HANA EL has increased in price by 20% to $475. I got in under the wire but initial listening has me very impressed. The EL is the low output version of this moving coil lineup and featutures an elliptical stylus.

http://mockingbirddistribution.com/hana-phono-cartridges/
Musical Surroundings is now the distributor.

Since the DL-103 is a highly regarded cartridge, by many including me, I thought I'd give a quick comparison, the way I hear it.
The HANA is kicking Denon's butt in the detail category and digging more bass out of the grooves as well. It is very musical, as is the Denon. I've gone to great lengths to set the azimuth and overhang and I think it paid off. If there is one area that nags a bit is the slightly edgy high end.....occasionally. But it's so good otherwise, I'm going to leave it be for a while, put some hours on it and see if the edge disappears.

More later, but this HANA cart is very good, very good.

 

[HypnoToad]

Sounds very interesting, as cart prices have gone through the roof lately, it could be a real bargain, waiting to hear your full review.

 

[TubeHiFiNut]

Always nice to discover new cartridges.

Be very interested to read more of your listening impressions as the HANA breaks in.

 

[David]

Heard great reviews of the hana and not surprised you saw it kicking the 103 butt bad.

 

[Chops54]

Which 103 though, standard or R version, as it came or modified? With the strides made in cartridge manufacture over the last few years one would expect the Hana to walk all over a bog standard 103 with it's superior stylus and double the price tag. In all honesty a bog standard DL103 just isn't that much of a big deal anyway.

 

[MikeT.]

Hi Chops54, the Denon is the standard DL-103 versions which I found to be quite musical and surprisingly satisfying. I'll get it mounted on the extra headshell I have and do some quick swapping once the HANA breaks in a little. When I ordered my turntable and tonearm I bought a Ortofon 2M Blue, elliptical stylus as well, to have a comparably priced cart as a reference to the Denon. In this case the Denon was much more musical.

 

[Chops54]

Hi Mike, that should be an interesting comparison. I'm not knocking the Denon, I have a modified 103 on my main table but no one should kid themselves of its shortcomings. At least you have a good arm for your Denon but you may need lighter headshells for your other carts. I believe the nine inch Jelco has a higher effective mass than their twelve inch arm. It's very well suited to the Denon DL103.

 

[TubeHiFiNut]

You guys are more than welcome to send me all of those horrible old Denon DL-103 cartridges.

I'm happy to give them a good home.

 

[MikeT.]

You guys are more than welcome to send me all of those horrible old Denon DL-103 cartridges.

I'm happy to give them a good home.

Uummmmmm, nahhhhh😄 Here's my plan. I'd like to go another step up from the HANA at some point in the mid-term. Maybe look at something around the Dynavector 20x2 range. I think that's about the max I'd be comfortable with investing....for now. I'm certain to change my mind based on my history😄 But I have to say, my first impressions of the Denon DL103 puts me squarely in the "damn this is a musical cartridge and I'm keeping it" camp.
I really am getting kinda antsy that I haven't listened to it in my new arm and turntable yet.

 

[Chops54]

So is the Sota/Jelco your new kit then Mike or have you something else?

 

[inthewoodsnolonger]

Our 103r is mounted on a PL630. It's a nice cartridge, especially for it's price point. The OP mentioned a step up from the Hana. The AT ART 9 sings. Fantastic unit, not the least bright and digs deep. Not spending any more.

 

[MikeT.]

Chops54, yep the SOTA and Jelco 750D are brand new. I'm very impressed with the isolation of the Satellite. The Jelco makes swapping carts easy.

 

[David]

Interestingly, I'm getting an SL tomorrow. I expect the Denon will be put on the market soon.

 

[LH5New]

I had a Amazon gift card burning a hole in my pocket and I pulled the trigger on a plain Jane DL-103 two weeks ago. It has 15 or so hours on it now and I am enjoying the crap out of it. I can see why a cottage industry has setup around modifying these cartridges. It's just plain fun sounding on my PLX-1000. It and my Shure SC35C offer a lot of enjoyment for reasonable prices. My Clearaudio Concept/Viruoso 2 setup has been set to the side for the past 3 months since I got the Pioneer PLX-100. I am interested into hearing more about people's experiences with the new Hana cartridges.

 

[David]

I am interested into hearing more about people's experiences with the new Hana cartridges.

Hana is a great cartridge. Apparently they've been doing OEM work for cartridges for the last 50 years. No wonder their new products are such bang for money.

http://www.hifihaven.org/forum/records-and-the-gear-that-plays-them/43381-hana-sl

 

[MikeT.]

The HANA EL has quickly smoothed out but has still retained the detail and the quickness. The slight edge I had concerns about, gone. I haven't abandoned my step-up plans but the HANA is quite a value at the price. I think I'll give it a little more time before I make any rash decisions 😄

 

[David]

The HANA EL has quickly smoothed out but has still retained the detail and the quickness. The slight edge I had concerns about, gone. I haven't abandoned my step-up plans but the HANA is quite a value at the price. I think I'll give it a little more time before I make any rash decisions 😄

Go SL :P

 

[MikeT.]

I had a Amazon gift card burning a hole in my pocket and I pulled the trigger on a plain Jane DL-103 two weeks ago. It has 15 or so hours on it now and I am enjoying the crap out of it. I can see why a cottage industry has setup around modifying these cartridges. It's just plain fun sounding on my PLX-1000. It and my Shure SC35C offer a lot of enjoyment for reasonable prices. My Clearaudio Concept/Viruoso 2 setup has been set to the side for the past 3 months since I got the Pioneer PLX-100. I am interested into hearing more about people's experiences with the new Hana cartridges.

LH5New, congrats on the DL103 and I've seen that avatar before. 😄 Two posts into the Haven. How do you like it so far?
I was VERY skeptical of the DL103 initially, spherical stylus and all. From an early age in the audiophile world we're taught elliptical or exotic stylus shapes are good, spherical not so much. There was just so much raving about the 103 I took the chance. Much to my surprise, I liked it, maybe even loved. I'm long the sound of the HANA right now but am pretty sure the Denon will stick around.

 

[LH5New]

LH5New, congrats on the DL103 and I've seen that avatar before. 😄 Two posts into the Haven. How do you like it so far?
I was VERY skeptical of the DL103 initially, spherical stylus and all. From an early age in the audiophile world we're taught elliptical or exotic stylus shapes are good, spherical not so much. There was just so much raving about the 103 I took the chance. Much to my surprise, I liked it, maybe even loved. I'm long the sound of the HANA right now but am pretty sure the Denon will stick around.

Thanks, I am enjoying the DL103 very much now. It make vinyl records sound more "Vinyl'ly" sounding if that makes sense? The DL103 has all the Musicality, PRAT and so forth going for it. I put my vintage SX-1080 back into rotation because it just sounded better with the DL103/MS Nova II combo than the Exposure amp. Better synergy. Also the SX-1080 has a "Mono" switch which helps out with some of these re-released albums that were originally mono recording and then remixed to stereo.

After this site renamed itself I was never able to log back in on my previous LH5 account. So the new account is LH5New. I used the same avatar over on AudioKarma as Lee Harvey. But looks like all cool cats that used to post on AudioKarma moved over here.

 

[rewind67]

I've been really curious about the Hana line, so started doing some research to see how the EL might stack up against my DL-103. Must be a good sign that I found an answer to that on HFH!

I think an EL is in my future.