2026 Phono Cartridge of the Year Award | The Absolute Sound

Hana SL MK II $850 

The Hana SL MK II is a worthy successor to the original Hana SL, becoming the new low-cost overachiever, capturing more of nearly everything that the cartridge it replaces in the company’s lineup does.

"Upon first listen, the Hana SL MK II offers admirable harmonic richness, particularly good transparency and fidelity to the recording, and excellent soundstage depth... Compared to the original Hana SL, the Hana SL MK II excelled in all the characteristics mentioned above; plus, it has increased musical clarity, capturing the speed, pacing, and tempo of music’s initial transients along with a tone-rich decay that provides greater realism. The cartridge is closer to being chameleon-like and outputs what the LP presents with all the ease, liveliness, vigor, elegance, and emotional moods captured during the recording session."