HANA CARTRIDGES
Hana cartridges are the hallmark of Excel Sound Corporation, a Tokyo-based company with over 50 years of expertise in cartridge design and manufacturing. Known for producing both their own-brand and OEM cartridges, Excel’s journey began with the development of affordable yet highly regarded models like the Excel ES70. By 1978, Excel had refined their craft to include moving coil (MC) cartridges, particularly excelling in high-output MC designs. While the company maintains an air of mystery regarding the brands it has partnered with, this discretion only adds to its reputation as a trusted name in the industry.
HANA MEANS “BRILLIANT” IN JAPANESE
In 2015, Excel unveiled the Hana brand, meaning "brilliant and gorgeous" in Japanese. Hana cartridges embody this philosophy, combining precision engineering with artisanal craftsmanship. Both low and high-output MC cartridges in the Hana range utilise high-rigidity aluminium cantilevers and cross-shaped armatures, a design that ensures exceptional sound quality and musicality. These cartridges rapidly gained accolades, earning reviewers’ praise and prestigious awards for their outstanding performance.
Half a Century of Cartridge Innovation
With decades of experience at their foundation, Hana cartridges merge cutting-edge manufacturing technologies with meticulous hand-assembly techniques. Skilled artisans craft each cartridge with precision, followed by rigorous laboratory testing to guarantee exceptional performance and one of the industry’s lowest defect ratios. Hana cartridges not only deliver audiophile-grade sound but also honour Excel Sound Corporation’s enduring legacy in cartridge design.
PRIODUCTS
HANA TECHNOLOGIES
You get that sense of musicians performing in a three-dimensional space normally reserved for super-high-end cartridges. Perhaps most significantly, it handles bass lines with depth, power, authority, and charm. Like the Red, the Blue topples giants. The Hana Umami Blue brings that high-end cartridge ‘wow’ factor at a stunning, attainable price.
Hi-Fi+ magazine, Hana Umami Blue, Winner 2023