Michael Osborn-san at Air Audio Service,/ HANA UK distributor has forwarded us this excellent 5 hearts Award review article on HANA-SL MKII by Stuart Smith-san in “Hifi Pig” magazine (Feb. 19.2025) in UK, for your further ongoing and powerful reference.

Following is its conclusion.

This is another great-sounding cartridge from HANA and one that will serve beautifully as a first step into thesometimes overly exotic world of lower-output Moving Coil cartridges. Those who do step up will not bedisappointed with the SL MKII’s performance! It’s a great performer from top to bottom and comes across asbeing very quiet and wonderfully dynamic. No, it doesn’t have the ultimate refinement of the HANA RED orBLUE cartridges, but (for my tastes) it betters the Vertere Sabre Moving Magnet – your mileage may differ andso if you are in the market, you need to listen to a short shortlist and then make your decision – I can onlyguide you as to what my thoughts were in this system and with my choice of recordings, though I stand byeverything I say about this product I this review!

The stereo image is stable and detailed whatever the kind of music was played. On electronic music I was ableto see into the mix and see where individual instruments and sounds had been placed by the producer. Withtraditionally recorded acoustic music, I was likewise able to “see’ the instruments on the stage and spread infront of me. As always, the question I always ask myself is “Could I live with this …” and the answer to this has to be aresounding “YES!” Had I not been spoiled by cartridges further up the the HANA range.

I’m giving this cartridge our 5 Hearts award given its cost-to-performance ratio. It offers a lot of what the moreexpensive cartridges in the HANA range offer but lacks a degree of their refinement (almost impossible toconvey in words) when compared side by side. However, the SLII finds itself in a crowded marketplace andwhilst I assure you this is an excellent cartridge, be aware that there are alternatives out there around this priceshould you wish to go your own way – whatever, listen to the the SL MKII and I’m certain you will find itperforms very favourably to anything at this price, though I’ve not heard everything out there!