Hana SL Mono cartridge 0.4mV

HANA SL MONO CARTRIDGE 0.4mV

Mono records pre-dated stereo LPs and then existed side-by-side through most of the 1960s. The Hana SL Mono represents the most musical and affordable means to enjoy both the classic records of that era as well as today’s mono re-issues. Embodying the highly acclaimed sound of the Hana SL, the SL Mono, with its special generator and Shibata stylus, optimizes playback of mono LPs. Whether mounted to a second tonearm, Universal headshell, or dedicated mono turntable, the SL Mono lets you get the most from Basie, Ellington, Beatles, Hendrix, the Stones, and all great mono recordings.

Stereo cartridges are just not designed to properly track the mono groove. They are designed differently and they move in the groove itself differently, looking to move up and down and left and right instead of merely left and right. Hence, if you place a stereo cart in a mono groove and do what most people tend to do – flick a mono switch on a phono amp to access mono sound – then you only succeed in grabbing around half the possible sonics.

This is when you hear people on social media declaring that mono LPs sound terrible. Is it any wonder? Use the wrong tool for any job and see what happens.

In short and in general terms, a stereo stylus tip in a mono groove produces a wooly bass response with no grip at all while the soundstage falls to pieces and the mids lack any sort of focus.