Big John
pfm Member
Last Thursday I went to Malvern driven by my son to see my friend Mark Manwaring-White AKA Malvern Audio Research together with my Croft phono stage built in a Vitale amplifier case that Len Gregory (The Cartridgeman) asked Mr Croft to build me, Len was using a Croft to develop his cartridges I was one of his guinea-pigs, I preferred the Croft to several including an EAR 834p that I tried.
After Len's sad death I have been searching for a replacement for my now elderly Musicmaster cartridge, I listened to a lot including the Hana ML, I spoke to Mark who is a Hana dealer, I pointed out the Croft was moving MI/MM only. (Mark had made it dual 6.3v as well as 12.6v some years ago).
Mark said he could fit a pair of SUT's in the Croft case, which on our arrival he proceeded to do, he fitted a pair of Silver plated copper phono sockets, then a pair of SUT's some wiring into the Croft equaliser circuitry & bingo a MC compatible Croft.
Mark to make it easier & quicker for me set up, with my sausage fingers measured the stylus position of the Musicmaster on my Hadcock 242 Silver arm Mark then fitted the Hana ML cartridge. The arm when fitted at home placed the stylus on the Audio Origami (Seb) protractor that I align to the arm pivot with a small shelf fitting red laser placing the stylus within a gnats toger of perfect.
I have listened to the Hana ML for a few hours now, at 2 grams tracking weight bias set low, it has slowly filled out, bass has deepened sound stage is spreading, treble incise full, but not harsh, I was a initially a little concerned whether my 242 arm would be ok with the 3 gram heavier Hana ML even though it has an XTC counterweight, & it's mass places it in the middle mass of arms...
No such qualms now, I am not going to compare the 2 cartridges after 25 odd years a clean slate. So far the the ML has handled with aplomb everything from Palestrina to Wish You Were Here. Playing at the moment Dave Brubeck greatest hits & I'm not a jazz lover. I am looking forward to the Hana ML running in I have read it can take 40-60 hours.
As for the Croft it still sounds like my Croft & still compatible with higher output cartridges though unlikely to be needed, the Hana ML Croft have transpired to be a brilliant sounding combination.
After Len's sad death I have been searching for a replacement for my now elderly Musicmaster cartridge, I listened to a lot including the Hana ML, I spoke to Mark who is a Hana dealer, I pointed out the Croft was moving MI/MM only. (Mark had made it dual 6.3v as well as 12.6v some years ago).
Mark said he could fit a pair of SUT's in the Croft case, which on our arrival he proceeded to do, he fitted a pair of Silver plated copper phono sockets, then a pair of SUT's some wiring into the Croft equaliser circuitry & bingo a MC compatible Croft.
Mark to make it easier & quicker for me set up, with my sausage fingers measured the stylus position of the Musicmaster on my Hadcock 242 Silver arm Mark then fitted the Hana ML cartridge. The arm when fitted at home placed the stylus on the Audio Origami (Seb) protractor that I align to the arm pivot with a small shelf fitting red laser placing the stylus within a gnats toger of perfect.
I have listened to the Hana ML for a few hours now, at 2 grams tracking weight bias set low, it has slowly filled out, bass has deepened sound stage is spreading, treble incise full, but not harsh, I was a initially a little concerned whether my 242 arm would be ok with the 3 gram heavier Hana ML even though it has an XTC counterweight, & it's mass places it in the middle mass of arms...
No such qualms now, I am not going to compare the 2 cartridges after 25 odd years a clean slate. So far the the ML has handled with aplomb everything from Palestrina to Wish You Were Here. Playing at the moment Dave Brubeck greatest hits & I'm not a jazz lover. I am looking forward to the Hana ML running in I have read it can take 40-60 hours.
As for the Croft it still sounds like my Croft & still compatible with higher output cartridges though unlikely to be needed, the Hana ML Croft have transpired to be a brilliant sounding combination.