Haniwa

[MRubey]

I’ve sat with the Haniwa cartridge and phono-stage system long enough now that I feel like I can describe its virtues accurately. I have the current top cartridge, the HCTR-CO 01. It is 0.2 ohms internal impedance. It will work properly only in current mode. It is designed for very low VTF. I am running 1g. Haniwa does 0.5g on their arm. I have Haniwa’s current to voltage converter which is like a SUT in usage but performs the transimpedance to voltage function. It is a completely passive unit. It’s only connections are XLR in from turntable and rca out to an mm phonostage. Phono cables were included. Haniwa sells the phonostage also, it has a lot of proprietary circuitry. I ran the CVC into my Sutherland and it did not sound nearly as alive as through its intended mate. I recently purchased the Holbo Airbearing linear tracking turntable. I cannot sing the praises of this turntable highly enough. It and the Haniwa are an excellent pairing.
This is a sound that is fundamentally different from anything I have heard before.
It is utterly revealing and as fast as anything I’ve heard. Whatever is in the groove is presented as is. It is playing through a “The Truth” passive pre into a SIT4 directly into crossoverless Nenuphars v2. With good source material it’s the best I’ve heard. It does not have a genre preference. It is delicate and sweet with small scale acoustic then thunderous and powerful when called upon. It catches every nuance of Hilary Hahn’s or John McLaughlin’s technique. It expresses Janos Starker”s or Nema Ben David’s tone perfectly. Vocals are alive. I’m listening to everything again as if for the first time.

 

[hb22]

I’ve sat with the Haniwa cartridge and phono-stage system long enough now that I feel like I can describe its virtues accurately. I have the current top cartridge, the HCTR-CO 01. It is 0.2 ohms internal impedance. It will work properly only in current mode. It is designed for very low VTF. I am running 1g. Haniwa does 0.5g on their arm. I have Haniwa’s current to voltage converter which is like a SUT in usage but performs the transimpedance to voltage function. It is a completely passive unit. It’s only connections are XLR in from turntable and rca out to an mm phonostage. Phono cables were included. Haniwa sells the phonostage also, it has a lot of proprietary circuitry. I ran the CVC into my Sutherland and it did not sound nearly as alive as through its intended mate. I recently purchased the Holbo Airbearing linear tracking turntable. I cannot sing the praises of this turntable highly enough. It and the Haniwa are an excellent pairing.
This is a sound that is fundamentally different from anything I have heard before.
It is utterly revealing and as fast as anything I’ve heard. Whatever is in the groove is presented as is. It is playing through a “The Truth” passive pre into a SIT4 directly into crossoverless Nenuphars v2. With good source material it’s the best I’ve heard. It does not have a genre preference. It is delicate and sweet with small scale acoustic then thunderous and powerful when called upon. It catches every nuance of Hilary Hahn’s or John McLaughlin’s technique. It catches Nema Ben David’s tone perfectly. Vocals are alive. I’m listening to everything again as if for the first time.

The Holbo mk2 airbearing turntable is truly one of the best turntables ever. I believe it is also excellent with the Haniwa cartridge, as well as with a lot of other reference cartridges...