First Moving Coil (MC) Cartridge Acquisition

Dear @arturos73 : The recoemendation for the ART9 is very good alternative and a true few. step.up to the Black:

https://www.audio-technica.com/cms/cartridges/0b93b60b61b69617/index.html

Stay away from vinatge MC units where you have not warranty or original re-tipping.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.

You could try an AT OC9/II cartridge.  It's a a very good performer and a great match for a VTPH-2a and the Jelco SA-750 arm.  I have used that combination in the past.  Or if you want to try a cartridge with a higher level of performance, there's an AT ART9.  Both are very good MC cartridges, especially for the low price they carry.  

Was the Hana a significant upgrade though? I'm looking to step up the scene considerably.

In many pursuits the graph of quality vs. price approximates a straight line - the higher the price the better quality you can expect.

The graph of price to quality vis a vis audio looks more like a blind hunter let fly with a scatter gun. You get cheap over-achievers and very expensive flawed cartridges in a pattern like a cloud, not a line.  Sadly this (cartridges)  is also the worst area for not being able to audition before you buy, so you pretty much have to rely on reviews and boards like this for suggestions.

A good friend runs a low output Hana and so I am somewhat familiar with it.  It sounds quite good and might surprise you. The experiment won't break the bank in any case.

No one can tell you which flavor you will like in your system, there are so many cartridges on the market and they are different. People who enjoyed ART-9 on this forum, and raved about for a long time, sold them and bought something else, just like with many cartridges. Do not expect a universal answer. Vintage LOMC cartridges are much cheaper even with the most exotic cantilevers just like Dynavector KARAT diamond series that you can probably find NOS (never used) under $1k (i paid less than $500 for one of them NOS and it was amazing deal on ebay).  

A lot of people on here buying NEW grey market products without warranty, they don't care just because the price is $200 lower. The more important is not OLD or NEW, but who is the seller or dealer and how they can support a buyer when there is something wrong (in the worst scenario). If you or your cleaning lady will destroy a cartridge it doesn't matter was it New or Vintage, they will be destroyed anyway. 

If you're looking for a sound quality then it's up to you which cartridge is better, there are many vintage cartridges that can be 3 times cheaper and 2 times better than anything new.  

For $1000, you might want to consider the Audio Technica ART7 or ART9.  The former has much lower output than the latter, but either might work with your Herron 2A.  I own an ART7 (.12mV output), and I have more than ample gain with my Manley Steelhead set at 65db total gain. (The line stage section of the Steelhead adds no additional gain. So it's 65db total.)  I would think your 2A can also supply 65db in MC mode, and especially if you are using a linestage that adds gain, you'd be in good shape.  The ART9 would be a piece of cake at >0.5mV output. Hana seems to be all the rage these days, for good performance at low cost, but the ART series may be superior for a bit more $.  Still both are under $1K.  In fairness though, I have never heard a Hana.

Millercarbon, in my experience, Koetsus behave like they have more than 0.4mV output.  That rating may apply to a stylus velocity of 3.54cm/sec, which used to be the standard.  At the modern standard of 5cm/sec, my Urushi behaves as if it has at least 0.5-0.6mV output.