I think Hana ML cartridge is a great option to Rega cartridges. As is their Umami Blue cart. of course, there are essentially unlimited number of cartridge options.
My advice would be that a 3 mm taller cartridge (17 mm vs. Rega’s 14 mm standard) puts you right in the gray zone where reasonable people disagree.
The Hana ML is around 16.5–17 mm tall, so on an RB330 arm (such as on the P6), the rear of the arm will sit approximately 3 mm lower than it would with a Rega cartridge. That gives you a slightly “tail-down” VTA/SRA.
Here’s how I’d look at it:
- Will it work without a shim? Absolutely. Many people run Hana, Audio-Technica, Dynavector, and other taller cartridges on Regas without shims and are perfectly happy.
- Is it technically optimal? Probably not. A 2–3 mm spacer under the arm will bring the arm much closer to level and restore the intended stylus rake angle. This is especially worthwhile with a MicroLine or Shibata stylus, where geometry matters more. The Hana ML uses a MicroLine stylus.
- Will you hear a difference? That’s where opinions diverge. Roy Gandy of Rega has long argued that VTA is far less critical than many audiophiles believe, and that several millimeters of arm-height change make only a very small audible difference. Others report a worthwhile improvement in focus, transient attack, and openness after adding the proper spacer.
If it were my P6 and I was spending around $1,000–1,200 on a Hana ML, I’d probably install the 2 mm Rega spacer (or possibly 3 mm if measurements support it). It’s inexpensive, doesn’t alter the turntable permanently, and ensures the cartridge is operating close to its intended geometry.
That said, I also wouldn’t let the lack of a spacer stop me from enjoying the cartridge. If someone mounted the Hana ML on a stock P6 and never touched the arm height, I suspect they’d still get 95–98% of the performance.
The Hana ML is an excellent match for the RB330, and its overall sonic character will dominate far more than a couple of millimeters of VTA difference.
