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Argent MC300 Audiophile Low Output Moving Coil phono cartridge, with original box, Owners Manual, Specs, Graph and protective case, low low hours. Argent was a USA company back in the "analogue hayday years". Their cartridges were made by Excel of Japan who has been and is still making top of the line moving coil phono cartridges, including the Etsuro and Hana cartridges. This MC300 was purchased unused many years ago and was never used as it was going to be a 2nd system that never materialized. Low low hours, excellent unusued condition and excellent sound. Keep in mind that it is a very low output moving coil, .1MV and will require a step transformer or head amp, or a phono section that has enough gain. It sounds superb, open, detailed, dynamic, extended, spacious, involving, smooth, transparent, natural and very musical. It also has excellent tracking capabilities. It uses a high end Super Boron cantilever and Parabolic Nude Diamond tip. It is ready to plug and play. It has the actual B&K test measurements/graph showing the impressive actual measurements. The pictures show the graph, specs, etc. To equal this cartridges design, materials, craftsmanship and performance in todays market would be pricey. The shipping cost includes safe packing, insurance, prompt shipping and tracking number. Buy with confidence, see my feedback. Good Listening, SonnY :)
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Hana Cartridges emerged in 2016 from Excel Sound Corporation, a Tokyo-based firm with over 50 years of expertise in analog audio reproduction. Handcrafted in Yokohama, Japan, by skilled artisans under the guidance of master designer Masao Okada, the brand draws on traditional Japanese precision. The name "Hana," meaning "brilliant and gorgeous" in Japanese, reflects its heritage of meticulous assembly and laboratory testing at the factory, blending time-honored craftsmanship with modern engineering.
The brand specializes exclusively in moving coil phono cartridges, offering a focused lineup across series like E (elliptical), S (Shibata), M (microline), and premium Umami models with nude diamond or Urushi finishes. Configurations include high- and low-output variants, from entry-level EL/EH and SL/SH pairs to flagship MH/ML and the $3,950 Umami Red, all optimized for vinyl playback with options for mono and stereo tracking.
Hana holds a strong mid-tier position in the high-end phono cartridge market, celebrated for exceptional value, articulate detail, dynamic range, and musical warmth. Reviewers and audiophiles praise their "brilliant and gorgeous" sound—punchy yet refined—positioning them as accessible gateways to elite analog performance without stratospheric pricing, rivaling pricier competitors while appealing to discerning vinyl enthusiasts worldwide.
See all Hana Cartridges listings on RADAR.
