Hana Umami Blue

The HANA-Umami Way

The HANA-Umami Blue high-end moving coil cartridge combines the vision of Master cartridge designer Okada-san with the history of unique materials, classic Japanese techniques, and modern audio engineering. The Auricle™ body design, unique and exclusive to our Umami series, is CNC machined from Duralumin. Sharing key Umami Red ingredients, including the precision-cut diamond stylus, Boron cantilever, and high-purity copper wires, then combining these with the Alnico magnet-based generator found in the famous Hana ML, creates the exceptionally musical Umami Blue.

This synergistic relationship in MC cartridge design between specific materials, unique body design, a sophisticated generator, and hand-built precision is critical for outstanding cartridge performance. This creates a memorable and emotional experience, reminiscent of a meal at a Michelin 3-star restaurant, with every element and detail working in concert.

All the major parts in a HANA-Umami Blue are manufactured in-house by Excel Sound with its rich history spanning over 50 years. Excel’s highly trained craftsmen skillfully hand assemble the HANA-Umami Blue ensuring an intensely musical experience furthering the HANA “Brilliant and Gorgeous” sound quality.

Umami Sound – Exceptional Musical Quality

Stylus                                       Microline

Cantilever                                Boron

Magnetic Circuitry                    Pure Iron/Cryo Treatment

Coil Wire                                  High Purity Copper

Output Level                           0.4 mv

Output Balance                       0.5/1kHz

Trackability                              70 µm/2g

Channel Separation                30dB/1kHz

Frequency Response              15-50,000Hz

Coil Impedance                        8Ω/1kHz

Suggested Load Impedance>  80Ω

Magnet                                     Alnico

Vertical Tracking Force              2g

Cartridge Weight                      10.8g

Body Material                            Duralumin (A7075)

Body Finish                               Melamine Thermosetting Process (MTP)