Hana Umami Blue Moving Coil Phono Cartridge

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. Umami Sound - Exceptional Musical Quality

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.

The Hana Umami Blue hand-built MC cartridge embodies ‘Umami’- that very pleasing or delicious flavour on the palette, a synergistic effect resulting in higher taste intensity.

Hana’s Master cartridge designer Maseo Okada-san applies this ‘taste intensity’ concept as he combines brilliant materials and processes with classic Japanese techniques and modern audio engineering, to create his Hana Umami Blue low output MC cartridge; with ‘trickle-down’ design features as offered in the higher specification (and outstanding) Umami Red cartridge.

The cryogenically treated MC generator features an Alinco magnet material with hand-wound high purity copper wire on a cross armature, for an internal impedance of 8Ω and 0.4mV output. The pure iron pole piece and the Nude Microline stylus bonded to a solid Boron cantilever are as used in the Umami Red cartridge; for tracing the most delicate musical nuances from the LP.

The total design approach creates the classic sonic qualities and great value that Hana cartridges are now so well known for and positions the Umami Blue between the Hana ML and Umami Red cartridge price points.

The Hana Umami Blue uses the exclusive Auricle™ body shape (with tapped mounting holes) that mimics the form of the human outer ear, to rigidly support and help protect the “Open Air” Moving Coil generator. It is machined from a hard but light Duralumin with a special multi-layer melamine (MTP) brilliant glossy blue finish. An easy to fit stylus guard protects your investment.

All the major parts of the Hana Umami Blue are manufactured in house by Excel Sound with its highly trained craftsmen skilfully hand assembling each cartridge. Master designer Okada-san brings over 50 years of MC design experience to the Umami Blue, applying the Umami concept of synergy and intensity, to offer sound excellence.

The Umami Blue offers 0.4mv/1KHz output.

Hana cartridges are Made in Japan

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