Hana Umami Blue MC cartridge

Product Description

We have a soft spot for Hana cartridges; they really do represent outstanding value at their respective price points. With the introduction of the Umami Blue, you can achieve performance approaching the phenomenal Umami Red, for a lot less. 

The Umami Blue combines the vision of Master cartridge designer Okada-san with the history of special materials, classic Japanese techniques, and modern audio engineering. The AuricleTM 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 the critical aspect for exceptional performance. 

All the major parts in a HANA-Umami Blue are manufactured in house by Excel Sound with its rich history spanning well over 50 years. Excel’s highly trained craftsmen skillfully hand assemble the HANA-Umami Blue, and all Hana cartridges.

AuricleTM Cartridge body

The HANA-Umami Blue incorporates the exclusive AuricleTM body design, first developed for the Umami Red. It mimics the shape of the human outer ear to rigidly support the “Open Air” Moving Coil generator. The unique body shape is machined from A7075 aluminium, one of the strongest and lightest alloys, often specified in aerospace engineering. The Umami Blue body features a white POM inlay on its front facia to provide damping properties and as homage to the Hana ML, the first cartridge using a POM body. Tapped and threaded mounting holes in the AuricleTM body assure secure attachment to the tonearm.

Special Body Finish

The HANA-Umami Blue uses a special enamelling process to impart the special blue finish to the AuricleTM body, adding to the rich sound and optics

Microline stylus

The ‘nude’ natural diamond stylus is cut and polished to mimic the cutting head stylus used to Master or “cut” all vinyl records. This critical part, also used on the HANA-Umami Red, offers the most precise fit into the vinyl groove, tracing the most delicate musical nuances.

Boron cantilever

Boron, with a hardness comparable to diamond, was selected for the HANA- Umami Blue to rigidly hold the Microline stylus. This solid Boron cantilever, a critical ingredient of the HANA-Umami Red, allows the smallest audible details and micro-dynamics to be transmitted without loss to the moving coil generator, capturing the artists’ intent.

Alnico magnet-based moving coil generator

The Alnico magnet material selected for the HANA-Umami Blue, as found in the Hana ML generator, creates a classic sonic quality. Alnico magnets provide greater linearity with reduced saturation, creating a rich musical quality. The Pure copper wires are expertly hand-wound onto the Permalloy cross armature, found in the Hana ML generator. The pure iron pole piece featured in the Umami Blue is another key ingredient found in both the HANA-Umami Red and Hana ML generator.

Cryogenic processing

This ‘cold annealing’ process at near absolute zero temperature is used to treat the pole piece, both front and rear yoke in the HANA-Umami Blue generator as well as the gold-plated signal output pins. The cryogenic process alters the molecular structure of the materials, producing a transformative quality similar to molecular gastronomy.

Exceptionally Musical

The Hana team is proud of their seamless integration of brilliant materials, modern audio engineering, and traditional Japanese techniques. Master designer Okada-san brings decades of experience to this design, furthering