HANA UMAMI BLUE LOW OUTPUT MC CARTRIDGE LAUNCHED

Hana’s Master cartridge designer Maseo Okada-san has applied his ‘taste intensity’ concept to create the Hana Umami Blue MC cartridge.

The Hana Umami Blue low output MC cartridge combines modern materials and processes with classic Japanese techniques and modern audio engineering, to create the Hana Umami Blue low output MC cartridge; with ‘trickle-down’ design features as offered in the higher specification flagship Hana Umami Red cartridge.

Hana Umami Blue MC Cartridge

HANA UMAMI BLUE MC 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.

Hana Umami Blue MC Cartridge features trickle down tech from the Umami Red flagship

HANA UMAMI RED

The total design approach creates the classic sonic qualities and 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 Red gained our Editor’s Choice award, you can read why here.

The HiFi PiG Editor’s Choice award-winning Hana Umami Red cartridge

AURICLE BODY SHAPE

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 the cartridge.

The Hana Umami Blue MC Cartridge has an auricle body shape

HANA MASTER DESIGNER OKADA-SAN

All the major parts of the Hana Umami Blue are manufactured in house by Excel Sound with its craftsmen 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, at a more affordable price than the flagship Hana Umami Red.

HANA UMAMI BLUE CARTRIDGE SPECIFICATIONS

Stylus Microline

Cantilever Boron

Magnetic Circuitry Pure Iron/Cryo Treatment

Coil Wire High Purity Copper

Output Level 0.4mv/1KHz

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)

Warranty 2 years

HANA UMAMI BLUE CARTRIDGE PRICE

US Retail: $2,500

UK Retail: £2,149

Available in the UK from Hana distributor Air Audio’s network of dealers.

HiFi Pig Says: The Hana Umami Red caused a real stir in the audiophile world, at an even more affordable price point the Hana Umami Blue is set to do the same.