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. 2 year guarantee and a ‘new for old or damaged’ replacement service. Specs Model Umami Blue (UB) Body Material Duralumin (A7075) + POM Body Finish Body Finish Gloss Enamel Lacquer/ Blue Cantilever Boron Stylus Microline Nude Diamond Armature Material Permalloy Armature Shape Cross Parts Material Pure Iron Magnet Alnico (Al-Ni-Co) Terminal Plate PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone) Terminal Pin 24K Gold Plated Coil Impedance 8Ω/1kHz Coil Output Level 0.4mV/1kHz Coil Wire Material High Purity Copper Terminating Impedance >80Ω Cryo-genic treatment Yes Frequency Response 15~50,000Hz Output Balance 0.5dB/1kHz Channel Separation >30dB/1kHz Tracking Force Weight 2 gr. Trackability 70μm/2gr Dynamic Compliance 10 x 10(-6) cm/dyne (100Hz) Dynamic Compliance 17 x 10(-6) cm/dyne (100Hz) Cartridge Weight 10.8 gr.
