The HANA-Umami Way

The HANA-Umami Red high-end moving coil cartridge combines brilliant materials and classic Japanese techniques with modern audio engineering. Ebony wood, rare-earth magnets, precision-cut diamond, high-purity copper wires, Urushi lacquering, and CNC machined Duralumin synergize under the vision of Hana designer Okada-san.
The synergistic relationship in MC generators between magnet, armature, and coil windings is a critical aspect of outstanding cartridge design; and like a signature dish at a Michelin 3-star restaurant, every element and detail working in concert results in a memorable and emotional experience. All the major parts in a HANA-Umami Red 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 Red ensuring an intensely musical experience furthering the HANA “Brilliant and Gorgeous” sound quality.

• Design & Materials: Features a samarium/cobalt magnet, pure iron/cryo-treated magnetic circuit, and high-purity copper coils.
• Sound Signature: Described as having a “savory” or “natural” tone that is both musical and highly resolving, with a slightly warmer balance than the Hana ML.
• Specs: 0.4mV output, 6Ω impedance (1kHz),  weight, and 2g tracking force.
• Performance: Offers exceptional tracking ability (70µm/2g) and a wide frequency response of 10-50,000Hz. 
  The Absolute Sound +5

Context and Comparisons

• Positioning: It is considered a top-tier “reference” cartridge that rivals models costing significantly more.
• Series: It is part of the Umami series (above the Umami Blue) and is manufactured by Excel Sound in Yokohama, Japan.
• Setup: It is sensitive to adjustment and requires careful loading and alignment (optimal load >60 ohms). 

The Hana Umami Red is generally praised for offering an exceptional, high-end listening experience with “sumptuous” build quality.

Technical

• Material Duralumin
• Finish Gloss Urushi Lacquer
• Cantilever Boron
• Stylus Microline
• Armature Material Permalloy
• Armature Shape Square Cross
• Parts Material Pure Iron
• Magnet Samarium Cobalt
• Terminal Plate PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone)
• Terminal Pin 24K Gold Plated
• Coil Impedance 6 Ω/1KHz 8
• Output 0.4mv/1KHz 0.4mV
• Coil Wire Material High Purity Copper
• Terminating Impedance > 60 Ω
• Treatment Cryo-genic Yes
• Frequency Response 10-50,000Hz
• Output Balance 0.5dB/1KHz
• Channel Separation >30dB/1KHz
• Tracking Force Weight 2g
• Trackability 70μm/2g
• Dynamic Compliance 10 x 10(-6) cm/dyne (100Hz)
• Cartridge Weight 10.5g