Audio T Verdict
The Hana Umami Blue occupies a rather clever position in the range. It takes some of the most important mechanical ingredients from the more expensive Umami Red and combines them with the proven low-impedance Alnico generator architecture associated with the Hana ML.
At the groove is a nude natural-diamond MicroLine stylus mounted to a solid Boron cantilever. It is a considerably more sophisticated groove-reading assembly than the elliptical and Shibata designs used lower down the Hana range, with the fine MicroLine profile designed to maintain close contact with the groove and retrieve very small modulations with precision.
The generator is equally serious. Hana uses an Alnico magnet, high-purity copper coils wound around a Permalloy cross armature and a pure-iron pole piece. Output is 0.4mV from an 8-ohm generator, so despite an unfortunate reference to “high output” on some older copy, this is emphatically a low-output moving-coil cartridge.
That means the phono stage matters. Hana recommends loading above 80 ohms, making a quality adjustable MC phono stage, appropriately matched step-up transformer or other suitable low-output moving-coil solution essential.
The cartridge body is one of the areas where Blue moves decisively beyond the Hana ML. Its open Auricle structure is CNC-machined from A7075 aluminium, with a white POM front insert providing additional damping. Threaded mounting holes make installation refreshingly straightforward, while the glossy blue Melamine Thermosetting Process finish forms part of the body's resonance-control strategy.
At 10.8g with a compliance of 10 x 10-6cm/dyne at 100Hz and a recommended tracking force of 2.0g, Umami Blue should be partnered with a suitably capable tonearm rather than simply fitted to whatever happens to be available.
For a serious analogue system, this is where Hana starts combining the practicality and value associated with the brand with some genuinely high-end cartridge engineering. It is considerably more ambitious than the ML, without yet making the substantial financial leap to Umami Red or the flagship Umami Black.
Hana Umami Blue Moving Coil Cartridge
The Hana Umami Blue is a high-end low-output moving-coil cartridge designed by master cartridge designer Masao Okada-san and hand-assembled by Excel Sound in Japan.
Positioned between the Hana ML and Umami Red, it combines the solid Boron cantilever and nude MicroLine stylus technology of Hana's higher Umami models with an Alnico-based low-impedance generator derived from the Hana ML.
Key features include:
- High-end low-output moving-coil cartridge
- Hana Umami Series
- Designed by Masao Okada-san
- Nude natural-diamond MicroLine stylus
- Solid Boron cantilever
- Alnico magnet moving-coil generator
- Permalloy cross armature
- Pure-iron pole piece
- High-purity copper coil wire
- Cryogenically treated magnetic components
- 24k gold-plated terminal pins
- PEEK terminal plate
- 0.4mV output
- 8-ohm internal impedance
- Greater than 80-ohm recommended loading
- A7075 aluminium Auricle body
- White POM damping inlay
- Open-air generator architecture
- Melamine Thermosetting Process blue finish
- Threaded cartridge mounting
- 15Hz–50kHz frequency response
- Greater than 30dB channel separation at 1kHz
- 0.5dB output balance at 1kHz
- 70µm trackability at 2.0g
- 2.0g recommended tracking force
- 10 x 10-6cm/dyne dynamic compliance at 100Hz
- 10.8g cartridge weight
- Stylus guard supplied
- Hand-assembled in Japan
Low Output Moving Coil Design
The Umami Blue uses a low-output moving-coil generator.
In a moving-coil cartridge, small coils attached to the cantilever assembly move within a stationary magnetic field as the stylus traces the record groove.
Keeping the moving components light can help the cartridge respond to extremely small groove movements, but the resulting electrical output is much lower than that of a conventional moving-magnet cartridge.
0.4mV Output
Hana specifies:
0.4mV at 1kHz.
This firmly places Umami Blue in low-output moving-coil territory.
Umami Blue Is Not a High-Output Cartridge
Despite some older copy referring to a high output voltage, Hana Umami Blue produces 0.4mV.
It therefore requires suitable low-output moving-coil amplification rather than a conventional MM-only input.
8-Ohm Internal Impedance
The Hana Umami Blue generator has an internal impedance of:
8 ohms at 1kHz.
This is the same low-impedance generator architecture that forms part of the Hana ML design and is also reflected in the current Hana SL MK II.
Greater Than 80-Ohm Loading
Hana recommends a phono-stage load impedance of:
Greater than 80 ohms.
This gives useful flexibility when partnering the cartridge with an adjustable moving-coil phono stage.
100 Ohms Is a Logical Starting Area
A 100-ohm MC setting sits above Hana's greater-than-80-ohm recommendation and is therefore a sensible place to begin where your phono stage provides that option.
If further loading choices are available above 100 ohms, they can also be explored as part of final system matching.
Gain Matters as Much as Loading
Phono-stage loading and gain are different things.
Loading determines the electrical resistance presented to Umami Blue's 8-ohm generator.
Gain determines how much its tiny 0.4mV signal is amplified before reaching your amplifier.
Check Both Gain and Loading
A phono stage can provide a suitable resistance setting but still be a poor partner if it does not provide enough clean, low-noise gain for a 0.4mV cartridge.
Audio T can help check the complete cartridge and phono-stage match.
Using a Step-Up Transformer
The low-output, low-impedance generator also makes Umami Blue a potential candidate for a suitably matched moving-coil step-up transformer.
The signal path becomes:
Turntable ? MC step-up transformer ? MM phono stage ? amplifier.
Step-Up Transformer Matching Matters
Transformer ratio, cartridge impedance and the load presented by the following MM phono stage all interact.
Do not select a transformer simply because it is described as suitable for moving-coil cartridges. The complete electrical combination should be checked.
Alnico Moving Coil Generator
Umami Blue uses an:
Alnico magnet-based moving-coil generator.
Hana also uses this magnetic principle in the ML generator.
The Blue combines the Alnico magnetic system with a pure-iron pole piece, Permalloy cross armature and high-purity copper coil wire.
Permalloy Cross Armature
The moving coils are wound around a Permalloy cross armature.
The armature forms the lightweight moving structure connected to the cantilever and sits within the generator's magnetic field.
As the MicroLine stylus moves through the groove, motion travels through the Boron cantilever into this coil and armature assembly.
High-Purity Copper Coil Wire
Hana uses high-purity copper for the moving coils.
The winding structure is designed to maintain a low 8-ohm internal impedance while producing the cartridge's 0.4mV output.
Pure-Iron Pole Piece
A pure-iron pole piece forms part of the generator's magnetic circuit.
This component is also found within Hana's ML and Umami Red generator designs, albeit within different overall magnetic architectures.
Cryogenic Processing
Critical metal components within the Umami Blue generator undergo cryogenic treatment.
Hana applies the process to:
- Pure-iron pole piece
- Front yoke
- Rear yoke
- Gold-plated signal output pins
The process involves cooling the components to extremely low temperatures before returning them gradually to normal temperature.
Nude Natural-Diamond MicroLine Stylus
Umami Blue uses a:
Nude natural-diamond MicroLine stylus.
The fine stylus geometry is designed to approximate the shape of the cutting stylus used when vinyl masters are produced.
Its narrow tracing profile and extended groove-wall contact allow it to follow extremely fine modulation within the record groove.
What Does Nude Mean?
A nude stylus uses the diamond itself as both the stylus tip and supporting shank rather than bonding a smaller diamond tip to another material.
This reduces unnecessary material within the moving assembly and removes an additional mechanical interface between the record groove and cantilever.
Why Use a MicroLine Stylus?
When correctly aligned, a MicroLine profile can provide:
- Fine groove-detail retrieval
- Excellent high-frequency tracing
- Extended groove-wall contact
- Reduced tracing distortion
- Strong inner-groove performance
- Precise retrieval of small groove modulations
MicroLine Styli Reward Accurate Alignment
The sophistication of the stylus does not make alignment less important. It makes correct geometry more worthwhile.
Overhang, offset angle and vertical alignment should all be treated carefully when installing Umami Blue.
Solid Boron Cantilever
The MicroLine stylus is mounted to a:
Solid Boron cantilever.
Boron combines very high rigidity with low mass, making it well suited to transferring the tiny movements of the stylus into the moving-coil generator.
The same basic cantilever material is used by Hana Umami Red.
Why Does Cantilever Rigidity Matter?
The cantilever has to transfer extremely small and rapid stylus movements into the generator while introducing as little unwanted flex or stored mechanical energy as possible.
A highly rigid cantilever helps maintain a direct mechanical relationship between groove movement and the electrical signal generated by the cartridge.
Auricle Cartridge Body
Umami Blue uses Hana's distinctive:
Auricle body design.
Unique to the Umami Series, the shape takes inspiration from the human outer ear and is designed to rigidly support the open-air moving-coil generator.
Unlike a conventional enclosed cartridge shell, much of the generator structure remains open rather than surrounded by large body cavities.
A7075 Aluminium
The Auricle body is CNC-machined from:
A7075 aluminium.
This high-strength aluminium alloy is widely used where a combination of rigidity and relatively low weight is required.
For Hana, it provides a rigid mechanical mounting structure around the open-air moving-coil generator.
White POM Damping Inlay
The front of the Blue incorporates a:
White POM inlay.
POM is an engineering polymer also central to the Hana M Series cartridge body.
Using it alongside the aluminium body introduces a material with different mechanical characteristics, helping control unwanted resonance while providing a visual reference to Hana's M Series.
Open-Air Generator Architecture
The Auricle structure supports the generator without surrounding it with a conventional closed cartridge body.
This reduces enclosed cavities around the generator and gives unwanted mechanical energy fewer places to accumulate.
The Open Construction Requires Extra Care
The generator, internal wiring and Boron cantilever are less protected than they would be within a fully enclosed cartridge body.
Handle Umami Blue only by its appropriate body and mounting surfaces.
Melamine Thermosetting Process Finish
The brilliant blue finish is created using Hana's:
Melamine Thermosetting Process, or MTP.
The multi-layer treatment forms part of the cartridge's overall body construction rather than functioning simply as ordinary decorative paint.
Hana uses the finish alongside the rigid A7075 body and POM front insert as part of the complete resonance-control strategy.
Threaded Cartridge Mounting
The Auricle body incorporates tapped mounting holes.
The cartridge bolts therefore screw directly into the body rather than requiring separate nuts around the headshell.
Why Threaded Mounting Is Useful
Threaded mounting provides several practical advantages:
- No loose cartridge nuts
- Easier physical installation
- Simpler alignment adjustments
- Secure mechanical coupling to the tonearm
- Reduced risk of dropping hardware near the Boron cantilever
Use the Correct Screw Length
Do not force mounting bolts beyond the available depth of the threaded cartridge body.
Use suitable hardware and tighten only sufficiently to secure the cartridge.
10.8g Cartridge Weight
Umami Blue weighs:
10.8g.
This makes tonearm counterweight range worth checking before installation.
Some Tonearms May Need a Heavier Counterweight
Cartridges around or above 10g can sit outside the standard counterweight range of some tonearms.
Check the manufacturer's permitted cartridge-weight range before buying.
Dynamic Compliance
Hana specifies dynamic compliance of:
10 x 10-6cm/dyne at 100Hz.
Compliance describes the flexibility of the cartridge suspension and should be considered alongside the effective mass of the tonearm when assessing mechanical compatibility.
Weight Alone Does Not Determine Tonearm Matching
Cartridge mass, compliance, tonearm effective mass and mounting hardware all contribute to the mechanical behaviour of the arm and cartridge combination.
For a cartridge at this level, it is worth checking properly.
2.0g Recommended Tracking Force
Hana specifies:
2.0g vertical tracking force.
The suspension and generator are designed around this operating force.
Do Not Deliberately Track Too Lightly
Reducing tracking force below the correct value does not automatically reduce record wear.
Too little force can increase mistracking and prevent the MicroLine stylus from remaining stable within the groove.
Use an Accurate Stylus-Force Gauge
Balance and set the tonearm according to its manufacturer's instructions, then verify the final 2.0g setting with an accurate stylus-force gauge where possible.
At this level, there is little reason to rely solely on approximate markings around a tonearm counterweight.
70µm Trackability
Hana specifies:
70µm at 2.0g.
This figure is measured with Umami Blue operating at its recommended tracking force.
Bias or Anti-Skate
Once the correct tracking force has been established, set bias or anti-skate according to the tonearm manufacturer's procedure.
Different tonearms use different mechanisms and calibrations, so a dial number from one arm should not automatically be transferred to another.
Accurate Cartridge Alignment
The MicroLine stylus makes accurate cartridge geometry particularly worthwhile.
Correct setup may include:
- Overhang
- Offset angle
- Tracking force
- Bias or anti-skate
- Tonearm height where adjustable
- Azimuth where adjustable
Do Not Align Umami Blue by Eye
Use the geometry specified for your turntable or tonearm, or an appropriate cartridge-alignment protractor.
A precision MicroLine stylus deserves more accurate setup than approximate visual positioning.
Azimuth
Azimuth describes the side-to-side orientation of the stylus between the two groove walls.
Incorrect azimuth can affect:
- Channel balance
- Channel separation
- Stereo image stability
- High-frequency tracing
- Distortion
If your tonearm provides azimuth adjustment, it can form part of final cartridge optimisation.
Tonearm Height and Vertical Setup
On tonearms providing height adjustment, final vertical geometry can be optimised after basic overhang, offset angle and tracking force are correct.
Fine-line stylus profiles such as MicroLine can respond more noticeably to changes in vertical geometry than simpler spherical or elliptical designs.
15Hz to 50kHz Frequency Response
Hana specifies:
15Hz–50kHz.
This extended bandwidth reflects the behaviour of the complete MicroLine stylus, Boron cantilever and moving-coil generator system.
Frequency response alone should not be treated as a complete measure of cartridge quality.
Greater Than 30dB Channel Separation
Channel separation is specified at:
Greater than 30dB at 1kHz.
Good separation helps preserve information recovered independently from the two groove walls and contributes to stable stereo positioning.
0.5dB Output Balance
Hana specifies output balance of:
0.5dB at 1kHz.
Close matching between the two channels helps maintain a consistent stereo image.
No User-Replaceable Stylus
The MicroLine stylus, Boron cantilever and moving-coil generator form an integrated precision assembly.
The stylus is not designed to be removed and replaced by the user.
Do Not Attempt to Remove the Stylus Assembly
If the stylus or Boron cantilever becomes worn or damaged, contact Audio T to discuss the current UK replacement or service options.
Use the Supplied Stylus Guard
Hana supplies a stylus guard with Umami Blue.
It is worth fitting whenever practical while:
- Installing the cartridge
- Connecting cartridge tags
- Adjusting mounting hardware
- Working around the tonearm
- Transporting the cartridge
Boron Is Rigid, Not Indestructible
The Boron cantilever is extremely rigid in normal operation but remains part of a delicate precision suspension.
A sideways impact or careless hand can still cause permanent damage.
Stylus Care
The nude MicroLine stylus benefits from careful cleaning and clean records.
Useful habits include:
- Keep records properly cleaned
- Remove loose surface dust before playback
- Use a suitable stylus-cleaning product
- Clean in a gentle back-to-front direction
- Never apply sideways pressure to the Boron cantilever
- Use the tonearm cueing mechanism where possible
- Keep fingers away from the open generator
- Turn amplifier volume down while working around the cartridge
Umami Blue or Hana ML?
Hana ML
- 0.4mV low-output moving coil
- 8-ohm internal impedance
- Greater than 100-ohm loading
- Nude MicroLine stylus
- Aluminium cantilever
- Alnico generator
- High-purity copper coils
- Delrin cartridge body
- Machined brass cap
- 9.5g cartridge weight
Umami Blue
- 0.4mV low-output moving coil
- 8-ohm internal impedance
- Greater than 80-ohm loading
- Nude MicroLine stylus
- Solid Boron cantilever
- Alnico generator
- High-purity copper coils
- A7075 Auricle body
- White POM damping insert
- 10.8g cartridge weight
There is a clear family relationship between the ML and Umami Blue. Both use low-impedance Alnico generators and nude MicroLine styli.
The Blue moves substantially beyond the ML mechanically through its solid Boron cantilever and A7075 Auricle open-body construction, while retaining the underlying generator philosophy that makes the ML such a useful reference point in Hana's range.
Compare the Hana M Series at Audio T.
Umami Blue or Umami Red?
Umami Blue
- 0.4mV output
- 8-ohm internal impedance
- Greater than 80-ohm loading
- Nude MicroLine stylus
- Solid Boron cantilever
- Alnico magnet
- Permalloy cross armature
- Pure-iron pole piece
- A7075 Auricle body
- White POM damping insert
- Blue MTP finish
- 10.8g cartridge weight
Umami Red
- 0.4mV output
- 6-ohm internal impedance
- Greater than 60-ohm loading
- Nude MicroLine stylus
- Solid Boron cantilever
- Samarium-cobalt magnet
- Square Permalloy armature
- A7075 Auricle body
- Ebony wood damping inlay
- Multi-layer Urushi finish
- 10.5g cartridge weight
Blue already adopts the MicroLine stylus, Boron cantilever and Auricle body architecture of the higher Umami Series, but Red changes the generator substantially.
Its samarium-cobalt magnetic system, square armature, 6-ohm generator, Ebony damping insert and Urushi-finished body distinguish Red from the Alnico-based Blue.
Compare the Hana Umami Red at Audio T.
Umami Blue or Umami Black?
Umami Blue
- 0.4mV output
- 8-ohm internal impedance
- Greater than 80-ohm loading
- Nude MicroLine stylus
- Solid Boron cantilever
- Alnico magnet
- Permalloy cross armature
- A7075 Auricle body
- 10.8g cartridge weight
Umami Black
- 0.3mV output
- 5-ohm internal impedance
- 50-ohm or greater loading
- Nude MicroLine stylus
- Diamond cantilever
- Neodymium magnet
- Hybrid carbon-Permalloy armature
- New OKD generator
- A7075 Auricle body
- 11.3g cartridge weight
Umami Black keeps the fundamental Umami principles of fine groove tracing and rigid Auricle construction, but introduces an entirely new generator and diamond cantilever.
It is therefore a significantly different flagship design rather than simply a refined Umami Blue.
Explore the Hana Umami Black at Audio T.
Where Does Umami Blue Sit in the Hana Range?
In broad terms, Hana's stereo cartridge progression runs through:
- E Series
- S Series MK II
- M Series
- Umami Blue
- Umami Red
- Umami Black
Umami Blue is therefore the entry point into Hana's dedicated high-end Umami body architecture rather than simply another development of the conventional M Series body.
Does Umami Blue Need an Expensive Turntable?
There is no useful minimum purchase price for the turntable itself.
What matters is whether the analogue front end provides:
- A genuinely capable tonearm
- Suitable effective mass
- Sufficient counterweight range for a 10.8g cartridge
- Accurate cartridge alignment adjustment
- Useful azimuth and tonearm-height adjustment where appropriate
- Stable speed performance
- Low mechanical noise
- Effective isolation
- A sufficiently capable low-output MC phono stage
A sophisticated cartridge cannot compensate for poor tonearm geometry, excessive bearing noise or unsuitable phono amplification.
The Phono Stage Is Part of the System
A 0.4mV moving-coil cartridge places significant demands on the phono stage.
The phono stage needs to provide sufficient gain without adding excessive noise while presenting an appropriate electrical load to the cartridge.
Do Not Treat Phono Amplification as an Afterthought
A significant proportion of the benefit of a cartridge such as Umami Blue can be lost if the following phono stage is noisy, poorly matched or unable to provide appropriate gain.
Cartridge and phono stage should be treated as one analogue signal chain.
A Phono Stage Is Essential
The normal signal path is:
Turntable ? MC phono stage ? amplifier line input.
A correctly matched step-up transformer feeding a suitable MM phono stage is another possible arrangement.
Browse phono stages at Audio T.
Hand-Assembled in Japan
The major Umami Blue components are manufactured in-house by Excel Sound in Japan before being assembled by specialist cartridge technicians.
Master designer Masao Okada-san brings more than five decades of moving-coil cartridge design experience to the Hana range.
Professional Installation Is Recommended
Correct Umami Blue installation may involve:
- Checking tonearm effective-mass compatibility
- Checking cartridge counterweight range
- Careful physical mounting
- Using appropriate threaded mounting screws
- Setting overhang precisely
- Setting offset angle precisely
- Checking tracking force accurately
- Setting bias or anti-skate
- Checking azimuth
- Optimising tonearm height where appropriate
- Matching MC phono-stage gain
- Optimising phono-stage loading
At this level, professional fitting is a sensible way of ensuring the cartridge is actually delivering the performance you have paid for.
Who Is the Hana Umami Blue For?
Well Suited To
- High-performance turntables
- Capable medium-mass tonearms
- Customers upgrading from Hana ML
- Customers entering the Umami Series
- Systems with quality low-output MC phono stages
- Customers wanting a Boron cantilever
- Customers wanting a nude MicroLine stylus
- Systems capable of revealing fine cartridge differences
- Customers willing to optimise cartridge setup carefully
Check Before Buying
- 0.4mV low-output moving coil
- 8-ohm internal impedance
- Greater than 80-ohm recommended loading
- Requires suitable MC gain
- 10.8g cartridge weight
- 10 x 10-6cm/dyne compliance at 100Hz
- 2.0g tracking force
- MicroLine stylus rewards accurate alignment
- Open-body construction requires careful handling
- Stylus is not user-replaceable
Key Features
- Hana Umami Blue
- Umami Series
- Low-output moving coil
- Designed by Masao Okada-san
- Nude natural-diamond MicroLine stylus
- Solid Boron cantilever
- Alnico magnetic system
- Permalloy cross armature
- Pure-iron pole piece
- High-purity copper coils
- Cryogenically treated pole piece
- Cryogenically treated front and rear yokes
- Cryogenically treated signal pins
- 24k gold-plated terminal pins
- PEEK terminal plate
- 0.4mV output
- 8-ohm internal impedance
- Greater than 80-ohm loading
- A7075 aluminium Auricle body
- Open-air generator architecture
- White POM damping inlay
- Blue Melamine Thermosetting Process finish
- Threaded cartridge mounting
- 15Hz–50kHz frequency response
- Greater than 30dB channel separation
- 0.5dB output balance
- 70µm trackability at 2.0g
- 10 x 10-6cm/dyne compliance at 100Hz
- 2.0g tracking force
- 10.8g cartridge weight
- Stylus guard supplied
- Non-user-replaceable stylus
- Hand-assembled in Japan
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Hana Umami Blue moving magnet or moving coil?
Umami Blue is a low-output moving-coil cartridge.
What is the output of the Hana Umami Blue?
0.4mV at 1kHz.
Is Umami Blue a high-output moving coil?
No. Its 0.4mV output means it is a low-output moving-coil cartridge.
Does Umami Blue require an MC phono stage?
Yes. It requires suitable low-output moving-coil gain, or another correctly matched phono solution such as a suitable step-up transformer feeding an MM stage.
What is the internal impedance?
8 ohms at 1kHz.
What loading does Hana recommend?
Greater than 80 ohms.
Will a 100-ohm MC input work?
100 ohms is above Hana's specified minimum of 80 ohms and is therefore a sensible starting point, provided the phono stage also offers suitable gain.
Can I use Umami Blue with a step-up transformer?
Potentially, yes. Transformer ratio and the resulting electrical load need to be matched appropriately to the cartridge's 8-ohm generator and the MM phono stage that follows it.
What stylus does Umami Blue use?
A nude natural-diamond MicroLine stylus.
What does nude stylus mean?
The diamond itself forms the stylus tip and supporting shank rather than using a smaller diamond tip bonded to another material.
What is the cantilever made from?
Solid Boron.
Does Umami Blue use the same cantilever as Umami Red?
Both use solid Boron cantilevers carrying nude MicroLine styli.
What magnet does Umami Blue use?
An Alnico magnet.
What is the armature made from?
Permalloy, using a cross-shaped armature.
What coil wire does it use?
High-purity copper.
Is the Umami Blue generator related to the Hana ML?
Yes. Hana specifically identifies Umami Blue as using the Alnico-based generator architecture associated with the Hana ML.
What is the Auricle body?
Hana's Umami Series cartridge-body design, inspired by the shape of the human outer ear and engineered to rigidly support the open-air moving-coil generator.
What is the body made from?
CNC-machined A7075 aluminium with a white POM damping inlay.
What is the white insert on the front?
A POM inlay used as part of the cartridge's damping structure and as a visual reference to the Hana M Series.
What is the blue finish?
Hana uses a multi-layer Melamine Thermosetting Process to create the glossy blue finish.
Does the cartridge have threaded mounting holes?
Yes. Cartridge mounting screws thread directly into the Auricle body.
Does Hana cryogenically treat Umami Blue?
Yes. Hana applies cryogenic treatment to key generator components including the pole piece, front and rear yokes and gold-plated output pins.
What is the frequency response?
15Hz to 50kHz.
What is the channel separation?
Greater than 30dB at 1kHz.
What is the output balance?
0.5dB at 1kHz.
What is the trackability?
70µm at the recommended 2.0g tracking force.
What tracking force should I use?
Hana recommends 2.0g.
What is the dynamic compliance?
10 x 10-6cm/dyne at 100Hz.
How much does Umami Blue weigh?
10.8g.
Will my tonearm work with a 10.8g cartridge?
That depends on the arm's cartridge-weight range, counterweight adjustment and effective mass. Some tonearms may require an alternative or heavier counterweight.
Does Umami Blue have a replaceable stylus?
No. The MicroLine stylus, Boron cantilever and moving-coil generator form an integrated assembly.
Is Umami Blue better than Hana ML?
Umami Blue is the higher model and adds a solid Boron cantilever and A7075 Auricle body to an Alnico-based low-impedance generator related to the Hana ML design.
What is the main difference between Umami Blue and Umami Red?
Both use Boron cantilevers, nude MicroLine styli and Auricle bodies. Red changes to a samarium-cobalt magnetic system, 6-ohm generator, square armature, Ebony damping inlay and Urushi finish.
What is the main difference between Umami Blue and Umami Black?
Black introduces a diamond cantilever and a completely new 5-ohm OKD generator using a neodymium magnet and hybrid carbon-Permalloy armature.
Where is the Hana Umami Blue made?
It is hand-assembled in Japan by Excel Sound.
Can Audio T fit and align the Hana Umami Blue?
Yes. Contact your local Audio T store to discuss tonearm compatibility, professional cartridge fitting, MicroLine alignment, tracking force and moving-coil phono-stage matching.
Related Hana Products and Audio T Guides
Why Buy From Audio T?
- High-performance turntable and cartridge matching
- Low-output moving-coil cartridge advice
- MC phono-stage matching
- MC gain and loading optimisation
- Step-up transformer guidance
- Tonearm compatibility checks
- Effective-mass and compliance guidance
- Professional cartridge fitting
- Precision MicroLine alignment
- Accurate tracking-force setup
- Bias and anti-skate adjustment
- VTA and azimuth guidance
- Stylus-care guidance
- Turntable setup and optimisation
- Part-exchange options
- Ongoing after-sales support
Contact your local Audio T store to discuss whether the Hana Umami Blue is the right match for your turntable, tonearm and moving-coil phono stage, or to arrange professional cartridge fitting and alignment.