Audio T Verdict
The Hana Umami Black is the point at which phrases like "flagship cartridge" need to mean considerably more than a different body colour and a more exotic stylus. Almost every part of the groove-to-generator interface has been reconsidered, from the diamond cantilever to the completely new OKD moving-coil generator behind it.
The diamond cantilever is a Hana first. Diamond combines exceptional rigidity with very low deformation, providing an extremely direct mechanical connection between the nude MicroLine stylus and generator. When the stylus changes direction in the groove, the aim is for that movement to reach the coil system with as little mechanical loss or stored energy as possible.
Behind it is Hana's newly developed OKD High-Efficiency Moving Coil Generator. Rather than using the generator architecture found in the Umami Red or Blue, Black introduces an integrated pole piece and rear yoke, an inverted U-shaped front yoke, a high-power neodymium magnet and a 2mm square hybrid carbon-permalloy armature.
The moving coil itself is hand-wound from 30-micron 4N high-purity copper wire and produces just 0.3mV from a very low 5-ohm internal impedance. Hana specifies a load of at least 50 ohms, making a genuinely capable moving-coil phono stage, current-input phono stage or correctly matched step-up transformer an important part of the system.
The cartridge body is just as carefully considered. Hana machines its Auricle body from A7075 aircraft-grade aluminium and adds a black zirconia front inlay for additional damping. The shape takes inspiration from the human outer ear while physically supporting the open-air generator with as little unnecessary material around it as practical.
The multi-stage Urushi finish is not applied purely for appearance either. Hana uses a thermosetting process that bonds the lacquer to the aluminium body, incorporating the finish into the cartridge's overall resonance-control strategy.
At 11.3g, with a 2.0g recommended tracking force and fine MicroLine stylus, this is emphatically not a cartridge to fit casually. Tonearm compatibility, geometry, azimuth, vertical setup, phono-stage gain and loading are all worth getting right.
The Umami Black is enormously expensive by normal cartridge standards, so it only makes sense on an analogue front end capable of exploiting what Hana has engineered into it. But if the turntable, tonearm and phono stage are already operating at that level, Black is a genuinely different design rather than simply a more luxurious version of Umami Red.
Hana Umami Black Flagship Moving Coil Cartridge
The Hana Umami Black is the flagship moving-coil cartridge designed by Masao Okada-san of Excel Sound, combining a nude MicroLine stylus and diamond cantilever with Hana's newly developed OKD High-Efficiency Moving Coil Generator.
Introduced above Umami Red and Umami Blue, Black represents a substantial redesign of the generator, magnetic circuit and cantilever rather than an incremental development of the existing Umami platform.
Key features include:
- Flagship low-output moving-coil cartridge
- Designed by Masao Okada-san
- Hana Umami Series
- Nude natural-diamond MicroLine stylus
- 0.22mm square stylus profile
- Solid diamond cantilever
- New OKD High-Efficiency Moving Coil Generator
- Integrated pole piece and rear yoke
- Inverted U-shaped front yoke
- Neodymium-iron-boron rare-earth magnet
- 2mm square hybrid carbon-permalloy armature
- 78% carbon-infused nickel-iron armature construction
- 30-micron 4N high-purity copper coil wire
- 0.3mV output
- 5-ohm internal impedance
- 50-ohm or greater recommended loading
- A7075 aircraft-grade aluminium Auricle body
- Black zirconia damping inlay
- Black Urushi lacquer finish
- Thermosetting lacquer process
- Deep cryogenic treatment
- 24k gold-plated brass output pins
- Threaded cartridge mounting
- 15Hz–50kHz frequency response
- 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
- Approximately 17 x 10-6cm/dyne estimated compliance at 10Hz
- 11.3g cartridge weight
- Hand-built in Japan
Diamond Cantilever
The Umami Black is the first Hana cartridge to use a diamond cantilever.
Diamond is exceptionally hard and rigid, making it particularly suitable for transferring the minute movements of a phono stylus into a moving-coil generator.
In a cartridge, the cantilever has to:
- Follow rapid groove modulation
- Transfer stylus movement into the generator
- Resist bending and unwanted flex
- Keep moving mass under control
- Respond consistently across a wide frequency range
The stiffer the mechanical connection between stylus and generator, the less opportunity there is for groove movement to be lost through unwanted cantilever deformation.
Why Diamond Rather Than Boron?
Hana uses solid Boron cantilevers on Umami Blue and Umami Red.
Boron is already extremely rigid and light, but Umami Black goes further by moving to diamond.
Boron Cantilever
- Used by Umami Blue
- Used by Umami Red
- Very high rigidity
- Low moving mass
- Excellent cartridge-cantilever material
Diamond Cantilever
- Introduced with Umami Black
- Exceptionally high rigidity
- Direct mechanical signal transfer
- Designed around the new OKD generator
- Hana flagship implementation
Black Is Not Simply a Red With a Diamond Cantilever
Changing cantilever material alters the mechanical behaviour of the entire stylus and generator system.
Hana therefore developed a new generator around the diamond cantilever rather than simply attaching it to the Umami Red generator.
Nude Natural-Diamond MicroLine Stylus
The Umami Black uses a:
Nude natural-diamond MicroLine stylus.
Hana specifies a 0.22mm square stylus profile precisely mounted to the diamond cantilever.
The MicroLine geometry is designed to approximate the shape of the cutting stylus used during the manufacture of a record master.
What Does Nude Mean?
A nude stylus uses the diamond itself for the stylus tip and mounting structure rather than bonding a small diamond tip onto a separate metal or other support.
This helps minimise unnecessary moving mass at the most mechanically sensitive end of the cartridge.
Why Use a MicroLine Stylus?
A correctly aligned MicroLine profile can provide:
- Very fine groove tracing
- Excellent high-frequency retrieval
- Extended groove-wall contact
- Reduced tracing distortion
- Strong inner-groove performance
- Precise retrieval of small groove modulations
MicroLine Alignment Needs to Be Accurate
A sophisticated stylus profile increases the value of accurate cartridge geometry rather than removing the need for it.
Overhang, offset angle, azimuth and vertical setup should all be treated seriously when installing an Umami Black.
OKD High-Efficiency Moving Coil Generator
The Umami Black introduces Hana's newly developed:
OKD High-Efficiency Moving Coil Generator.
The generator has been designed specifically around the mechanical characteristics of the diamond cantilever and differs substantially from the generator structures used in Umami Red and Umami Blue.
Its key components include:
- Integrated pole piece and rear yoke
- Inverted U-shaped front yoke
- High-power neodymium rare-earth magnet
- 2mm square hybrid carbon-permalloy armature
- 30-micron 4N copper coil wire
Integrated Pole Piece and Rear Yoke
Hana integrates the pole piece and rear yoke within the OKD generator rather than treating them as completely separate structures.
The more compact mechanical and magnetic architecture is intended to reduce magnetic losses while creating a rigid route through which the signal from the diamond cantilever reaches the moving coils.
Inverted U-Shaped Front Yoke
One of the most distinctive parts of the Umami Black generator is its:
Inverted U-shaped front yoke.
The bifurcated structure performs several roles simultaneously:
- Supports precise cantilever positioning
- Controls unwanted mechanical resonance
- Aligns the magnetic field
- Reduces magnetic saturation
- Creates a more homogeneous flux field
The open underside of the yoke is designed to reduce resonance and help the magnetic generator operate within a more uniform field.
Reducing Tracing Error at the Generator
The yoke structure also precisely locates the diamond cantilever in relation to the moving-coil generator.
Keeping the stylus, cantilever and armature accurately positioned relative to one another is fundamental when converting microscopic groove movements into an electrical signal.
Neodymium Rare-Earth Magnet
Umami Black uses a:
Neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) rare-earth magnet.
This is another major difference from the other Umami cartridges.
Umami Black instead uses the high-power NdFeB magnet as part of its entirely new OKD generator.
Hybrid Carbon-Permalloy Armature
The moving coils are wound around a:
2mm square hybrid carbon-permalloy armature.
Hana describes the material as approximately 78% carbon-infused nickel-iron.
The armature forms the lightweight moving structure onto which the cartridge coils are wound.
30-Micron 4N Copper Coil Wire
The moving coils are hand-wound using:
30-micron 4N high-purity copper wire.
Very fine wire allows the moving coil structure to remain light while producing the electrical signal required by the phono stage.
0.3mV Low Output
Hana specifies an output of:
0.3mV.
This is lower than Umami Blue and Umami Red, which both produce 0.4mV.
A Suitable Low-Output MC Phono Stage Is Essential
A conventional MM phono stage will not provide sufficient gain for a 0.3mV cartridge.
Umami Black should be partnered with a genuinely capable low-output moving-coil phono stage, current-input phono stage or appropriately matched step-up transformer.
5-Ohm Internal Impedance
The OKD generator has an internal impedance of:
5 ohms.
This extremely low generator impedance gives the Umami Black useful flexibility when partnering it with suitable voltage-gain MC stages, transimpedance or current-input stages and appropriate step-up transformers.
50 Ohms or Greater Loading
Hana recommends an external load impedance of:
50 ohms or greater.
That figure provides a useful starting point rather than implying that every system must be operated at exactly 50 ohms.
Adjustable Loading Is Worth Having
At this level, a phono stage offering sensible loading choices can be valuable.
Begin within Hana's recommended range and consider the complete turntable, tonearm, phono stage and system rather than assuming one resistance value is universally optimal.
Gain and Loading Are Different
Gain determines how much the Black's 0.3mV signal is amplified.
Loading determines the electrical resistance presented to its 5-ohm generator.
A phono stage needs to get both aspects right.
Do Not Buy a Phono Stage From the Loading Figure Alone
A phono stage may offer a 50, 100 or 200-ohm load but still be unsuitable if it cannot provide sufficiently quiet gain for a 0.3mV cartridge.
At the other extreme, excessively high gain can reduce useful headroom and increase system noise.
Current-Input Phono Stages
The combination of 0.3mV output and very low 5-ohm internal impedance can also make Umami Black a candidate for suitably designed current-input or transimpedance moving-coil phono stages.
These designs operate differently from conventional voltage-gain phono stages, so compatibility should be checked with the phono-stage manufacturer rather than applying conventional resistance-loading rules blindly.
Using a Step-Up Transformer
Hana also identifies the Umami Black as suitable for appropriately matched MC step-up transformers.
The signal path becomes:
Turntable ? MC step-up transformer ? MM phono stage ? amplifier.
Transformer Ratio Matters
The transformer's turns ratio determines both voltage gain and the effective load presented to the cartridge.
With a cartridge at this level, step-up transformer matching should be calculated rather than guessed.
Auricle Cartridge Body
The Umami Black uses Hana's distinctive:
Auricle cartridge body.
The shape takes inspiration from the human outer ear and is designed to provide a rigid supporting structure around the open-air moving-coil generator without enclosing it within a conventional cartridge shell.
A7075 Aircraft-Grade Aluminium
The Auricle body is CNC-machined from:
A7075 aircraft-grade aluminium.
This high-strength aluminium alloy provides a rigid mechanical structure while allowing Hana to machine the complex open shape required by the cartridge.
Black Zirconia Damping Inlay
A black zirconia inlay is incorporated into the front of the cartridge body.
The insert adds a material with different mechanical characteristics to the surrounding aluminium, contributing to the overall resonance-management strategy while visually distinguishing Umami Black from the Red and Blue models.
Open-Air Generator Architecture
The Auricle shape leaves much of the moving-coil generator exposed rather than surrounding it with a conventional closed cartridge body.
This reduces the number of cavities and enclosing surfaces around the generator where unwanted mechanical energy could otherwise be stored.
Open Construction Requires Careful Handling
The internal generator, wiring and diamond cantilever are less protected than they would be inside a conventional enclosed cartridge body.
Handle the Umami Black only by the appropriate body and mounting surfaces.
Black Urushi Lacquer Finish
The Auricle body is finished in traditional Japanese-inspired black Urushi lacquer.
For Umami Black, Hana uses a specialised thermosetting process carried out at approximately 120 degrees Celsius.
The lacquer is bonded to the aluminium body rather than simply applied as an ordinary decorative paint finish.
Why Does the Finish Matter?
Hana treats the finish as part of the cartridge's mechanical construction.
The multi-stage coating changes the surface behaviour of the aluminium body and is used alongside the zirconia inlay and body geometry as part of the complete resonance-control strategy.
Deep Cryogenic Treatment
Hana cryogenically treats the metal components throughout the Black's magnetic and signal path.
Components receiving treatment include:
- Inverted U front yoke
- Integrated pole piece and rear yoke
- 24k gold-plated output pins
The deep cryogenic process exposes the metal to extremely low temperatures before gradually returning it to normal temperature.
24k Gold-Plated Brass Output Pins
The rear signal connections use:
24k gold-plated brass output pins.
These form the final electrical connection between the moving-coil generator and the tonearm wiring and are included within Hana's cryogenic treatment process.
Threaded Cartridge Mounting
The Auricle body incorporates tapped mounting holes.
The cartridge screws therefore thread directly into the cartridge body without requiring separate nuts.
Why Threaded Mounting Matters Here
It is a small feature that becomes extremely welcome on a cartridge of this value.
- No loose nuts near the diamond cantilever
- More controlled installation
- Easier alignment adjustments
- Secure mechanical coupling
- Less risk of dropped mounting hardware
Use the Correct Screw Length
Do not force excessively long cartridge screws into the threaded body.
Use suitable mounting hardware and confirm the available thread depth before tightening.
11.3g Cartridge Weight
The Umami Black weighs:
11.3g.
This is heavier than both Umami Red and Umami Blue and is important when checking tonearm counterweight range.
Check Tonearm Counterweight Compatibility Before Buying
Some tonearms require a heavier auxiliary counterweight when used with cartridges around or above 10g.
Do not assume that physical mounting compatibility automatically means the tonearm can balance and correctly track an 11.3g cartridge.
Dynamic Compliance
Hana specifies dynamic compliance of:
10 x 10-6cm/dyne at 100Hz.
The UK distributor estimates this as approximately:
17 x 10-6cm/dyne at 10Hz.
Compliance should be considered alongside tonearm effective mass when assessing cartridge and arm resonance behaviour.
Cartridge Weight Alone Does Not Determine Tonearm Matching
Effective tonearm mass, cartridge compliance, mounting hardware and cartridge mass all contribute to the mechanical resonance of the arm and cartridge system.
For a cartridge at this level, it is worth checking rather than assuming.
2.0g Recommended Tracking Force
Hana specifies:
2.0g vertical tracking force.
The stylus, cantilever and suspension have been designed to operate around this force.
Tracking Lighter Is Not Automatically Better
Running below the intended tracking force can cause mistracking and prevent the stylus from maintaining stable groove contact.
The correct tracking force is considerably safer for both record and stylus than deliberately running too lightly.
Use a Proper Stylus-Force Gauge
At this level, relying solely on numbers printed around a tonearm counterweight makes little sense.
Balance the arm correctly and verify the final 2.0g setting with an accurate stylus-force gauge at approximately record height.
70µm Trackability
Hana specifies:
70µm trackability at 2.0g.
This is measured at the cartridge's recommended tracking force.
Bias or Anti-Skate
Set anti-skate according to the tonearm manufacturer's procedure once tracking force has been established.
Different tonearms use different mechanisms and calibration systems, so a number printed on one tonearm cannot automatically be transferred to another.
Accurate Overhang and Offset Angle
The fine MicroLine stylus deserves accurate horizontal geometry.
Use the alignment geometry intended for your turntable or tonearm, or an appropriate cartridge-alignment protractor.
Do Not Align an £8,000 Cartridge by Eye
Approximate visual positioning defeats the point of using a stylus capable of such fine groove contact.
Accurate overhang and offset angle are fundamental to getting the cartridge working correctly.
Azimuth
Azimuth describes the side-to-side relationship between the stylus and the groove walls.
Incorrect azimuth can affect:
- Channel balance
- Channel separation
- Stereo image stability
- Tracing distortion
- Stylus contact with the groove
If the tonearm provides azimuth adjustment, it should form part of the final cartridge setup.
Vertical Tracking Angle and Stylus Rake
Hana does not currently publish a nominal VTA figure in its standard Umami Black specification.
On tonearms with adjustable height, final vertical setup should therefore be approached as part of the complete cartridge installation rather than forcing the cartridge towards an assumed generic angle.
The first priorities remain correct mounting, tracking force and horizontal alignment.
15Hz to 50kHz Frequency Response
Hana specifies a frequency response of:
15Hz–50kHz.
The extended upper figure reflects the behaviour of the complete stylus, diamond cantilever and generator system rather than implying that audible performance can be judged from bandwidth alone.
30dB Channel Separation
Hana specifies:
30dB channel separation at 1kHz.
Good separation helps preserve the independent information recovered from the two groove walls and supports stable stereo imaging.
0.5dB Output Balance
Output balance is specified at:
0.5dB at 1kHz.
Close channel matching is particularly important on a high-resolution cartridge where small electrical differences can otherwise disturb stereo image stability.
No User-Replaceable Stylus
The MicroLine stylus, diamond cantilever, armature and moving-coil generator form an integrated precision assembly.
There is no detachable replacement stylus.
Do Not Attempt to Remove the Stylus or Cantilever
The assembly is not designed for user replacement or disassembly.
If an Umami Black becomes worn or damaged, contact Audio T to discuss the current UK service and replacement options.
Protecting the Diamond Cantilever
Hana supplies a stylus guard for the Umami Black.
Use it where practical while:
- Installing the cartridge
- Connecting cartridge tags
- Adjusting mounting hardware
- Working around the tonearm
- Transporting the turntable or cartridge
The Cantilever May Be Diamond, But It Is Not Indestructible
Diamond is extremely hard, but the complete cantilever and suspension assembly remains a delicate precision mechanism.
A sideways impact can still damage the cartridge.
Stylus Care
A MicroLine stylus benefits from clean records and careful maintenance.
Useful habits include:
- Keep records properly cleaned
- Remove loose surface dust before playback
- Use an appropriate stylus-cleaning product
- Clean in the correct back-to-front direction
- Never apply sideways pressure to the cantilever
- Use the cueing mechanism rather than lowering the arm by hand where possible
- Keep fingers away from the open generator structure
- Turn amplifier volume down while working around the cartridge
Umami Black or Umami Red?
Umami Red
- Low-output moving coil
- 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 resonance-control inlay
- Red Urushi finish
- 10.5g cartridge weight
Umami Black
- Flagship low-output moving coil
- 0.3mV output
- 5-ohm internal impedance
- 50-ohm or greater loading
- Nude MicroLine stylus
- Diamond cantilever
- Neodymium NdFeB magnet
- Hybrid carbon-permalloy armature
- New OKD generator
- Inverted U front yoke
- Black zirconia damping inlay
- Black thermoset Urushi finish
- 11.3g cartridge weight
Both use MicroLine styli and A7075 Auricle bodies, but Black replaces almost everything immediately behind the stylus.
The diamond cantilever, OKD generator, neodymium magnet, carbon-permalloy armature and inverted U-shaped front yoke make it a substantially different mechanical and electromagnetic design.
Compare the Hana Umami Red at Audio T.
Umami Black or Umami Blue?
Umami Blue
- 0.4mV output
- 8-ohm internal impedance
- Greater than 80-ohm loading
- Nude MicroLine stylus
- Solid Boron cantilever
- Alnico generator
- Permalloy cross armature
- A7075 and POM 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 generator
- Hybrid carbon-permalloy armature
- New OKD generator structure
- A7075 Auricle body
- Black zirconia inlay
- 11.3g cartridge weight
Umami Blue introduces many of the core ideas behind Hana's elite cartridges at a substantially lower level, but Black uses its own generator, cantilever and magnetic architecture rather than simply refining the Blue.
Compare the Hana Umami Blue at Audio T.
Umami Black or Hana ML?
Hana ML
- 0.4mV low-output moving coil
- 8-ohm internal impedance
- Nude MicroLine stylus
- Aluminium cantilever
- Alnico generator
- Delrin and brass body
- 9.5g cartridge weight
Umami Black
- 0.3mV low-output moving coil
- 5-ohm internal impedance
- Nude MicroLine stylus
- Diamond cantilever
- NdFeB generator
- OKD generator architecture
- A7075 Auricle body
- 11.3g cartridge weight
The two share Hana's commitment to fine MicroLine groove tracing, but the Umami Black moves into a fundamentally different body, cantilever, armature and magnetic generator architecture.
Compare the Hana M Series at Audio T.
Does an Umami Black Need an Expensive Turntable?
The cartridge price alone is not the useful way to answer this.
What matters is whether the analogue front end provides:
- A genuinely high-performance tonearm
- Suitable effective mass
- Enough counterweight range for an 11.3g cartridge
- Precise cartridge alignment
- Useful azimuth and tonearm-height adjustment where required
- Stable speed performance
- Very low mechanical noise
- Effective isolation
- A phono stage suitable for 0.3mV output
- Appropriate loading for a 5-ohm generator
Installing Umami Black on a turntable that cannot maintain accurate geometry or control mechanical noise would make little sense regardless of the deck's purchase price.
The Phono Stage Matters Enormously
A cartridge producing 0.3mV relies heavily on the quality of the amplification that follows it.
The phono stage needs to provide substantial gain while adding very little noise of its own.
Its loading options also need to suit the cartridge's 5-ohm generator.
Do Not Treat the Phono Stage as an Afterthought
There is little point fitting a cartridge of this capability if the following phono stage masks the additional information with noise, overload or unsuitable electrical loading.
The cartridge and phono stage should be considered as a system.
A Phono Stage Is Essential
The normal signal path is:
Turntable ? MC phono stage ? amplifier line input.
Alternatively, a correctly matched step-up transformer may be used ahead of a suitable MM phono stage.
Browse phono stages at Audio T.
Hand-Built in Japan
The Umami Black is manufactured by Excel Sound in Japan.
Master cartridge designer Masao Okada-san brings more than five decades of cartridge-development experience to the design, while assembly is carried out by specialist cartridge technicians.
Professional Installation Is Strongly Recommended
Correct Umami Black installation may involve:
- Checking tonearm effective-mass compatibility
- Checking cartridge counterweight range
- Careful mounting with the stylus guard fitted
- Using appropriate threaded mounting screws
- Setting overhang precisely
- Setting offset angle precisely
- Checking tracking force with a calibrated gauge
- Setting bias or anti-skate
- Checking azimuth
- Optimising tonearm height where appropriate
- Matching MC phono-stage gain
- Optimising phono-stage loading
- Checking system noise and grounding
At this level, professional fitting is not an unnecessary add-on. It is part of ensuring that the cartridge you have paid for is actually operating as intended.
Who Is the Hana Umami Black For?
Well Suited To
- Reference-level analogue systems
- High-performance turntables and tonearms
- Customers upgrading from Umami Red or Blue
- Customers wanting Hana's diamond cantilever
- Systems with genuinely capable MC phono amplification
- Customers using premium step-up transformers
- Systems capable of exploiting very fine groove information
- Customers prepared to optimise cartridge setup carefully
Check Before Buying
- 0.3mV low-output moving coil
- 5-ohm internal impedance
- 50-ohm or greater recommended loading
- 11.3g cartridge weight
- 10 x 10-6cm/dyne compliance at 100Hz
- 2.0g tracking force
- MicroLine stylus requires accurate alignment
- Open-body construction requires careful handling
- Diamond cantilever remains mechanically delicate
- Stylus is not user-replaceable
- Tonearm and phono-stage matching are essential
Key Features
- Hana Umami Black
- Flagship Umami Series cartridge
- Low-output moving coil
- Designed by Masao Okada-san
- Nude natural-diamond MicroLine stylus
- 0.22mm square stylus profile
- Diamond cantilever
- OKD High-Efficiency Moving Coil Generator
- Integrated pole piece and rear yoke
- Inverted U-shaped front yoke
- Neodymium NdFeB rare-earth magnet
- 2mm hybrid carbon-permalloy armature
- 78% carbon-infused nickel-iron armature
- 30-micron 4N copper coil wire
- 0.3mV output
- 5-ohm internal impedance
- 50-ohm or greater loading
- A7075 aluminium Auricle body
- Black zirconia damping inlay
- Black Urushi lacquer
- Thermosetting lacquer process
- Deep cryogenic treatment
- 24k gold-plated brass output pins
- Threaded cartridge mounting
- 15Hz–50kHz frequency response
- 30dB channel separation
- 0.5dB output balance
- 70µm trackability at 2.0g
- 2.0g tracking force
- 10 x 10-6cm/dyne compliance at 100Hz
- Approximately 17 x 10-6cm/dyne estimated at 10Hz
- 11.3g cartridge weight
- Non-user-replaceable stylus
- Hand-built in Japan
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Hana Umami Black moving magnet or moving coil?
The Umami Black is Hana's flagship low-output moving-coil cartridge.
What is the output?
0.3mV.
What is the internal impedance?
Hana and its UK distributor currently specify 5 ohms.
What load impedance does Hana recommend?
50 ohms or greater.
Will a 100-ohm MC input work?
100 ohms is above Hana's stated minimum of 50 ohms and is therefore within the recommended operating region. Final matching should also consider phono-stage gain, noise and the wider system.
Does Umami Black require an MC phono stage?
Yes. Its 0.3mV output requires suitable low-output moving-coil amplification, a compatible current-input phono stage or a correctly matched step-up transformer and MM stage.
Can I use it with a moving-magnet phono stage?
Not directly. A conventional MM stage will not normally provide enough gain for 0.3mV. A properly matched MC step-up transformer can potentially be used ahead of one.
What stylus does Umami Black use?
A nude natural-diamond MicroLine stylus.
What is the stylus size?
Hana describes the stylus as having a 0.22mm square profile.
What is the cantilever made from?
Diamond.
Is the stylus and cantilever one piece of diamond?
No. The MicroLine diamond stylus is precisely mounted to the separate diamond cantilever.
What does OKD generator mean?
It is Hana's newly developed High-Efficiency Moving Coil Generator incorporating an integrated pole piece and rear yoke together with an inverted U-shaped front yoke.
What magnet does Umami Black use?
A high-power neodymium-iron-boron, or NdFeB, rare-earth magnet.
What is the armature made from?
A hybrid carbon-permalloy material described by Hana as 78% carbon-infused nickel-iron.
What wire is used for the coils?
30-micron 4N high-purity copper wire.
What is the cartridge body made from?
A7075 aircraft-grade aluminium.
What is the black insert on the front?
A black zirconia inlay used as part of the cartridge's damping structure.
What is the Auricle body?
Hana's open cartridge-body shape inspired by the human outer ear. It rigidly supports the moving-coil generator while avoiding a conventional enclosed cartridge shell.
Is the finish real Urushi lacquer?
Yes. Hana uses a specialised thermosetting Urushi lacquer process on the Umami Black aluminium body.
Does Hana cryogenically treat the cartridge?
Yes. Magnetic and signal-path components including the front yoke, integrated pole piece and rear yoke and gold-plated output pins receive deep cryogenic treatment.
What is the frequency response?
15Hz to 50kHz.
What is the channel separation?
30dB at 1kHz.
What is the output balance?
0.5dB at 1kHz.
What is the trackability?
70µm at 2.0g.
What tracking force should I use?
Hana specifies 2.0g.
What is the compliance?
Hana's UK specification gives 10 x 10-6cm/dyne at 100Hz, estimated at approximately 17 x 10-6cm/dyne at 10Hz.
How much does Umami Black weigh?
11.3g.
Will my tonearm work with an 11.3g cartridge?
That depends on its counterweight range, effective mass and available cartridge adjustment. Some arms may require an alternative or auxiliary counterweight.
Does it have threaded mounting holes?
Yes. The mounting screws thread directly into the Auricle body.
Does it have a replaceable stylus?
No. The stylus, diamond cantilever and moving-coil generator form an integrated precision assembly.
Is Umami Black just an Umami Red with a diamond cantilever?
No. It introduces an entirely new OKD generator, neodymium magnet, hybrid carbon-permalloy armature and inverted U-shaped front yoke in addition to the diamond cantilever.
What is the main difference between Umami Red and Black?
Red uses a Boron cantilever, samarium-cobalt magnet and 6-ohm generator. Black moves to a diamond cantilever, NdFeB magnet and new 5-ohm OKD generator with integrated pole and yoke architecture.
What is the main difference between Umami Blue and Black?
Blue uses a Boron cantilever and Alnico-based 8-ohm generator. Black uses a diamond cantilever and completely different 5-ohm neodymium-based OKD generator.
Where is the Hana Umami Black made?
It is hand-built by Excel Sound in Japan.
Can Audio T fit and align the Hana Umami Black?
Yes. Contact your local Audio T store to discuss tonearm compatibility, professional cartridge fitting, MicroLine alignment, tracking force, azimuth and moving-coil phono-stage matching.
Related Hana Products and Audio T Guides
Why Buy From Audio T?
- Reference-level turntable and cartridge matching
- Low-output moving-coil cartridge advice
- MC phono-stage matching
- MC gain and loading optimisation
- Current-input phono-stage guidance
- Step-up transformer matching
- 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 Black is the right match for your turntable, tonearm and moving-coil phono stage, or to arrange professional cartridge fitting and alignment.