Hana Umami Black phono cartridge

Umami Sound is a unique, immersive musical experience — an exceptional sensuality

that immerses you completely in the performance and leaves a lasting emotional impression. It is music bursting with harmonic richness, delicate textures, pin-sharp images, sweet treble, solid bass, rhythmic vitality and lifelike dynamics. Above all, it offers that rare "you are there" presence that elevates listening to music into something unforgettable.

Just as umami in cooking describes a deep and satisfying taste created by a perfect mix of ingredients and techniques, Umami Sound represents the same concept for your ears: a harmonious, synergistic fusion that offers more than the sum of its parts. It is the delicious taste in music.

perfect mix of ingredients and techniques, Umami Sound represents the same

concept for your ears — a harmonious, synergistic fusion that delivers more than the

sum of its parts. It is the delicious taste in music.

HANA means "brilliant and gorgeous" in Japanese. "華" HANA moving coil cartridges deliver the most "brilliant and gorgeous" analogue sound for audiophiles and music lovers, whatever their budget.

HANA-Umami Black – a new reference in analogue reproduction

The HANA-Umami Black is Okada-san's new masterpiece. Fitted with a diamond cantilever and a new "OKD" High-Efficiency Moving Coil Generator, it delivers pure musical pleasure that takes the listening experience to new heights.

cantilever and a new "OKD" High-Efficiency Moving Coil Generator, and delivers

pure musical pleasure that takes the listening experience to new heights.

As a first for HANA in this category, the Umami Black has a diamond cantilever, the hardest possible material, ideal for signal transfer. Its exceptional stiffness ensures direct and precise transfer of groove modulations to the generator, preserving every detail and every dynamic shift with stunning clarity.

for direct and precise transfer of groove modulations to the generator, preserving every

detail and dynamic shift with stunning clarity.

The "nude" Microline stylus of natural diamond mirrors the shape of the original cutting-head stylus used in mastering vinyl records. With a 0.22 mm square profile, precisely mounted on the diamond cantilever, it captures the subtlest musical nuances.

A world first: the Umami Black uses the newly developed "OKD" generator with an integrated pole piece and rear yoke, together with an inverted U-shaped front yoke. This innovative architecture optimises energy transfer from the Microline stylus/diamond cantilever to the

moving coil system.

The compact, rigid structure of the OKD generator minimises magnetic power loss and suppresses unwanted mechanical vibrations to negligibly low levels. The result is a dramatic improvement in the transfer of the vinyl groove modulations carrying the music signal, allowing the hybrid armature moving coil to respond with unprecedented accuracy and musicality.

Unique to the Umami Black is the rare-earth neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnet, which is used

for the high-efficiency generator and delivers superior energy conversion. A 2 mm square hybrid carbon permalloy armature, consisting of 78% carbon-infused nickel-iron, is precisely

hand-wound with 30 micron, 4N high-purity copper wire on Excel's patented equipment.

This ultra-light moving coil has an output voltage of 0.3 mV at 5 ohms, ideal for both modern MC phono stages (both voltage and current amplification circuits) and step-up transformers.

At the core of the Umami series is the exclusive Auricle™ body design, engineered to support the "Open Air" moving coil generator firmly. Inspired by the shape of the human ear, it is made from A7075 aerospace aluminium, one of the strongest and lightest alloys there is. The Umami Black body has a black zirconia inlay on the front for extra damping and visual elegance. Threaded mounting holes ensure optimal integration with the tonearm, improving focus, dynamics and low-frequency definition.

Cryogenic treatment improves the properties of metals by exposing them to extremely low temperatures, typically below -184 °C (-300 °F), to refine their microstructure for improved conductivity, reduced distortion and remarkable tonal purity. All magnetic and signal-path components — the U-shaped front yoke, the integrated pole piece/rear yoke and the 24-carat gold-plated brass output pins — undergo deep cryogenic treatment.

• Stylus
• Cantilever
• Magnetic Circuitry
• Body Material
• Body Finish
• Magnet
• Output Level
• Output Balance
• Vertical Tracking Force
• Trackability
• Channel Separation
• Frequency Response
• Impedance
• Suggested Load Impedance
• Cartridge Weight
• Body Color
• Warranty
• Microline
• Nude Diamond
• Pure Iron / Cryo Treatment
• Duralumin (A7075)
• Gloss Urushi Lacquer / Black
• Neodymium
• 0.3 mV / 1 kHz
• < 0.5 dB/ 1 KHz
• 2 grams
• 70 µm/2g
• 30 dB / 1 kHz
• 15-50 kHz
• 5 Ω / 1 kHz
• > 50 Ω
• 11.3 gram
• Black
• 2 years

Would you like to hear this first? In our two listening rooms on Hoenderstraat in Maastricht, each with its own acoustics, we will set up the system for you. Make an appointment or call 043-7370028 — we are happy to help you find the right choice and the right placement.