Hana MC Unami Blue

The Hana Umami Blue is a high-end moving coil (MC) phono cartridge designed by master cartridge designer Masao Okada-san and hand-assembled in Japan by Excel Sound Corporation.

Design & Engineering Highlights

The Umami Blue is built on a "best of both worlds" approach, harvesting key premium parts from the flagship Red model alongside generator components from the ML series.

• "Auricle" Duralumin Body: Features an ear-shaped housing CNC-machined from lightweight A7075 duralumin to manage resonance. Instead of the ultra-expensive Urushi lacquer finish used on the Red, the Blue uses a thermosetting melamine coating (MTP) to reduce costs while retaining structural stability.
• Stylus & Cantilever: It inherits the top-tier solid Boron cantilever paired with a precision Microline nude diamond stylus, enabling exceptional high-frequency tracking and retrieval of micro-details from the groove.
• Alnico Magnet Generator: Uses the Alnico magnet generator structure found in the Hana ML (rather than the Samarium Cobalt in the Red), giving it a rich, organic, and slightly forgiving dynamic voice.
• Cryogenically Treated Parts: Key iron and pole components undergo a deep cryogenic process to stabilize molecular structure and lower signal distortion.