Hana Umami Black Low Output MC Cartridge

Hana Umami Black Low Output MC Cartridge Experience Umami Sound delivers a uniquely captivating musical experience that immerses you. It features harmonic richness, delicate textures, pinpoint imaging, sweet highs, solid bass, rhythmic vitality and lifelike dynamics. Most importantly, it offers a rare “you-are-there” presence that leaves a lasting emotional impression. In short, Umami Sound turns music listening into something unforgettable. Analogy Just as umami in cuisine describes a deep, satisfying flavour born from a perfect blend, so too does Umami Sound. It creates a harmonious, synergistic fusion that offers more than the sum of its parts. In effect, it becomes the wonderful taste of music. Craftsmanship Master cartridge designer Masao Okada-san brings over five decades of innovation to the Umami Sound. He blends state-of-the-art materials with time-honoured Japanese craftsmanship and cutting-edge audio engineering. As a result, every detail captures his vision for excellence. Legacy The HANA-Umami Black continues the celebrated “Brilliant and Gorgeous” sound tradition. In 2020, the HANA-Umami Red introduced Umami Sound to the world and earned widespread acclaim. Then, in 2023, the HANA-Umami Blue proved that those core design principles deliver a singular, emotionally powerful experience for more music lovers. Now, Okada-san’s latest vision arrives in the HANA-Umami Black, the new flagship, and delivers an even more profound expression of the Umami philosophy. Flagship The HANA-Umami Black represents Okada-san’s new pinnacle of analog playback. It pairs a diamond cantilever with the novel “OKD” high-efficiency moving-coil generator. Consequently, you enjoy pure musical pleasure that elevates your listening experience to new heights. Cantilever For the first time in the HANA lineup, the Umami Black sports a diamond cantilever. Diamond, the hardest material, ensures ideal signal transfer. Its exceptional rigidity preserves every detail and dynamic shift. Ultimately, it delivers astonishing clarity. Generator The Umami Black debuts with the “OKD” generator—another first. It features an integrated pole piece, rear yoke and an inverted U-shaped front yoke. This design enhances energy transfer from the diamond cantilever while reducing unwanted resonance. Plus, cryogenic treatment boosts signal purity remarkably. Yoke The inverted U-front yoke controls mechanical resonance and aligns the magnetic field precisely. It also supports the diamond cantilever with finesse. Thanks to its shape and proportions, it reduces overtone resonance and channels energy efficiently. Furthermore, the open-bottom design forms a more homogeneous magnetic flux, preventing saturation and eliminating tracing error. Magnet Unique to the Umami Black, the rare-earth neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnet enhances energy conversion in the high-efficiency generator. Meanwhile, a hybrid 2 mm square carbon-permalloy armature—made from 78% carbon-infused nickel-iron—is hand-wound with ultra-pure copper wire on Excel’s proprietary machinery. This ultra-light moving coil delivers 0.3 mV at 5 Ω, ideal for both modern MC phono stages and step-up transformers. Body The Umami series features the exclusive Auricle™ body design, inspired by the human outer ear. It's CNC machined from aircraft-grade A7075 aluminium. This rigid support enhances focus, dynamics and low-frequency definition. The Umami Black adds a black zirconia inlay for damping and visual elegance. Plus, its cleverly tapped mounting holes optimise tonearm integration. Finish The HANA-Umami Black boasts a special Urushi lacquer finish inspired by traditional Makie artistry. Applied via a thermosetting process at 120 °C through vapour deposition, the finish bonds to the aluminium body. As a result, it delivers a durable, high-gloss surface that also controls resonances. That enhances clarity, imaging precision and bass definition, shaping the cartridge’s rich sonic signature. Stylus The cartridge uses a nude diamond Microline stylus shaped like the original cutting head stylus used for mastering vinyl. Measuring 0.22 mm square and mounted precisely, it captures the subtlest musical nuances. Cryogenic Cryogenic treatment refines the microstructure of metal parts—like the U-front yoke, integrated pole piece, rear yoke and gold-plated output pins—by cooling them below -184 °C. This enhances conductivity, reduces distortion and amplifies tonal purity across the signal path. Body Material Duralumin (A7075) Shape Auricle, open-air Finish Urushi lacquer via thermosetting vapour-deposition process Cantilever & Stylus Cantilever Diamond Stylus Microline, nude diamond (0.22 mm square profile) Magnetic circuit Structure “OKD” generator with Inverted U front yoke and integrated pole piece & rear yoke Armature material Permalloy — 78% carbon-infused nickel-iron Armature shape 2 mm square plate Parts material Pure iron Magnet Neodymium (NdFeB) Coil & Output Coil impedance 5 Ω Output voltage 0.3 mV (at 5 Ω) Recommended load ≥ 50 Ω Treatment Cryogenic Generator components, U front yoke, integrated pole/rear yoke and gold-plated output pins — deep cryogenic treatment Specification Frequency response 15–50,000 Hz Output balance 0.5 dB @ 1 kHz Channel separation 30 dB @ 1 kHz Tracking weight 2 g Trackability 70 μm / 2 g Dynamic compliance 10 × 10⁻⁶ cm/dyne (100 Hz). Estimated 17 × 10⁻⁶ cm/dyne at 10 Hz Cartridge weight 11.3 g