HANA Umami Blue
Low-output moving coil cartridge with full Nude Microline diamond and boron cantilever, for phono preamplifier compatible with MC.
Description
The Hana Umami Blue is a low-output moving coil (MC) cartridge, designed to equip a high-end turntable. It requires a phono stage or preamplifier compatible with MC, suited to its low output level.
The diamond used is a full Microline-sized diamond, mounted on a boron cantilever. This diamond shape is designed to follow the record grooves more finely, which favours the reproduction of detail and contributes to the longevity of both the cartridge and the records played. The cartridge body, of the Auricle type, is coated with a thermosetting melamine resin applied over aluminium and then cured, a process intended to reinforce the rigidity of the assembly and better control unwanted resonances.
Electrically, the cartridge has an output level of 0.4mV at 1kHz, a coil impedance of 8 Ohms at 1kHz and a channel separation of 30dB at 1kHz. The frequency response extends from 10 to 50000Hz. The manufacturer recommends a load above 80 ohms for the phono stage. The recommended tracking force is 2g, with a compliance of 16x10⁻⁶cm/dyne at 10Hz and 10x10⁻⁶cm/dyne at 100Hz.
This type of cartridge is aimed at turntable enthusiasts who already have a quality MC phono preamplifier and a tonearm capable of accommodating a 10.8g cartridge with a tracking force of 2g. It suits demanding listening, where precision in tracking the grooves and harmonic richness are paramount.
Technical specifications
| Cartridge type | Low-output MC |
| Diamond | Full Nude MicroLine |
| Cantilever | Boron |
| Output level | 0.4mV / 1kHz |
| Balance | > 0.5dB / 1 kHz |
| Recommended tracking force | 2g |
| Traceability | 70µm/2g |
| Compliance 10 Hz | 16 x 10(-6) cm/dyne |
| Compliance 100 Hz | 10 x 10(-6) cm/dyne |
| Channel separation | 30dB / 1 kHz |
| Frequency response | 10 – 50 000 Hz |
| Coil impedance | 8 Ohms / 1 kHz |
| Recommended load | > 80 ohms |
| Weight | 10.8g |
What to check before buying used
The very sharp MicroLine stylus is more sensitive than an elliptical profile to wear or a poorly cushioned impact during handling: examination under a magnifying glass is recommended before purchase to rule out any flat spot. Also check the mechanical integrity of the boron cantilever, which is particularly fragile, as well as the cleanliness of the connection pins. The actual number of playing hours remains difficult to verify on this type of cartridge, yet it directly determines the residual condition of the diamond.
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