Hana umami red

The Hana Umami Red phono cartridge represents the pinnacle of Excel Sound Corporation’s expertise—a Japanese manufacturer shaping the phono cartridge industry since 1970. Designed by Masao Okada-san, this low-output MC cartridge combines premium materials, centuries-old Japanese craftsmanship, and modern engineering to deliver music reproduction of remarkable finesse.

A Body Sculpted from Aerospace Heritage

The “Auricle” design follows the curves of the human ear’s auricle to rigidly hold the generator while minimizing resonances. The body is CNC-machined from A7075 duralumin, an aerospace alloy developed for the Zero fighter, offering steel-like strength with the lightness of aluminum. An ebony insert on the front face brings its natural damping properties, creating a perfect synergy between high technology and noble materials.

The Millennia-Old Art of Urushi Lacquer

The finish reflects Excel’s respect for Japanese traditions. Urushi lacquer, used for over 7,000 years, follows a complex process: a black undercoat, multiple red layers incorporating silver powder, the “Hana” name imprinted in gold powder, then a transparent finish hand-polished to perfection. Beyond its beauty, the lacquer gradually hardens, reinforcing the body’s rigidity and eliminating residual resonances.

Watchmaking-Grade Precision Mechanics

The nude Microline diamond replicates the geometry of the cutting stylus, extracting the subtlest information. Mounted on a solid boron cantilever—a material whose hardness is surpassed only by diamond—it ensures lossless transmission of vibrations. The generator uses a samarium-cobalt magnet and high-purity copper coils hand-wound on a permalloy armature, ensuring exceptional linearity.

Cryogenic Treatment: A Molecular Transformation

The Umami Red benefits from cryogenic treatment at nearly -196°C, applied to the generator components and gold-plated pins. This “cold annealing” reorganizes the metals’ molecular structure, creating a more uniform crystalline arrangement. The result: reduced background noise, improved conductivity, and purer signal transmission.

Electrical Performance and Compatibility

With 6 ohms internal impedance and 0.4 mV output, the Umami Red is compatible with a wide range of MC preamplifiers. The response extends from 10 Hz to 50 kHz, channel separation reaches 30 dB, and the 2-gram tracking force allows for 70 μm tracking. These features ensure optimal compatibility and performance in most systems.

A Thoughtful Evolution of the Hana Range

The Umami Red shares the Microline diamond with the ML but stands out with its boron cantilever, CNC-machined duralumin body, and artisanal finish. It strikes a remarkable balance between the warmth of the SL and the neutrality of the ML, offering musicality and resolution worthy of the finest cartridges on the market.

Technical Specifications

Stylus and Cantilever Features

• Phono cartridge type: Low-output MC
• Stylus: Nude MicroLine
• Cantilever: Bored

Electrical and Acoustic Performance

• Output level: 0.4 mV / 1 kHz
• Channel balance: > 0.5 dB / 1 kHz
• Channel separation: 30 dB / 1 kHz
• Frequency response: 10 – 50,000 Hz
• Internal impedance: 6 Ω / 1 kHz
• Recommended load impedance: > 60 Ω

Mechanical Features

• Recommended tracking force: 2 g
• Tracking ability: 70 µm / 2 g
• Compliance at 10 Hz: 16 × 10⁻⁶ cm / dyne
• Compliance at 100 Hz: 10 × 10⁻⁶ cm / dyne
• Weight: 10.5 g

General Information

• Model: DELTA AUDIO - HANA UMAMI RED