Brilliant and Gorgeous: Japanese-Made Hana Umami Blue Low-Output MC Phono Cartridge Is a Detail, Tone, Tracking, and Texture Specialist 

The Hana Umami Blue low-output MC phono cartridge is true to the meaning of the Japanese company’s name: “brilliant and gorgeous.” Merging elements from the acclaimed Umami Red and Hana ML models, Umami Blue represents a synergy of high-end materials, architecture, engineering, and craftsmanship executed in the service of playing back vinyl LPs with a striking combination of musicality, emotionalism, and naturalism. Distinguished by a MTP-finished Duralumin body with an Auricle design that mirrors the shape of a human ear, it invites you to savor every listening experience as you would a four-star meal. Every element of the hand-made Umami Blue acts in concert to achieve such performance. 

Merging several key aspects of the more expensive and award-winning Umami Red — including a precision-cut diamond stylus, Boron cantilever, and high-purity copper wiring — and borrowing the Alnico magnet-based generator from Hana ML, Boron cantilever, Umami Blue functions as a texture, tone, and detail specialist. Its stellar tracking ability and channel separation will have you listening to old favorites with an open mind. And like all Hana models, this 0.4mV output cartridge exemplifies value in its price class. Hana prides itself on striving for best-in-class performance in the same way it prizes the in-house manufacturing by Excel Sound, which has been building cartridges for more than five decades. 

“I can’t think of another pair of cartridges [Blue and Red] we’ve reviewed in TONE’s 20-year history that have offered this much performance per dollar."
—Jeff Dorgay, TONEAudio, Product of the Year Award 2023

“The Hana Umami Blue brings that high end cartridge ‘wow’ factor at a stunning, attainable price. It looks great and it sounds great. If it were any more Umami, you’d probably want to eat it!”
— Alan Sircom, Hi-Fi+

“The Blue also adds a surprising level of transparency embedded in the grooves, preserving harmonic content and speedy note transitions with uncanny ease.”
—The Absolute Sound, 2023 Phono Cartridge of the Year 

“Hana has made a cart with high resolution with a wonderful tonal balance that delivers magnificent sound...and a component that’ll make waves in your system. The Umami Blue is a must-upgrade for your analog setup.”
—Jesús González-Monreal, Audiophilia

“The Hana Umami Blue’s ability to delicately handle multiple layers of musical dynamics, even when the album is pushing the limits, makes it a special cartridge for $2,500.”
—Dean Cacioppo, Tracking Angle

"With top-notch imaging and cutting-edge neutrality, this jewel often recreates the performance of master tape sound with your best LPs."
—Robert Levi, Positive Feedback