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Hana Umami Blue Moving Coil Cartridge Reviews

5 Rating 27 Reviews
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909.931.9686

Email:

joel.m@upscaleaudio.com

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2058 Wright Avenue,
2058 Wright Avenue
California
91750

Amazing cartridge, detailed but not sterile. Great piece.
Helpful Report
Posted 2 weeks ago
Ed Nickerson
Verified Reviewer
Author didn't leave any comments.
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Posted 2 months ago
This is my first foray into higher end cartridges. I didn't realize the difference it could make. Highly recomended.
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Posted 4 months ago
After upgrading my table from a Music Hall 9.3 to an Acoustic Signature Tornado, it became apparent that my Hana SL MK1 was now the weak link. The Umami Blue, like most all of Hana's offerings, hits way above it's price point. With the SL, highs felt like the cart was doing all it could to reproduce them, while the Umami Blue feels effortless, adding a delightful 'air' to the upper end. The low end is tight and never bloated, delivering the content of the discs quite beautifully. With good discs, the 'pop' from the needle drop dissapears in to a near perfect emptyness until the music begins. After inviting some (non-audiophile)friends and family over to listen to the 'new' system, the number one respone was 'I felt like I was in the room with them!' One strangely cautionary word- this cart is VERY accurate, revealing weaknesses in your system and the vinyl itself. Some discs that languished on my shelf, due to me writing them off as a bad pressing, poor mastering, etc, have recieved a new life, while some others now have their mastering chain flaws revealed! System: Anthem 225 Integrated, Tannoy XT-8F speakers, Trichord Research Delphini MK2 phono pre with upgrades PSU.
1 Helpful Report
Posted 4 months ago
A step up from Hana ML. Provides tighter bass and better resolution to the recording. Great sounding cart!
Helpful Report
Posted 5 months ago
After about ten hours of playback, I have had four "Wow!" moments and even more "Hmm, I never heard this album sound this good before" moments. It makes me want to take better care of my records. I am running the Umami Blue on a Technics SL1210G, all stock in combination with a Mofi Electronics MasterPhono phono stage.
1 Helpful Report
Posted 6 months ago
Richard Martin
Verified Reviewer
Picked this cart up after a new kitten and dog incident trashed my hana ML , and will say after 50+ hours , this is by far my favorite product from upscale to date , the ML was really good , the Blue is just in a separate category for price to performance, in my system . I sent my tone arm to upscale , Sean installed it and sent it back , no stress as always with upscale.
1 Helpful Report
Posted 7 months ago
Frank Colonna
Unverified Reviewer
Recently upgraded from a MOFI Mastertracker to the Umami Blue and all I can say is wow. Just a huge difference in dynamics, transients, detail, you name it, the Blue delivers in spades. Highly recommended.
1 Helpful Report
Posted 8 months ago