"DS Audio’s made-in-Japan HS-001…machined from a solid billet of “ultra-duralumin”…features the sturdiest, most expensive-looking Litz wires I’ve ever seen...”
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Umami Sound means Wonderful Taste in Music
The HANA-Umami Red hand-built MC cartridge embodies Umami, officially coined in 1908 byJapanese chemist Kikunae Ikeda-san as a very pleasing or delicious flavor on the palette, asynergistic effect resulting in higher taste intensity.
Hana’s Master cartridge designer Masao Okada-san applies this concept as he combines brilliant materials and classic Japanese techniques with modern audio engineering in creating his HANA-Umami Red MC cartridge.
The HANA-Umami Red exclusive Auricle™ body design, mimics the shape of the human outer ear to rigidly support the “Open Air” MC generator. It is machined from A7075 Duralumin with a multi-layered Urushi lacquer finish originating from the Japanese Makie-artistic tradition, and incorporates an Ebony Wood inlay, tapped mounting holes, and stylus guard.
The cryogenically treated MC generator features a samarium/cobalt magnet with a Permalloy square plate armature, hand-wound with high purity 30-micron copper wire for an internal impedance of 6Ω and .4mV output. A Nude Microline stylus is bonded to a solid Boron cantilever for tracing the most delicate musical nuances from the LP.
All the major parts of the HANA-Umami Red are manufactured in house by Excel Sound with its highly trained craftsmen skillfully hand assembling each cartridge. Master designer Okada-san brings over 50 years of experience to this design, applying the Umami concept of synergy with the HANA-Umami Red
The HANA-Umami Red retails for $3,950 and sales officially begin on September 22, 2020, Autumnal Equinox Day (秋分の日 or Shūbun no Hi in Japan) .
more info at hanacartridges.com
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