Hana Umami Red MC Phono Cartridge

2 Years
Parts & Labor
Hana Warranty Information

Hana Umami Red Owner's Manual (PDF Format)





















Hana Umami Red Brochure (PDF Format)

Recommended Component 2025 – Stereophile

"Loaded with 80 ohms, this low-output moving coil impressed HR with the intensity with which it endowed familiar recordings, as well as the enhanced intelligibility of vocals, 'natural-feeling contrast levels, grain-free clarity, and lifelike solidity.' The Umami Red displayed sharper, more precisely focused images than the much less expensive Hana ML, he decided."

- Stereophile, March 24, 2025

Phono Cartridge of the Year Award Winner 2021 – The Absolute Sound

"From a sound perspective, this cartridge has exceptional overall balance, such that it allows the musical timbre of instruments and vocals to present themselves truthfully no matter what genre of music is being reproduced. Couple these attributes with excellent micro/macro-dynamics, the ability to easily unravel harmonic complexities, an ever-so-tight tilt towards overall warmth, and buttery smooth yet extended high frequencies, and you have a superb combination."

"The Hana Umami Red is the best-sounding cartridge review (and analog maven) Andre Jennings has experienced from the Excel factory, and he's heard a number of them, including some posh OEM models."

- The Absolute Sound, January 2022

The Best Phono Cartridges, Tonearms and Headshells Buyers Guide 2022 - Part-Time Audiophile

"...this cartridge is yet another model from this deservedly successful high-end audio company that offers almost insanely excellent value."

"...I’ll say it clearly—if you are looking for cartridges in this price range and you don’t check out the Umami, you’ll always wonder if you made the right decision. I’m glad I made the decision to grab this cartridge from Mo and experience it for myself. Highly recommended."

- Marc Phillips, Part-Time Audiophile, September 3, 2021

"Threading the sonic needle nearly perfectly, the Umami Red is, as noted, exceptionally balanced, with upper-tier dynamics, instrumental separation, soundstaging, and realism. If this cartridge is set up properly in a capable system on a quality tonearm and phonostage, many listeners will surrender to its allure."

"The word “umami” is said to be a fifth element of taste (beyond sweet, sour, salty, and bitter) that results from a perfect combination of the right ingredients—a form of savory deliciousness. The Umami Red is deliciously enjoyable. Color me impressed."

- Andre Jennings, The Absolute Sound, September 13, 2021

"The Umami Red is that rare jewel in phono cartridges; a design that gives you both the sort of detail and precision of sound that presents whatever music you put on the platter with a laser-guided focus on the recording itself, and musical grace and passion. That makes for some interesting listening sessions, both in terms of ‘depth’ and ‘width’… not just of soundstage, but music collection. Here’s what I mean; Lana Del Rey’s title track to Norman F***ing Rockwell! [Interscope] is such a thing of beauty you might only play that one track in a test listening session, but the Hana and I were in it for the long haul."

"At each stage, the cartridge tracked sublimely, opened up the recording with detail, scale, imagery, and dynamics, but more importantly got past those observational details and engaged you to the point where a musical snack turned into a full-blown banquet. The Umami Red has a great tonal balance too, perfectly pitched between bright and bland. It’s sophisticated presentation will take time to beguile, but when it does, it will really get under your skin."

"The Hana ML and MH gets you glimpses of what a really good cartridge can do. The Umami Red gives you the complete picture. It represents the top-end of Hana’s output, but goes toe-to-toe with some exceptionally rare cartridges with some very lofty reputations. And it sacrifices nothing. This is truly top-tier LP replay!"

- Alan Sircom, Hi-Fi+, May 25, 2021

Recommended Component 2022 – Stereophile

"...the Umami's natural-feeling contrast levels, grain-free clarity, and lifelike solidity..."

- Herb Reichert, Stereophile, April 7, 2021

"Globally speaking, this is a simply superb cartridge, one that consistently performs well above other entrants in its price class."

"I rarely choose to make such comparisons, but this cartridge is so impressive, and in so many respects, that I'm willing to suggest that it offers eighty, maybe even eighty-five percent, of the magical performance I routinely experience from the world-class, $21,000 Etsuro Gold. But hey, that really shouldn't be so surprising when you consider the strong familial relationship. After all, they are designed and constructed by the same artisans, using many of the same principles, techniques, and components."

- Greg Weaver, Positive Feedback, September 13, 2023

"The Umami Red does not pose a question of taste or even lets it arise. It is a not only perfectly, but also exquisitely arranged and prepared MC pickup!"

- Matthias Böde, Stereo Magazine, December 30, 2020

"The Umami Red is not just the most engaging cartridge I’ve had in my system, but it’s one of the most engaging cartridges I’ve ever heard, and that includes time spent with very high-end systems and cartridges double its price. For listeners like me who have hung out in the 1-2k range of moving coil carts for many years, the Umami Red represents one of the smartest 'steps up' to the high end you can make in my opinion."

- Michael Johnson, audiophilia.com, December 22, 2023

"The Umami Red is one smooth customer, but don’t let that fool you. It delivers when it needs to resolve low-level detail, and dynamics. It performs with power and grace."

"This cartridge connects you emotionally to the music. It can negotiate virtually anything you throw at it and never get flustered. Its balanced sound always seems to reveal a new interpretation of music that you are familiar with. You will find yourself just wanting to pull out albums and have a listen."

- Ken Redmond, theaudiobeatnik.com, September 22, 2020