Garth Leerer-san at Musical Surroundings/ HANA USA distributor has just forwarded us this “Brilliant and Gorgeous” Award and review article for every one to enjoy having a look.

Brilliant review article on HANA/ Umami

The Absolute Sound’s 2021 Golden Ear Awards
Andre Jennings-san corner, at the bottom

********************************************************************************************************

Designed by Excel Sound Corporation’s Masao Okada-san, the Hana Umami Red has a gorgeous-looking, glossy red, traditional Japanese Urushi lacquer finish with a front inlay of ebony wood.
From a sound perspective, this cartridge has exceptional balance that allows the musical timbre of instruments and vocals to present themselves truthfully with realistic integrity. If you couple these attributes with excellent micro/ macro-dynamics, the ability to unravel harmonic complexity, a slight tilt towards warmth, and smooth yet extended high frequencies, you have an excellent transducer. The Umami Red is the best-sounding cartridge to come from the Excel factory, and I’ve heard a number of them, including some expensive OEM models. At its price point, the Umami Red provides deliciously enjoyable class-leading performance compared with cartridges in the same price range.

********************************************************************************************************