@dwette Congrats on the upgrade to the Master. I also have an Innovation. Was the upgrade worth the cost, and if so can you share any details?
Hana Umami Black
Just noticed on the Hana cartridge site that they've made an Umami Black cartridge for $11.5k, it must be absolute one hell of a cart. If its been out a while and I'm just lost on the times, my apologies! Anyone with deep pockets who gets one, please report. I've been running an Umami Red since it came out and damn for 3x the cost this must be a dynamo!
https://musicalsurroundings.com/downloads/products/umami-black-brochure.pdf
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@macg19 The Master Innovation is a pretty massive upgrade (from Innovation Wood I had). It improves everything, especially bass control and refinement, soundstage (bigger, broader, more realistic), dynamics, and ability to resolve detail. I have it on a HRS M3X2 isolation base, and that in turn sits on a HRS EXR rack. I wouldn't want to use anything less capable, at least for the isolation base. It is a PITA in that it's heavy (145 lbs including my three tonearms and arm boards, center weight and outer ring). I have to take it apart to move it. It's definitely a imposing look. I think it's really cool though, especially in black/piano black that I have. |
@dwette Thanks for the insight. I've seen the black/piano Master and it does look cool. My local dealer has a Statement in the showroom. It redefines imposing. Did you sell/trade the Innovation for the Master or buy the upgrade kit? |
@macg19 I was going to buy the field upgrade kit (about $20k) but my dealer made me a great trade-in offer for my Innovation Wood and I got a completely new Master Innovation. The tonearms weren't part of the deal. I kept the two I already had and bought a third arm (since the MI supports 3 tonearms). |
This appears to be the cantilever part they’re using (includes MR stylus), from Orbray / Namiki: Costs $2500 for 1 pc, but the price comes down quite a bit in quantity. This part is also exactly what the Koetsu diamond cantilevers look like under magnification. Koetsu must have specified a different stylus (their usual), but this looks like the cantilever part maker. Here’s my Coralstone circa 2018. It’s a lil sloppier of an attachment than my Blue Lace lol
I don’t know anyone who did the upgrade. With secondary markets and dealer trade-ins, there’s no real price incentive to do an upgrade kit. I had an Innovation Wood and did a "sort of" trade in with my dealer for their demo Master. "Upgradeable" turntables can be a big selling point but they fall flat in practice. |
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