Tri-Planar

Tri-Planar is a legendary American precision tonearm manufacturer founded by Herb Papier in 1981 in Wheaton, Maryland, originally known as the Wheaton Music tonearm, and now operated by handpicked successor Tri Mai in Minneapolis, Minnesota since 1999. With over 55 years in research, design, and production, Tri-Planar revolutionized analog playback through their patented dual-pivot design that provides unrivaled tracking, transparency, and resolution across all three planes of geometry: yaw (horizontal tracking angle), pitch (vertical tracking angle), and roll (azimuth). Drawing on founder Herb Papier's expertise in chronometer calibration earned during WWII Navy service and lifelong career as a watchmaker, Tri-Planar tonearms embody watch-like precision and nearly frictionless bearings machined from steel and aluminum with meticulous attention to form following function. The company's current lineup includes the Mk VII U2 Classic ($7,500), U2 SE ($8,850), and flagship U12 ($11,500) models, all renowned for being utterly invisible in sound reproduction while providing maximum adjustability and precision that has earned them a fiercely loyal following among serious audiophiles worldwide for over four decades.