Tri-Planar
U2
The TriPlanar U2 (marketed as the Mk VII "U2 Classic") is a US-made, dual-pivot tonearm using an avionics-derived gimbal bearing design, tracing its lineage back to Herb Papier's Wheaton Decoupled Arm introduced at the 1981 Chicago CES. Its name refers to the arm's ability to be finely adjusted independently in three planes — vertical tracking angle, azimuth, and horizontal/lateral tracking — a hallmark of the design since its earliest iterations. The company passed from founder Herb Papier to his successor Tri Mai in 1999, and the current Mk VII generation has been in production since 2003.
MSRP
$7,500
Used market · Good
$4,500
MSRP to used market
From $7,500 at launch to $4,500 today.
Specifications
- Price
- $7,500 (Mk VII U2 Classic); $8,850–$8,995 (U2 SE variant, carbon fiber/silver wiring)
- Damping
- Silicone-fluid trough damping; hardened and polished needle cones in the bearing assembly
- Bearing type
- Avionic dual-pivot gimbal bearing design
- Adjustability
- Independently adjustable in three planes: vertical tracking angle, azimuth, and lateral tracking (the "Tri-Planar" namesake feature)
- Effective mass
- 11 g (standard counterweight configuration)
- Company history
- Founded by Herb Papier, 1981; ownership passed to Tri Mai in 1999; current Mk VII generation introduced 2003
- Effective length
- 250 mm (9.8")
- Armwand materials
- Composite wand with coaxial damping and continuous-run oxygen-free copper internal wiring (U2 Classic); carbon-fiber wand with silver internal wiring on the related U2 SE variant; finished in black or silver anodized aluminum
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