Triangle Lunar 3 white

Second turntable in the Triangle range after the Lunar 1, the Lunar 3 steps things up across the board: carbon tonearm, Ortofon 2M Red cartridge, built-in phono preamp, 78 rpm playback. Assembled in Europe by Pro-Ject, the Austrian specialist in vinyl turntables, it takes the design of the famous Debut Carbon and dresses it in Triangle’s lacquered finishes. A manual turntable ready to play right out of the box, which connects just as easily to a traditional hi-fi system as to a pair of active speakers.

A one-piece carbon tonearm by Pro-Ject

The Lunar 3’s tonearm is a straight tube molded in a single piece of carbon fiber, with an effective length of 215 mm. It is the same design that made the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon famous. Carbon combines two useful properties here: high rigidity and very low mass (6 g effective mass). The less the tonearm vibrates, the more precisely the cartridge reads the groove, without adding coloration or unwanted resonance.

The rear counterweight is adjusted manually to set the tracking force to the nearest gram. A dedicated anti-skating weight compensates for the centripetal force that pulls the tonearm toward the center of the record, which preserves the cartridge and improves tracking in complex passages. Tonearm azimuth is also adjustable using the supplied hex key. This level of adjustment, rare at this price point, makes it possible to adapt the turntable to other cartridges if you want to upgrade later.

Compared with the Lunar 1 and its aluminum tonearm, the benefit is twofold: carbon is both lighter and more rigid, which directly improves playback quality.

Ortofon 2M Red cartridge: a clear step up

The cartridge supplied with the Lunar 3 is an Ortofon 2M Red, a moving magnet (MM) model from Danish manufacturer Ortofon. Its elliptical stylus follows the groove walls more precisely than a spherical tip, resulting in better detail retrieval, finer treble, and reduced distortion in heavily modulated passages.

The 2M Red is a well-known model in the vinyl world. It sits at the first level of Ortofon’s 2M series (Red, Blue, Bronze, Black), which leaves the door open for a later upgrade: simply replace the stylus or the entire cartridge, as the tonearm’s headshell accepts standard mounts.

The cartridge and tonearm are installed and aligned at the factory by a Pro-Ject operator. The recommended tracking force is 1.8 g. For optimal adjustment, Triangle recommends using a tracking force gauge (not included) such as the Pro-Ject Measure It E.

Carefully designed drive focused on stability

The Lunar 3’s belt drive is based on a motor decoupled from the chassis by two sorbothane mounts, a viscoelastic material that absorbs motor vibrations before they can spread to the platter. Rotational speed is electronically controlled: a selector under the front left side lets you switch between 33 and 45 rpm without handling the belt. For 78 rpm records, a specific round belt (included) replaces the standard flat belt; it must then be placed manually on the pulley provided for that purpose.

The platter is made of high-density steel. Its mass helps smooth out micro speed variations thanks to the flywheel effect, and the stainless steel spindle ensures consistent rotation. A felt mat covers the platter to cushion contact with the record.

The whole assembly rests on a 30 mm thick medium-density fiberboard (MDF) chassis, set on three damping feet. Dense and low-resonance, MDF serves as a stable base for the entire mechanism. The turntable’s total weight reaches 4.85 kg, more than a kilo heavier than the Lunar 1 (3.5 kg), reflecting the use of more substantial materials.

Built-in phono preamp: direct connection or bypassed

The Lunar 3 integrates an MM phono preamp with RIAA equalization, which can be enabled or disabled via a switch located at the rear. Two possible setups:

Preamp enabled: the turntable outputs a line-level signal through its RCA outputs. It can then be connected directly to active speakers, a soundbar, a network player, or any amplifier with a line input (AUX, CD, etc.). This is the simplest configuration, and the one Triangle highlights for pairing with its Capella speakers.

Preamp disabled: the turntable outputs a raw phono signal. It must then be connected to an amplifier equipped with a phono input, or to an external phono preamp. This option makes it possible to choose your own phono stage, which can improve sound quality with a better preamp.

The Lunar 1, for its part, does not have a built-in preamp: it necessarily requires an external phono stage or Triangle speakers equipped with this function (Borea Connect, Active Series, AIO Twin ranges).

Lacquered finishes and Capella 2 compatibility

The Lunar 3 is available in three glossy lacquered finishes: black, white, and blue. These colors were chosen to match the Triangle Capella 2 active speakers, creating a visually consistent setup. The slightly smoked acrylic dust cover protects the turntable from dust; its hinges are adjustable to adapt the opening angle.

The dimensions remain compact: 415 × 113 × 320 mm (W × H × D). The turntable will fit easily on a standard hi-fi cabinet. Note that, like any vinyl turntable, it will benefit from being placed on a stable surface, away from vibrations transmitted by the floor or the speakers.

Connectivity and included accessories

Audio output is provided by a pair of gold-plated stereo RCA sockets located at the rear. The RCA phono cable is included. Power supply is external: a 15 V / 0.8 A power adapter supplies the turntable, for power consumption of 4 W.

The box contents are complete: 33/45 rpm belt, 78 rpm belt, felt mat, counterweight, anti-skating weight, 45 rpm adapter (for singles with a large center hole), cartridge alignment gauge, hex key for azimuth, dust cover, RCA cable, and power supply. Everything needed for immediate setup.

What sets the Lunar 3 apart from the Lunar 1

The two Triangle turntables share the same philosophy (Pro-Ject partnership, factory assembly, ease of use), but the Lunar 3 improves on several concrete points. The tonearm moves from aluminum to one-piece carbon. The cartridge goes from the Ortofon OM-5E to the more detailed 2M Red. The platter changes from ABS polymer to steel. The phono preamp, absent from the Lunar 1, is built in. And 78 rpm compatibility is added to 33 and 45 rpm. Signal-to-noise ratio improves from 65 to 68 dB, and weight increases by a good kilo, reflecting denser materials. In return, the Lunar 1 offers more color options (five versus three) and remains the most accessible entry point in the range.

Technical Specifications

Main Features

• Manual belt-drive turntable
• Speeds: 33, 45 and 78 RPM
• Precision drive belt with electronic speed control
• Built-in MM phono preamplifier, switchable on/off
• Compatible with all vinyl formats (33, 45 and 78 RPM)
• Speed selector accessible from the underside of the turntable

Cartridge and Tonearm

• Ortofon 2M Red cartridge (MM – moving magnet), factory pre-mounted and aligned
  • Elliptical profile stylus
  • Recommended tracking force: 1.8 g
• One-piece straight carbon tonearm
  • Effective length: 215 mm
  • Overhang: 18.5 mm
  • Effective mass: 6 g
• Adjustments
  • Adjustable counterweight
  • Anti-skating with dedicated weight

Mechanics and Construction

• Decoupled motor with sorbothane silent blocks
• Flat belt drive (33 and 45 RPM) and round belt drive (78 RPM)
• High-density steel platter
• 30 mm medium-density fibreboard (MDF) platter
• Stainless steel spindle
• High-density MDF chassis
• 3 damping feet

Connectivity

• Outputs: gold-plated stereo RCA
• Phono RCA cable included

Electrical Specifications and Performance

• Signal-to-noise ratio: 68 dB
• Power consumption: 4 W
• Power supply: 15 V DC / 0.8 A

Design and Finish

• Smoked acrylic dust cover with adjustable hinges

Dimensions and Weight

• Dimensions (W × H × D): 415 × 113 × 320 mm
• Net weight: 4.85 kg

Included Accessories

• 33/45 RPM belt
• 78 RPM belt
• Dust cover
• Felt mat
• RCA cable
• Counterweight
• Anti-skating weight
• 45 RPM adapter
• Power supply
• Cartridge alignment protractor
• Hex (Allen) key for azimuth adjustment

Key Features

• Pre-mounted Ortofon 2M Red audiophile cartridge
• Ultra-light and rigid carbon tonearm
• Built-in phono preamplifier for maximum versatility (ideal for active speakers or amplifiers without a phono input)
• Excellent stability and vibration reduction

General Information

• Type: manual turntable
• Drive: belt drive
• Speeds: 33 / 45 / 78 RPM
• Manufacturing: assembled in Europe, in partnership with Pro-Ject