Triangle Lunar 3 Blue

The second turntable in Triangle’s lineup after the Lunar 1, the Lunar 3 steps up a notch in every respect: carbon tonearm, Ortofon 2M Red cartridge, built-in phono preamplifier, 78 RPM playback. Assembled in Europe by Pro-Ject, the Austrian turntable specialist, it draws on the design of the acclaimed Debut Carbon and dresses it in Triangle’s lacquered finishes. A manual turntable ready to play straight out of the box, compatible with both a classic hi-fi system and a pair of active speakers.

A one-piece carbon tonearm by Pro-Ject

The Lunar 3’s tonearm is a straight tube moulded in a single piece of carbon fibre, with an effective length of 215 mm. It shares the same design that built the reputation of the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon. Carbon combines two properties that are particularly useful here: high rigidity and very low mass (6 g effective weight). The less the tonearm vibrates, the more precisely the cartridge reads the groove, without adding coloration or parasitic resonances.

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 pulling the tonearm toward the centre of the record, preserving the cartridge and improving tracking through complex passages. The tonearm azimuth is also adjustable using the supplied hex key. This level of adjustment, rare at this price point, allows the turntable to be adapted to other cartridges should you wish to upgrade later.

Compared to the Lunar 1 and its aluminium tonearm, the improvement is twofold: carbon is both lighter and more rigid, which directly benefits playback quality.

Ortofon 2M Red cartridge: a solid 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-profile stylus traces the groove walls with greater precision than a spherical tip, resulting in better detail retrieval, a finer high-frequency response, and reduced distortion in heavily modulated passages.

The 2M Red is a well-known model in the vinyl world. It sits at the entry level of Ortofon’s 2M series (Red, Blue, Bronze, Black), leaving the door open for a future upgrade: simply replace the stylus or the full cartridge, as the tonearm’s headshell accepts standard mounting hardware.

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

A refined drive system focused on stability

The Lunar 3’s belt drive rests on a motor decoupled from the chassis by two sorbothane grommets, a viscoelastic material that absorbs motor vibrations before they can travel to the platter. Rotation speed is electronically controlled: a selector on the underside of the left front panel switches between 33 and 45 RPM without touching the belt. For 78 RPM playback, a specific round belt (included) replaces the standard flat belt; it must be placed manually on the dedicated pulley.

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

The whole assembly rests on a 30 mm thick medium-density fibreboard (MDF) chassis, mounted on three damping feet. MDF, being dense and low in resonance, provides a stable foundation for all the mechanical components. The turntable’s total weight reaches 4.85 kg, over a kilogram more than the Lunar 1 (3.5 kg), reflecting the use of heavier materials.

Built-in phono preamplifier: direct connection or bypass

The Lunar 3 features a built-in MM phono preamplifier with RIAA correction, which can be enabled or disabled via a switch on the rear panel. Two scenarios:

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 with a phono input, or to an external phono preamplifier. This option allows you to choose your own phono stage, which can improve playback quality with a higher-grade preamp.

The Lunar 1, by contrast, has no built-in preamplifier: it requires either an external phono stage or Triangle speakers with this function built in (Borea Connect, Active Series, and AIO Twin ranges).

Lacquered finishes and Capella 2 compatibility

The Lunar 3 is available in three gloss lacquered finishes: black, white, and blue. These colours were chosen to complement Triangle’s Capella 2 active speakers, creating a visually cohesive system. The lightly smoked acrylic dust cover protects the turntable from dust; its hinges are adjustable to set the opening angle.

The dimensions remain compact: 415 × 113 × 320 mm (W × H × D). The turntable will fit on a standard hi-fi stand without difficulty. Note that, like any vinyl turntable, it will benefit from being placed on a stable surface, away from vibrations transmitted through the floor or speakers.

Connections and included accessories

Audio output is via a pair of gold-plated stereo RCA sockets on the rear panel. An RCA phono cable is included. The power supply is external: a 15 V / 0.8 A power adapter powers the turntable, for a 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 centre hole), cartridge alignment protractor, hex key for azimuth adjustment, dust cover, RCA cable, and power supply. Everything needed for immediate setup.

What sets the Lunar 3 apart from the Lunar 1

Both Triangle turntables share the same philosophy (Pro-Ject partnership, factory assembly, ease of use), but the Lunar 3 advances on several concrete points. The tonearm moves from aluminium to one-piece carbon. The cartridge upgrades from the Ortofon OM-5E to the more detailed 2M Red. The platter moves from ABS polymer to steel. The phono preamplifier, absent from the Lunar 1, is built in. And 78 RPM compatibility is added to 33 and 45 RPM. The signal-to-noise ratio improves from 65 to 68 dB, and the weight increases by a good kilogram, reflecting the use of denser materials. In return, the Lunar 1 offers more colour 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 preamp, switchable on / off
• Compatible with all records (33, 45, and 78 rpm)
• Speed selector accessible under the turntable

Cartridge and tonearm

• Ortofon 2M Red cartridge (MM – moving magnet), factory pre-mounted and aligned
  • Elliptical 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 dampers
• Flat belt drive (33 and 45 rpm) and round belt (78 rpm)
• High-density steel platter
• 30 mm medium-density fiberboard (MDF) platter
• Stainless steel spindle
• High-density MDF chassis
• 3 damping feet

Connectivity

• Outputs: gold-plated stereo RCA
• RCA phono 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 finishes

• 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 key (Allen) for azimuth adjustment

Highlights

• Pre-mounted Ortofon 2M Red audiophile cartridge
• Ultra-light and rigid carbon tonearm
• Built-in phono preamp for maximum versatility (ideal for active speakers or an amplifier 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