Reed 3P High-End Tonearm | On-the-Fly VTA & Azimuth

Description

Reed 3P High-End Tonearm

The Reed 3P is a high-end tonearm designed for analogue enthusiasts who want exceptionally precise setup control together with a very low-friction bearing system.

Among its most distinctive features are fine VTA adjustment on-the-fly, azimuth adjustment while a record is playing, magnetic anti-skating and a unique bearing architecture that combines the rigidity of a gimbal design with the low-friction behavior associated with a unipivot tonearm.

The Reed 3P is designed to let the user fine-tune critical cartridge parameters without repeatedly stopping playback, making it particularly attractive for experienced analogue users who want to hear the effect of each adjustment immediately.

On-the-Fly VTA Adjustment

The Reed 3P tonearm allows fine vertical tracking angle adjustment while the record is playing.

This makes it possible to evaluate small VTA changes in real time rather than stopping playback, making an adjustment and then returning to the same passage.

For analogue systems using cartridges that respond strongly to vertical tracking geometry, this can make setup significantly faster and more intuitive.

It also gives experienced users the flexibility to compensate for differences in record thickness or to fine-tune the cartridge’s tonal and spatial presentation by ear.

Azimuth Adjustment During Playback

One of the most unusual features of the Reed 3P is its ability to adjust azimuth while the record is playing.

During the adjustment process, the cartridge rotates around the stylus tip rather than moving the stylus away from its established tracking position.

This means that other critical tonearm parameters remain essentially unchanged while azimuth is being adjusted.

The system allows the user to evaluate channel balance, separation and stereo image stability while making very small corrections.

You can see the mechanism in operation in this

Reed 3P azimuth adjustment video
.

Unique Three-Pivot Bearing System

The bearing architecture of the Reed 3P is one of the key elements of its design.

Although the bearing arrangement can be described as gimbal-like, its behavior is closer to that of a unipivot.

Instead of relying on a single pivot point, the 3P uses three pivots together with magnetic stabilizers on both the vertical and horizontal axes.

This approach is designed to combine the mechanical rigidity and stability of a gimbal bearing with the extremely low friction normally associated with unipivot designs.

The result is a highly sensitive bearing system intended to follow the smallest cartridge movements without introducing unnecessary mechanical resistance.

Magnetic Stabilization

Magnetic stabilization is used on both the vertical and horizontal axes of the Reed 3P.

These magnetic elements help control the bearing system without introducing the additional contact friction that would normally be associated with purely mechanical stabilization.

This contributes to the 3P’s ability to maintain precise tracking while preserving low-level musical information and subtle transient detail.

Magnetic Anti-Skating

The Reed 3P uses a magnetic anti-skating system.

This technology was developed from ideas explored in Reed’s Mag prototype, first shown at Analog Forum 2011 in Krefeld, Germany.

The magnetic approach allows anti-skating compensation to be applied without a conventional contact-based mechanism, reducing mechanical interference and helping maintain smooth tonearm movement.

Together with the fine VTA and azimuth controls, magnetic anti-skating gives the user a high degree of control over cartridge behavior during playback.

Real-Time Tonearm Setup

One of the defining characteristics of the Reed 3P is that several important parameters can be adjusted while listening.

VTA, azimuth and anti-skating can all be fine-tuned without repeatedly dismantling or repositioning the tonearm.

This is particularly valuable when evaluating subtle cartridge setup changes, because the listener can compare the audible result immediately.

For users who enjoy optimizing cartridge alignment and extracting the maximum performance from analogue playback, the Reed 3P provides an unusually interactive setup process.

Red Dot Design Award

German Design Award Nomination

Armwand Wood Options

The Reed 3P can be configured with different wooden armwand materials, allowing the tonearm to be matched more closely to the chosen cartridge and system.

Different woods provide different combinations of mass, stiffness and mechanical damping, giving users an additional tool for optimizing cartridge resonance behavior.

Armwand Wood Samples

Finish Options

The Reed 3P is available in several finish options, allowing the tonearm to be visually matched to a wide range of turntables and analogue systems.

Finish Color Samples

Explore the Reed 2G Tonearm

For listeners who want a Reed tonearm with interchangeable armwands, multiple effective lengths and optional laser-assisted setup, the

Reed 2G Tonearm

is a natural alternative within the range.

The Reed 3P places particular emphasis on real-time adjustment and its unique three-pivot bearing system, while the 2G offers a more modular approach to armwand configuration and cartridge matching.

Official Reed Information

For current specifications, available configurations and manufacturer information, visit the

official Reed website
.