Clearaudio TT3 Tangential-Tonarm, Black

The Clearaudio TT3 is a purely mechanical Tangential-Tonarm with patented two-point guidance that leads the stylus parallel to the groove – this version in black, with RCA jacks and ground terminal.

Every record is cut tangentially. A pivoted tonearm then traces it in an arc and therefore sits a few degrees off almost everywhere. The TT3 takes the same path as the cutting stylus: no tracking error angle, no skating forces, no loss of quality toward the center of the record. And all that without a motor, servo, or air pump.

Why the TT3?

Because precision mechanics do here what electronics are meant to handle elsewhere. The carriage glides on dry-running precision ball bearings through a calibrated, polished glass tube – moved solely by the pull of the groove. No drive also means: no drive noise and no control system stepping in at the wrong moment. The arm tube is made of high-precision carbon, the headshell of stainless steel. Height adjustment sits integrated on the arm and can be fine-tuned via the height adjustment screw, two height adapters cover different setup heights, and four pre-mounted counterweights suffice for cartridges from 5.5 to 15 grams. This base version comes with a pair of RCA jacks and a ground terminal – so you choose the tonearm cable yourself.

What you hear

Calm, and on top of it a soundstage that holds all the way to the last groove. Because no side forces tug at the stylus, the faint roughness with which many pivoted tonearms announce the record's center is absent. Voices stay cleanly separated, instruments keep their place, and a long closing track ends as confidently as it began.

Who is the TT3 suited for?

For vinyl listeners with a stable turntable who want geometrically correct tracking and enjoy careful setup. Plain talk: nothing moves the TT3 except the groove – an exactly level, low-vibration placement isn't a recommendation, it's a condition. On a wobbly shelf it plays below its level, and even the best cartridge won't change that. Anyone who'd rather start pre-wired and ready to go reaches for the factory-wired versions with Sixstream Super Wire (SSW) or Direct Silver Wire (DSW).

Our verdict

A tangential arm that gets by without a single volt and still gets everything right – provided the foundation is right. The black base version with RCA jacks is the flexible choice for anyone who wants to choose their tonearm cable deliberately and possibly swap it later. The specialist press sees the arm similarly: in its test dated June 8, 2025, LowBeats awarded an overall score of 4.6 out of 5 and the rating "outstanding". Whether your turntable brings the right foundation for it, we'll clarify with you in a short conversation at HD Zürisee in Wädenswil.

Technical data

• Type: Tangential-Tonarm with patented two-point tangential guidance
• Drive: purely mechanical and passive – no motor, no servo, no air pump
• Bearings: dry-running precision ball bearings in a calibrated, polished glass tube
• Arm tube / headshell: high-precision carbon arm tube / stainless steel
• Height adjustment (VTA): integrated, fine-adjustable via height adjustment screw; 10 mm height adapter pre-mounted, 14.5 mm included
• Tangential alignment: by rotating the folding base
• Overhang / offset angle: 0 mm / 0° – no anti-skating by design
• Cartridge weight: balance range 5.5–15 g; Clearaudio recommends from 7 g net weight upward, below that with an additional headshell plate
• Counterweights: four pieces, pre-mounted (2.3 g, 2.6 g, 4.3 g, 8 g)
• Effective mass: not stated by Clearaudio
• Connection: pair of RCA jacks with ground terminal, tonearm cable freely selectable
• Factory alternatives available: direct wiring with Sixstream Super Wire (SSW) or Direct Silver Wire (DSW), each in 1.0 or 1.5 m, terminated with MPC RCA
• Material: aluminum (black), stainless steel, glass
• Dimensions (W × D × H): approx. 275 × 95 × 45 mm (without folding base and height adjustment screw)
• Weight: approx. 690 g (without armboard); armboard approx. 245 g
• Mounting: directly on Clearaudio Performance DC, Ovation and Innovation series; on third-party turntables via the drilling template in the manual (3.3 mm drill, M4 thread)
• Alignment reference: optimal distance from stylus to the center of the headshell carriage 62 mm
• Warranty: 5 years upon registration within 14 days of purchase
• Scope of delivery: tonearm with pre-mounted carriage, carbon arm tube and stainless steel headshell with four pre-mounted counterweights (2.3 / 2.6 / 4.3 / 8 g), aluminum folding base with pre-mounted 10 mm height adapter and M4 × 40 screws, additional 14.5 mm height adapter, three M4 × 30 mounting screws, four hex keys (1.5 / 2 / 2.5 / 3 mm), Clearaudio linear gauge, ground cable, Clearaudio mini spirit level, one pair of white gloves

Frequently asked questions

Does the TT3 need power, a motor, or an air pump?

No, it operates purely mechanically and passively. The carriage is moved solely by the pull of the groove and glides on dry-running precision ball bearings through a polished glass tube. That saves pump and motor noise and makes the arm immune to electrical interference from the surroundings.

Which cartridges fit the TT3?

Clearaudio states a balance range of 5.5 to 15 grams net weight and recommends cartridges from 7 grams upward. Four counterweights from 2.3 to 8 grams are pre-mounted so the tracking force can be set cleanly. For lighter cartridges, the manufacturer provides an additional headshell plate as compensation.

How do I adjust the tonearm height (VTA)?

Via the integrated height adjustment screw on the arm. Two height adapters are also included: ten millimeters are mounted at the factory, and a 14.5-millimeter adapter is in the box for taller setups. The tangential alignment itself is done by carefully rotating the folding base, not via the arm.

Which tonearm cable do I need for this version?

A phono cable with RCA connectors of your choice. This base version has a pair of RCA jacks and a ground terminal, so a cable is not included in the scope of delivery. Anyone who'd rather start pre-wired and ready to go takes one of the factory direct-wired versions with SSW or DSW cable. Those are then fixed-wired and can no longer be swapped later.

What is the effective mass of the TT3?

Clearaudio does not publish an effective mass for the TT3. For a tangential arm with a moving carriage, this value can't be stated the way it can for a pivoted tonearm. To match it with the stylus compliance of your desired cartridge, we therefore go through the combination together with you, rather than calculating with a figure that doesn't exist.

Why buy the TT3 from HD Zürisee?

Because a tangential arm gives away its potential on a crooked foundation. We clarify beforehand whether your turntable brings the right base, set up the arm, and remain available as an authorized Clearaudio dealer for service and warranty. Reach us at +41 44 680 22 00, via WhatsApp 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls), or shop@hdzuerisee.ch.

Goes well with

The matching tonearm cable can be found under Cables & Connectors, the cartridge under Cartridges. Also a good match: Turntables, Phono Preamps and more Tonearms.