Clearaudio TT3 Tangential-Tonarm + DSW 1.5 m, Black

The Clearaudio TT3 with DSW is a purely mechanical Tangential-Tonarm whose signal line is wired continuously at the factory – this version in black, with 1.5 meters of Direct Silver Wire and MPC RCA connectors.

The extra half meter compared to the short variant sounds like a minor detail, but in practice it decides whether the turntable is allowed to stand where it should stand. The principle doesn't change: an uninterrupted silver line from the cartridge to the connector, without a pair of jacks under the base.

Why the TT3 with 1.5 m DSW?

Because not every system fits into a single rack. If your turntable stands on its own wall shelf, on the other side of the sideboard, or a level above the phono stage, one meter quickly becomes tight – and a tonearm cable that's too short can't be rescued with an adapter. The 1.5-meter version bridges this distance with the same higher-grade DSW silver line. The arm remains the familiar TT3: precision ball bearings in a polished glass tube, carbon arm tube with stainless steel headshell, no motor, no pump, just the pull of the groove.

What you hear

A calm, clearly layered reproduction without tracking error angle, stable right into the last groove. At this cabling quality, the extra half meter isn't a price you pay sonically – instead, it gives you the freedom to place your turntable where it stands mechanically calmest.

Who is this version suited for?

For anyone whose phono stage doesn't stand directly next to the turntable, and for anyone who wants some reserve in the cable routing. Plain talk: longer doesn't mean better – if one meter is comfortably enough, take the short variant and route the path directly. And as with every tangential arm: a tilted or vibrating placement costs more sound than any cable decision could ever make up for.

Our verdict

The practical choice for separately placed systems: higher-grade silver line, enough length for clean cable routing, no connector junction in the most sensitive part of the signal path. In black, the arm visually disappears on dark turntables. How good the construction is was confirmed by LowBeats on June 8, 2025, with 4.6 out of 5 points and the rating "outstanding". Before you order, we measure the actual path with you at HD Zürisee in Wädenswil – two minutes that save trouble.

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
• Wiring: continuous factory direct wiring with Direct Silver Wire (DSW), silver conductor
• Cable length: 1.5 m
• Connectors: MPC RCA, separate ground cable
• Factory alternatives available: DSW in 1.0 m, Sixstream Super Wire (SSW) in 1.0 or 1.5 m, or base version with RCA jacks
• 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
• 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 and factory-wired DSW cable (1.5 m, MPC RCA), 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

When do I need 1.5 instead of 1.0 meter?

As soon as the turntable and phono stage aren't on the same shelf. A wall shelf, a separate sideboard, or a rack with multiple levels quickly eat up more than one meter. Measure the actual path including cable routing and strain relief: better a bit of reserve, because a fixed-wired tonearm cable can't be extended.

What does DSW mean for this tonearm?

DSW stands for Direct Silver Wire, Clearaudio's higher-grade factory-wired silver line for the TT tonearms. It runs without a connector junction from the cartridge to the MPC RCA connectors. As a more affordable, likewise fixed-wired alternative, Clearaudio offers the Sixstream Super Wire (SSW) made of OFC copper, also in 1.0 and 1.5 meters.

Does the TT3 need power or an air pump?

No, it operates entirely passively. The carriage is moved solely by the pull of the groove and glides on dry-running ball bearings in a calibrated glass tube. So there's neither motor hum nor pump noise, and electrical interference from the surroundings finds no point of attack at the drive.

How is the arm grounded?

Via the included ground cable. It connects the tonearm, or rather the turntable, to the ground terminal of your phono stage and eliminates the typical hum that would otherwise be audible at phono levels. If the connection is missing or sits loose, that immediately shows up as mains hum.

What is the effective mass of the TT3?

Clearaudio doesn't publish this value. It describes the inertial mass of a pivoting arm and isn't meaningful for a linearly guided carriage. We therefore match cartridge and arm using stylus compliance, tracking force, and experience – just tell us which cartridge you have in mind.

Why buy the TT3 with 1.5 m DSW from HD Zürisee?

Because length and cable type are final with a direct wiring and therefore have to match the location. We take a look at your setup, recommend the right combination, mount and align the arm, and remain responsible as an authorized Clearaudio dealer. Call +41 44 680 22 00 or write via WhatsApp to 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls).

Goes well with

Matching cartridges are found under Cartridges, their counterpart at the cable end under Phono Preamps. Turntables can be found under Turntables, more arms under Tonearms, and accessories in Turntable Accessories.