Audio T Verdict
The Audio Note ARM-Three/II combines precision mechanical engineering with the company’s high-purity silver wiring to create a versatile 9-inch tonearm for carefully assembled vinyl systems.
Its one-piece tapered aluminium arm tube, captured unipivot bearing and adjustable mounting collar are designed to provide a rigid yet responsive platform for a wide range of moving-magnet and moving-coil cartridges.
The integral AN-Vx silver phono cable distinguishes it from the ARM-One/II and ARM-Two/II. Correct installation remains essential, but when properly matched and set up, the ARM-Three/II offers a serious upgrade for a compatible turntable.
Audio Note ARM-Three/II Tonearm with AN-Vx Silver Cable
The Audio Note ARM-Three/II is a completely redesigned 9-inch tonearm developed for use with Audio Note turntables and other compatible record players using the established single-hole mounting arrangement.
It combines a one-piece tapered aluminium arm tube with a captured unipivot bearing, falling-weight bias adjustment and a threaded mounting collar that allows the arm height to be adjusted.
High-purity silver Litz wire carries the cartridge signal through the arm tube, while an integral Audio Note AN-Vx silver interconnect runs from the base of the arm to the supplied RCA phono plugs.
Professional Installation Recommended
A tonearm must be mounted and aligned accurately to perform correctly. Spindle-to-pivot distance, cartridge alignment, tracking force, bias, arm height and cable routing all require careful attention.
Compatibility with the turntable and armboard should be confirmed before ordering. Audio T can advise on suitable partnering equipment and arrange professional installation through participating stores.
Completely Redesigned Version II Tonearm
Audio Note developed its Version II tonearms to replace the earlier ARM-One, ARM-Two and ARM-Three models.
Rather than simply modifying the previous design, the company reconsidered the arm tube, bearing arrangement, height adjustment and mounting system while retaining compatibility with turntables prepared for the widely used single-hole mounting format.
Every component used in the tonearm is custom-designed for Audio Note rather than assembled from standard third-party tonearm parts.
One-Piece Tapered Aluminium Arm Tube
The arm tube is machined from a single billet of high-grade aluminium and is tapered both internally and externally.
This construction is intended to reduce unnecessary mass while maintaining high structural rigidity. A stiff arm tube helps control unwanted movement and provides a stable connection between the cartridge and bearing assembly.
Audio Note designed the arm to accommodate cartridges with a wide variety of weights and compliance characteristics, ranging from lightly tracking moving-magnet designs to the company’s own low-output IO moving-coil cartridges.
Captured Unipivot Bearing
The ARM-Three/II does not use conventional ball-race bearings for its vertical and horizontal movement.
Instead, Audio Note employs a captured unipivot arrangement. This allows the arm to move around a single bearing point while the captured construction maintains stability and prevents the free movement associated with a traditional uncaptured unipivot.
The bearing system is designed to allow the cartridge to follow the record groove accurately while minimising unnecessary resistance and mechanical noise.
Falling-Weight Bias Adjustment
Bias compensation is applied using a falling-weight mechanism rather than a spring-loaded or magnetic control.
Once correctly positioned, the suspended weight applies a controlled outward force to counteract the natural inward pull acting on the tonearm as the stylus tracks the record.
Bias should be set alongside the cartridge’s recommended tracking force and checked as part of the final installation.
Adjustable Arm Height
A threaded mounting collar and locking nut allow the height of the ARM-Three/II to be adjusted at the armboard.
This helps the installer accommodate cartridges with different body heights and set an appropriate starting point for vertical tracking angle and stylus rake angle.
Arm height is only one part of correct cartridge setup. Overhang, offset angle, azimuth, tracking force and bias should also be checked before use.
Installation Requirements
- Single 23mm armboard mounting hole
- 222mm spindle-to-pivot distance
- Sufficient space beneath the armboard
- Correct cartridge mounting and alignment
- Suitable phono-stage connection
Setup Adjustments
- Cartridge overhang and alignment
- Tracking force
- Falling-weight bias
- Arm height and stylus rake angle
- Cartridge azimuth where required
High-Purity Silver Litz Internal Wiring
The extremely small signal produced by a phono cartridge must travel through the tonearm before reaching the phono stage.
Audio Note equips the ARM-Three/II with its own 99.99 per cent pure silver Litz internal wiring. Litz construction uses multiple individually insulated strands rather than a single solid conductor.
This internal silver wiring is one of the key differences between the ARM-Three/II and less costly models in the Audio Note tonearm range.
Integral AN-Vx Silver Phono Cable
From the base of the tonearm, the cartridge signal continues through an integral Audio Note AN-Vx silver interconnect.
Hard-wiring the output cable removes the additional plugs and sockets that would otherwise be required at the base of the tonearm.
The cable is terminated with Audio Note AN-GP RCA plugs for connection to a suitable moving-magnet phono stage, moving-coil phono stage or step-up transformer, depending on the cartridge being used.
Choose the Phono Input to Suit the Cartridge
The tonearm does not determine whether an MM or MC phono input is required. The correct connection depends on the output, internal impedance and loading requirements of the fitted cartridge.
A low-output Audio Note IO cartridge will normally require a correctly matched step-up transformer followed by a moving-magnet phono input.
11.5g Effective Mass
Audio Note specifies an effective mass of 11.5g for the ARM-Three/II.
Effective mass forms part of the mechanical relationship between the tonearm and cartridge. The cartridge’s compliance and weight must also be considered when assessing the likely arm and cartridge resonance.
Audio Note states that the rigidity of the arm allows it to work with a broad range of cartridges, but the suitability of a particular combination should still be confirmed before installation.
320pF Total Cable Capacitance
The total specified cable capacitance is 320pF.
Cable capacitance can be particularly important with moving-magnet cartridges because it forms part of the total electrical load seen by the cartridge.
The tonearm cable, phono-stage input capacitance and cartridge manufacturer’s recommended loading should therefore be considered together when selecting a moving-magnet cartridge.
Cartridge Compatibility
The ARM-Three/II is designed to work with a wide range of moving-magnet and moving-coil cartridges, including Audio Note’s own IO designs.
Cartridge compatibility involves more than simply attaching the cartridge to the headshell. Weight, compliance, output level, internal impedance, recommended tracking force and electrical loading all need to be considered.
Audio T can help assess the complete combination of turntable, tonearm, cartridge, step-up transformer and phono stage before installation.
Single-Hole Mounting
The ARM-Three/II uses a single 23mm diameter armboard hole and requires a spindle-to-pivot distance of 222mm.
Although this arrangement is related to the widely used single-hole mounting format, the precise dimensions and available adjustment of the turntable must be checked.
An existing armboard may need to be replaced or accurately modified before the tonearm can be fitted.
Black or Anodised Aluminium Finish
The ARM-Three/II is available in black anodised aluminium or anodised aluminium finishes.
The Audio T product options currently identify these as black and silver. The internal wiring, AN-Vx output cable and mechanical specification remain the same for both versions.
Current availability and expected lead times should be confirmed when ordering.
Key Features
- Precision-engineered 9-inch tonearm
- Completely redesigned Version II construction
- One-piece high-grade aluminium arm tube
- Internally and externally tapered arm tube
- Captured unipivot bearing arrangement
- Falling-weight bias adjustment
- Threaded arm-height adjustment collar
- 99.99 per cent pure silver Litz internal wiring
- Integral Audio Note AN-Vx silver interconnect
- Audio Note AN-GP RCA plugs
- 320pF total cable capacitance
- 11.5g effective mass
- 222mm spindle-to-pivot distance
- Single 23mm armboard mounting hole
- Suitable for a broad range of MM and MC cartridges
- Available in black or anodised aluminium finishes
Frequently Asked Questions
What is supplied with the ARM-Three/II?
The tonearm includes high-purity silver internal wiring and an integral AN-Vx silver output cable terminated with RCA phono plugs. Please confirm the current package contents when ordering.
Does the tonearm include a cartridge?
No. A compatible moving-magnet or moving-coil cartridge must be selected separately.
Can it be used with an Audio Note IO cartridge?
Yes. Audio Note designed the tonearm to accommodate cartridges ranging from lightly tracking moving-magnet models to its own IO moving-coil range.
Will it fit a Rega-style arm mounting?
The arm uses a single 23mm mounting hole and a 222mm spindle-to-pivot distance. Compatibility must be checked because an existing armboard may not provide the exact positioning or adjustment required.
Can the arm height be adjusted?
Yes. A threaded collar and locking nut allow the installer to alter the arm height when setting up cartridges with different body heights.
How is the bias adjusted?
The ARM-Three/II uses a falling-weight bias mechanism. It should be set after establishing the cartridge’s correct tracking force.
What is the difference between the ARM-Three/II and the other Audio Note arms?
The Version II arms share the same principal mechanical construction but use different internal and external cables. The ARM-Three/II uses silver Litz internal wiring and Audio Note AN-Vx silver cable from the arm base to the phono plugs.
Does it need professional installation?
Professional fitting is strongly recommended. Correct mounting distance, cartridge alignment, tracking force, bias and arm height are all essential to safe and accurate record playback.
Which finish should I choose?
Black anodised aluminium and anodised aluminium versions are available. The choice is visual and does not change the tonearm’s mechanical or electrical specification.
Why Buy From Audio T?
- Experienced Audio Note vinyl-system specialists
- Turntable and armboard compatibility checks
- Cartridge matching and loading advice
- Professional tonearm and cartridge installation
- Tracking force, bias and alignment setup
- Step-up transformer and phono-stage guidance
- In-store demonstrations through participating branches
- Ongoing turntable servicing and system support
Contact your local Audio T store
to discuss turntable compatibility, cartridge matching and professional installation for the Audio Note ARM-Three/II.