Triangle Lunar 1

Born from a collaboration between Triangle and Pro-Ject, the Lunar 1 is a manual turntable assembled in Europe, designed for playing 33 and 45 rpm records. It follows the logic of a vinyl system that is simple to set up, which the French brand has designed to be paired with its amplified speakers, including in terms of finish.

The operating principle relies on a flat belt drive placed under the circular MDF platter: the motor is not fixed to the spindle, which limits the transmission of its vibrations to the cartridge. Speed changes are made using a switch on the side of the chassis, without touching the belt. Power is supplied by an external 5 V DC unit, an architecture that keeps the transformer away from the signal path.

The straight aluminium tonearm measures 8.6 inches, or 21.5 cm. Its light weight and low friction have been matched to the Ortofon OM-5E cartridge fitted as standard, whose elliptical-profile diamond follows the groove over a finer contact surface than a spherical tip. As the tonearm-cartridge assembly is pre-set at the factory, the turntable is ready to use without balancing or an alignment jig. The connection to the phono preamplifier is provided by a crimped 1.2 m cable with HP-OFC copper conductors and gold-plated RCA plugs. An acrylic dust cover with adjustable hinges protects the assembly from dust.

With dimensions of 420 mm wide, 330 mm deep and 112 mm high, weighing 3.5 kg, the Lunar 1 fits onto a shelf or standard piece of furniture without requiring an oversized stand. Its modest mass does, however, mean it must be placed on a stable surface, decoupled from the speakers, to avoid acoustic feedback. It suits anyone discovering vinyl or returning to it after a break, looking for a source that works straight out of the box rather than a project requiring adjustment.