How can you know that the Reed device is the "best of them"? I own both a Reed 2A and a Triplanar. The Reed is indeed a great tonearm, but the adjuster on the TP allows for finer tuning, not that I think fine tuning is so important. I fully realize that later models of the Reed, e.g., the 3P, may have a more precision adjuster, compared to my 2A. Later models of the TP (mine is already 25 years old) offer even finer adjusting than mine.
There is a fine tuning VTA adjuster on the
Reed 3P, your 2A is cheaper discontinued model without very important features of 3p such as Azimuth on the fly the OP is asking for. Also your TP is 25 years older than the new TP. So what’s the point ?
If the OP would like to buy a great tonearm today with ALL adjustments on the fly (VTA with additional fine tuning and AZIMUTH on the fly) then the best in my opinion is Reed 3p.
In my opinion TriPlanar is ugly industrial design while the Reed 3p is pretty elegant (remind me of
DaVinci tonearm a bit).
Is Reed the company that uses wood for the arm?
Yes, they use wood, mine is Cocobolo, the wood is oiled and it does not change its properties, it is not just a simple wooden stick. From the new line of Reed I also like
1H and
2G models. Find more images on
Artisan Fidelity site.