Tri-Planar was founded by Herb Papier, a watchmaker and musician, with the release of the Wheaton Decoupled Arm at CES 1981. His design aimed to address key tonearm challenges like adjustable azimuth and vertical tracking angle. After years of refinement, Tri-Planar became a renowned name in audio, earning awards for innovation. In 1999, Tri Mai took over, maintaining the legacy with models like the Mk. VII. Today, the Tri-Planar Ultimate is recognized for its precision, adjustability, and superior sound reproduction.