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Clearaudio Reference Jubilee
Precise Drive Construction
The Reference Jubilee combines a low-resonance chassis made of laminated wood with a 60-millimeter thick POM platter and a magnetically levitated sub-platter. The goal of the design is maximum smooth running with minimal resonances.
Elaborately Decoupled Drive
The newly developed 24-volt DC motor is iron-core-free and decoupled from the chassis via a belt system. An optical sensor continuously monitors the speed and automatically compensates for deviations.
Precise Speed Control
The motor control works with a high-resolution reference voltage that is continuously monitored and adjusted. This keeps the speed constant even over long operating times and with temperature fluctuations.
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Professional Reviews 89/100
Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
90/100
Build Quality
93/100
Features Usability
78/100
Value for Money
89/100
Clearaudio’s Reference Jubilee pairs magnificent bass with near-direct-drive timing, rendering records with transparent treble, commanding dynamics and precisely layered images. HiFi News found its substantial, finely engineered platform equally persuasive with intimate vocals and full-scale performances. Optical speed control and a magnetic bearing underpin a rare blend of rhythmic authority, texture and poise.
What Reviewers Are Saying
Pros
Exceptional bass combines texture, definition and near-direct-drive timing.
Transparent, sweet treble and expansive dynamics preserve clean instrumental separation at scale.
Beautifully engineered, substantial construction with a heavy two-piece platter and sophisticated bearing system.
&
Cons
Tonearm setup and counterweight adjustment are fiddly rather than plug-and-play.
Image width extends less far beyond the speakers than some competitors.
Using the standard plug-top PSU raises the noise floor and compromises bass definition on quiet records.
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 90/100
The Reference Jubilee is praised for authoritative, highly resolved playback with exceptional bass, stable imaging and a transparent yet sweet treble. Its main caveat is a soundstage that does not project quite as widely beyond the speakers as some rivals, while the supplied power supply can raise the noise floor on quiet material.
Overall Sound
95/100
HiFi News found it adept across a wide range of music, calling its bass magnificent while praising its texture, definition, dynamics and sense of scale. Imaging is notably solid and precise, with captivating vocals, clean instrumental separation and treble described as impeccable, transparent and sweet.
Speed Stability
94/100
The optical feedback and adjustable electronic control are reported to keep speed spot-on, with manual fine adjustment also available. In listening, the deck delivered an almost direct-drive-like sense of timing and low-frequency precision.
Tonearm Performance
90/100
The matching arm is described as beautifully engineered and accommodates a very wide range of cartridge weights and tracking forces through its supplied counterweights. Setup is not especially effortless, however, as the underside-mounted counterweights are fiddlier to adjust than some alternatives.
Noise Isolation
78/100
The motor suspension, substantial platter system and sophisticated bearing indicate careful attention to unwanted vibration. However, HiFi News found that the standard PSU noticeably raised the noise floor and made vinyl roar moderately intrusive during quieter passages.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
93/100
Reviewers describe the deck and arm as beautifully engineered, with a substantial two-part platter comprising an 8.5kg stainless-steel lower disc and 5kg POM main platter. Its laminated-and-aluminium chassis, precision-machined surfaces and carefully developed bearing and drive system make this a notably serious physical platform.
Features Usability
78/100
Electronic 33⅓, 45 and 78rpm operation, self-calibration and manual fine speed trimming are useful provisions, and the manual is said to be excellent. This is nevertheless a hands-on high-end deck: arm setup is not plug-and-play and its counterweight system takes patience.
Value for Money
89/100
At £17,500 or around $30,000 depending on market and configuration, this is plainly an expensive purchase. Audiophilepure nevertheless positions it among the more affordable high-end designs and calls it a "final turntable," while another review says the limited-edition deck wears its Reference designation with pride.
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Authorized dealers for Clearaudio Reference Jubilee
- In Living Stereo — in-store — New York City, New York, United States (website)
- The Music Room — online and in-store — Erie, Colorado, United States (website)
- 3mA Audio — online and in-store — Houston, Texas, United States (website)
- A/V Solutions — in-store — Pleasanton, California, United States (website)
- Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
- Acton Gate Audio — online and in-store — Cymru, United Kingdom (website)
- AES — in-store — Mitte, Hessen, Germany (website)
- Ahead Stereo — in-store — Los Angeles, California, United States (website)
- Alpha High End — online and in-store — Brasschaat, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium (website)
- Analogue Seduction — online and in-store — Whittlesey, England, United Kingdom (website)
and 181 more verified dealers