Clearaudio Reference Jubilee RECORD PLAYER

There’s an enduring debate among the turntable-tech intelligentsia between opposing theories of turntable design. Some designers, notably Roy Gandy of Rega, follow a lessis-more approach, building stiff, lightweight turntables that release energy rather quickly. Others, such as Franc Kuzma, whose Kuzma Ltd. manufactures my reference Kuzma Stabi R turntable and Kuzma 4Point tonearm, believe in heavy mass-loading to dampen vibrations, including transparency-miring resonances. Though analog sages and savants have argued for decades, the question remains: Should turntables be light or heavy? Should you liberate or dampen internal energy to achieve perfect analog sound forever?

- KEN MICALLEF

SPECIFICATIONS

Three-speed, belt-drive turntable with 9" Clearaudio Universal carbon-fiber tonearm. Turntable: Plinth made of aluminum and laminated Panzerholz wood. 33 1/3, 45, and 78rpm speeds with Optical Speed Control. Speed accuracy (measured): ±0.05%. 24V DC motor suspended via 18 O-rings. Inverted Clearaudio Ceramic Magnetic Bearing (CMB). 1.97" (50mm), 11.2lb (5.1kg) POM platter and 0.59" (15mm) stainless steel dynamically balanced subplatter. Silicon rubber elastomeric belt. Power consumption: 5W. Tonearm (included): Aluminum (black/silver), stainless steel with carbon-fiber armtube (black/silver). Cartridge balance range: 2.9–24.8gm. Overhang: 17mm. Total length: 345mm. Effective length: 239mm. Pivot-to-spindle distance: 222mm. Offset angle: 24.89°. Internal wiring: 1.1m Clearaudio Sixstream Super Wire, DIN terminated. Dimensions 19.49" (495mm) W × 13.50" (343mm) D × 6.30" (160mm) H (with tonearm base but without tonearm). Weight: 48lb (22kg, without tonearm or power supply). Serial number of unit reviewed 037/250. Price $30,000 including tonearm. Manufactured in Germany. Warranty: Two years. Manufacturer Clearaudio Electronic GmbH, Spardorfer Strasse 150, 91054 Erlangen, Germany. Tel: [phone] Email: [e-mail] Web: Clearaudio.de US distributor: Musical Surroundings, 5662 Shattuck Ave., Oakland, CA 94609. Tel: [phone]. Email: [e-mail] Web: musicalsurroundings.com