Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.
All
Master Jubilee
reviews
Video Review
Manufacturer details
Features
Specifications
- Total weight: Approx. 33 kg (without tonearm and power supply)
- Dimensions (WxDxH): 495 × 426.5 × 242.55mm / 19.49 × 16.79 × 9.55 inches (with tonearm base, without tonearm)
- Speed ranges: 33 ⅓, 45 and 78 rpm
- Power consumption max: 8.64 watts
- Power consumption in operation: 2.4 watts
- Power consumption off mode: 1.4 watts
- Motor unit weight: 4.6 kg
- Platter: 70mm / 2.76 inch main platter
- Platter thickness: 15mm / 0.59 inch
- Speed accuracy: ± 0.05%
- Warranty: 5 years
Description
Just in time for its 45th anniversary, clearaudio takes the reference jubilee turntable to a new level by doubling the size of the turntable chassis.
Release Timeline
Manufacturer Site
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- Clearaudio turntables are often sold as complete packages, including a pre-mounted and aligned tonearm and cartridge, allowing for a simplified, plug-and-play setup experience.
- The brand utilizes Panzerholz, a dense, resonance-damping "bulletproof" wood, often sandwiched with aluminum in their plinth construction, contributing to a unique sonic signature.
- Clearaudio is an early adopter of ceramic magnetic bearings (CMB), implementing them to reduce friction and noise in their turntables for improved speed stability and transparency.
- They offer various tonearm options, with carbon fiber variants to reduce resonance and improve performance, including innovative, often magnetic, anti-skating designs.
Select products
Select product comparisons
Concept
- Positioning: The entry-level turntable, designed to offer high-end features at an affordable price.
- Description: Features a friction-free magnetic bearing tonearm for low distortion. Unlike the more advanced models like the Performance DC, it offers a simpler setup with a focus on plug-and-play simplicity, making it ideal for small rooms and those new to high-fidelity audio systems.
Performance DC
- Positioning: Positioned as a mid-range model, offering a step up in performance and features from the Concept.
- Description: Known for its excellent tracking and speed accuracy, includes a ceramic magnetic bearing for enhanced resonance control. Compared to the Concept, it offers a more robust build, with options for both moving magnet and moving coil cartridges.
Master Jubilee
- Positioning: A high-end model, offering advanced features and a luxurious design.
- Description: Features a unique motor suspension system and a heavy-duty chassis for exceptional resonance control. It offers more advanced motor control and the ability to mount a second tonearm, setting it apart from the Ovation.
Master Innovation
- Positioning: A premium model, designed for ultimate performance and flexibility.
- Description: Distinguished by its dual-platter system and magnetic decoupling, providing excellent speed stability. It allows for up to three tonearms, offering more versatility than the Master Jubilee.
Statement
- Positioning: Clearaudio's flagship model, representing the pinnacle of their turntable technology.
- Description: A masterpiece of engineering, featuring a massive 350 kg build and advanced optical speed control. It offers groundbreaking sound reproduction, far exceeding the capabilities of the Master Innovation, and is designed for the most discerning audiophiles who demand the ultimate in audio performance.
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Avg. Product Price
$40,001-$75,000
Used For Sale
88
Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
65
of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
31
Founding Year
1978
Our take on the brand
Clearaudio stands out for its magnetic levitation technology in turntables and tonearms, which reduces friction and wear while enhancing tonal accuracy. The brand caters to both novices and audiophiles with features like their Optical Speed Control system that uses infrared sensors to maintain precise speed, and pre-adjusted parameters for easy setup.
Look inside the brand
Brand Page
Our interview with the brand
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What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
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From our interview with
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Brand Page
Used
clearaudio
All of the Brand's Used Products
What if you spend more?
SME
Model 60 (One of One)
88789
88789
/
6
Reviews
The most technically advanced SME precision turntable ever made the Model 60 is available as a bespoke ONE of ONE signature commission. These individual masterpieces are a work of art, hand-made to order exclusively for you, by our team of highly skilled craftspeople.
SME is a premium turntable brand known for its unique integration of precision engineering and traditional craftsmanship, exemplified by their Model 60 turntable with its advanced polymer resin tonearm that significantly reduces resonance. The brand stands out for its bespoke 'One of One' concept, offering 75 custom anodized colors developed by their in-house chemist, and for their distinctive DSP-driven speed control systems that ensure precise audio reproduction.
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Our summary
Product Strengths
- Exceptional detail resolution
- Outstanding sonic composure and control
- Built and finished to an immaculate standard
- Highly effective suspension system
- Provides excellent isolation from external vibrations
Product Considerations
- Lacks a dustcover to protect from dust, children, and cats
- The arm lock found on earlier prototypes is not included in the final version
- The stark and rather brutish appearance won't appeal to all
- There is no arm lock to prevent damage
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs SME Model 30: The Model 60 is described as a highly refined and upgraded version of the Model 30
- Vs SME Model 15: Model 15 has a lighter, freer, more graceful—and less damped—sonic personality
Takeaway: The SME Model 60 with Series VA arm is a very talented performer that belongs high up in the ranks of the finest record players available. It's built to last for decades and provides the best possible vinyl replay.
Video review
Our take on the brand
SME is a premium turntable brand known for its unique integration of precision engineering and traditional craftsmanship, exemplified by their Model 60 turntable with its advanced polymer resin tonearm that significantly reduces resonance. The brand stands out for its bespoke 'One of One' concept, offering 75 custom anodized colors developed by their in-house chemist, and for their distinctive DSP-driven speed control systems that ensure precise audio reproduction.
Product Page
Product Page
SME
Model 60
75789
75789
/
5
Reviews
The Model 60 is the most technically advanced SME turntable ever made, evolved from 75 years of engineering excellence, innovation and perfection, delivering precise and pure audio reproduction. Extremely high build quality, close tolerance precision engineered componentry, striking design and a range of none painted uniquely engineered finishes.
SME is a premium turntable brand known for its unique integration of precision engineering and traditional craftsmanship, exemplified by their Model 60 turntable with its advanced polymer resin tonearm that significantly reduces resonance. The brand stands out for its bespoke 'One of One' concept, offering 75 custom anodized colors developed by their in-house chemist, and for their distinctive DSP-driven speed control systems that ensure precise audio reproduction.
Expand Details
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Exceptional detail resolution and sonic neutrality, playing what is there without artifice
- Outstanding sonic composure and control, providing stability to the musical image
- Immaculate build quality and finish, made with precision-machined aluminum and high-tech polymer resin
- Effective isolation from external vibrations, thanks to a sophisticated suspension system with rubber O-rings
- New Series VA tonearm is stiffer and offers better damping than previous models
Product Considerations
- High price point
- Lacks a dustcover, making it prone to attracting dust
- New arm rest is a U-shaped cup holder which retains the arm and protects against being accidentally knocked out of the rest
- Non-removable arm
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs SME Model 30: The Model 60 is a highly refined and upgraded version
Takeaway: The SME Model 60 is a top-tier turntable that offers exceptional performance, stability, and detail retrieval. It is built to last for decades and is a worthy upgrade for those seeking the best in vinyl playback.
Video review
Our take on the brand
SME is a premium turntable brand known for its unique integration of precision engineering and traditional craftsmanship, exemplified by their Model 60 turntable with its advanced polymer resin tonearm that significantly reduces resonance. The brand stands out for its bespoke 'One of One' concept, offering 75 custom anodized colors developed by their in-house chemist, and for their distinctive DSP-driven speed control systems that ensure precise audio reproduction.
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Product Page
ESOTERIC
Grandioso T1
80000
80000
/
1
Reviews
A new undertaking to commemorate the 35th Anniversary of the Esoteric legacy; it's the first-ever turntable in our history.
Esoteric is a Japanese hifi brand that manufactures CD and SACD players with their unique VRDS technology, which provides superior stability in disc playback through a rigid disc-clamping system. Their products are built in Tokyo with proprietary technologies like the Master Sound Discrete DAC, and their Grandioso series is considered among the world's best for sonic capabilities.
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Our summary
Product Strengths
- Exquisite machining and ingenious implementation worthy of deep respect; the machining and "fit 'n' finish" is grand.
- The design combines technical know-how, superior machining, and listening 'tunesmanship', resulting in well-balanced sonic performance that is resonance-free.
- Delivers a subtle musical personality that combines midband generosity with transient precision, which compliments every musical genre.
- Speed consistency is comparable to direct drive turntables.
- Produces an inviting overall subtle musical personality that combines midband generosity with transient precision.
Product Considerations
- The bottom end was kind of soft with the supplied TA-9D IKEDA-based arm.
- Less-than-flat records need attention, because the product lacks a washer/reflex clamp option.
- Constrained-layer armboards might produce a sonic upgrade.
Takeaway: The Grandioso T1 turntable provides well-balanced sound that is resonance-free. Its design allows for both grand and minuscule musical gestures.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Esoteric is a Japanese hifi brand that manufactures CD and SACD players with their unique VRDS technology, which provides superior stability in disc playback through a rigid disc-clamping system. Their products are built in Tokyo with proprietary technologies like the Master Sound Discrete DAC, and their Grandioso series is considered among the world's best for sonic capabilities.
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What competes at this price?
J.Sikora
Reference Line
48000
/
Released
J.Sikora stands out for being the only hifi brand to use Kevlar in their tonearm tubes, combining this unique material choice with a unipivot bearing design for optimal sound performance. Their tonearms feature a distinctive VTA adjustment mechanism modeled after a photographic lens, allowing precise adjustments during playback, while incorporating a mix of aluminum, bronze, and brass to enhance sound quality.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Exceptionally well-made with a 'boutique' manufacturer quality matching best mass-loaders
- Operates with an extremely low noise floor, and is ultra-quiet
- Offers a stable and precise sound reproduction, extracting maximum information from recordings
- Presents powerful and distinct treble and bass, with no roll-off, rounding or softening
- Delivers a large-scale, rich, smooth, precise, and energetic performance with impressive dynamics
Product Considerations
- The loose and sloppy interface between the disc and the threaded stub was criticized
- The Reference doesn't have the same grandeur—the sheer sweep that more expensive turntables deliver
- Opinions were strongly polarized, and nobody was left unmoved by this turntable's aesthetics
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The reference turntable built on the Standard's strengths to offer a much more formidable sonic presentation
- These two offer similar tonal balance, similar way of sound articulation, but the Reference delivers even deeper bass and renders larger phantom images, while the Air Force Two seemed more resolving
Takeaway: The J.Sikora Reference is a top-tier turntable offering stable, precise, and energetic sound, making it a great choice for audiophiles who value extracting maximum detail from their vinyl collection. Its exceptional build quality and performance make it a standout product in the high-end audio market
Video review
Our take on the brand
J.Sikora stands out for being the only hifi brand to use Kevlar in their tonearm tubes, combining this unique material choice with a unipivot bearing design for optimal sound performance. Their tonearms feature a distinctive VTA adjustment mechanism modeled after a photographic lens, allowing precise adjustments during playback, while incorporating a mix of aluminum, bronze, and brass to enhance sound quality.
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VPI
Titan Direct
60000
/
Released
2023
VPI has reached new levels of engineering performance and definition in our recent award winning Avenger Direct turntable! We are taking that base Direct Drive technology and elevating it into our Titan turntable design.
VPI is known for its high-end, American-made turntables. They stand out for their use of 3D printing in tonearm design, creating one-piece structures that enhance sound quality, and their unique unipivot tonearm design that balances on a single point for precise sound reproduction.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Accurate and precise reproduction allows for hours of non-stop playing
- Combines the strengths of both solid high mass tables and suspension tables, without sharing any of the weaknesses
- Soundstage and solidity of 3-D images is exceptional
- Offers chameleon-like flexibility, allowing for different tonalities depending on tonearm, cartridge, and drive mechanism combinations
- Equipped with one of the best speed controllers, the VPI ADS, resulting in very low Wow & Flutter measurements
Product Considerations
- The reviewer experimented with different configurations to find the most suitable one for their music
- Changing over to the Belt Drive requires disassembling the top platter
- Careful attention must be paid to ensure proper tension on the three rubber belts in the Belt Drive
- Overall tonality is richer and warmer sounding end of the spectrum than neutral, which may not be for everyone
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Titan has a different design implementation and material quality with a much larger magnet than JC Verdier La Platine and DaVinci Audio's Gabriel turntable & Clearaudio's Master Innovation, increasing speed stability
- Titan sits firmly on a frame with a much wider footprint than JC Verdier, providing far superior stability
- Titan achieves the same open and airy harp sounds as Oracle V with a much quieter background
- Titan's midrange tonality of the mass strings is as rich—as warm and as textured as Nottingham 294 and TW-Acustic Raven AC (with Black Knight Platter)
- The Titan blossoms in the mid-range regardless of the tonearm, cartridge combination of choice, unlike the VPI HR-X which can be brighter than neutral
Takeaway: The VPI Titan turntable offers incredibly realistic sound reproduction with flexibility in sound based on configuration, offering a satisfying listening experience. This turntable is for serious audiophiles looking for top-of-the-line analog equipment.
Video review
Our take on the brand
VPI is known for its high-end, American-made turntables. They stand out for their use of 3D printing in tonearm design, creating one-piece structures that enhance sound quality, and their unique unipivot tonearm design that balances on a single point for precise sound reproduction.
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