Clearaudio Jubilee MC
 

Anybody own this cartridge?? List price is $6k. I’m considering upgrading my McIntosh MT10 stock cart with this cart.

I have one on my VPI-HW-40 Anniversary Direct Drive Turntable. I like it very much; it’s the 5th ClearAudio cartridge I own.

I have had one in my ClearAudio Innovation Wood with 9" Universal Arm for a couple of months. I chose it on the expectation that it would have synergy with the TT and on the theory that the Panzerholz body would tend to give a bit warmer sonic signature than the two ClearAudio cartridges that flank it to each side cost-wise. I have not yet passed the 75 hour mark, so impressions could change a bit. I have found that a loading of 400 ohms to yield the most appealing balance in timbre for my listening biases (classical and acoustic jazz) in my system. Set up of the TT and installation of the Jubilee MC was performed by Paragon of Ann Arbor.

The Jubilee MC tracks superbly. Challenges such as the finale of Beethoven No. 9 (the new DG repressing of the 1960's von Karajan cycle) are dispatched with aplomb. The reproduction of piano is impressive. Sound staging is wide and deep with clear articulation of individual instruments. I suspect that it would work well in an MT10 (my understanding, a ClearAudio-built TT for Mac). It has turned out to be an excellent match for my system without a truly lofty expenditure. I like mine a lot. YMMV.

Happy listening.

Bob
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Sources: ClearAudio Jubilee MC/ClearAudio Innovation Wood TT w/Universal Arm 9”; MCT500 CD/SACD transport; OPPO 205; NAD C446 Internet Tuner; Nakamichi 670ZX cassette deck. Electronics: MacIntosh C2700 preamp w/DA2 and MC462 power amp. Speakers: Wilson Yvettes Headphones: MacIntosh MHP 1000 Interconnects: Transparent G5 balanced and speaker cables; MCT - MCT500 -> C2700.Power cords: Transparent (on preamp, power amp and transport). Surge protected. Record and CD maintenance : Kirmuss KA-RC-1 ultrasonic. L’Art du Son CD treatment.

Ivan, could you favor us with a few brief comments about the sonic differences between the Jubilee MC and the two(?) other ClearAudio MC's you are currently using?

Thanks very much in advance.

Bob
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Sources: ClearAudio Jubilee MC/ClearAudio Innovation Wood TT w/Universal Arm 9”; MCT500 CD/SACD transport; OPPO 205; NAD C446 Internet Tuner; Nakamichi 670ZX cassette deck. Electronics: MacIntosh C2700 preamp w/DA2 and MC462 power amp. Speakers: Wilson Yvettes Headphones: MacIntosh MHP 1000 Interconnects: Transparent G5 balanced and speaker cables; MCT - MCT500 -> C2700.Power cords: Transparent (on preamp, power amp and transport). Surge protected. Record and CD maintenance : Kirmuss KA-RC-1 ultrasonic. L’Art du Son CD treatment.

Sorry for the revival of an old thread. Just curious if you ever upgraded to this cart? I'm about to take the plunge and I also have a MT10. Curious of your impressions.

I did not, still using my stock cart on MT10. Always seem to find something else to upgrade. Hopefully before this year is up. Clearaudio (Concerto, Stradivari, Jubilee), Lyra (Kleos, Etna, Atlas) and Soundsmith (Hyperion)are all on my wish list.

FWIW if anyone is interested in a McIntosh MT10 cartridge, I have one. I used it on my MT2 for about a year before selling the MT2 and going with a VPI HW40. Send me a message if interested. I would guess it has about 300 hours on it.

Bill… any advertisements for gear sales need to be in our Marketplace. :ok:

OK thanks