If you’re thinking of treating yourself to a new deck for Christmas, there’s still time to flick through the current Hi-Fi News Yearbook and take your pick from “the most vivacious vinyl-playing hardware” of the year. Clearaudio’s Reference Jubilee is a “stunning” option whose ‘Reference’ tag is “fully justified by the performance.”  

You’d better be quick, though, since this is a limited edition turntable that will see just 250 units released worldwide. Created to celebrate Clearaudio’s 40th anniversary of excelling in all things analogue, the design seeks to showcase ‘the best of Clearaudio past, present and future’.

The Jubilee’s distinctive V-shaped plinth doffs its cap to the company’s first Reference turntable, but brings the design bang up to the moment with a raft of technology drawn from across the brand’s innovative turntable range.

The result is a deck that has “a knack of picking the best aspects from a whole range of musical styles, and serving them up in delicious fashion.”

“There was a sense of poise and refinement that marks out a thoroughly well-engineered product… mixing sophistication with a willingness to let its hair down when required. Key to this is the bass, which is nothing short of magnificent in terms of timing and precision.”

“Treble quality of the deck, arm and cartridge are impeccable too, with transparency, definition and an underlying sweetness present and correct.”

This is “a performance that washes over you with authority and scale.” Only 250 units, you say? “Hopefully it sires a permanent version,” says Hi-Fi News.

Find out more about the Clearaudio Reference Jubilee turntable at clearaudio.de/en and track down your nearest retailer at www.soundfowndations.co.uk

Read the review, and discover the complete list of ‘The Ultmate Hi-Fi 2022’, in the Yearbook issue of Hi-Fi News