Clearaudio Jubilee MM Moving Magnet System

The Clearaudio Jubilee MM is a moving magnet cartridge (MM) with an elliptical diamond on an aluminium cantilever, which Clearaudio launched to mark the company's 40th anniversary.

Its special feature lies in the housing: instead of ebony, the Jubilee MM uses Panzerholz — an extremely dense laminated wood pressed under high pressure, which Clearaudio otherwise fits only in its finest turntables. This lowers the noise floor and gives the sound calm and substance.

Why the Jubilee MM?

Panzerholz is hard, heavy and low in resonance — an ideal foundation for a clean, high-contrast sound. Technically, the Jubilee sticks with the proven elliptical combination of aluminium cantilever and diamond, delivers around 3.6 mV of output voltage, and tracks at 90 µm — more than the series' smaller elliptical models. Like every Clearaudio MM, it's measured, selected and matched by hand.

What you hear

A warm, finely contoured reproduction with a calm background. Bass is well-defined, voices full and natural. The Jubilee MM sounds a touch more mature and composed than its spec sheet suggests — that's down to the Panzerholz, not the anniversary engraving.

Who is the Jubilee MM for?

For vinyl listeners looking for a characterful MM with a special housing — and for collectors who appreciate the anniversary model. To be blunt: on pure spec figures, the Virtuoso V2 comes out ahead (4.0 mV, over 30 dB channel separation versus 26 dB for the Jubilee), and anyone after finer groove tracking needs the boron cantilever of the Maestro V2 or Charisma V2 anyway. The Jubilee's appeal lies in its material, its calm, and the special occasion.

Our verdict

An MM with history and a housing otherwise known from Clearaudio's high-end turntables. If you're after a warm, calm cartridge with a character of its own, this is the right choice. Whether it suits your arm better than a Virtuoso V2 is something we're happy to work out with you over the phone at HD Zürisee in Wädenswil.

Technical data

• Type: Moving Magnet (MM), high output
• Output voltage: approx. 3.6 mV (1 kHz / 5 cm/s)
• Stylus tip: elliptical
• Cantilever: aluminium
• Housing: Panzerholz
• Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
• Channel separation: 26 dB (1 kHz)
• Channel balance: ≤ 0.4 dB (1 kHz)
• Tracking ability: 90 µm
• Recommended tracking force: 2.2 g (± 0.3 g)
• Stylus compliance: 15 µm/mN
• Coil impedance: 0.66 kΩ (1 kHz)
• Coil inductance: 400 mH
• Load: 47 kΩ / 100 pF
• Weight: 8.8 g (± 0.4 g)
• Mounting: ½ inch standard
• Stylus replacement: factory only, system sent in

Frequently asked questions

What is Panzerholz?

An extremely dense laminated wood pressed under high pressure, so hard and heavy that it sinks in water. Clearaudio uses it in its finest turntables. In a cartridge, this low-resonance material lowers the noise floor and delivers a calm, high-contrast sound.

Can I replace the stylus on the Jubilee MM myself?

No. As with the other Clearaudio MM systems, the stylus can't be swapped by the customer. The cartridge is sent in, the stylus unit renewed at the factory, and the system sent back. It then needs to be realigned in the tonearm — we handle that step professionally for you.

Is the Jubilee MM an MM or an MC?

A moving magnet system with around 3.6 mV of output voltage. It runs on any MM phono stage with 47 kΩ and 100 pF and needs neither an MC input nor a step-up transformer. So you keep the full convenience of a high-output system.

How does the Jubilee MM differ from the Virtuoso V2?

Both are elliptical high-output MMs with an aluminium cantilever and 90 µm tracking ability. The Virtuoso V2 sits in an ebony housing and measures better: 4.0 mV and over 30 dB channel separation versus 3.6 mV and 26 dB. The Jubilee MM instead relies on the heavier Panzerholz — more a matter of character than of class.

Why buy the Jubilee MM from HD Zürisee?

Because we don't just sell you the model — we mount it professionally and set it up to match your system. We advise you honestly on whether the Jubilee or another MM suits your setup better — and, as an authorised Clearaudio dealer, handle the warranty for you.

Goes well with

You'll find the right foundation and electronics among our turntables and phono preamps. Scales, brushes and alignment aids are available under turntable accessories, and more cartridges for comparison under cartridges.