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London Decca Jubilee Type II

Cartridge

Relative price

above typical

Among the 89 cartridges in the catalogue, this one is above typical.

A band places a component against its peers and carries no price. It is deliberately the only price indicator on this page: a second one, measured against a different set, would narrow the two together far enough to give the figure away.

Competition record

Assessed against 14 rivals across the sixty systems: it takes the slot in none of its 38 head-to-heads.

Where it gives ground

The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.

  • quietness at rest ×14
  • low-level clarity ×11
  • midrange truth ×9
  • bass control ×8
  • speed stability ×3
  • rhythmic grip ×1

Who it comes up against

van den Hul The Frog

12 lost · Anchored, Artisan, BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Twin Arms

Against the Anchored brief, the van den Hul The Frog keeps the slot decisively.

With the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

With the Technics S-shape magnesium tonearm (SL-1200G), the pairing gains most on bass control.

On its own merits the London Decca Jubilee Type II is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

wonderful until it failed to trackStereophile (Colloms) 1995

van den Hul The Crimson

6 lost · BBC Sound, Characterful, Intimate

Against the Characterful brief, the van den Hul The Crimson keeps the slot decisively.

With the Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

With the Vertere Groove Runner X, the pairing gains most on bass control.

On its own merits the London Decca Jubilee Type II is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

neutral and clean, a low-coloration designStereophile (Colloms) 1995

Hana EL MC

4 lost · Anchored, Characterful, Intimate, Romantic

Against the Anchored brief, the Hana EL MC keeps the slot decisively.

With the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

With the ProJect Tonearm 8.6 Carbon (Debut PRO), the pairing gives up most on bass control.

On its own merits the London Decca Jubilee Type II is the stronger cartridge — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC gives up quietness at rest under the Anchored weighting.

wonderful until it failed to trackStereophile (Colloms) 1995

Sumiko Blue Point No.3 Low MC

4 lost · Artisan, Cavity-Native, PRaT, Reference

Against the Artisan brief, the Sumiko Blue Point No.3 Low MC keeps the slot decisively.

With the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

With the ProJect Tonearm 8.6 Carbon (Debut PRO), the pairing gives up most on bass control.

On its own merits the London Decca Jubilee Type II is the stronger cartridge — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC gives up quietness at rest under the Artisan weighting.

wonderful until it failed to trackStereophile (Colloms) 1995

Etsuro Urushi Gold MC

2 lost · Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the Etsuro Urushi Gold MC keeps the slot decisively.

With the Tom Evans Groove+ SRX MkII, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.

On its own merits the London Decca Jubilee Type II is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

neutral and clean, a low-coloration designStereophile (Colloms) 1995

Etsuro Urushi Cobalt Blue MC

2 lost · Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the Etsuro Urushi Cobalt Blue MC keeps the slot decisively.

With the Cyrus Classic PHONO, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.

On its own merits the London Decca Jubilee Type II is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

neutral and clean, a low-coloration designStereophile (Colloms) 1995

Linn Kendo MC

1 lost · Twin Arms

Against the Twin Arms brief, the Linn Kendo MC keeps the slot decisively.

On its own merits the London Decca Jubilee Type II is the stronger cartridge — but it loses here on fit: the way it sits with the rest of this system under the Twin Arms weighting.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

Goldring Eroica HX MC

1 lost · Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Goldring Eroica HX MC keeps the slot decisively.

With the Michell Apollo + Muse PSU, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

On its own merits the London Decca Jubilee Type II is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

wonderful until it failed to trackStereophile (Colloms) 1995

van den Hul MC One Special

1 lost · Romantic

Against the Romantic brief, the van den Hul MC One Special keeps the slot decisively.

With the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

With the Technics S-shape magnesium tonearm (SL-1200G), the pairing gains most on bass control.

On its own merits the London Decca Jubilee Type II is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

wonderful until it failed to trackStereophile (Colloms) 1995

Goldring Eroica LX MC

1 lost · Twin Arms

Against the Twin Arms brief, the Goldring Eroica LX MC keeps the slot decisively.

On its own merits the London Decca Jubilee Type II is the stronger cartridge — but it loses here on fit: the way it sits with the rest of this system under the Twin Arms weighting.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

Goldring 1042 MM

1 lost · Twin Arms

Against the Twin Arms brief, the Goldring 1042 MM keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the London Decca Jubilee Type II is the stronger cartridge — but it loses here on fit: the way it sits with the rest of this system under the Twin Arms weighting.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

Ortofon MC Quintet Black S

1 lost · Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the Ortofon MC Quintet Black S keeps the slot clearly.

With the Cyrus Classic PHONO, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.

On its own merits the London Decca Jubilee Type II is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

neutral and clean, a low-coloration designStereophile (Colloms) 1995

Rega Nd3 MM

1 lost · Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Rega Nd3 MM keeps the slot decisively.

With the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

On its own merits the London Decca Jubilee Type II is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.

wonderful until it failed to trackStereophile (Colloms) 1995

Linn Koil MC

1 lost · BBC Sound

Against the BBC Sound brief, the Linn Koil MC keeps the slot decisively.

With the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

With the ProJect Tonearm 8.6 Carbon (Debut PRO), the pairing gives up most on bass control.

On its own merits the London Decca Jubilee Type II is the weaker cartridge for that brief.

rounded bassPROXY: AT-OC9 platform

What the reviewers said

no other cartridge quite makes my feet tap the way they do Stereophile — London (Decca) Jubilee/Reference review· Timing precision
punchy with vivid transients Stereophile — Jubilee/Reference· Transient attack
wide-open and dynamic feel Stereophile — Jubilee/Reference· Physical impact
not quite as good Stereophile — Jubilee vs Reference· Spatial resolution
perceptibly hardened... thinner, more nasal Stereophile — Jubilee/Reference MEASUREMENTS· Dynamic coherence
tonally... well-balanced... until it got loud Stereophile — Jubilee measurements· Tonal consistency
25dB channel separation at 1kHz SPEC: channel separation 25dB @1kHz (manufacturer)· Spatial naturalness
unrivaled dynamics, the best cartridge by some margin Stereophile (Colloms) 1995· Transient attack
neutral and clean, a low-coloration design Stereophile (Colloms) 1995· Harmonic texture
well-balanced until it got loud Stereophile (Colloms) 1995· Tonal body
wonderful until it failed to track Stereophile (Colloms) 1995· Electrical noise floor

How it scores

Clarity

  • Spatial resolution 70 from listening evidence

Voice

  • Tonal body 70 from listening evidence
  • Harmonic texture 76 from listening evidence
  • Spatial naturalness 70 from listening evidence

Rhythm

  • Timing precision 82 from listening evidence
  • Transient attack 82 from listening evidence

Bass

  • Physical impact 76 from listening evidence

LowerVolume

  • Tonal consistency 64 from listening evidence

Specifications

cartridge typeMI
output mv4.0
internal impedance ohm2000.0
recommended load ohm47000
recommended capacitance pf100/300
tracking force g1.8/2.0
compliance dynamic um per mn10/15
weight g6.7
stylus profileParatrace
cantilever materialnone (positive-scanning armature)
body materialmachined aluminium, gold anodised
frequency response hz20/20000
channel separation db25.0
notes