@dogberry I am in the process of acquiring a Jubilee. Could you give me a quick compare of the Jubilee to the Reference? Thanks!
Looking for a London (DECCA) Reference phono cartridge
I tried very hard finding a way to place a WANTED ad on Audiogon, but w/o success. Ideally, I would get a "found it" alert on my eMail (like on USAudiomart).
Can anyone help me with this? Specifically, I am looking for a London Reference phono cartridge: I had contacted Mr. Wright in the UK, who hand-crafted these instruments over many years, but he informed me that he is retiring by the end of October and just sold his last one. Hence my post here. I would also appreciate comments from current users of they cartridge what to watch out for, specifically how to "tame" highs on fff symphonic passages. Thanks in advance!
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@ledoux1238 I think you'll be happy with it, and I hope if it is any kind of questionable condition it has been to John Wright recently. He retires at the end of this month. It is very much like the classic Deccas in sound, but with a much heavier body as a way (I suspect) of improving tracking. I bought mine about 11 or 12 years ago and used it for two weeks. I was so impressed I bought the Reference at that point. The Jubilee didn't come out again until I sent the Reference in for a rebuild. It was able to beat all the competition I threw at it on my odyssey to find out if there is a moving iron cartridge I can live with after the Deccadämmerung (Grado Statement 3, Soundsmith Sussurro MkII, Nagaoka MP-500). I also hold in higher regard than my older LOMC carts, like the Kontrapunkt C and Benz Ruby 3. It will make you tap your toes as it is lively and detailed. The Reference takes that even further with John's own new design for the cartridge that owes only the basic theory to the original Deccas. If I'd never heard the Reference I'd regard the Jubilee as the Holy Grail, but having heard it the Jubilee is inevitably lessened in my mind. So I guess the best advice is to enjoy it and never let yourself hear the Reference! |
@dogberry Thanks for the detailed explanation. The Jubilee I am about to get has indeed been sent to John Wright for a rebuilt. I use a Trans-Fi Terminator tonearm and the builder used to run a Reference. I always understand it to be a good fit. And in fact there is a dealer in my part of the world. But he only carries the Super Gold, which I had put off buying for a few years. What is involved in a rebuilt? A re-tip? |
Here's an ad that just showed up - London (Decca) Reference Just back from John Wright For Sale - US Audio Mart Good luck. |
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