Fluance RT85 Turntable

Best turntable I've ever owned!

The Fluance RT-85 is by far the best turntable I've ever owned. It is a perfect addition to my vintage Marantz 2270 and Marantz Imperial 7 speakers. The turntable came well packaged and was easy to setup. The sound quality is exceptional, especially at this price point. The Ortofon 2M Blue Cartridge & 3# Acrylic Platter are features I would expect only on a much higher priced unit. Some reviews have been critical of the wood case, I find it attractive. I think Fluance put their, and my, money where the sound is. Very satisfied!!!!

0:41

Fluance is the best bang for your buck.

I have had the Rt85 now for a month and it has been impressive. I remember in the 80’s how much pop and hiss I experienced then , wow have things gotten better. The clarity is amazing and the warmth you get from vinyl can’t be matched. I have a large cd collection but there is something magical about vinyl. I have had a Bang and Olfsen and got rid of it thinking vinyl was dead but they have resurrected it, and it’s worth the investment.

Desert Mermaid

June 24, 2026

Heck yeah! We have a winner.

Surprisingly spectacular. I actually recently bought a Audio Technica turntable. I got it connected, and did not like how it sounded at all. After doing all I could to rectify the player settings and sound, I chalked it up to the turntable possibly being defective. It skipped a lot and had quite a bit of buzzy interference. It was returned, and a couple weeks later I bought this RT85. I also paired it with the Fluance Pre-Amp and some Fosi SP601 speakers and a small, compact Cambridge Minx subwoofer. Holy crap I feel like I am in an arena watching the concerts live. The blue Ortofon stylus is an asset. If your vinyl is clean and free of debris, this thing absolutely rocks. I am terrifically picky about my music. I had it in my mind I would end up being disappointed again. There are some pro and con reviews that were about to dissuade me. However, it is crucial to look up your specs for the stylus recommendations and then set your counterweight and anti-skate setting to match it. Most don’t bother. I love it, and am glad I spent the extra cash for a better player. I am thrilled with my set-up, and glad to get back to my nostalgic vinyl days of my youth. Hopefully it will last as long as I do. Music is therapy. Rock on!

Worth the money

Beautiful deck, sounds amazing, I'm glad I bought it. Balancing the tomearm is a bit tedious but worth it.

Received two defective items back to back.

It arrived and I assembled it. Followed every instruction down to the smallest detail. I had a scale to make sure the needle drops with exactly 1.8G of force on the record, set the anti skate to 1.8 as well (per the instruction manual. No matter what I did, every record I played sounded horrible. Tons of popping by and static coming through. This wasn’t a grounding issue or anything to do with my speakers/receiver. I began the return process and ordered another. The new one arrived, I assembled everything, but now the record plays beautifully but the motor for the platter spindle is making an obnoxious humming noise. It’s been a major pain trying to get this sorted. The response time takes forever from this third party and absolutely no solution has been offered. I have video of the record player making this noise when there’s no speakers hooked up and the platter is completely off (when the platter spindle spins freely it becomes even more obnoxious because it can spin freely without the weight of the platter. Clearly this is something mechanical) which I can’t forward to anyone because they can’t accept outside emails ??? I’m ok with having bad luck and getting two bad record players, but why is this turning into a more frustrating issue than it should be. It was bought as a brand new product, sold as a new product. Why if I’m receiving a defective item do I have to go through what seems a warranty claim ?? It’d like to just be able to play my records. I want the same exact record player. I just don’t want one that makes horrible noise through the speaker or one that sounds like the motor is failing internally.

I’ll update later when some sort of resolution is reached. As of 11:30am on 3/16 I’ve had no response from the third party seller. Kind of a joke with an item that cost $600. This sucks. Seeing how I can’t share a video with the third party vendor, I’ll just post it here for them to watch

0:04

Amazing Midlevel Turntable

Great value for the price point. Looks amazing and solid material. Nice hefty size and clean rotation with exposed motor away from the center. The 2M Blue cartridge makes the vintage vinyl sound clear, bright and presents a good sound stage of separation with vocals and instruments. Setup was fairly straightforward, only issue was zeroing out and setting the counterweight, but after about 30 minutes of research it was good to go. The high density acrylic platter is a nice touch. I paired the RT85 with the Fluance PA10 preamp and they both look great together. 10/10 would recommend for anyone looking to upgrade to a turntable under $600. I upgraded from a Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT. The Fluance RT85 is a manual turntable, not fully automatic, however there is a switch on the back that can be turned on to stop the record from spinning after 30 seconds if you tend to be forgetful. There is no built-in preamplifier so make sure to purchase one from Fluance or any of your choosing that is compatible with your cartridge/stylus.

I’m in love with this turntable

I measured its accuracy and noise. Specs are really good. Speed measured 33.38 RPM. It’s a phenomenal unit. It has opened up my vinyl library to my living room. Warm, rich audio which you just feel good about. The auto off feature is excellent for the times you can’t get to the unit. The bamboo color really makes my entertainment center pop.

Just love the Ortophon Blue cartridge included. Very high resolution with new vinyl.

Best Record Player for the Money, But add the Klipsch Five Speakers too!

I have had this record player going on two years! I went to many experts in the music industry where vinyl is their passion and life. I heard all about the $2,000+ dollar players and what they can do. Based on the components this one has like the acrylic platter and the Blue Ortofon needle, the solid wood base, the rubber feet and belt drive this had potential. My friends never really heard of this brand but liked the features. So, I went with it! It is the best purchase I have ever made in terms of musical equipment and even my friends agree that this is an amazing player. The other key to this isn't just the player, its two other components. 1) You need an amplifier, it's not built-in on these! It's a must have or you won't be able to hear the music. Fluance makes one and I love it. 2) The speakers make or break the player. The Klipsch Fives are hands down the best speakers you can pair with this record player (Opinion obviously). They still make them the old fashion way, and you won't be disappointed, my windows shake on full blast. and I can hear the full array of notes you can't normally tell on other speakers. People say you can't tell a difference between vinyl and digital and I can tell you for a fact that with the right equipment, you can. Its completely immersive! It's like $1,200 all in with speakers, amplifier and record player but this should get anyone set who doesn't live in this space.

Solid Company offering a good product at a good price point.

The Fluance RT85 is an outstanding choice for anyone looking for a mid-entry level turntable that delivers high-quality sound and excellent value. Mine was shipped without the hinges for the dust cover, the 45rpm adapter and a ground wire, none of which I particularly needed, but I sent a message to “Fluance” and they immediately remedied the situation with no questions or hassles and even expedited shipping to make it right! Things happen, and good customer service that aims to make things right is a feather in Fluances hat!

0:54

Michael A. Juarez Jr

July 29, 2025

Best setup with cartridge and acrylic platter!

I took a lot of time for choosing the right turntable, and this is a complete set with the Ortofon Blue cartridge. Works great with the Fluance preamp, and I couldn’t be happier!

Before purchasing I was concerned with the bad reviews about the shipping, but as soon as it got here it was in perfect condition.

I am using Edifier speakers, and soon I hope I can upgrade to some floor speakers.

If you’re uncertain about the quality, this one has a very good stable sound with extreme good and reliable quality.

1:06

Maybe some hype involved on just how good this is!

I am not an audiophile but far from tone deaf. I replaced a cheaper brand with a similar look and after all the reviews and videos decided this should be a good choice.

I’m not sure it amazing. It’s good. I am happy with the sound but the amount of static this picks up is at times frustrating.

I bought the pre amp and they are grounded but the pre amp and turntable are only 2 prong. How it’s grounded is beyond me.

I’m not sure that’s the issue just something my previous TT don’t have an issue with … ever.

The bulls quality is medicine. Come of the plastic feels cheap. For $500 I feel like it should feel better than my $200 version

Also the belt, while works seems tho and the drive feels like it hasn’t been doing cardio as it doesn’t take much to stop the platter.

Overall I think there was some great marketing and placement with this. I still like it but I do feel the price isn’t justified.

0:12

Wasn't double boxed, WHY?

Item wasn't double boxed when it arrived. I was concerned about damage, sure enough looking at the box, it had several spots of if this would be working. Opening the box found the lid was cracked, I didn't go any further, to say I was very upset and frustrated would be a understatement!!! Why wasn't it double boxed! Waited 2 weeks, had all my gear moved and ready for installation. Now what? I still can chew nails about the whole story!

Couldn't wait, I unpacked the box and assembled the unit, set it in it's spot plugged it in and fired it up. Set up was so easy, went right to spinning records. Working good and sounds great. A good level for jumping back into audiophile, happy with the performance and easy setup! Just wish someone could could step up and make me happy about the dust cover crack or I'll have too send back and I'll be bummed out again...

Part 2

Fluance stepped up and sent a replacement dust cover and I'm 100% happy and would recommend this tt for all getting back into vinyl, super easy set up and spinning tunes in minutes, preforms great!!!

Excellent turntable; Sounds fantastic!

Excellent build quality, fantastic sound and excellent packaging. I upgraded from a Marantz TT-42, which is plug and play, no tone arm balancing, no counter weight or anti-skate adjustments possible, no alternate cartridge options it just is what it is. It was fine, no issues but wanted better. This Fluance RT-85 was a bit of a struggle for me getting dialed in, but man, so worth it. It sounds awesome. The Ortofon 2M blue is great. The table motor is absolutely silent, speed is dead on, the acrylic platter is great. The bamboo version is so aesthetically pleasing. I am totally happy and have zero regrets. I can’t believe this was only $499 considering how great it sounds and the solid build quality. Five stars all the way!

0:25

MicahT0078

October 25, 2024

Such a clean sound.

Assembly was a breeze, but I recommend watching the calibration video for the cartridge. I didn’t and when it first started playing I was getting distorted sounds from a Led Zeppelin album. While I appreciate distortion as much as the next electric guitarist, this needed to be fixed. Took a bit of tweaking with the tone arm counterweight and anti-skating, but got it together. Despite it coming with an acrylic platter, I did get a spin weight with integrated bubble level and a rubber platter cover for more density and dampening. Listening to albums I have been familiar with for decades has been a joy of rediscovery. There are some nuances discovered and in some cases the turntable is pulling out tones I had no idea were there. Pearl Jam Vs. is a great example of historically hearing the guitar parts on tape, CD, and streaming (lossless now). But with this turntable, the guitar tones and effects being used come much more forward in the mix and it is almost like hearing the songs for the first time. While some of this can be attributed to the Ampapa A1 preamp, it starts with a solid platform and this is certainly that.

A beautiful and high quality turntable, worth every penny!

I went with white so my colorful vinyls will really stand out, but the quality of this turntable coupled with the Blue stylus makes it more than just a pretty addition. Easy to assemble and sturdy, I will definitely tell others about Fluance! The only downside is the tonearm lock leaves a scratch mark that is only a minor cosmetic issue, but seems unnecessary if it was designed correctly.

0:18

Bang for the buck!

This turntable is far superior to a more expensive one that I ended up returning. I paired it with a Bluetooth pre amp and it still sounds good enough for me. Also added led lights for ambiance. The package also includes white gloves. Fluance is really offering an excellent experience for the cost. Balancing the tone arm was a little tricky but if a novice like myself can do it, then it’s certainly not too difficult. The package also included a leveler which was a nice surprise. No mat needed with acrylic platter. The only thing I had to purchase in addition to the turntable is the pre amp, which is pretty standard.

0:41

Josh 🖤

June 17, 2024

Excellent

You get what you pay for. I’m sure I will be able to give this turntable to my grandkids, it is built to last.

0:21

Great TT for the price.

Sounds very good and nude elyptical stylus of the ortofon blue really brings the music out.

0:15

Very impressed!!!!!

Wow! Arrived today, 20 minute unboxing and setup, very easy. I bought a Denon DP400 a few weeks ago and just had problems, really unhappy with the motor noise and lack of vibration dampening. Decided it was going back and after hours of research decided on the RT85.

Day 1 - there is NO motor noise even at full volume on my Denon AVR-4500! It doesn’t pick up vibrations from touching my reciever, the Denon did. Sounds fantastic and looks great!

The three leg pinpoint legs do a great job, great design. The clear platter is awesome, heavy and helps with vibrations.

I am using a Audio Technica VM540M, haven’t tried the Ortofon yet. IF your going to use another cartridge be sure to check on size for tracking angle. The RT85 is designed to match the Ortofon which is 18mm high and my AT is 17.3 so will need a small shim to get right angle and tone arm level (Tone arm height isn’t adjustable). The RT85N is design for a larger cartridge so going to a smaller one in future will not work. Just beware incase u upgrade later. I called Fluance and they were a great help!

I’ll report back after a couple weeks, but so far it smokes the Denon and I’m impressed!!!

Update after a week- lovin it!!

Put a LED ring under the platter and it’s cool as hell! Also recommend the weight to further dampen vibrations and also helps ensure no slippage on the platter.

0:24

Joseph Grode

March 24, 2023

Poor Return / Exchange policy - but otherwise great plYer

This is the first mid-level turntable I’ve owned. I feel it was a huge step above my older AT and MCS turn tables in terms of audio quality. The plinth, cover and platter are built rock solid.

My only issue is the queue lever on mine was defective out of the box. Instead of offering a straight exchange - they only allow a refund. Which will be refunded “up to 30 days after receiving the product”.

I reached out to Fluance customer service directly and they were great to deal with, until it was found that the unit would need to be shipped back to Fluance. Instead of offering a return label they are expecting me to pay for the shipping out of pocket - which I’d understand if it weren’t a factory defect out of box and under warranty. This policy will make it hard for me to purchase anything else from them in the future.

0:34

Beautiful turntable! Beautiful sound!

Build quality is excellent!

This hefty bad boy, for $499, comes with adjustable isolation feet, an "outboard" motor, an acrylic platter and, drumroll please....an Ortofon 2m blue cartridge, which alone will run you around $240!

This all adds up to a GREAT sounding turntable!

My vinyl now has clarity and depth that I hadn't heard before.

The Ortofon blue cart brings out detail. The bass is fast and punchy.

Smooth mids and crisp but not harsh highs.

JUST BUY IT!

0:37

Al

January 18, 2022

Fantastic Turntable For The Price!

TL;DR: The RT85 is a fantastic turntable, the absolute best overall package for the money! BUY IT!

Detailed review:

Assembly and setup:

In my opinion, assembling the turntable is very basic and simple, however, if you've never done this before, I HIGHLY recommend you watch some videos on balancing the tone-arm and understanding the anti-skating weight. Doing this wrong WILL absolutely damage or DESTROY your beautiful 2M Blue cartridge's stylus.

I highly recommend buying a digital scale to measure the tracking force of your 2M Blue cartridge (1.8g) I did it manually as described by the manual and even though I was VERY careful with how much I turned the weight dial, it measured 1.85g on my digital scale when I verified it, so I ended up using the digital scale to fine-tune the manual effort! Probably not a big deal, but something to keep in mind.

Also, get yourself a protractor and measure the alignment of your cartridge! Mine was spot on from the factory, but you should never assume this to be true! Wrong alignment can degrade sound quality and damage your stylus.

Leveling the turntable takes time, so be patient! I recommend you fully assemble the turntable and hook it up to your HiFi before you level it in its final resting location.

What I LOVE:

The sound quality of the 2M Blue cartridge is fantastic! Its really bright and flat, no extra bass and no weird sound curves. Its a beautiful listening experience with a well distributed sound-stage.

The bamboo plinth (my specific model) is fantastic - its NOT glossy, its matte! I really didn't want a glossy model since they are fingerprint magnets! My turntable isn't a show-queen, I intend to use it daily! A glossy one will just look terrible after handling it all day AND its easier to scratch up (especially micro-scratches).

Acrylic platter is awesome! No mat required. It sounds good, feels good, and looks really good too! It offers plenty of potential for custom LED lighting and what not.

The dust cover hinges are really nice! They are actually spring-loaded - its very easy to operate and feels solid (unlike other turntables I've used in the past).

What I don't really like:

Semi-auto mode is kind of weird, I like the fact that it will stop a record from spinning if you forget to turn it off. However, just make sure you understand this! Always lift the stylus using the cue lever BEFORE handling the tone-arm! If you fail to do this, you will scratch your records and or possibly destroy your stylus. I noticed that with semi-auto mode, the platter will spin again momentarily while you move the tone-arm back to its resting position after it has automatically stopped. It will also NOT start spinning until the tone-arm is positioned over the record (even if you have already selected a playback speed). All these layers of logic add complexity to the usability and the steps required to operate the table. If you're used to fully manual turntables, you could find yourself doing something out of order and damaging your stylus by mistake, so just try to understand the operational flow of the RT85 in semi-auto mode. OR, you can turn this whole feature off completely.

I'm not a huge fan of the cue-lever on the RT85. It feels kind of cheap and its weirdly positioned. I wish they would have made it more pronounced and distanced it a little bit from the rest of the tone-arm assembly.

I'm also not a huge fan of the tone-arm locking mechanism, it works ... but just doesn't feel as premium as the rest of the turntable.

Lastly, and this may be nit-picking ... the 2M Blue stylus cover is a little difficult to put back once removed. Its easy to remove it off of the cartridge, but a bit hard to put back on. Be careful here, one wrong move and you'll end up jamming the stylus cover into the stylus and ruining it!

Overall, I'm very happy with my purchase! Highly recommended table for the money - you will not find a better deal IMHO than the RT85 at this price-point.

NOTE: the record weight pictured in my review is purchased separately.

Jacob

July 7, 2021

Absolutely amazing.

I had just gotten into vinyl just last year and started out with a cheap record player. But after doing some research I wanted to get a turntable that would perform beautifully, and a lot of signs pointed to this. The price point alone is worth its performance. Highly recommend if your budget is high enough.

0:45

Fluance definitely takes pride in their work. Great quality and value! Love my RT85

Very happy I decided to go with the RT85. Was considering between the 83/84. After researching all the reviews I Didn't think that I really needed the acrylic platter. So, was going to go with the 84. Last minute decided to pull the trigger and get the 85. So glad I did, definitely worth the upgrade! Bass and low end sound so much better. Also, love that it shuts off at the end of the record if I fall asleep while relaxing and listening to music. Which has already happened. Lol! 😆

0:31

Eric A. French

May 8, 2021

Pound For Pound Champ - Punches Above Its Weight.

First things first, the sound quality is a substantial upgrade from the RT82 by FLUANCE that I had purchased only a year prior. In fact it's the best sounding turntable for beginners I've ever heard. Not that I've traveled the world in search of turntable nirvana mind you. However I've seen my fair share amongst others in this price category and I'm highly impressed by the RT85's Value For Money. The new Bamboo veneer, (Available as of May 22, 2021) is matte, clean and elegant which provides a nice contrast amid the brown, black and silver quagmire of modern Hi-Fi.

The Ortofon 2M Blue Cartridge is all it's cracked up to be. The hype is real, as is the delivery of beautiful sound reproduction.

I appreciate some of the details in the design such as being able to lock the "S" shaped tone arm in its cradle even if the stylus lever is in the raised position.

The three rubber isolation feet are easy to adjust and have kept the plinth true.

The solid acrylic platter adds a sense of heft and sturdiness. I always use a platter weight as well and the FLUANCE offering does a fine job.

The smoked acrylic dust cover is what you'd expect. FLUANCE recommends keeping it open/lifted while playing a record. One of my hinges had a slight squeak as it opened up, that caused a couple frayed nerves. Nothing that a small hobby cotton swab and a dab of silicone gel lubricant couldn't fix.

I use a Schiit Mani preamp like the rest of the universe 😏, feeding that syrupy sweet analog signal into an old Sony STR DG510 receiver through to a pristine pair of Boston CR9 loudspeakers propped up by a Polk Audio PSW350 powered subwoofer.

Do yourself a favor, if you are going to "treat yourself" to a good turntable, consider the FLUANCE RT85 REFERENCE and the reviews it has garnered from the vinyl community. The accolades are well founded.

Play good clean vinyl on it as well. It deserves to be fed a rich and groovy vinyl diet!

Aidan M

May 1, 2021

Phenomenal upgrade if you’re serious about vinyl

I went back and forth with a number of different tables including a Rega P1 or a Pro-Ject Debut. Fluency showed up later in the picture, but the RT85 ticked all of my boxes. Even though Fluance is a newer brand, lots of reviews recommended their products and any skepticism was quashed once I got my RT85.

I wanted a table with a nice cartridge, an auto-stop feature and an aesthetically pleasing one. I upgraded from a 13 year old AT-LP60 that was always giving me speed issues and subpar performance that didn’t bring any life into my vinyl. Now that I wanted to get back into my record collection, I decided a better table would make it more enjoyable.

PACKAGE

The table arrived in perfect shape. In fact, I opted for an open box model for a bit less and was sent one straight from Fluance. I have not noticed any damage or wear whatsoever. Some other open box items may have a blemish or two, but everything here was flawless and packaged like new. Lots of things were included - an easy setup guide, a bubble level, 45 adapter, rca cables and a ground wire, AND white gloves. I do recommend using the gloves to assemble everything - the table is quite prone to fingerprints and smudges. Once it is setup, you won’t have to touch more than the tonearm and the speed setting.

BUILD

The RT85 features (in my case) a walnut colored plinth and an acrylic platter that doesn’t require a mat. It’s hefty, but not too heavy to be burdensome - it’s great to have a little weight to it for its security on a table and to isolate the table as beat as possible. It has clean edges that give it a sleek and modern look. The removable dust cover is perfect for keeping the surface dust free when you’re not playing and it slides off and on with ease. The rubber feet are adjustable and cushion the table perfectly. With the included bubble level, you can quickly adjust the feet to achieve a perfect balance.

The tonearm balancing is easy to figure out and the included instructions guide you step by step through the process, which I highly recommend you read through a few times to get it exactly right. The table does require a phono preamp - if it had one built in, you’d be limited to the performance of an onboard preamp. Requiring a separate preamp gives you unlimited options for how you’d like your sound to be.

PERFORMANCE

The RT85 features an Ortofon 2M Blue, which in its own right is not only expensive but a heavy hitter. Considering that the price of the 2M blue is nearly half the price of the table, it is nice to see that Fluance didn’t cut any corners on the rest of table. Throwing on a new copy of John Mayer’s Where The Light Is, I was amazed at how quiet everything sounded right off the bat. Neon shone through, bright and detailed, but also a warmth that allowed for a full body presence. Guitar plucks and strums sounded expertly realistic and alive. Bass thumped deeply without being boomy or overwhelming. Including the sound of the audience, every audible characteristic had its own room to be heard on a wide but controlled and inviting soundstage. Even on older LPs where bass can be a bit underwhelming, it had plenty of life when played on the RT85.

The 2M blue captures plenty of detail and subtle nuances. I noticed a huge improvement from my last turntable, where music sounded flat and lifeless. I finally began to hear the differences that makes vinyl stand out. Music became much more engaging and lively, each part of a track being given its own space to cut through. While playing older records with quite a bit of wear, I do hear some “snap, crackle and pop”. It’s unavoidable in the world of vinyl, but the Fluance plays just fine through it and after a deep clean, records may have some surface noise but it disappears once the tracks begin and I can still hear the music with incredible clarity. In most cases, it’s the record and not the table anyway.

The RT85 performs quite accurately. It adjusts to wow and flutter automatically and I consistently had results within a few degrees of 33 1/3. I never notice any speed fluctuation and so far, everything I’ve played sounds perfectly normal and as I remember them. It can play 45s as well and includes the adapter. The tonearm is nice and light, but a little delicate so it’s important to lock it in when not being used and use care when queuing something up so that the stylus lands where it needs to. It’s important to keep your records clean, and in turn the table and stylus will function well. I use a carbon fiber brush to clean each side before playing and I drop the stylus in zerostat gel after every side.

The RT85 does have an auto stop feature that enables when the stylus has reached the end and nears two inches of the spindle. I find that it doesn’t work often for me, but that is typically because the record label reaches over two inches and then auto stop won’t engage. It’s not anything that bothers me too much.

CONCLUSION

The RT85 is such an amazing upgrade for me. I’m hearing so much more from my vinyl and that’s convinced me it was worth it. I find myself using it on a daily basis and the ritual of playing records makes the entire experience quite enjoyable with a good turntable. This is an excellent table for anyone looking to make the jump from an entry level turntable to something more serious if you consider vinyl to be a passion and want to hear what it really offers. The excellent value and quality of the RT85 makes this stand out as an solid performer, even with stiff competition in this price range. I highly recommend it.

John L. Castell

March 28, 2021

Music to my ears

After much research, the Fluance was my choice for a quality audiophile-like turntable that ticked all the boxes. I am experienced with TTs so setup wasn't difficult. This does require assembly. The box arrived in good condition and when specified. I was very excited to have a new TT. Carefully I removed all the parts and assembled them. Calibrated the TT and enjoyed it in short order. The Ortofon 2M Red cartridge adds a high level of definition and the clear acrylic platter isolates any vibration or noise from the playback. Playback is smooth with the belt-driven motor. The tonearm is a sturdy build and the lift mechanism drops gently onto vinyl. The auto-stop stops the platter from spinning after 30-seconds to prevent stylus/vinyl wear. It does NOT return the tonearm to the rest. It is a predominantly manual TT. There is NO pre-amplifier on this model. All items were packaged neatly and in good condition. I am enjoying hearing my LPs and adjusting between 33 and 45 RPMs is an easy do. The dust cover is hinged and closes and opens gently. All cabling is provided and includes white handling gloves to prevent any smudges or oil from hands onto the components. I am hoping for a long enjoyment of this TT and perhaps upgrading my receiver/amplifier/speakers down the road to expand on the sound that this quality TT provides. I think this is a great choice when selecting a $500 TT. My alternate choice would have been the Rega Planar 1 or 2. Both great choices in this price category. I hope this is helpful. Enjoy your music! Jc

Discernible upgrade in sound

I have been shopping for a replacement for my ancient, but still quite solid-performing Thorens TD-145 MKII. I am a mid-fi audiophile and my ears are not as sharp as they were when I was younger, so I wasn't looking for an expensive turntable. Just a nice turntable that is easy to set up with decent sound. The RT-85 met those criteria on paper, but I really wasn't prepared for the clearly noticeable difference in sound. I have read many reviews on a variety of turntables and some folks blather on and on about this and that until it sounds like the same overblown and nonsensical wording you hear at wine tastings. I usually tune out such nonsense and focus on the specs.

This time.. I get it. The set-up was simple and easy - note that Fluance provides a pair of white gloves so you don't smudge the finish while setting up the turntable! Once set-up, I put on "Art Pepper meets The Rhythm Section". I couldn't believe I was listening to the same album. Granted, my old Thorens has a Shure M95 which is a mid-range cartridge and it is an old turntable - but I was stunned. I just sat down in the middle of the living room and listened. The sax was so clear I could reach out and touch it. There were things that I hadn't even heard before!

The RT-85 was a big upgrade for me and well worth the money. It isn't for beginners, but if I were to advise a beginner who has the budget - get this turntable as it will stand you well for many many years. I expect it will stand me well for many years too,

Kia Marshall

February 27, 2020

Awesome, I don’t regret my purchase.

I’m so in love with my RT85. The sound is superb. I consider myself a beginner when it comes to vinyl. It was easy to install as it’s basically a plug and play. I matched it with Fluance’s speakers and amp. I highly recommend if you’re looking for a great player that can last you for years to come. Purchase this and or any of Fluance’s line-up.

0:21

The best turntable you will find at this price point

I'm one week in with my RT85 (Walnut) and loving everything about it! About a year ago I got into vinyl. I started with an Audio Technica LP60, which I thought was an excellent starter table. I quickly got bitten by the bug, and have been obsessed with vinyl records ever since. For the past 3 months or so I had been researching what my next turntable would be. While I really liked the AT LP60, it has its limitations, and also much of it is made of plastic, with little possibility of adjustments and/or upgrades.

After quite a bit of research, I honed in on the $500 price point. I also had certain features that I wanted to ideally come equipped with the table. I had already upgraded my speakers to the Klipsch RP-160M which I also love. From what I read, your speakers and your cartridge should give you the biggest boom for your buck when upgrading your turntable setup. So I focused on getting the best cartridge I could find that comes in around that given price. I also ideally wanted an acrylic platter, auto stop, removable headshell, 33/45 adjustment without moving the belt, and good looking aesthetics and overall design of the table and the features. The Fluance RT85 was really the only one that answered all of these bells. Along with the features I already named, the RT85 comes with a few other more subtle perks. I really enjoy the way the S-curved tonearms look, and also the feet on the table are well designed, have a nice look and feel to them, and are very easy to adjust (there are also only 3 of them which helps make balancing a bit easier/more forgiving).

The box was shipped well, arrived in great condition, and the contents were well protected. Instructions were very clear and easy to follow. They even throw in white gloves to wear as you put everything together to keep things clean and free of fingerprints. The Walnut finish looks great. It's lacquered so it has an almost piano looking finish, but with the wood grain. It's beautiful to look at. My initial test was throwing on side A of Kid A by Radiohead. And true to the song title, everything was in its right place when the needle dropped. Since that initial play, I've thrown quite a range of tunes at the RT85 from acoustic indie, to deep bass electronic, to Jazz. Everything sounds fantastic on this turntable. I'm loving the Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge.

Just a quick side note. There is no built in pre-amp on this table, so you will need to consider that. I'm using a Schiit Mani with mine, and I highly recommend that as well. Now back to spinning and grinning :)

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