Fluance RT85 Reference High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable Record Player with Ortofon 2M Blue Cartridge, Acrylic Platter, Speed Control Motor, High Mass MDF Wood Plinth, Vibration Isolation Feet - Walnut

I’ve had the Fluance RT85 now for a week, I went for the piano black one. I wanted something to upgrade and replace my very old (1981) Technics SLB-210 that works fine and sounds OK. I liked the look of the specs for the Fluance RT85, the simplicity and raw features seem to offer a lot for the money when compared to many others that seemed to come with all the snake oil I didn’t want! But it wasn’t available in the UK so I was looking at a few options including the, Sony PSHX 500, the Project Classics and Debut Carbon, and the Technics SL1500B. I’d decided that if the RT85 became available I’d go for that, otherwise I’d step up to the Technics SL1500B in April but consider upgrading the stylus to the Ortofon 2M Blue (as on the RT85). Packaging and unboxing: The product box arrived within a larger Amazon box with a good amount of packing material. Product box showed no signs of any transportation damage and was confirmed while unboxing the turntable. Everything in the box was there and well packed and protected in perfect condition. As others have noted the inclusion of a pair of cotton gloves is a nice thought. Assembly: Set-up instructions are very clear and simple to follow but I did have trouble following the instructions for the tone arm balancing. Balancing the tone arm was the most time consuming bit, I fiddled and tried to do it for a while following the instructions but just couldn’t get it right. Fortunately, I’d also ordered a Stylus Force Scale so as soon as I made use of that the balancing was done and set to the recommended 1.8g in no time. The included phono leads seem to be a decent quality and they are shorter than the Cambridge ones I was intending to use so I used those into my Project Phono Box USB V. The turntable sits high on its three legs, well feet, and it’s nice and stable. I didn’t even need to make any adjustments to level it, popped the supplied mini bubble level on the deck and it was already spot on! Play and Sound: Well it’s a step-up in the gramophone stakes, makes me think of an old “Not the Nine O’Clock News” sketch so I might be heading to upgrade my speakers and amp et-up too. No sign of any vibrations getting through to the tone arm and pick-up from the motor or bits of kit in the rack. The old Technics did introduce some motor noise and a bit of artefact on the left channel into the mix that were evident when recording using Audacity. Neither are evident with the Fluance, no addition of anything that’s not on the vinyl, the sprung feet, MDF, acrylic platter, and external power source all doing their job well. The dusk cover doesn’t have soft close but it’s not problem to close it gently while the tonearm drops slowly onto the vinyl which is so gentle you’ll only notice it has actually made any contact when the music starts. Keep a hold of the dust cover when opening it though, it will want spring open if you don’t. When the music does start you will not be disappointed, it’s clear and clean and I’m hearing little details I’ve not heard before. It handles all the vinyl I’ve thrown it’s way so far, and it’s been fed a variety, even my very old and well payed Tubular Bells which has lots of clicks and crackles seemed to actually play better on the Fluance, perhaps the Blue doesn’t pick up as much of the surface noise. I can’t detect any issues across the range, it seems very precise from the highs to the base, percussion on the Police LPs sounds really precise and sharp. I’ve got this really annoying whisper in my head though… Turn me up…. Turn me up… it’s so tempting but I don’t think the neighbours will appreciate it too much! Although next up might be ELO and Out of the Blue so that could all change, no one could have an issue with that. At the end of the record the auto stop feature is nice, occasionally it’s stopped the turntable before I’ve got to it. All my vinyl gets a good rub down with a velvet brush before dropping the tone arm. The dive motor does seem to have less grunt than my old Technics (which is probably comparable to the torque of a Land Rover Defender given that it’s ripped the brush from my hand more than once!), it’s not going to pull the brush from your fingers and slows to a stop if you apply too much pressure. As I tend to just let the brush rest with very light pressure to hold it in place, I don’t think this is going to be an issue for me. Overall: The Fluance is a very good package and I believe offers very good value for money in terms of components/features and performance. It does have some small deficiencies; the dustcover hinges could be better with a softer close action and not spring open as you lift the cover up, the drive motor could have a bit more torque, and the queuing arm could be a bit longer and substantial. However, for me these are very minor things and don’t detract from the actual music experience. If I was going to buy again, would I buy the Fluance RT85? Yes I would. By the way yes ELO’s Out of the Blue (1977 original) did play very well and did get turned up! Next up Queen Live Killers or Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon.

I’ve had a Rega P1 for a while (connected to a vintage NAD 3020i amp) and even though it was a terrific starting point to get back into high quality vinyl playback, I soon had an itch to move up the audio ladder so it was off to the Interweb and YouTube. After many, many hours of research, I decided that the Fluance RT85 would be the next logical move. Tons of good reviews from consumers and experts alike plus everyone mentioned the “bang for your buck” it offered. Fluance’s Reference Series starts with the RT82 to their current flagship RT85. Each model has the same plinth and tonearm but upgrades the cartridge and / or the platter as you move up the chain. This means that you can purchase the basic model and have an upgrade path to the RT85. It’s comforting to know you can start with the model to suit your budget and move on when and if you feel the need to do so. I was initially thinking of buying the RT84 which is the same as the RT85 but with an aluminium platter as opposed to the acrylic but as there was only a £50 difference and I noticed the upgraded platter would be more than that alone, I decided to treat myself. For all models, buying the next one up is cheaper than upgrading later. Components: The RT85 has the aforementioned acrylic platter - weighing in at 3lbs - which, by all accounts, is something you’d find on turntables way more costly than this and because of the material it’s made from there’s no need for a mat - you simply place your record directly on it. Very noteworthy is that the RT85 (and RT84 for that matter) has the highly rated Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge and stylus included. Check to see how much that is and you’ll see what incredible value this package is. The cartridge is pre-attached and aligned to a headshell which slips on to the S-shaped tonearm. Also included are a set of good quality RCA leads, a grounding cable, a power supply (d’uh, obviously) and even a small bubblr level for ensuring any adjustments you make are spot on. The plinth is a heavyweight MDF and the smoked dust cover has a nice feel to it. Oh, they’ve even thrown in some cotton gloves so you don’t get any skin oil on the belt when you attach to the motor. Finally, the speed is selectable on the on/ off control knob without the need to lift off the platter and move the belt manually (hallelujah!). Setup: The manual clearly guides you step-by-step so it’s a breeze and even I managed it in about 15 minutes. Pop on the platter and pull the belt that’s already round it to the pulley; screw in the head shell to the tone arm; attach the counter-weight and turn until the arm floats horizontally. You then turn the weight dial to correspond to the recommended setting for your stylus (1.8gm for the 2M Blue) and turn the anti-skating wheel to be the same. It’s worth saying that once I’d done that, I thought I’d check it with a stylus scale - to my absolute surprise, the scale showed exactly 1.8gm! Finally, you connect the RCA leads, the grounding cable and the power supply. Done! Operation: Switch the on/off knob to 33 or 45, move the tonearm towards the platter and it will start to spin. There’s an auto stop feature which is on by default but you can turn it off (slide switch on the back) if you don’t want it. The platter will continue to spin for about 20 seconds or so once it reaches the run out groove - ideal if you want to hear the lock groove sound on Sgt. Pepper’s but just not forever. I like the feature as occasionally I’ve fallen asleep and the stylus is being worn down playing nothing. The cueing lever drops the tonearm very gently on to your disc but, and this is the only negative I’ve found, the lever does feel a bit plasticky and cheap. A pity since the rest of the unit is so well built and high quality. No matter, it’s only a cueing lever. Sound Quality: Okay, this all means nothing if it sounds dreadful. Now bear in mind that I’ve only had this for a day and the stylus would take circa 50 hours to run in so this is just an initial impression. In a word, wow! It sounds fantastic and will only get better. The soundstage is wide, deep and rich (albeit a little brighter than the Rega). The Ortofon Blue is revealing detail in records that I’ve not heard before and I can’t wait to listen to my collection all over again. Looks: Bloody gorgeous in my opinion. I went for the walnut veneer and combined with the acrylic platter it‘s stunning. Have a look at my photos if you need proof. Conclusion: I can’t believe what Fluance have produced for the price they’re asking. You may not know the name but, believe me, they will become more popular as the word spreads on how good their turntables are. Highly recommended. If you found this review helpful, please click the button. Cheers!

Outstanding turntable in every aspect, built to last & solid as a tank! .... The quality is evident in every part, even packaging and the little white gloves included (a touch of class). Hooked up the phono stage and it came to life surprisingly fast, and as per my measures, with accurate speed & notably quite. So far, very pleased with the purchase and I think it was right call (for me) not to go for the 85N. The only draw back is that I noted the bass lacked presence & definition! I think this is mainly for the Ortofon 2m Blue, which is a fantastic stylus except of the Bass issue that I am planning to address with my Yamaha subwoofer.... can't wait! Highly recommended for everyone

Schöner Plattenspieler mit Ortofon 2M Blue. Versand erfolgte aus England innerhalb von 5 Tagen via Prime. Die Verzollung übernahm Amazon. Die drei Füße sind gedämpft und laufen spitz zu um Resonanzen zu vermeiden. Die Ausrichtung ist mit der mitgelieferten Libelle/Wasserwaage einfach, da nur drei Füße. Das Gesamtgewicht beträgt knapp 8 kg. Der Motor läuft für mich unhörbar und treibt den äußeren Riemen an. Die Geschwindigkeit wird mittels Schalter eingestellt. Eine Elektronik überwacht die konstante Geschwindigkeit (angeblich 500x in der Sekunde). Der Tonarm ist aus Alu. Der Plattenteller aus durchsichtigem Acryl und wiegt alleine über 1 kg. Die Haube ist leicht schwarz getönt. Der Schalter für die Geschwindigkeit ist aus schwarz eloxiertem gebürstem Metall. Ebenso auch die Abdeckung für den Motor. Das Antriebsrad ist ebenfalls aus gebürstetem Metall. Sehr chick: Im Außenring des Drehknopfs ist eine kleine weiße LED enthalten, die zeigt, dass der Plattenspieler angeschaltet ist. Es liegen sogar ein hochwertiges Audiokabel, ein Erdungskabel, eine Wasserwaage und weiße Handschuhe bei. Der Tonabnehmer ist vorausgerichtet. In der (englischen) Anleitung steht der notwendige Anpressdruck und das Anti-Skating und ist auch für Einsteiger erklärt, wie man den Tonarm einstellt. Mitgliefert wird ein Netzteil mit UK-Netzstecker. Alternativ zu einem UK-Adapter kann man auch anderweitiges Netzteil mit 12V und 0,5A (6W) und innen plus/außen minus verwenden, wie es beispielsweise hier angeboten wird: https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B01M1DR19X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Klanglich gefällt mir der Plattenspieler im Zusammenhang mit einem Marantz PM8005 (eingebauter MM-Vorverstärker) und B&W CM9. Ein Vorverstärker ist im Plattenspieler nicht eingebaut. Bzgl. des Auto-Stops: Es dauert eine Weile in der Auslaufrille, bis der Plattenteller tatsächlich stehen bleibt. Der Tonarm wird jedoch nicht angehoben. Beim Zurückschwenken dreht der Plattenteller wieder an. Bei angeschaltetem Auto-Stop springt zusätzlich der Motor erst an, wenn man den Tonarm aus der Halterung bewegt. Wenn der Auto-Stop-Schalter ausgeschaltet ist, startet der Motor direkt nach dem Drehen des Schalters auf 33 bzw. 45, unabhängig vom Tonarm. Ich habe Walnuss bestellt, auf dem Karton steht Walnuss aber drinnen war Bambus (siehe Foto), was (derzeit) so bei Amazon garnicht angeboten wird. Jetzt muss ich mir noch überlegen, ob ich damit leben kann oder nicht... das Bambus ist matt lackiert während Walnuss glänzend lackiert ist. Ich bin kein Bambus Fan, aber da der Tonarm komplett in (matt) schwarz gehalten ist bildet es einen guten Kontrast zur hellen Chassis. Das matte Holz passt auch gut zum Acryl-Teller. Ein Umtausch könnte ohne Rücksendungskosten vollzogen werden. Auch hierfür 5 Sterne für Amazon!

Probablemente el producto más equilibrado y con menos conflictos técnicos en su gama de precio. Muy buen funcionamiento, suave, silencioso, con una buena cápsula MM de origen (Ortofon 2M Blue) y un magnífico acabado. Renovar -mejorando- un veterano Pioneer con 38 años de trabajo en perfectas condiciones de uso y con cápsula PC5 MC no era asunto fácil. Confieso que estoy encantado. Además: es muy bonito; qué quieren que les diga.

I’m absolutely satisfied with this purchase; this turntable offers outstanding value for money. It is easy to set up and delivers excellent sound quality. The Ortofon cartridge certainly plays a significant role, but the overall build is precise and results in superb performance. Highly recommended for audiophiles—far superior to other options such as the Audio-Technica AT-LP120, which has a more basic finish and includes some unnecessary features.

For Christmas, I got the Fluance RT80. I had about 4 or 5 U2 records on vinyl that I had bought over the years, just because I love the band and loved having the physical object with the big 12" covers and inserts and the cool looking albums. Fast forward several months, and I had fallen deep in love with vinyl. I had expanded my U2 collection to all the major albums, most of the Record Store Day singles, and a fair bit of other bands and artists in my eclectic taste like Gorillaz, Bjork, Beatles, Rush, Tame Impala, REM, Huey Lewis, Inhaler, and more... I upgraded my speakers to Paradigm bookshelves, a higher end Yamaha Amp and a good pre-amp, and I was loving it, really enjoying the music but I just needed some more from my RT80's. Just some more punch, high-ends and mids. I loved the sound stage I was getting and other aspects, I just needed more. Digital music from Tidal and even Apple Music was sounding better to my ears. I looked into upgrading my stylus on the RT80 from the Audio-Technica ATN91 Conical Stylus to the Audio-Technica AT95E Elliptical (Eliptical stylus' can get in the groves a little deeper). I was also having a problem levelling my turntable on the surface I needed to use without using annoying shims. Also wasn't sure the AT95E was going to be enough. I decided to sell my RT80 and order the RT85 which I got setup to my system a few days ago. All I'll say is WOW. I know my setup isn't super high end audiophile equipment. There's a world of McIntosh receivers and pre-amps and speakers that go $10,000 and up and it's a world I'll probably never afford... but ****** do I love the sound of this setup! I couldn't stop listening to all my albums. It was the sound I was looking for. I once heard advice that you have an awesome system if you can get emotional about the music you're hearing, and I absolutely love my setup. There's probably still I could get more out of it if I had a better listening room design, which I hope to setup sometime in the future when moving. But for now, I love my setup and this turntable / Ortofon 2m Blue cartridge. The sound stage is bigger... and my ears just hear a lot more of the music and the brighter highs and mids my ears were yearning for. It's a great overall sound now, not to strong in any area and not weak in any area for me... Just a full, clear, punchy but not tiring sound. The thing looks and sounds so good. Love the 3 point levelling feet (Have it perfectly level now), love the motor that keeps accurate time while. super quiet, love the acrylic platter, love it all. The acrylic platter looks so cool, especially at night with a light close by it... it looks like it glows. Coloured records spill their colour into it. Not that looks are the main thing, but I love records for the tactileness of it, the album covers and artwork, and I love it that I love the looks of this turntable. I have zero complaints from it and I highly recommend. I'm listening to albums every evening whether listening intently or playing some tunes in the background while I do dishes. Make me relaxed and ready for the next day and is great for Saturdays and some relaxing with friends and a drink or your buddies who love listening music.

I bought this player to upgrade from a PS-LX310BT. The difference was fantastic and I love this player. It looks and feels premium, and the Ortofon 2M Blue gives a clear and well presented sound. Couldn't be happier and if you're looking to dip into the 'audiophile' world, then I really recommend this player.