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

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!

I bought a Audio Technica AT60 a few years ago so I could listen to my old vinyl albums from the 70's & 80's and it was ok at the time and suited my budget as I had to buy an amplifier and speakers at the same time. For the last year or so I'd been looking for an upgrade having read various reports on how much better something like a Rega Planer, CS Dual or Pro-Ject was than the turntable I had. After doing a lot of research and changing my mind several times I settled on the Fluance RT series. Initially I was a bit worried as all of this manufacturers competitors are readily available from UK retailers whilst Fluance are only available either direct from the manufacturer in Canada (shipping, VAT & import costs!!!) or Amazon - but the reviews kept saying Fluance. I was going to save up and settle for the RT84 as the RT85 was out of my budget and the only major difference between the two models is the turntable platter, they both have the all important 2M Blue cartridge at a price Pro-Ject couldn't match. I'm no "audiophile" but all the reviews I read recommended the 2M Blue over the 2M Red cartridge if it was within the budget. I was extremely lucky to get a Fluance RT85 on Amazon's Prime deal for less than an RT84 would have cost me. The turntable arrives well packed and is easy to put together - the only slightly difficult bit is the tight fitting dust cover for the drivebelt motor. All I can say is this turntable produces simply stunning sounds. I'm hearing instruments, sounds and tones I've never heard before on albums I've had for 40+ years. It's like hearing my record collection for the first time. The stylus takes about 20-30hrs playing time to "run in" and gets better as it plays. The base is solid, the acrylic platter heavy, I've read reports where people have moaned about the finish of the colour on the MDF - mine is Piano white and looks brilliant - but it's the sound that is important and if this thing looked like a lump of rough wood I'd still have it. I got it at a bargain price but if you asked me is it worth the normal retail price (£499.00) the answer is yes, just buy it!

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

This marks a return to vinyl for me, so I'm being careful on budget but I am reaching for a real quality vinyl sound. Kinda pitching at the entry level audiophile territory. Lovely look and feel to this turntable. Went for the walnut finish. Feels built well too, and set-up easy. Ortofon 2M Blue Cartridge sounds great, even with my very modest set-up (Rega Fono MM Mk5 running into a simple Denon class D amp and very old budget bookcase speakers). Might sound like I have a clue what I'm doing. I don't really. I did some internet research and ended up following a @cheapaudioman youtube channel recommendation to give this deck a try with the Rega Fono MM Mk5. I'm really pleased with the result. I played a couple of 180g audiophile records, like the Almost Famous soundtrack and the Atlantic 75 series re-release of 90125 by Yes, and the detail and dynamic range I hear compared with CDs or MP3s is just in a different league. I literally smile again when I settle in to listening to them. I'd lost that smile factor for years just listening to MP3s or CDs. Most dangerous aspect to this table now though is that I'm now already eyeing up a speaker upgrade given that I'm pretty sure that's where my set-up is the weakest. Can't imagine ever needing to upgrade from this turntable though. Good work Fluance and great move using Amazon. Also worth repeating the shoutout to @cheapaudioman for his solid review on youtube, he really did help me break out of paralysis of analysis.

I have had this for 2 weeks now and have played in excess of 50 records, so stylus is well played in, sound quality very good, the Ortofon Blue appears to be detailed if a little on the bright side. Why only 4 stars? Well the bias compensation (anti skate) did not work as expected, I had to use a blank record to set the bias, the arm lock seems to be a little on the flimsy side and makes access to the arm lift difficult, also the markings for setting the tracking force and bias very difficult to see. Overall very pleased however I would recommend that a record weight be used. For every day use I use a180g weight but now have the Fluance weight and use this for dished or warped records. Initially I suffered explosive cracks from static on the lead in unless I used a carbon fibre anti static brush (I have never suffered from on any other turntable) so can only assume that there was residual static in the platter as this problem has now gone. All my records are wet cleaned.

I haven’t had it long so I can’t talk about longevity or even sound quality after its run in period. However, I can say that I was a little concerned about buying from what was to me an unknown internet brand. Trusting Amazon’s return policy I decided to chance it. First impressions are excellent - maybe I’m spoiled by never having owned a nicer one but it’s hard for me to imagine how a turntable could feel much higher quality than this - fit and finish are exceptional, firm and sturdy, shiny and solid-feeling. Compared to my previous turntable (I’ve owned a couple of affordable ProJects since I’ve been able to afford my own kit, before that I had a couple of 70s hand-me-downs), it’s a really slick and luxurious package. Sound wise, so far it’s coming across as modern hifi - perhaps not as warm as my favourite memories of that 70s kit, but compared to the outgoing ProJect it is a definite upgrade - I never managed to get that thing to play well, there were always issues with low bass hum and a lot of crackling despite having upgraded to roughly the same cartridge and needle the Fluance has. This new fellow’s manners are impeccable so far. I’m having no trouble with the belt drive (another thing I didn’t like about the ProJect was that the belt was a nightmare, constantly falling off every time I put a new disc on the platter; this one it taut, thick and seems dependable). My ears aren’t experts, and my listening room is imperfect. I know good sound quality when I hear it but I can’t hear the difference between this or that interconnect. This is plenty good enough for me is all I can say. From high to low frequencies, there’s no exaggeration anywhere I can hear. The image is broad and positions of instruments and voices stable. It’s transparent enough across a range of records for me to assume any problems I can hear must be in the recording rather than the equipment. Set up was straightforward, though I was glad I have a stylus scale as I wasn’t clear on how the manual’s suggestion for setting the tracking force could produce accurate results (but perhaps I just didn’t understand!) I hope it turns out to be reliable so that I can enjoy it for years to come - so far I can’t imagine finding a genuine reason to upgrade again.

ONE OF THE BEST PURCHASES IVE EVER MADE.... sounds great no issues on set up balanced the tone arm plugged in the wires to the Fluance Ai61 speakers and I was off...impressed by the sound of these speakers and the blue ortofon is perfect still breaking it in but sounds really good well packed and clomes with gloves ideal for those unboxing videos I hate lol anyway but it all here the RT85 is the top level table in the range up till now and i hope to get many years of use out of it

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.

Muy buen tornamesa para empezar principalmente por el cartucho Blue

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 moved to this turntable from a Rega RP3/RP1 hybrid setup, and while I understand why Rega is so respected among purists, this player suits my needs much better overall. The biggest reason for switching was convenience. The auto-stop feature alone has been a huge improvement in my house, since people constantly forgot to stop the record once playback finished on the Rega. Small thing, but very appreciated in daily use. I also really like the removable headshell design. I already had a Nagaoka cartridge mounted on its own headshell, and since this turntable came with an Ortofon setup installed, swapping between them is incredibly easy. No tiny wires, screwdrivers, or cartridge alignment stress every time. Just change the headshell, rebalance the counterweight, and it’s ready. Other quality-of-life improvements over the Rega: * dampened dust cover * detachable RCA cables * electronic speed change with a knob instead of manually moving the belt on the pulley All of these make the turntable much more enjoyable to live with day to day. Looks and sound quality are both excellent as well. The only thing that feels oddly cheap is the cueing lever for raising and lowering the tonearm. It’s a very thin piece of plastic, and while it works perfectly fine, it feels out of place compared to how premium the rest of the turntable feels. Overall, I’m extremely happy with it. Rega may still have the edge for absolute purist sound-focused setups, but for me the combination of sound quality, convenience, and design makes this a much better fit.

Very good turntable for the price, excellent sound, fast delivery.