A month later, and the sound is even better.įor the price, the Fluance RT85 is a steal. And this was before the cartridge had a chance to be broken in. It didn’t matter the genre - classic rock, punk, new wave - it all just plain sounds noticeably better on this turntable. So much more detail in fact, that I began an extensive project to re-listen to every album in my record collection to find out just what I’ve been missing. In particular, bass was more pronounced (without being exaggerated) and I immediately noticed a greatly improved soundstage with significantly more detail. When I hooked up the Fluance RT85 I was shocked at how improved the audio was. The system sounds great for listening to records and has served as my baseline for testing turntables for several years now. I run it hooked up to a 1981 vintage Pioneer SX-6 analog receiver driving a pair of modest Polk bookshelf speakers.
#FLUANCE TURNTABLE UPGRADE#
It actually retails for more than the RT85, it’s equipped with a decent Ortofon OM10 cartridge and it performs solidly (ironically I was considering an Ortofon 2M Blue upgrade at some time in the future). The reference turntable in my office is no slouch. Put bluntly, this is a fantastic sounding turntable. It’s a little chunkier than some turntables that go for the super-thin plinth look, but the extra mass of the RT85 is there intentionally and it pays off where it counts: performance. My review unit’s combo of glossy black and the clear acrylic platter was very modern. The Fluance RT85 is a very attractive looking turntable. Obviously Fluance will be getting a price cut with volume, but for a turntable buyer who would have to pay retail for the extras, that’s a pretty extraordinary value proposition. To recap, this is a $500 turntable, but it comes equipped out-of-the-box with upgraded components that would typically cost an additional $350 to $400.
![fluance turntable fluance turntable](https://soundadvicevinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/MMF1.5-0008.jpg)
They are also known for improving low end and midrange response, cutting down on static, and they eliminate the need for a record mat. Acrylic platters are heavier, helping with speed consistency. In addition, the RT85 gets an acrylic platter, which is often a $100 to $150 upgrade to the aluminum platter most turntables in this price range are equipped with. Ortofon is currently selling the 2M Blue cartridge for €220.00, which works out to $250. However Fluance goes way beyond expectations, shipping the RT85 with an Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge - very much a premium option. In a high end consumer turntable, something a little more advanced is expected. Earlier this month I was lamenting the fact that Yamaha had included a $25 cartridge on a $700 turntable. The RT85 is equipped with an Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge and an acrylic platter.