Review Details
RT84 Reference High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable
Product Rating:
Overall Performance |
Product Review (submitted on March 18, 2020):
I was not familiar with Fluance products until I began researching turntables. A small group of manufacturers, including Fluance, consistently received favorable ratings in online reviews for products in my price range. The RT83 met my needs in a stylish package and included the Ortofon 2M Red cartridge at a reasonable price.
THEN, on the day I planned to order it, Fluance put their RT84 ON SALE! I bit. For a modest increase I upgraded to the 2M Blue. (If the 2M Red were a hot fudge sundae, the Blue would be the same, but with nuts and a cherry on top.)
My RT84 arrived well packaged and in prefect condition. Setup was straightforward. I paired it with a phono preamp found on Craigs List, an Adcom preamp & amp, and Monitor Audio bookshelf speakers.
First Music was Carly Simon's Torch followed by Willie Nelson's Stardust. They never sounded so good. At some point I stopped listening analytically and simply immersed myself in the moment. The Fluance RT84 just became transparent and got out of the way of the music. Then came the big test – Horowitz in Moscow. I believe a piano is likely the hardest instrument to accurately record and play back. This is where the RT84 won me over. The sound stage grew noticeably, and closing my eyes, I could almost believe there was a Steinway Grand in the room with me.
Highly recommended.
NOTE I ordered the walnut finish as I felt that fingerprints on the gloss black might become an issue. However, the walnut is every bit as glossy (and fingerprinty) so don't let that be a deciding factor. Use the white gloves provided by Fluance for assembly.