Review Details
RT85 Reference High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable
Product Rating:
| Overall Performance |
Product Review (submitted on April 26, 2021):
The Fluance RT85 is a massive step up from my previous turntable (the AT-LP60), in terms of both sound quality and quality of construction. The combination of the Ortofon Blue cartridge, the acrylic platter, and the overall precision and craftsmanship of the unit is really hard to overstate. This is a beautiful, beautiful turntable with very little coloration to the sound. Once properly grounded, it is dead quiet with no discernible noise or distortion at all.Set-up was easy. If you take your time and follow the instruction manual carefully, you honestly can’t go wrong. I had also watched some tutorials on YouTube in preparation for it’s arrival, so I already had a pretty good sense of how to set it up.Like most higher-end turntables, the RT85 does not have a built in preamp (which prevents any added coloration to the signal), so a separate purchase may be necessary if you don’t already own a stand alone phono preamp. Despite the added cost this is actually a plus, since it gives you complete control over how to shape the signal.The sound of the Fluance RT85 is pristine and accurate. The servo motor speed is constantly monitored and corrected for accuracy, so there’s no need to fine-tune the speed adjustments. The cartridge, which comes pre-aligned, reproduces a full soundstage with a wide, flat frequency response and incredible detail. I have the auto-stop disabled, so I can’t review this feature- but it’s nice to know it’s there, if I should ever need to use it.It would truly be hard to imagine a more elegant turntable, even at two or three times the cost. It simply steps out of the way and lets you appreciate the original quality of your LP’s and 45’s, without adding or subtracting anything from the sound.If you are looking to make the leap into a reasonably affordable, reference quality turntable, the Fluance RT85 is the perfect way to take your appreciation of vinyl into the audiophile realm.Five stars for both sound quality and craftsmanship!