Review Details

RT85N Reference High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable

Product Rating:

Product Review (submitted on June 2, 2022):

• I wanted to upgrade my old Technics direct drive semi automatic turntable. Like many, I wanted to upgrade to a newer semi-automatic because I became so use to this feature I thought I couldn’t live without it. While semi automatic is a handy feature, I hardly miss it at all. The record will stop spinning after 30 seconds at the end of the record with the RT85N. You just have to remember to lift the cue and return the arm to its cradle. The sound difference between the RT85N and my old Technics is what really sold me on this newer deck. I don’t know if it is the plinth, the new cartridge, the acrylic platter or a little of everything but the RT85N was much more detailed with a tighter bass than my old deck. I started listening to all my vinyl again with and without headphones.
• The only difference between the RT85 and the RT85N is the “N” uses the Nagaoka MP-110 cartridge instead of the Ortofon 2M Blue. You may think that the Ortofon is a better cartridge being about $90 more expensive than the Nagaoka, then you may want to listen to the two, side by side. I owned the 2M Blue, for a very short period on my last rig, and thou the Ortofon is a more detailed cartridge, I never liked the harsh treble and low bass output of it. The Nagaoka is a much fuller & warmer cartridge with better low end.
• The first thing I noticed about the MP-110, is how quiet it is and how well it handled surface noise. Complete opposite from the 2m-Blue, which didn’t handle surface noise well at all. The cartridge has great bass extension and an amazing mid-range, without being the least bit “shrill” in the treble. Looking at you 2M Blue.
• Set-up was easy. The cartridge alignment was perfect out of the box. Get yourself a digital scale to check the tracking force weight. When I first set the weight to 1.8grams the scale showed I was only 1.65grams. Next I set the anti-skate to 1.8 and checked it with a groveless piece of vinyl and that also was right on.
• The cue lever for the turntable is only dampened downward. When you lift the arm up it is not dampened at all making it feel a bit cheap. I have no problem using the cue lever. The bridge that holds the arm up when cueing is designed so when you lift the arm up at the end of the record and return the arm to the cradle, it sets the arm into the cradle without having to lowering the cue lever. You can then exchange the vinyl and simply move the arm over to the start point. The arm will lift back up without having to touch the cue lever at all. I find this little feature very useful and can’t believe I’ve never seen this done before.
• The “auto-stop” is also a very nice feature. It has worked every time I’ve used it. It’s also nice that the platter stops turning when you return the arm to the cradle and starts again when you move the arm back over the record again.
• This is a well thought out turntable and rivals those costing twice as much. I’m glad I waited for the RT85N to be available in walnut. I really love the full, warm and surprisingly detailed sound from the Nagaoka MP-110 cartridge.
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• HIGHLY RECOMMEND