Review Details

RT85 Reference High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable

Product Rating:

Product Review (submitted on August 14, 2022):

I got my first turntable in 2000 when I was 15 years old. It was an old Marantz 6110 Semi Automatic with an AT cartridge. I loved that machine and it sounded great paired with my Marantz 2220B receiver. I used that until 2012 when it gave up the ghost. My next turntable was a Technics SL-DD22 Semi Automatic which I've used paired with a Shure cartridge until now. I always missed the feel of my heavier Marantz with its solid feeling S shaped tonearm and removable headshell.This Fluance RT85 is a slick looking player with a classic feel, much closer to my Marantz than the Technics ever was. The plinth is heavy and stable on its three adjustable feet. The frosted acrylic platter is rock solid. The S curved tone arm is sturdy and doesn't feel cheap at all. The detachable headshell is equally well made. The cuing lever mechanism is incredibly smooth. The antiskating adjustment and and vertical tracking adjustments work very well. The dust cover and its hinges also feel solid. The cover raises and stays up while playing. Everything about this table has a quality feel to it. The turntable's component parts do their job without getting in the way of playing music.The Ortofone 2M Blue cartridge and stylus paired with the RT85 sound simply amazing and overall compared to my previous tables this is simply my best experience listening to vinyl thus far. I hear tambourines, bells, backup vocals, etc in my albums that I've never heard before. The bass from my Klipsch R-41M speakers (which aren't the strongest in that department and will ultimately benefit from a powered subwoofer) is also quite improved with this table/cartridge/stylus combo.I'm impressed with what $500 has bought me. The value here is also impressive. The Ortophone 2M Blue costs half the price of this turntable on its own. So you're basically getting a heavy, well built turntable with acrylic platter, selectable speed control, removable headshell, adjustable feet, and auto shutoff for $250 with the purchase of a $250 Ortofone 2M Blue. If you're considering purchasing a Uturn or some other similarly priced TT with an acrylic platter you'll be paying more than $300 and you won't be getting an Ortofone 2M Blue included.If you're looking at Uturns, the Rega P1, or even the other Fluance models do yourself a favor and consider the RT85. I so not think you will regret your purchase.