RT85 Reference High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable
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RT85 Reference High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable
PURE ANALOG PERFORMANCE
The definitive vinyl record listening experience for beautifully warm and natural music, transporting you into the center of the performance
EXCEPTIONAL MUSICAL ACCURACY
Immerse yourself in the detailed high resolution sound of the Ortofon 2M Blue elliptical cartridge delivering improved linearity, higher channel separation and reduced distortion
HIGH DENSITY ACRYLIC PLATTER
The greater mass of the acrylic platter damps unwanted vibrations resulting in a more 3-dimentional sound with tighter bass, a fuller midrange, and overall improved clarity
SPEED CONTROL FOR PRECISION PLAYBACK
The isolated motor prevents unwanted vibrations and noise while the speed control mechanism ensures consistent platter velocity (0.07% Wow/Flutter)
HIGH MASS MDF WOOD PLINTH
Revel in the gorgeously crafted cabinet with real wood finish and a highly precise metal platter with adjustable resonance damping feet, ensuring superior isolation from unwanted micro-vibrations (Note: phono preamp not included)
Overview
UNPARALLELED VINYL MUSIC PLAYBACK
Specifications
| Cabinet Specifications | ▼ |
|---|---|
| Cabinet Material | MDF |
| Finish | High Gloss Piano Black |
| Dust Cover | Yes - Tinted |
| Turntable Specifications | ▼ |
| Drive System | Belt Drive |
| Motor | DC Motor with Servo Controller Analyzes motor speed 500 times/sec |
| Motor Isolation | Under-mounted 7-point silicone isolation with decoupling isolation ring |
| Speed | 33 1/3 RPM, 45 RPM (78 RPM - No) |
| Speed Variation | 0.10% |
| Wow and Flutter | 0.07% |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio (Weighted) | 76 dB |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio (Unweighted) | 65 dB |
| Platter | Acrylic |
| Diameter of Platter | 12 inches (30 cm) |
| Weight of Platter | 3 lbs (1.5 kg) |
| Height of Platter | 0.62 inches (16 mm) |
| Auto-Stop | Yes |
| Turntable Mat | Not Required |
| Tonearm Specifications | ▼ |
| Tonearm Type | Static Balanced, S-Type |
| Supported Cartridge Weight | 0.18 – 0.25 oz (5.0 – 7.5 g) |
| Counterweight | Yes – 3.60 oz (102 g) - Adjustable |
| Anti-skating Adjustment | Yes – Adjustable |
| Pivot Bearing | Yes |
| Cueing Lever | Yes |
| Tonearm Material | Aluminum |
| Tonearm Wire | 36 AWG Litz Cable / 7 Strand |
| Effective Tonearm Mass | 0.97 oz (27.5 g) |
| Overhang | 0.76 inches (19.2 mm) |
| Effective Tonearm Length | 8.82 inches (224 mm) |
| Headshell Mount | H-4 Bayonet Mount |
| Cartridge Specifications | ▼ |
| Cartridge Type | Moving Magnet (MM) |
| Cartridge Model | Ortofon: 2M Blue |
| Replacement Stylus | 2M Blue |
| Stylus | 0.3 x 0.7 mil |
| Cantilever | Aluminum |
| Mount | Half-inch |
| Frequency Response | 20 - 20,000 Hz (+2/-1 dB) |
| Frequency Range | 20 - 25,000 Hz (-3 dB) |
| Channel Separation | 25 dB at 1 kHz |
| Channel Balance | < 1.5 dB @ 1 kHz |
| Load Impedance/Capacitance | 47k Ohms/150 - 300 pF |
| Output Voltage | 5.5 mV |
| Cartridge Weight | 0.25 oz (7.2g) |
| Headshell Weight | 0.35 oz (9g) |
| Cartridge Height | 0.71 inches (18 mm) |
| Recommended Tracking Force | 0.06 - 0.07 oz (1.6 - 2.0 g) |
| Vertical Tracking Angle | 20° (Non-Adjustable) |
| Rubber Belt Specifications | ▼ |
| Rubber Belt Design | Continuous loop (joint-less) |
| Width | 0.17 inches (4.5 mm) |
| Length | 36.02 inches (915 mm) |
| Thickness | 0.02 inches (0.6 mm) |
| Output Specifications | ▼ |
| Connector | RCA (Gold-plated) |
| Preamp | No - Separate Phono Preamp Required |
| Phono Output | 5.5 mV |
| Ground Terminal | Yes |
| Power Specification | ▼ |
| Input | 100 – 240 V AC (50/60 Hz) |
| Output | 12 V / 500 mA |
| Consumption | 1.5 W |
| General Specifications | ▼ |
| Dimensions | 5.5 x 16.5 x 13.75 inches / 14.0 x 41.9 x 34.9 cm (HxWxD) |
| Unit Weight | 16.76 lb (7.6 kg) |
| Operating Temperature | 41°F to 95°F (5°C to 35°C) |
| Wireless Playback | No (Requires Bluetooth or WiFi transmitter connected via RCA connection to transmit audio wirelessly) |
| Fluance Speaker Size Comparison Chart |
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| UPC | 061783268414 |
| What's Included | RT85 Reference Turntable Line OutClick to Expand |
Press
"A new AFFORDABLE Record Player to BEAT”
I feel like every time I listen I pick up some new details I didn’t know were there last time.
Vinyl Rewind Reviews the RT85
"I give this my highest rating of 5 pompadours out of 5."
Jarrett New from Vinyl Eyezz Reviews the RT85
"For the price, this is the best sounding turntable that I've come across."
Brad Moon of Forbes Reviews the RT85
"It didn’t matter the genre... it all just plain sounds noticeably better on this turntable."
Read the Full Review
Theo from TechHive Reviews the RT85
"By any measure, the RT85 is an overachiever. From its acrylic platter, Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge, and included accessories, to its genuinely solid performance, the RT85 will have you enjoying high-end sound at a fraction of the price of the competition."
Read the Full Review
Part-Time Audiophile Reviews the RT85
Deep dive with Marc Phillips in a detailed review of the RT85 turntable.
Read the Full Review
Customer Reviews
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Love it! Replaced a 40 year old turntable that died. Didn't realize how its performance had deteriorated. This turntable has such a remarkable sound.
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Sounds amazing
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the universal tone arm makes it a breeze to change phone cartridges-makes it a bargain at this price
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Amazing sound quality and construction. It's more than I expected.
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I LOVE my Fluance RT85! It sounds amazing, the walnut finish is gorgeous. Records sound warm, clear, and precise. The auto stop feature is key and has prevented me from wearing out the stylus. Balancing the tone arm was not the easiest—but Reddit was helpful for that. We use this player every day and it gives us joy every time. Don’t hesitate to buy this! Especially with the Ortofon cartridge while still available.
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Beautiful wood base, nice controls, sounds great, Ortofon 2m Blue offers a detailed and full window to my albums...it's also quieter than my former Nagaoka MP110. Quiet running, easy to level.
Minor nitpicks....the counterweight numbers are small and hard to read, which makes set up difficult. The tonearm is damped when lowering on to a record, but not when lifting up off the record. Would be nice to have the tonearm return to rest after the turntable stops (it just rests in the runout groove). Tonearm is aluminum but feels a bit on the light side. -
The sound re-production quality from the turntable is incredible. The Ai61 powered speakers sound amazing and the Bluetooth capability is an added bonus. This system has awakened my love for vinyl and has made my music enjoyment even better. I'm ecstatic over this purchase.
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Great turntable with a wonderful sound. We are happy we found it.
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It came packaged well and set up was easy with the included user manual. I ordered the bamboo plith which looks great! This turntable is heavy and the acrylic platter really sets it off. The operations is very smooth and it tracks well. The Ortofon blue cartridge is very detailed, especially in the upper midrange areas. I thoroughly enjoy this turntable! I did plenty of online research and for the money, there's nothing that can come close to this!
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I’m new to turntables. The RT-80 through RT-84 models include a mat for the platter, but the RT-85 doesn’t. I mistakenly thought that meant it didn’t need one. Records were quite treble tilted and staticky. Once I bought a cork mat for the platter, it sounded excellent!
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Fantastic turntable! sounds excellent, looks sleek and is well worth every penny.
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Purchased the RT85 to replace my (still working) Yamaha PF-30 with an Ortofon OM 10 stylus that I purchased in 1986.
So far, I am very pleased with the RT85 and its performance!
Setting it up was relatively easy (thanks YouTubers).
It helps if you have a Digital Turntable Stylus Force Scale Gauge (about $20) to be certain you are setting the correct manufacturer stylus force adjustment .
Once set up and plugged into my Denon receiver's Phono inputs, I tested different types of LP's: Amadeus soundtrack, Santana, Santana Abraxas, The Zombies Odessey and Oracle (mono and stereo) and Analogue Productions version of The Beach Boys Pet Sounds in mono. I'm waiting for a few more hours of break-in use before I play The Beatles in MONO LP's.
I also purchased the Fluance Vinyl Record Accessory Kit. I never knew that the HiFi Vinyl Record Weight Stabilizer would make a difference - it does for me (although without it, it still sounded good)!
The only issue so far is the placing the 'stylus guard' back unto the Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge. Removing it is easy. Returning it back to its place took a little work, especially while making certain I don't bend/break the stylus nor the cantilever.
Thank you for your patience in reading my lengthy assessment.
Good music listening to all of you! -
Outstanding entry-level turntable. High quality across-the-board in terms of workmanship material Quality value ratio in my opinion is outstanding. So far I have no concerns and love the way it sounds. Is sleek and fits in nicely with the set up. Let me hear more!
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Absolutely outstanding turntable, great sound great customer service what more can you ask for.
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I am extremely happy with my RT85. Fluance has hit a home run! This will be my last turntable. This turntable is truly the best value and is audiophile quality. Well done Fluance!
See all reviews
Resources
Video
Manual
FAQs
An amplifier is only needed if you’re connecting the turntable to passive speakers such as the Signature Series Bookshelf Surround Speakers.
If you’re looking for an option without a separate amplifier, the Ai40 Powered Bookshelf speakers fit the bill.
With the Ai40, all you need to do is connect the included RCA cables to your preamp, then to the speakers and you’re ready to listen to the music the way it was meant to be heard.
If you intend to use your Reference series turntable with powered bookshelf speakers such as our Ai40 model, a preamp will be required.
The preamp will boost the signal to line level (similar to a headphone jack) so you can play it on speakers with RCA or AUX inputs.
If you have a home theater or stereo receiver/amplifier, you will need a preamp if the amplifier does not have a PHONO input. If you have a PHONO input, you may have a preamp already built in. Be sure to refer to the manufacturer’s specifications or manual for confirmation!
This design choice was made with a number of factors in mind. The main reason was to separate electronics from the turntable’s signal path to maintain the purity of the analog signal. Many listeners also like to customize their listening experience and choose specific components such as preamps based on unique sonic qualities. Using separate components also allows for optimization of cartridge and phono stage compatibility. If you upgrade your cartridge in the future, you can pair with an optimal phono preamp to maximize performance and achieve the sound profile you desire. !
| What's new! | What does it mean? |
| The motor is located away from the platter | Allows the use of an acrylic platter, reduced rumble at the stylus. |
| 90pF RCA cables | Upgraded RCA cables with higher capacitance to protect and maintain the purest signal path. |
| No internal preamp | Provides a clean signal, with no electronics in the path for increased audio quality. |
| Spring loaded adjustable feet with built-in isolation | Allows the turntable to be leveled on any surface, bubble level included. Spike-shaped feet prevent outside vibrations from affecting audio quality. |
| Servo controlled motor | Improves speed consistency and reduces wow and flutter by checking the speed up to 500 times per second! |
| Ortofon Stylus | All Reference turntables are compatible with Ortofon OM10, Blue and Red Cartridges. |
| 102g Counterweight | Heavier counterweight to accommodate the Ortofon stylus. More diverse upgrade options. |
| Compatible with an acrylic platter (included with RT85) | Heavier, denser material reduces resonance and improves speed consistency, not to mention great looks! |
| Customizable | All Reference turntable components are compatible with each other giving you a clear upgrade path! |
These new turntables include a servo belt drive motor.
What does this mean for you?
This means that you have a sensor checking and adjusting the speed of the motor up to 500 times a second to make sure the speed of your turntable is consistent with no manual adjustments, bringing wow and flutter under 0.07%!
Reference turntables are compatible and shipped with moving magnet cartridges such as the Ortofon OM10, 2M Red and 2M Blue, giving you the ability to customize your system for top tier performance.
Cartridges must be between 3.5 to 7.5 grams to be balanced correctly.
Acrylic is an extremely stable and dense material. This greatly reduces resonance that can be picked up by the cartridge from the environment such as people walking by, large vehicles passing or other sounds that create a lot of vibration.
This also gives it considerably more weight compared to an aluminum platter of the same size. The extra weight of the platter during rotation helps the platter to spin flatter and at a more consistent speed, reducing wow & flutter.
There is no need to use a platter with the acrylic platter!
If a platter mat is used, it may interfere with the vertical tracking angle of the stylus.
Additionally, the resonance of acrylic is very close to vinyl so a mat is not needed.
As an added bonus, the acrylic looks fantastic!
All Fluance Reference turntables are sold with an Orotfon cartridge included.
We do know that our users love to customize their decks and there are many options out there, so we designed our Reference series to have extensive upgrade potential!.
