Great vid! RT83 owner here. Upgraded to Ortofon Blue. Yes, it is more trebly but seems to mellow with time.

That's what I got. RT85 in the Bamboo. I love it. It is the best table in the price range. I spent about 2 months of hardcore research. The 2m blue really sings!!!!!🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉 wouldn't really call it am entry level on the pure facts of the servo motor and no internal phonostage.

Yep RT85 convert myself; could not be happier with the quality and performance at that price point. Read our minds Rick!

I LOVE my RT85... I call it my "RT'75" as I run a 1978 AudioTechnica LS 500 cartridge, (top of the line in 1978, got one new/old stock), and occasionally run other '70's carts, like one of my AT14sa's. Love that 70's feel. Utilize LP Gear stylus on all, ViVid line. I wish it had tone arm height adjustment but I just put a 2mm acrylic mad on the acrylic platter and took care of that, also can't tell its there. Anyway, great review!

Great review! Sat down this morning with my first cup of coffee and enjoyed your calm demeanor and informative video. I bought a RT 85 with the blue cart about a year ago as my first turntable and have had excellent results. Simple to setup, I plugged it into the phono pre amp on my Denon AVR 3600h and it sounded great right out of the box.. later I added a ifi phono pre amp to chain and that really got me hooked on vinyl. A massive improvement to the sound stage and instruments separation for a relatively low cost. Looking forward to more reviews.

This is from a well experienced 64 year old O.G Black man, music lover and audiophile. The Fluance Rt85n with the matching isolation platform, I think it is a very attractive package. I believe it sounds and performs as good as it looks.

Have had my RT-85 for about 2 years - love it. I also keep the cover off when playing (I never put the hinges on it) and yes...blank record to set anti-skate.

Hey Rick, a couple of things, also big difference between the RT85 and the RT85N is the VTA. Which is different for both of those Carts. I am running the RT85, I the Ortofon 2m Blue, grew up on judging a system by how well the cymbals sound. Plus at 68 hearing rolls off at 10K so a little more bright is not a bad thing for me. This is for my home office system, bought for retirement. It is all fluance equipment. I am running there PA10 preamp, which I think does a really good job, like you say, YMMV for personal taste. The AI61 ‘ s powered speakers, and the DB10 subwoofer. All this for around $1000, I am very happy with the system, does the job, for me very well. For me the big problem with the Nagaoka 110 $150 dollar cart, and the 2m blue is currently $185, so the RT85 is over all a better deal, unless you don’t like the blue. I also got the speakers and turntable in the bamboo finish. If only the made the turntable isolation stand in a bamboo finish. Once again, thanks really enjoy your channel.

Another nice informative video Rick that helps shed some positive and enlightening information for anyone looking to purchase a quality turntable at a decent and affordable price. Looks like a solid winner as far as design features and functionality is concerned. Great entry level table for sure or one that just might suffice as a one stop for one's valued record collection...thanks for reviewing

I got the RT85 in 2020 to replace a Dual CS741Q that I had for 30+ years. It is a great deal especially considering the price of the included Ortofon Blue cartridge. The RT85 is the turntable that I recommend to friends and strangers. I sold it six months later and got a Mofi Studiodeck with a Mofi Ultratracker cartridge. I've since upgraded the cartridge to a Hana EL Moving Coil cartridge. Yup, I remove the dustcover on my Mofi deck when playing records and reinstall it when I'm done.

Excellent review. I like the MP110 so much I went up the line all the way to the MP500. The differences are small but audible the higher up you go with your cartridge. But then you have to upgrade the turntable and the phono stage….

I"ve had my RT85 several years now with no issues. The only thing I might add is there is no LTA. Not really a problem, just for information purposes. Would highly recommend. Great channel. Always look forward to your videos

I love my RT85. I wasn't a fan of the 2M Blue, so I switched it out for an ATVM540ML/H and couldn't be happier. After the break-in period, it turned into a warm, smooth cart with little to no surface noise, rich bass, and improved highs. Definitely recommend it if you want to try another cart instead of the Blue.

I have the RT85N and absolutely love the MP-110 cartridge. In my system and room, it’s perfectly balanced and the bass extension is fantastic. I really like the Fluance, it is excellent quality at a very good price.

The dust cover will only pick up resonance if it is open. A closed dust cover will actually reduce resonance even better than no cover, as vibration is reduced to the stylus. But, I also like the open look, so unless it’s closed while playing, it makes sense just to remove it.

I am very pleased with my Fluance turntable I've had for two years. I should go ahead and acquire a new belt now.

Great Review - Love your videos! One additional thing that is different about the RT85 vs. RT85N - and this is on Fluance's site - but the tone arm is locked a little higher for its VTA to accommodate the larger Nagaoka Cartridge - however - in this line of carts - like the MP-110 and the 2M Blue - or even the 2M Bronze - its probably not that big of an issue.

Great video Rick. Perfect for someone looking to move up from entry level. I own an RT85 but replaced the cart with an AT540ML for MM and an AT-OC9XML for MC. I enjoy your style. I need to learn to edit as well you. Thx.

Excellent review! I have an RT85 on my upstairs system and have been very happy with it. As far as 16 rpm goes... I have an old Dinah Shore 7" disc of hers. I forget how many songs are on it. A number of spoken word albums used to be produced at that speed.

I use Fluance’s PA 10 preamp with no issues at all. To sum it all up, I love all my Fluance turntables (I have 3 of them) and speakers. And no, I don’t work for Fluance. Well done video.

Got one. When not spinning records, I remove the belt from the motor spindle and let it rest on the platter which helps reduce overall tension. I like to think it will help with belt life.

The 85N is supposed to have a higher VTA because the height difference......... but so does a 120g record and a 180g record sooooo it is relative to your ears. So i may buy a 110 later but i doubt it. The 2m blue and bronze got me super happy

I've only heard good things about the Fluance TTs so I'm not surprised by your review. The tracking force scale you linked is very similar to the one I recently bought and it's much better than the cheaper ones costing around $12 or so. The isolation base looks interesting, but at $119 sounds a bit out of budget for some. Great review!

I’ve had my RT 85 for about a year, considering the price of the cartridge alone, the unit is well built. Run that through my Marantz 2220b and Klipsch KG4 speakers. It’s a really warm sound.

Thanks Rick! I have this turntable with the Ortofon Blue cart. I have been very pleased. With my setup I don't find that it sounds bright. Maybe the tube amp makes the difference. Before this, I had a Denon DP300F and had the Nagaoka mp110 cart. To me, the Fluance was a nice upgrade. The only thing I would consider doing at this point is moving up the line in the Ortofon cartridge. I also use the Fluance phono stage which seems to do a decent job for me. My question is, what should be my next step above the 2m blue in the Ortofon line that would make a significant difference.

Nice review! Re upgrades, Tarun over at the British Audiophile has this rule: if you upgrade, UPGRADE, meaning spend >3x as much as what you currently have. Otherwise, it is just another flavor of the same. With TTs that can get a bit complicated with all the different parts, but I think this is a good rule. -- Can you use a record brush on this TT without the motor stopping? That was one of the great annoyances with the Thorens 205 (I think) I once had (and got rid of). Record brush would stop the platter from turning because motor was so weak.

The Schiit Mani is a good phono preamp. I do prefer straight tone arm, that said the tone arm on my present table is a curve. I love my present table. I agree I don't leave the dust cover on when playing record for the reason you mention. I enjoyed your review and like the things you said about tables in general. Thank you.

Ion Max LP turntable is a great turntable too, i've had mine for a long while and i love it

My Dad had a Nagaoka MP10 on his Oak turntable - anyone remember that one - back in the early 1980s - then he upgraded to an AR turntable with a Linn Basik tonearm and an AR P77 cartridge - I loved that one.

Hey Rick, great video like usual. While I will stick to my Marantz TT-15S1 table with the Clearaudio tonearm and cart, I am more interested in the Fluance isolation platform. How does that compare to the Pangea wall isolation shelf you installed?

Absolutely love my Fluance RT85 / fantastic quality & value for the $$ / plays & sounds great - I tell everyone about it.

I have the Fluance acrylic platter because I heard it was good for a bass preference but boy does it pick up static. Sometimes I lift up a record to turn it over and I can feel the static rush over the hairs on my wrist. This is after treating the record with the zerostat 3. I try treating the platter with the zerostat in the hopes of keeping it under control.

I only changed the belt on my 1987 Mission/Cambridge Audio once in about 20 years. When I brought it to my dealer (Brooks Berdan) for service 10 years *after that* the tech changed the belt and said the old one was stretched. I re-recorded some records to digital with the new cartridge + belt and (yikes!) I discovered that the older dubs of the same records were slow in comparison. Sometimes you can't tell until you hear things side by side. My turntable is AC synchronous (no speed adjustment).

Ha, i have that same Riverstone gauge. Cheap but works very well with the little attachment. I'm one of those old poor guys who still uses a Technics SL-J3, but i sure do love it 😁

Hi Rick, this is really a very interesting unit in the highly competitive market of $500 class turntables, thank you for the great review! 🙂

I like your base traps putting cushions and pillows in a metal wired bin like that works great as a base tramp😉👍 probably be good cushions in the table as well

Gotta say, I'm hardly a vinyl beginner, and I like my stuff to sound good, but...I really was impressed with the AT LP60 series. For what it is, it's a really good unit, and I do recommend it to friends who don't want to spend a lot of money and don't have any 78s taking up space. I remember a time when you couldn't get a "grown-up" turntable that didn't have FOUR speeds -- 78, 45, 33, and...16! My parents' Zenith console is a four-speed, I had a portable stacker as a kid (bought at a garage sale) that had four speeds, the big systems I saw on display at K Mart in the late '70s and early '80s all had four speeds, but at some point, 16 disappeared. Having said that, I've never personally encountered a record that plays back at 16. The pseudo-official word is that 16 2/3 is a playback speed meant for spoken word records. But....here's the thing...I've seen many KZfaq videos in which someone demonstrates records that play back at 16 2/3 RPM, and they all had this in common: they were **music** records, not spoken word. And it seems those records were intended for store playback systems, which makes sense when you think about it -- twice the playing time per side as a 33 1/3, which means less flipping and changing. The sound was surprisingly decent. The cool thing about modern technology, though, is if you encounter a record that plays back at 16 and you don't have a turntable that has that speed, just digitally record the playback at 33 1/3 and use your favorite sound editor to slow it down 50%. I hear you about resonance...thing is, I always play my records with the dust cover on....because dust is a HUGE problem for me. Within seconds a perfectly clean record will be polka-dotted in dust. Crazy thing is my pretty good ears cannot detect a problem with the sound with the dust cover on, but if I'm recording something via the USB, I definitely hear a lot of rumbling if the dust cover is on, so when I do digital recordings of my "oddities" that never made it to any kind of digital medium (CD, download, etc.), I have to take the dust cover off; the built-in preamp that's tied to the USB is very sensitive to it. (My Sony receiver has a built-in phono stage so I turn the pre-amp off during regular listening.)

I just got the RT82. Great so far. Difference is the 85 has different cartridge and platter.

I just setup the LPgear 3600LENSS on a Zupreme Head Shell I used a 1.5mm Hdpe Shim and about a 1.4 grams of weight. so the Vta height and weight are almost the same as the Mp-110. Sounds Great to me. Also have a Atvm95ml vta and weight matched Carbon fibre headshell, :) this one is my keeper. I also run a Mp-200 Like it very much, SO this these 4 carts Sound great in there own way. Flunace does not like to offer any help with changing out the Mp-110 But if you match VTA height &weight with mp-110 they all Work great.

This may be my next turn table, its right in my budget and I think it will sound perfect!

Great review. Love the channel 👍

Nice ! Always looking out for deals 😎

I like this table as I own it. It has auto stop which is nice because I often listen to records at night with headphones on and almost always fall asleep 😴 💤. That being said, I would personally prefer a fully automatic turntable. It would be cool to see Fluance come out with a fully automatic turntable!

I Love my RT85!!! Great review

I need the dust cover on at all times. I have a cat who loves a spinning disc 😆

Hi Rick , I know Rega use a felt mat which works well with a glass platter , not sure if it would work with this unit.

The single-sided record as alternative anti-skate test doesn’t work with every such record. The one I used had me in a panic as the tone arm flew towards the centre. I was convinced that the anti-skate was broken. My turntable was still in warranty. I initiated the warranty process. Something made me get a proper calibration disc before taking things any further. The tone arm stayed perfectly at the point I’d dropped it. It was so still, it was disturbing because I’d seen another YT video say that there should be a bit of a wobble. I adjusted the anti-skate and saw it begin to move, confirming that it was working perfectly. So, I’d warn folk not to panic if you can’t seem to prove your anti-skate is working using a single-sided record. Best to invest in a proper calibration disc. It shouldn’t cost any more than US$25. Hopefully you can pick one up for much less. I got the Mayrecords one which supports alignment on one side and the anti-skate check on the other.

Would you recommend that over a similarly priced U-Turn? I know it doesn't have anti skate, but I believe the new arm is better and it's made in the US.

When I started getting back into vinyl, I bought the AT LP60X and it was quite suitable, its a decent entry level turntable. There's only one option to upgrade the cartridge on Audio-Technica, which I bought and installed. However, I was using its Bluetooth feature and the music sounded like I had placed a towel over the Klipsch BT speakers. After a few months I upgraded to a NAD C588 turntable (just under $1k on sale). The speakers now are KEF LS50 Meta and a pair of B&W 600 series speakers. The NAD is pretty damn good, the only complaint that I have is, the counterweight is difficult to accurately dial in. If I want to listen to the Stones mono box set, its an easy switch from the Ortofon bronze to the Ortofon mono cart but it can take a bit of time and frustration to adjust for the weight difference. Other than that I'm pretty happy with my current setup (for now, LOL). Great video, thanks!

I prefer an "S" shaped tonearm simply because they take a straight headshell which is more predominant. I've always wondered if a straight arm could potentially be more prone to ringing dependent on the material, such as metal.

Very nice video as always 😁 Is this Fluance record player comparable to the Audio Technica At LP 120? Or is the Fluance placed in the division above? I'm thinking about the AT player with the AT 95 SH cartridge and needle. Enjoy your weekend, and all the best from a sunny southern Norway 👏👍😁

Good review. I appreciate it.

Yeah that could be a good choice tt, I don't know I've had some issues about the arm people say its loose?? yours is not? Try this on your TD 160, get little balls of blu tack spread them around the table probably the Star of David, and put one in the lines that join the Star so 12 balls of blu tach in total 3 mm or so! then lay the acrylic mat agently on top. Let me know how you get on with that! of course you need to raise the arm to compensate but I wouldn't do that?? I don't think that's not a good idea in my findings, I know it's controversial and that's completely what people say you shouldn't do but it's wrong the arm doesn't need to be level but the cartridge has to be tilted to be level, so you're at your 90 to 92° face of the styli tip. so pack it out with some pieces of stiff card to compensate on the front edge of the cartridge. And do not mount I found this out recently do not mount your cartridge parallel level with the head shell or using one of those protractors, I don't think protractors are the right way to go overhang is a much more accurate way, and twist the cartridge in a bit a millimeter maybe a bit more. So if you had a straight line where the screws would be on the head shell what you can draw with a pen or pencil and that is your overhang to spindle reference for where the styli tip would be, there's a calculation on the internet for this if you don't know the overhang to the length of arm. So what your aiming for when you drawn your line that has to be at 90 degrees to the headshell holes the outer Bolt wants to be in front of the line and the inner Bolt to the back of the line, that means the tip will be at its perfect point and can ride the inner groove better. There is a tool for this expensive, Wally did some investigations into numerous cartridges at all price points and found that zmith was out by 78% and didn't matter on price of cartridge. buy this little twist you're putting in you should be correcting that zmith, I found it much more responsive better highs since I've done it have a bit more weight to them and separation.

@6:47 I have been using the original belt that came with my turntable, for approximately 15 years. I hear no issues with playback. I have a spare belt. But I hear no issues with the original belt. My belt requires me to manually move it to a different rung (for lack of a better noun) on the turntable's pulley. The pulley is cone shaped. The smaller rung will turn the platter at 33⅓ RPM, and the larger rung will turn the platter at 45 RPM. So I do periodically pull on the belt to move it back and forth between the rungs, when playing records of different speeds. And the belt has good tension, after all of these years. Do some belts actually wear out after 2 or 3 years? Is it due to endless hours of use (I do not play records every day -- so perhaps that is why my belt is lasting so long)? Or is it a matter of varying quality of the belt's construction?

I currently have the Ortofon Blue but very curious about the bronze. Is the bronze more warm than the blue or the same tonal wise?

Good choice. Fluance has a good reputation in the VC. I almost spent that much on RSD ouch 🤕

I would love to see a blindfold test with you and a few other people that would pick the best sounding setup. A RT81 with a $1,200 cartridge against a $1,200 table with a $300 cartridge. I just don't think having a table for over a thousand bucks is going to have as great as a impact as one that is much less (maybe used) as long as the less expensive has anti skate, tone arm height and leveling feet. Anyways, would be a fun watch.

16 RPM discs were generally transcription discs for radio and books for the blind.

I got the rt 84 in hopes I could try a lot of different cartridges. The limiting factor on this unit is the tone arm. Fluance doesn't recommend using any mc cartridges, eh whatever.

I had the Fluance for two months and I'd say it's OK, but adding a few 100 bucks and buying a used Rega was big upgrade.

I am looking for a good quality semi automatic or automatic direct drive turntable preferably with an SME tonearm. I don't need or really want on-board bluetooth, wifi, usb, or an integrated preamp. My budget is $1000 but preferably less. Is there anything you would recommend. I currently have a AT LP5X and a Pioneer PL 707 and I need a third turntable and it must be semi or auto.

Great turntable and a very well done video. I'm still a Rega lover though... Natch.😉😂 Jim🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🙂

Is there an upgrade path to the MP-150 by changing the stylus, or do you need to swap out the whole cart?

There are a lot of turntables under $500 with adjustable counterweight and antiskate.

Vinyl platters, being made from pretty much the same material as vinyl lps, have resonances and vibratory qualities that are more in sync with each other; which is what you want. However, I say "more in sync" because even two things made of the same material have different vibratory qualities because of their different thickness and mass.Your average person who plays records, (not that most people know how to play records), don't know how to address something like that, or optimize and compensate for stuff like that. Being underappreciated, I'm not going to waste my time with long How To Do's. Another of the many things people do wrong is they try to get their phono cartridge to be perfectly parallel with the lp. When cutting from the studio tape to make the female part of the stamper, which is used to later make what is called the male part of the stamper; the cutter cuts the grooves at a slight angle as I understand it. If it cut the groove perfectly straight up and down, the material debris being displaced by the cutter plowing through the material, would keep getting in front of and in the way of the cutter. By cutting the groove at a slight angle, instead of straight up and down, the displaced material shavings go off to the side and out of the way of the cutterhead instead, where they have powerful vacuums that suck up the displaced plowed through material debris. For this reason styluses do not sit perfectly down into the groove. Instead, it's like trying to fit a V into one half of a W. It does fit into it sort of, but not at the perfect angle or geometry. The perfect angle does optimize sound quality, especially in terms of sweetness. Very few vinylphiles are aware of that, as some of us sticklers for detail are.We are sticklers because we can hear when things makes a very audible improvement. Records are a lot of problems compared to cd. Not only in optimizing playback, but in making them in the first place. There are many other things too. Listening to my new, even higher end cd player, already modded by myself of course, I take back anything I said about vinyl sounding better in a few ways over cd. Those ways are gone. I do realize that most people are never going to own cd playback as otherwordly good as what I have, and maybe they are better off buying vinyl if they can find it cheap, but make no mistake; on the best cd players, I don't hear anything that vinyl does better sonically. If you have an extensive vinyl collection, I'd keep upgrading turntable and cartridge. But if you are just getting into music, buying, vinyl is really looking like not the way to go, with so much price gouging. When people see these guys advertising stuff like Dark Side Of The Moon UHQRs from the 1980s on ebay and elsewhere, and pricing them near $3,000. People don't want to give their money to such a ___! They are often still unsold a year later. If the sound quality that I know cds are capable of, ever comes down to affordable cd players, vinyl people could be one new computer chip away from their lps being near obsolete. Those who invest in vinyl for monetary reasons, Betting on what they "believe" is vinyl's soniic superiority, might be as risky as betting your pay on the Daily Double at the race track.

700 Canadian, If you wait till Christmas you get the Phono Pre Amp Free. That's what i did last Christmas.

16 rpm records were for children’s music and spoken word. All those yellow records from my 50s and 60s childhood were 16 rpm.

hey thats my turntable! I didnt know they were coming out with an isolation platform - looks to be identical to the TT body with the same feet? Was there a difference between using it and not using it? my only complaint with Fluance is I wish they came in a matte black. The finish on the piano black aint perfect (my first one was scuffed and had to be sent back) and prone to surface scratches in the clear coat so you've got to baby it.

Thanks Rick and this should be of particular interest to people setting out on the road to hifi financial ruin. But for entry level and early upgrades there are only 3 turntables you need to mention: Rega, Rega and Rega!! And for you colonials still struggling with English, that's Ree-ga, not Ray-ga!! PS sorry but I don't know how to add laughing emojis to my comments - sure you know I'm joking (maybe!)

Fully automatic or don't bother

Not a deal! A CD player is a much better proposition 👍

Rather a USA made U turn than a China table.

I’m sorry Rick, as fascinating as this might be for those lucky enough to be able to affort slightly more expensive equipment, these kind of videos are not what made your channel a success in the first place. Please stay true to your original video content, which has always been a great mix of informal, informative and mostly pleasure for the sake of music enjoyment. Hifi reviews can be found everywhere, your channel deserves better. Cheers :)

First! Great video!

Nice review. I have had mine for about a year and a half---the 85N. It's a mindlessly excellent TT. The set-up after purchase was super easy and they make it very easy to understand with step-by-step instructions. Bonus: the instructions are by competent writers. I have two shells--one for an old fave cartridge and the OEM. They are easy to change but you may need to adjust the weight which is easy--I marked the setting change with a sharpie ;^). The auto-stop works well enough. I'd like an auto return but it's no hassle to lift it over (hardly a 1st world problem). Being a solid machine with competent mounts I don't worry about random motion or jiggling while it waits for me, even if it's the next day. I find that moving it myself ensures that *I* lock the tone arm lock each and every time for my own personal peace of mind. I'm certain I would skip it more often than not otherwise to my eventual horror--did I mention I have cats? Okay, I will soon. Personally, I like the cover and keep it attached and closed even in use because I have cats and more ambient particles than the average non-cat house. I have had many turntables since the early '70s and while the rest of the stereo is all old quality stuff, I absolutely don't mind that this is the one new component interfacing with my vintage world.