Fluance RT85 Reference High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable Record Player with Ortofon 2M Blue Cartridge, Acrylic Platter, Speed Control Motor, High Mass MDF Wood Plinth, Vibration Isolation Feet - Bamboo

Value vs. Trade-off

The Verdict: The Fluance RT85 is a price-to-performance powerhouse designed for listeners who want high-end components without the boutique price tag. Its greatest strength lies in the Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge—a premium component that provides stunning detail and a wide soundstage usually reserved for much more expensive setups. The heavy acrylic platter provides excellent speed stability and damps unwanted resonances, resulting in a "blacker" background and significantly tighter bass response.

On the flip side, the RT85 does not include a built-in phono preamp, meaning you’ll need to factor in the cost of external hardware if your amplifier lacks a dedicated phono stage. Additionally, while it features an auto-stop function, it is a fully manual turntable and will not automatically return the tonearm to the rest.

However, these omissions are intentional design choices. By stripping away cheap internal electronics and mechanical automation, Fluance invested the budget into reference-grade playback components. When you consider that the included cartridge alone accounts for nearly half the unit's retail price, you are essentially getting a high-mass plinth and isolated motor system for a fraction of their market value. It is an unbeatable "buy" for any enthusiast prioritizing pure audio fidelity over all-in-one convenience.