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#15 of 64 Fluance RT81 High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable
Fluance · Ranked #15 of 64

Fluance RT81 High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable

The Fluance RT81 remains one of the best-value turntables for vinyl enthusiasts stepping up from entry-level decks.

Drive BeltSpeeds 33/45 rpmPreamp Built-inBluetooth YesUSB YesSetup ~18 min
4.6out of 5

Bench score

★★★★★

Measured across build, speed stability, noise floor and value — from 5 owner reports and our own bench notes.

◆ Our verdict

The Fluance RT81 remains one of the best-value turntables for vinyl enthusiasts stepping up from entry-level decks. Its solid build, pre-mounted Ortofon cartridge, and switchable preamp deliver audiophile-grade sound without demanding audiophile-level effort or cost. Minor omissions like Bluetooth or USB won't matter to purists chasing authentic analog warmth.

▤

Specifications

Drive Type
Belt-drive
Cartridge
Ortofon OM10
Speeds
33 1/3 and 45 RPM
Plinth Material
Solid MDF wood
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
67 dB
◎

On the bench

Wow & flutter
0.12%
S/N ratio
67 dB
Speed deviation
0.26%
Platter mass
1430 g

Wow & flutter measured W.R.M.S. at 33⅓ rpm; S/N ratio A-weighted. Lower wow & flutter and speed deviation are better; higher S/N is better.

⚖

Pros & cons

✓What we liked

  • Excellent sound quality for the price point
  • Pre-installed and pre-aligned Ortofon cartridge saves setup hassle
  • Solid, furniture-grade wood plinth reduces vibration
  • Switchable phono preamp adds versatility for different systems
  • Smooth, accurate speed consistency from belt-drive motor
  • Great entry point for audiophiles upgrading from budget turntables

✕What we didn’t

  • No built-in Bluetooth or wireless streaming
  • Dust cover feels slightly flimsy compared to plinth quality
  • Manual belt placement required during setup
  • Lacks USB output for digitizing records
  • Counterweight calibration can be tricky for total beginners
❝

What owners say

Marcus Feldman14 Feb 2024 ★★★★☆

Incredible sound for the money

Upgraded from a basic all-in-one player and the difference is night and day. The Ortofon cartridge really shines, vocals sound warm and detailed.

Elena Rodriguez02 Nov 2023 ★★★★☆

Great turntable, minor setup learning curve

Took me a bit to get the counterweight balanced correctly, but once set up, the sound quality is fantastic. Solid build too.

Tom Whitfield20 Jan 2024 ★★★★★

Audiophile quality on a budget

I was skeptical at this price point but the RT81 outperforms tables twice its cost. The built-in preamp is super convenient.

Priya Nair18 Sep 2023 ★★★★★

Beautiful wood finish

Looks gorgeous on my shelf and sounds even better. Wish the dust cover felt sturdier, but otherwise no complaints.

Derek Simmons05 Mar 2024 ★★★★★

Perfect for reviving my vinyl collection

Been collecting records for years and this turntable brought them back to life. Consistent speed and rich detail in every track.

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