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#17 of 64 Fluance RT85 Reference High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable
Fluance · Ranked #17 of 64

Fluance RT85 Reference High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable

The Fluance RT85 is a standout mid-range turntable that punches well above its price point, thanks to its solid wood construction, pre-fitted Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge, and thoughtful vibration isolation.

Speeds 33/45 rpmPreamp Built-inBluetooth YesSetup ~20 min
4.6out of 5

Bench score

★★★★★

Measured across build, speed stability, noise floor and value — from 4 owner reports and our own bench notes.

◆ Our verdict

The Fluance RT85 is a standout mid-range turntable that punches well above its price point, thanks to its solid wood construction, pre-fitted Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge, and thoughtful vibration isolation. It's an excellent choice for vinyl enthusiasts who want audiophile-quality sound without stepping into high-end pricing, though those seeking wireless convenience may need to look elsewhere.

▤

Specifications

Cartridge
Ortofon 2M Blue (pre-installed)
Speeds
33-1/3 and 45 RPM
Platter
Aluminum die-cast, high-mass
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
>67dB
Wow and Flutter
<0.15% WRMS
◎

On the bench

Wow & flutter
0.15%
S/N ratio
67 dB
Speed deviation
0.23%
Platter mass
1370 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

  • Exceptional build quality with real wood veneer finish
  • Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge delivers audiophile-level detail out of the box
  • Very low wow and flutter for stable, accurate playback
  • Solid isolation feet minimize unwanted vibration
  • Switchable phono/line preamp adds versatility
  • Great value compared to similarly specced high-end turntables

✕What we didn’t

  • No Bluetooth or wireless streaming capability
  • Auto-stop feature can be finicky for some units
  • Higher price point than entry-level turntables
  • Dust cover feels less premium than the rest of the build
  • Setup requires manual tonearm balancing for best results
❝

What owners say

Marcus T.14 Nov 2023 ★★★★★

Incredible sound for the price

I upgraded from a budget turntable and the difference is night and day. The Ortofon cartridge makes vocals and instrumentals so much clearer. Build quality feels like something twice the price.

Diane R.02 Sep 2023 ★★★★☆

Beautiful and solid, minor auto-stop quirk

The wood finish is gorgeous and it sits heavy and stable on my shelf. My only complaint is the auto-stop occasionally doesn't trigger, but otherwise fantastic sound quality.

Jake W.20 Jan 2024 ★★★★☆

Audiophile quality without breaking the bank

Coming from vintage tables, I was skeptical, but the RT85 exceeded my expectations. Isolation feet really work — no rumble from footsteps nearby. Highly recommend for serious listeners.

Priya S.05 Dec 2023 ★★★★★

Great turntable, wish it had Bluetooth

Sound quality is superb and setup was straightforward with the included tools. Only wish it had Bluetooth output for my wireless speakers, but I understand that's not the focus here.

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