
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


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 | Matte Bamboo Real Wood Veneer |
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° |
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) |
Certifications | FCC Certified, RoHS, CUL/UL |
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 | |
UPC | 061783273517 |
What's Included | RT85 Reference Turntable Line OutClick to Expand |
Press

Ty Pendlebury of CNET Reviews the RT82
The Fluance RT82 "is the best overall turntable under $300... offers everything you could want"
Read Full Review

Vinyl Rewind Reviews the RT85
"I give this my highest rating of 5 pompadours out of 5"

Joe N Tell Reviews the RT82
Follow along as Joe Mariano unboxes and sets up his new RT82
Customer Reviews
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Awesome turntable and Ortofon Blue M2, huge sound stage from the Blue compared to the Red. I purchased the Red to play my old records...going back and forth from Blue to Red is a breeze. Thanks for a great product.
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Great value. With Blue Ortofon as shipped it edges out some far more expensive tables I've had. I'm impressed.
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The build quality is superb, it looks elegant, it shipped quickly, I couldn't be happier.
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To say that I love it is an understatement. Greats looks, great sound. I didn’t experience any of the issues other buyers have reported (cover hinges, speed selection button, etc). So far, it’s does the job perfectly.
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Love my new turntable. Looks gorgeous & sounds great! The Ortofon Blue has enhanced everything I play. It's been a thrill re-listening to my records and hearing new details.
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The RT85 has a lovely fluidity of function. The output is aurally quite pleasant.
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I have been using this turntable for about 5 months now. I listen mainly at night, when the family is asleep, about 3-4 nights a week.
I accumulated, in the past months, about 135 records, mostly used, some mint, some poor, and most above average. Many classical music, operas, symphonies, concertos, some pop, rock, jazz, etc.
Before listening, I clean the records, because they usually come with little to a lot of dirt.
Objective observations: on the mechanical side of the turntable:
I had only one record to get stuck at a location where the record groove is visually damaged, likely a cigarette burn. Otherwise, I never had any record skip or get stuck. So, I can say with great confidence that the mechanics of the turntable are excellent.
Regarding pops, I read two contradicting arguments about the needle: if it is tick, then will not get into scratches, and be more forgiving to imperfections or scratches. The other argument is that, if the needle is thin, will go deeper into the groove, and will not be impacted by surface scratches. Yes, I get pops, especially in classical music, depending on the record. 50-60's records tend to have more imperfections (perhaps dust baked into the groove, or the technology is poor), 70-80's records tend to be of higher acoustic quality. I don't think the cartridge is good or bad in this regard. Cleaning almost always improves, unless there are visible scratches.
Subjective observations:
Since I listen late at night, at very low volumes, I need the loudness curve. So I use an analogue equalizer, which gives about 22 db boost to the bass and some boost to the highs. I say this to explain why I will not comment on the tone of the turntable. This is easily controlled with the turn of a knob on the equalizer. If too bright, or bass is lacking, which varies greatly from record to record, this is solved with the equalizer.
Beyond the tone, the turntable produces very clear sound, and if the record is stereo, it has very nice separation, producing amazing spatial qualities.
As for the scratches on the body and the dust cover: I have young kids at home, so I constructed a heavy duty wood cover on top of the turntable. It is protected when not in use. I have not had issues with scratches, but I tend to agree that the dust cover gets tiny scratches very easily.
Overall, I am very happy with this turntable and the choice of cartridge (Ortofon 2M Blue). -
I was considering replacing my av receiver due to poor sound quality with my old technics turntable. I read the reviews for the RT85 and decided this would be my first upgrade. Turns out that this will be the only upgrade required. Beautiful sound tone and quality of workmanship.
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I got it with the preamp. Happy with it. If you're on the fence, this thing sounds very nice. A very good upgrade from my AT120!
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Love the turntable. Gorgeous look and sounds amazing.
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I have RT85 turntable for a year now and can't say any bad word about it just that it looks nice and blends in to rooms design perfectly. But enough about looks as what's is inside and how it perform is much more important.
So to start with is that I faced little issue at the very beginning it had a hump sound while not playing but fortunately, Fluance team, Brent's help solved the issue super fast by replacing a headshell and put me back in to quality sound. And to be honest not much to be said as everyone has their own preferences in terms of sound quality and looks but what I can say is that I do enjoy the music that comes out of RT85 and definitely recommend it to those who is looking for good quality Hi Fi turn table. Enjoy! -
Absolute best turntable for the money out there. The RT85 in white is what I purchased.
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Nothing at this price is even close. Needs a little bit of time to break in. But after a few hours of use it cleans up quite nicely.
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Came well packaged and was easy to set up with the instructions. The Ortofon 2M Blue stylus sounds fantastic.
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I did lots of research before making my purchase. My max price point was $600, with all the features the RT85 had I decided to purchase it. I am not disappointed in my choice. Set was simple and quick, and it sounds amazing. It also looks pretty darn good lookin to. I would have no problem recommending this to anyone looking for a great turntable at an affordable price.
See all reviews
Resources
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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. |
112g 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 with moving magnet cartridges such as the Ortofon OM Super, 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 mat 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!.