
RT85 Reference High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable
Record Player with Ortofon 2M Blue Cartridge, Acrylic Platter, Speed Control Motor, Solid 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)

SOLID WOOD PLINTH
Revel in the gorgeous solid wood cabinet and 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 | High Gloss Piano Black |
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) |
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 | 061783268414 |
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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Very please with my RT85 so far. It's a serious upgrade in quality (and looks!) from my prior turntable. The quality of components is unparalleled for the price, plus it's one of the only high-quality turntables to have autostop these days. Setup was pretty straight-forward and Fluance provides lots of helpful videos if you want to make sure you get things just right. Customer service was super responsive as well!
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I couldn't be happier with the RT85. I put in a lot of listening hours immediately and it's stellar. Setup is a breeze, the Ortofon 2M blue is lush, distinct and fully present.
Special shout out to Julie in Customer Service who helped resolve a question instantly. Fluance people are great.
Finally, bamboo finish and acrylic platter are a dope combo! :-) -
This was better than I could ever expected. The design is so sleek and sexy. I got the Fluance85 in black and it looks so good with the frosted acrylic late. The functionality of it all is incredible and the sound is superb. I am so happy with this purchase.
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I have to first state that I'm a total beginner when it comes to turntables, so I don't have much to compare to. I wanted to get something nice that I wouldn't really have to worry about upgrading, but nothing crazy expensive, so the RT85 fit the bill (better value than the RT84 in my opinion for just a little bit more). I had done my research and watched plenty of video reviews. It's definitely a nice piece of audio gear! Great sound and quality. I guess we'll see how it holds up with some time. Do your research before buying but I can almost guarantee you'll be happy with your purchase if you decide to go with the Reference line.
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Great Table with an impressive instruction manual which is very easy to set up. You get a nice quiet servo-controlled motor for outstanding speed consistency and accuracy, a nice 3 pound acrylic platter riding on a quiet bearing system with a quality brass bushing on the spindle. The tone arm is decent and will treat your records well but is one of the weak points. Table is quiet and pretty solid but could use some improvements with dampening the plinth. If Fluance decides to make an RT-86 with a better quality tonearm and dampened plinth, I would be willing to upgrade on my next purchase..
All in all, a great value and I am very pleased with the slightly warm and lively sound. -
Great looking TT audio is the big feature that impressed me very happy about the unit.
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Terrific turntable. Well made and great sound!
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Great turntable. Looks great and sounds even better. Excellent bang for your buck.
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Great value, wonderful sound and high quality machine. Table looks great! Easy to set up & had it spinning in minutes! Woudl recommend the unit to anyone in the entry to mid range upgrade market.
Came with minor defect in the finish under the plate & am waiting for a response to my inquiry regarding this detail through the website. Taking a couple days but over the holidays it can be expected. -
I have rediscovered the beauty of vinyl records and I could not be more happier with the RT85. It was super easy to setup and it sounds incredible. I also think it looks really stylish and modern in the piano black.
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Beautiful turntable with a beautiful sound.This is a high quality product that is superior to turntables costing twice as much! This is a must have component for any audiophile!
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Set up was so easy, had it up & running in less than 15 minutes. And I took my time.
This is by far the best turntable for less than $1,000.
So far it has tracked all of my LP's flawlessly, even ones that sounded crappy on my old ProJect table. The Ortofon blue has a lot to do with that. I simply cannot recommend this turntable enough. Unless you have very deep pockets, you shouldn't consider anything other than the Fluance RT-85. -
I was juggling the idea of getting an RT85 for around a year or two. I finally talked myself into it and what an amazing upgrade. The sound quality and build quality is fantastic. I was pleasantly surprised that the wood finish looks better in person. The Ortofon 2M Blue brings a whole other level of sound out of your speakers. The Bass quality is fantastic and will bring new life to any genre of music. I highly recommend it, it'll help you realize how great the vinyl collecting hobby can be.
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Pros
Class Company
RT85 series beats competition, contains all bells & whistles (platter & cartridge) for great price
Straight forward setup.
Auto Stop greatly appreciated.
Cons
Wish came double boxed.
Ground screw was extremely difficult to turn and on first play had massive hum which simply needed more tightening.
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I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the box the turntable is absolutely stunning to look at I got the piano black, very easy to put together hooked it up to my stereo and Wow I have an Audio Thechnica 120 and it does not even come close well that could be because of the stylus but whatever I couldn’t be happier, I even bought the weight and I really believe it helps the bass sounds deeper the auto stop doesn’t work all the time but that’s apparently because of the grooves at the end of the records so the manual says but Kudos to the Fluance team very impressed I would not hesitate to recommend the Fluance turntables especially the RT85.
See all reviews
Resources
Video
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 0.7%!
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 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! The Reference tables can easily accept other Ortofon cartridges such as the often requested 2M Bronze and Black!.
Articles from our experts
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