RT85 Reference High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable
Record Player with Ortofon 2M Blue Cartridge, Acrylic Platter, Speed Control Motor, Solid Wood Plinth, Vibration Isolation Feet
RT85 Reference High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable
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
"A new AFFORDABLE Record Player to BEAT”
I feel like every time I listen I pick up some new details I didn’t know were there last time.
Vinyl Rewind Reviews the RT85
"I give this my highest rating of 5 pompadours out of 5."
Jarrett New from Vinyl Eyezz Reviews the RT85
"For the price, this is the best sounding turntable that I've come across."
Brad Moon of Forbes Reviews the RT85
"It didn’t matter the genre... it all just plain sounds noticeably better on this turntable."
Read the Full Review
Theo from TechHive Reviews the RT85
"By any measure, the RT85 is an overachiever. From its acrylic platter, Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge, and included accessories, to its genuinely solid performance, the RT85 will have you enjoying high-end sound at a fraction of the price of the competition."
Read the Full Review
Part-Time Audiophile Reviews the RT85
Deep dive with Marc Phillips in a detailed review of the RT85 turntable.
Read the Full Review
Customer Reviews
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I've had this turntable for two weeks and I absolutely love it! The quality is first-rate. It is solid and elegant. The piano white along with the acrylic platter grab attention. Performance-wise, it's five stars. The calibrated tone arm floats perfectly to the vinyl. The 2M Blue stylus delivers crisp, authentic reproduction. I will say that it appears to pick up dust/dirt easily, requiring frequent (every two records) cleaning to avoid noise. I couldn't be happier with my choice and look forward to years of great sounding music!
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Everything about this turntable is first rate. The hinged cover over the turntable is a nice touch. The bubble leveling tool is over the top. Great sound too :-)
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Been buying vinyl since the 1960's. Back in the day when it was said vinyl was no longer going to be made we decided to invest in a good quality turntable. Bought a Bang&Olefson. What a great turntable. Thought there would never be anything better. Boy were we wrong! First of all we could no longer get needles for the B&O and no one new how to repair them. Bought an "el cheapo" turntable to get us by. Bad move. After much research we decided on the RT85. Wasn't sure I should be spending $500 on a turntable. Again, boy was I wrong! Worth every penny. The sound is absolutely amazing. Makes even the oldest of vinyl sound good. Set up was a bit time consuming but easy to do. My only gripe is the Auto Stop does not work on every album . Didn't say that before we bought it but does in the owners manual. If anyone is on the fence about this one. jump the fence and do it!
'
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Listening to albums that have been dear friends for 50 years and they have never sounded this good!
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I have had my RT85 for 1 day and am already a believer.
The sound is a meaningful upgrade to my 25 year old Technics TT, even with an upgraded stylus.
Purchasing and shipping was a breeze and setup was incredibly well laid out.
And it looks incredible in my listening room.
Bravo. -
I received my RT85 just after the holidays. The ordering process was easy. I also ordered an extra belt and the record wait. Everything arrived on time and if perfect condition. The assembly went well except when putting on the counterweight I pushed it too far on the tonearm. This turntable/cartridge combination sounds fantastic. I have a collection of records from the 70,s, 80's and 90's that for the most part were very lightly used and they sound terrific. I am looking forward to adding to my collection and enjoying this turntable for years.
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Even better than I expected. Easy to set up, and the sound is so crisp and clear I was astounded - even though I have had other, more expensive tables in the past. This is honestly the best value for the money anyone could hope for.
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The best turntable I ever had. The quality of the materiel. The packeging. The acrylique plater et the ortofon 2M blue are the best
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Simply an outstanding value. If you want a first class ticket to vinyl that will not break the bank. Excellent build quality and a great stylus pairing. This can be your first and last turntable. But the RT85 you will not be disappointed.
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The RT85 is a great value for the money, highly recommended. I’ve had it for about 17 months and couldn’t be happier with its performance.
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Great value for the money. Packaged well and easy setup. Sounds beautiful.
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Huge upgrade from my first record player, $100 pioneer.
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Purchased RT 85…. Build quality is outstanding, and sound is crisp! Listening to CSNY LIVE Album brings out the clarity very well.
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Just set my RT85 up last night and was blown away by the detail from my 35 year old vinyl. And this coming from a 1990s receiver phono preamp.
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Kudos to DAWN in Sales Dept as she was excellent to deal with in regards to my purchase. As for the turntable, it speaks for itself or should I say 'sings' for itself. Incredible turntable !!!
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 0.07%!
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 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!.
