Verdict
It ’s a sympathetic product in many way , and has some impressive aspects to its strait – but the Fluance RT85N can be improve by quite a few toll - comparable rivals .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
When it comes to its products , the aim of Canadian specialist Fluance is“serious performance ” . And should there be any dubiety , the RT85N is going to have to do gravely if it ’s to take attention – and , ultimately , sales – away from the naturalized market - leaders where turntables at this sort of money are have-to doe with .
I ’ve listened to Fluancedecks before now , and it ’s safe to say they ’ve never been less than “ there or thereabouts ” . So does the RT85N have what it takes to put Fluance higher up your shortlist ?
On sale now , the Fluance RT85N can be pick up from the ship’s company ’s internet site for a rather inelegant £ 432.94 in the UK . This is a quirk of international exchange rates , of course , because in North America the RT85N costs $ 499 .
You do n’t have to search long or severe to find some well - regarded choice usable at this sort of money . The splendidRega Planar 2can be yours for £ 475 , while Pro - Ject ’s equally well - regarded Debut Carbon is very similarly price . I could go on , of course of study , but the mention of those two brands alone should be enough to emphasise the stop that Fluance has its work cut out .
Design
Apart from some wilful show - offs and inescapably expensive exception , the all-inclusive design of the turntable has n’t changed in decades . Form follows function here and , as a consequence , nothing about the RT85N ’s looks will startle or delight . It ’s a phonograph record musician , and that ’s what it looks like .
Build quality , while perfectly acceptable , is nothing special – again , this is a functional item and it looks and feels that way . The pick of finishes is pleasant , though . Gloss black and gloss white offer a hint of modernity , while the “ natural ” walnut tree choice should please traditionalist . The Fluance website is at warfare with itself where the actual materials of the plinth are concerned , however ; is it solid wood or MDF ? It ca n’t seem to make up its idea .
Supporting the disc are three heavily rubberised , top - adjustable closing off foot , which tender minimum contact with the aerofoil on which the lazy Susan is place upright and slap-up vibration - rejection . On top there ’s an siemens - shaped aluminium tonearm , and hefty acrylic platter ( 1.6 kilo and 16 mm deep ) that ’s been determine for both its dull characteristics and rotational consistency . A hinged , tinted dust - cover completes the motion picture .
Features
At this sort of money , some turntablesinclude rightness such asBluetooth connectivityor USB output signal – not the Rega or Pro - Ject manakin I invoked earlier , confessedly , but the likes ofAudio - TechnicaandSonycertainly make them available . Fluance want the RT85N to have groovy pureness of purpose than that , however .
So “ features ” is n’t all that extensive a listing – although what ’s included is undoubtedly useful . Auto startle / block up , for instance , is worth having – peculiarly where ‘ stop ’ is concerned . A little switch on the rear of the RT85N ( next to the stereo system RCA end product and the earthing post ) let this lineament to be flip on or off . I ’d go with ‘ on ’ , because then the platter will start turning when the cartridge is place above it , and the tonearm will return to its provenance once the phonograph needle has reached the run - out rut at the end of the record .
machinelike speed - alteration is another mild - yet - worthwhile feature . A big “ on/33/45 ” telephone dial at the bottom left of the phonograph record provide you to select the speed you ’d like the record to turn at – none of this “ move the belted ammunition on the pulley ” Heath Robinson nonsense here . So , yes , the RT85N is a belt - ride design – as are nearly all alternatives at this sort of money . Rotational stability is allow by a servo that analyses motor speed 500 times per second .
The Fluance is supplied with a pre - fitted Nagaoka MP-110 moving - attractor cartridge . The headshell simply bayonet onto the tonearm , and all you need to do is make adjustments to balance and anti - skate – the instruction manual of arms is ace - helpful in this regard – and you ’re in business .
Sound Quality
pay up aid to the manual of arms cater with the RT85N and it should n’t take more than 15 minutes or so to go from reach the box to putting on a record . And once there ’s a phonograph record spinning , it takes even less time for the Fluance to expose somewhat much every aspect of its sonic character .
A chunky 45th anniversary pressure of David Bowie ’s Lowlets the RT85N give a pretty full chronicle of itself . And it ’s good to say this is a turntable that has a “ sting ” for every “ pro ” .
The positive centre around the out-and-out scale of the Fluance ’s introduction . This is a record book player that establishes a generously proportion soundstage , one with real breadth and depth . It demonstrates respectable stereo focussing , and the competition between literal instruments , electronic treatment and front - and - centre vocals never catch out of handwriting .
Each instrument is lock in position , everything gets space to stretch out without touch on on any other element , and where multiple positions are reside ( the tympan - kit , most evidently ) , positioning is untroubled and obvious . The phone is big and self-assertive , with authentic trust where the extensive dynamics of the record are interest .
From here on , though , the RT85N is a much more a mixed bag . Tonally , it ’s what ’s courteously described as “ all over the shop ” . Low - frequency front is portentous , which gives recordings actual weightiness ; but the deficiency of rigour where the tone-beginning and , especially , the decay of bass speech sound is interested means momentum is sacrifice in favor of unmixed heft . The RT85N is able to kick like a mule , but it ’s about as maneuverable as a scuff too .
The mid - range , when it can get its point above all that humiliated - end activity , is decently elaborate and quite fluent where vocalists are concerned . This is made evident by listening to judicious selections from It ’ll terminate in Tears by This Mortal Coil – quite a few of the tracks here feature interpreter with extremely spare instrumentation accompanying them , and the Fluance is a revealing and enjoyable listen in these portion . When the bass kick in , though , singers are in constant risk of being inundate .
None of this is helped by the reticence the RT85N displays at the top - ending . Despite displaying decent detail , threefold sound are modest in the extreme – although there seems to be no open rolling - off of the gamey - oftenness range ; it ’s understated to the gunpoint of shyness . This sort of top - end modesty has the effect of making the bottom sound even more self-asserting and domineering than it actually is , which is far from idealistic .
Fundamentally , the RT85N sounds Pyrus communis - shaped . There are some portion in which the shape of a pear tree is go about the nonsuch – but , emphatically , not where audio procreation is come to .
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Should you buy it?
Here ’s a mark that ’s a plucky disruptor rather than part of the establishment .
It is n’t without merit , but the RT85N is n’t quite the finished clause .
Final Thoughts
No two way about it – you’re able to corrupt a better turntable than this without drop very much more money . It might not have a dust - cover , or automatic speed - modification , or an auto start / arrest adroitness , but it will have groovy fidelity . Which , in the final psychoanalysis , is what it ’s all about . Is n’t it ?
Trusted Score
How we test
We test every turntable we review thoroughly over an extended period of time . We use diligence standard tests to equate feature the right way . We ’ll always state you what we receive . We never , ever , assume money to review a mathematical product .
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FAQs
The RT85N does n’t boast an incorporate phono stage , so you ’ll need to consider an outside phono stage to magnify the signal from the turntable .
Full Specs
