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Fluance RT81 Review

Automatic cueing and good resistance to skipping offers greater peace of mind when listening to treasured old records
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Fluance RT81 Review
Price:  $250 List
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Manufacturer:   Fluance
By Max Mutter and Steven Tata  ⋅  Dec 5, 2017
74
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#3 of 7
  • Sound Quality - 40% 7.0
  • Component Quality - 25% 7.0
  • User Friendliness - 25% 8.0
  • Vibration Resistance - 10% 8.0

Our Verdict

Earning one of the top spots in our review of the best turntables, the Fluance RT81 provided good sound quality, user-friendly operation, and fantastic vibration resistance throughout our testing. Its design has clean lines with a lacquered wood base, creating a nice modern-meets-retro style aesthetic. It also provides field-leading vibration resistance, making it great for those that tend to bump into things when dancing to their records. If you're concerned about good sound quality, you would probably be better off spending a bit more on the Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB. However, the Fluance still produces a great sound, so don't be dissuaded if you fall in love with its looks, it certainly backs them up with solid all-around performance.
REASONS TO BUY
Good sound
Fully automatic cueing
Great vibration resistance
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive

Compare to Similar Products

 
fluance rt81
This Product
Fluance RT81
Awards Top Pick Award
Best Vibration Resistance
Editors' Choice Award
Best For Most People
 Best Buy Award
Best Bang for the Buck
 
Price $250 List
$249.99 at Amazon
$349 List
$349.00 at Amazon
$249 List$219 List
$219.00 at Amazon
$60 List
$49.78 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
74
81
68
60
29
Star Rating
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Bottom Line Great for those that want good sound and something that won't skip if the vinyl inspires some dancingGreat sound and user friendliness make this turntable great for almost anyoneGreat for those that want fully automatic cueing and good soundThe best sound per dollar value of any of the models we tested, and has user-friendly features to bootA budget option that doesn't provide good enough sound quality to produce a good listening experience
Rating Categories Fluance RT81 Audio-Technica AT-L... Audio-Technica AT-L... Audio-Technica AT-L... Victrola Vintage 3-...
Sound Quality (40%)
7.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
2.0
Component Quality (25%)
7.0
8.0
6.0
7.0
3.0
User Friendliness (25%)
8.0
9.0
8.0
5.0
3.0
Vibration Resistance (10%)
8.0
6.0
5.0
6.0
6.0
Specs Fluance RT81 Audio-Technica AT-L... Audio-Technica AT-L... Audio-Technica AT-L... Victrola Vintage 3-...
Cartridge Audio Technica AT95E Audio Technica AT95E Audio Technica AT91R Audio Technica ATN3600L Innovative Technology ITRRS300
Drive Method Belt Direct Belt Belt Direct
USB Compatibility No Yes No Yes No
Operation Fully Automatic Manual Fully Automatic Fully Automatic Manual
Platter Material Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum Plastic
Mat Material Rubber Felt Rubber Felt Plastic

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Fluance RT81 was one of the top models we tested, and one of the best looking. You can certainly upgrade to the likes of the Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB and get better sound quality, but all but the most discerning audiophiles will be pleased with the Fluance.

fluance rt81
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Performance Comparison


As can be seen in the table above, the Fluance RT81 was one of the best overall turntables that we tested. Below we detail all of the tests we conducted to calculate those overall scores, and how well the Fluance performed in each.

Sound Quality


The Fluance scored just behind the top performers in sound quality, earning a 7 out of 10. The music it produced had an overall clarity that rivaled that of the likes of the top scoring Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB and the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon. Its dynamic range was also impressive, creating a well rounded soundscape with punchy loud notes and subtle ghost notes. However, the top scoring models both had slightly wider dynamic ranges, which made their sound have a bit more depth. This difference is very noticeable when listening to these turntables one right after the other, but when listening to the Fluance in isolation we didn't feel like the dynamic range was stunted, so we doubt anyone but the most selective of listeners would be disappointed with the Fluance.

fluance rt81 - the fluance sounded quite good in our testing, falling just behind...
The Fluance sounded quite good in our testing, falling just behind the top scorers.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Component Quality


The Fluance does have a slightly lower quality build than our two top models, which earned it a high but not top score of 7 out of 10 in our component quality testing. It has an aluminum platter that is quite heavy but not quite as heavy as those of the top models. We felt that the rubber mat included was a slight downgrade from the felt mats of the top models. Like the vast majority of the models we tested, it uses a belt drive in order to reduce any vibration from travelling from the motor to the platter. The tonearm feels fairly light and stiff, but is clearly inferior to the top scoring carbon fiber tonearm of the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon. The AT95E Dual Magnet Cartridge was certainly able to produce a good signal in our testing. One thing we loved was the lacquered wood base, not only for its sturdiness but for its nice aesthetics as well.

fluance rt81 - the fluance's tonearm is quite stiff, and it is easy to adjust the...
The Fluance's tonearm is quite stiff, and it is easy to adjust the tracking force.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

User Friendliness


The Fluance was one of the most amenable record players we tested, earning a high score of 8 out of 10 in our user friendliness testing. It gained points due to its completely automatic cueing function. You can just push a button and the tonearm moves over the record and gently places the needle on its surface. This can relieve a lot of stress if you're worried about scratching your records. This is a feature that neither of the top scoring models have, though both do have a cue lever, which takes some but not all of the stress out of cueing.

fluance rt81 - fully automatic cueing makes putting the needle onto the record...
Fully automatic cueing makes putting the needle onto the record incredibly simple.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

The Fluance is also fairly adjustable. It automatically detects if your record is a 33 or 45 and adjust its speed accordingly, and has a screw-on weight to adjust tracking weight. That is even with the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon in terms of adjustability, while the Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB has an additional pitch control adjustment, which is nice but certainly not essential.

fluance rt81 - the fluance sports simple controls.
The Fluance sports simple controls.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Vibration Resistance


The Fluance was the clear winner for our vibration resistance testing, earning the top score of 8 out of 10. We had to really throw a strong hip check into the table holding the Fluance to get it to skip, making it a perfect choice if your vinyl listening will likely be accompanied by rigorous dancing.

Value


Sporting a list price of $250, the Fluance is a fairly good value considering its sound quality, user-friendliness, and aesthetics. However, the Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB lists for just $50 more and provides better sound quality. If your budget can take an extra $50, this is a better overall value.

fluance rt81
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Conclusion


The Fluance RT81 is one of our favorite turntables. It offers good sound and a high level of convenience, so if you want to upgrade to great sound, the Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB provides it for just $50 more.

Max Mutter and Steven Tata