Fluance RT81+ Review - A nice upgrade from the original RT-81

[@geraldcrook9504]

Hi Craig Great to see you back at your best. I always enjoy your straight up take me as i am sort of chats. This video was very enlightening and yes i could here the difference with your 45rpm record the sibilance was there on the Red but the Blue tracked it just fine . I use a record for testing my equipment.And its by weather Report 3rd track Gibralta also the title tune Black Market . I find them very testing and revealing . Anyway back to the point I don't think i can warrant the blue price so im sold on getting the red. But i wish to thank you again for a well put together video. Gerald /South wales UK

[@jmcdeal9516]

Looking at this model. This was very helpful. Thanks.

[@quintus8279]

you back, thank goodness, lover your honesty

[@xMidan]

Good to see you again my guy!

[@Poppinwheeeeellllllieeeeez]

Nice to see you active again. I just came across one of your old vids and noticed the recent releases.

[@81peabody]

Glad to discover that you're back! We missed you!

[@TBNTX]

Another terrific video, Craig. I'm delighted with my Fluance RT-85 and RT-81 turntables. They are well made, and they never disappoint me. The RT-85 is my go-to, but the RT-81 is my back-up.

[@andypomeroy7447]

I bought my RT85N because of your reviews and my son's recommendation. I've had it for 2 years now. Records that skipped no longer skip. The tracking and build quality for the money is stunning. Looking forward to more videos!

[@Jammerk40]

Thanks Craig for another great video! So nice to see you doing video's again

[@jrh11254]

Just ordered this TT; very excited to see if it can re-kindle what was once a very important part of my life: listening to my collection of 1000+ LPs.

[@gregcarson3444]

I love my RT85 they really do make a good product.

[@Doctore_Robert]

Holy Moly! 64K subscribers? I didn't know you could do that in the VC. I'm in!

[@TimWilliamsDFS]

What a great video. I was stuck on a few different turntable brands and watch a bunch of different videos but THIS video was the most helpful of them all. Thank you such much for your delivery and honesty with this product. I think I've made my choice!

[@matthewsilesky8221]

you helped me a LLOOTTT with my turntable/vinyl journey. Thanks uncle creg (youre like an uncle to me)

[@prattpt6]

So glad the turntable legend is back!!

[@peepingtom5547]

Great that you are back

[@jaybaldwin5376]

This is great news. I got an rt81 and your videos helped me decide and of course setup.. Thank you for that. I feel these are really sensible upgrades and represent some serious value..👍

[@asianperformingartsasianpe6994]

So happy your back.

[@loki7441]

Hi Craig, I agree a beautiful machine and great sound. Thanks for the recommendation in your video a few years back.

[@TheNeilo-Audiosound]

It’s always a “Plus” to See an upload from Craig,I’ve followed you from nigh on the beginning and although You got me into the Audio Technica turntables (I bought 2 of them) upgrading one and leaving the other standard. Never had anything to do with Fluance even though they look great and as always your review is as concise and in-depth as it gets yet seeing as I got my grail Technics SL-1210MK11 turntable a year ago I’ve no need to look at anything else. I cannot recommend the Schitt Mani Pre amp enough and The cartridge I use is the Nagaoka MP-110.

[@jasonemanuel9070]

I thought the schiit magni was pretty bad.

[@Rebel9668]

Well of course they'd improve it now after I just plunked down several hundred for a Pioneer DJ PLX500, LOL! I put an acrylic mat on mine as well I got from Hudson HiFi and upgraded the styli from their 3600L clone to an Ortofon 2M red. Ah well, I can still change out cartridges to my AT-VM95SP so I can play 78's as well. But now I'm going to save up for this turntable for my living room system, the Pioneer being in my bedroom. I don't have powered speakers in the house except for subs and my old receiver/amp in my living room doesn't have a dedicated phono input so I'm glad the Fluance has it's own preamp so I won't have to hook up some dinky box with tiny backlit chinese tubes in between it and the receiver/amp. Someday I'll build my own tube amp...Lord knows I have enough antique radio chassis and vintage tubes and transformers to do it with, lol.

[@suseendranbalakrishnan6529]

Craig, Congratutios for appearing again here for TTs & Vinyl after a long gap. But, Sorry, no suufficient close ups in the video to see the belt & pulley parts under plater.

[@VinylTV33]

I don't think that's a deal breaker for most. There's a pretty good shot of it at 1:16 on the RT81 portion of the video. It's just a motor and a spindle, that's it.

[@samh488]

You can’t go wrong with fluance!

[@roviwoteap2375]

Nice looking turntable there with some good features.

[@BansheeFifteen]

Oh man, I got so many questions. But thanks Craig.

[@analoguecity3454]

I've had the RT-84 Model going on three years now, and I'm incredibly please with it! I paired it with "shcitt Mani" and it's like a dream! I treat it like a baby, it is my baby!😅

[@budsmoker4201120]

Love my 85 and the Blue sings

[@TheMrMoosy]

Great video Craig. Cheers!

[@unclefuncker3098]

Great record choice with Hemispheres

[@EA-58]

Love the Fluance series. Shame we can't buy them here in The Netherlands. great vid.

[@SlowDownUMovin2fast]

I don’t want to assume, would the cartridge you recommended fit/work for the RT 81 ? Also, if I were to replace my slip mat with a cork one, would I need to recalibrate the tone arm ? Without making assumptions, I’m not sure if the cork slip mat or slip mats in general share the same dimensions. Specifically the Fluance slip mat. Thank you for your contributions here, very very helpful for a new comer to the vinyl format. Cheers !

[@FranklovesBunnies]

Really solid review thank you 😊😊

[@CaptainBailey4007]

Awesome stuff Craig!!🍻

[@stevescudder1507]

Seems like an excellent product. I was somewhat disappointed the stylus wasn't lifted and returned to the parked position after play.

[@VinylTV33]

That adds much more complexity to the mechanism. It can be noisy and clunky the closer to the center the arm gets, as it tries to sense how close the arm is to the end. More can go wrong. I'd stick to simple.

[@dclarke792]

Thanks Craig!

[@kingofmetaluk]

You mentioned about using some different RCA cables to the ones provided to reduce a slight hum. What replacements would you recommend?

[@TheSoundrookie]

There's only two things I don't like about these babies. 1: The build in pre-amp (which can be removed). 2: The fact that they are impossible to get your hands on here in Denmark. Cool video Mate.

[@chrislj2890]

Three points define a plane. I don't understand why all turntable manufacturers don't use three feet instead of four. It makes it so easy to level side to side and then reach around the back to bring up the rear to front. And the shape of the feet really make sense, with a point making contact and the rest of the material to absorb the vibrations. What I like about the 'S' shaped tonearm is not only the cool looks, but the fact that it uses a straight head shell instead of the angled type, the former being more common. I had considered a Fluance because it has the auto shut off, but I went with a different brand due to wanting auto shut off with auto lift. The included cartridge is very good and very versatile also. I'm sure anyone buying one of these would be very happy, as I think I would be.

[@Pineconeboy55]

What brand did you go with?

[@chrislj2890]

@@Pineconeboy55 I had considered the Dual CS618Q but spent more for the TEAC TN-5BB. I swapped out the Ortofon 2M Red for an Audio-Technica AT-OC9XML moving coil cartridge. I spent a lot more but this was my retirement rig and I'm pretty happy with it.

[@denismeury8357]

Hi Craig .I like yours videos recently i relisten all yours video from day 1.I know you are searching for new ideas,icould give you some.1-could remove some scratches from a vinyl?.2-optionnel Nagaoka MP-110 cartridge for the fluance RT-85-N?3-Groove Wash brush with the fluid?4-How to repair cardboard files?5-What is the best bet The fluance RT-81+(Keep the money and buy Orthofon 2MBlue or the Fluance RT-85 with the blue.I am a french from Quebec .Then excuse me if i made mistake on the spelling?Long live to your channel (I like the way you explain things on audio.)

[@Cadpat07]

Do you have a video explaining differences with an acrylic platter? I see fluance has some and I’m not sure if it’s worthy he extra cost? Im assuming with that platter you do not need a mat?

[@vmfRecords]

Hi ! I'm from Brazil and will go to Vancouver for a vacation trip next month. Im thinking about to buy a RT81+ but im not sure about how to bring this back to Brazil in the air plane. Any tips? Sorry for my poor english, and thanks for the help!

[@edbouman5013]

Hey Craig, could you do a review on the Realistic RD-8100 Turntable? I'd like to have your input on one of these!

[@VinylTV33]

I could if I had one.

[@ku______]

I would love to know where I can buy a shirt like your, Craig :D

[@surf01er66]

I've been researching turntables looked at their website. Still Far East production ? Like the acrylic mat, replaced rubber

[@cooper6086]

👍 Unfortunatly it's nearly impossble to get your hands on a Fluance in a german HiFi-Shop. I like them, they look so beautiful oldschool.

[@jrh11254]

The S-shaped tonearms act as plumbing P-traps: keeping those deadly sewer gases from overwhelming one’s senses.

[@cyprianskiba8768]

Great info

[@KiSu-i9t]

What are the good rca cables you swapped the ones that come in the box with, im probably going to be getting this and would like to get nice rca cables

[@tacticalteager7920]

I've been looking for a new turntable, but it's hard to decide. I like this but would need a receiver to be able to stream my music though the same speakers via Bluetooth when not playing records. Any recommendations? Also this would work with passive speakers correct? I'm new to the audiophile game. Great video, loving the white finish version.

[@dangerzone007]

Get an RT85 and a good sounding preamp

[@paulaj2829]

If I was you I would go for this model !! For the cost you cannot better it.. Style !! design !! I don't know about the sound but with the AT cartridge already fitted I would say 100% go for this model & then when you want to spend some more cash go for the Orange stylus the the Red then the Brown Shibata & believe me you will be as happy as could be with having the fun of changing over for older vinyl's so that you don't damage the more expensive Shibata.. You can also go down grade to the Blue stylus as well for playing 45s of old.

[@VinylTV33]

With passive speakers, you will need a power amplifier / receiver. That amplifier doesn't need a phono pre-amp because this TT has it built in, but it can be turned off if you have a better phono pre-amp. The turntable WILL NOT drive passive speakers.

[@cyprianskiba8768]

What is a good pre-amp that you recommend?

[@ChrisReise]

Looks like the perfect turntable to play an LP I would like transfer to digital. LOL

[@dangerzone007]

Get something with a reasonable cartridge such as an RT85. Use an audio interface with a flat frequency response such as a focusrite scarlet.

[@ChrisReise]

I was actually making a joke to my friend. LOL@@dangerzone007

[@VinylTV33]

Nothing wrong with transferring vinyl to digital. Often the vinyl copies are better than the CD, because with vinyl, they can't brick-wall compress the audio. A good vinyl rip that's cleaned up digitally can sound amazing, and maybe even better than any native digital copy.

[@ChrisReise]

I prefer the sound of vinyl over digital as well, but I don't have a turntable and DEFINITELY no place to out it if I DID have one. LOL@@VinylTV33

[@fredbissnette3104]

The shibata stylus is incredible and costs way less than the ortofon 2mblack shibata

[@paulaj2829]

I made my way up to the Shibata Stylus & now I'm happy that I can enjoy my music with the price scale I work too.

[@dangerzone007]

What's your favourite high output moving coil cartridge? Do you think they're worth the extra cost?

[@VinylTV33]

I have never actually tried a MC cart. Do a search on KZbin for some needle drops and see if you like the sound.

[@bernardomk]

I really wanted one of these. Unfortunately prices here in Brazil are prohibitive, so I am probably never gonna own one :(((

[@vinylexplorer9817]

Cacete rs os precos no Brasil sao bizarros mesmo... kkkk muito triste isso e desanimador.

[@cyprianskiba8768]

If you get the one without a pre-amp, how do you then connect it to a receiver?

[@jimsmith3477]

do you recommend this over the audio technica 120?

[@VinylTV33]

For just basic home listening, yes. For DJ-ing, no.

[@jimsmith3477]

@@VinylTV33 no DJ. just a person on a budget who likes vinyl. thanks for the video. looks like an awesome player !

[@Leebabins]

If only their lids didn’t scratch and scuff up beyond reason. It’s been an issue for years and they don’t address it.

[@VinylTV33]

I cover mine with the felt that came packed in the turntable when not in use. I only touch the sides to open the lid. If you're careful, it won't scratch or scuff. I'm not sure what other material they could have used for the lid. Even our phones get scratched up over time, no matter how careful we are.

[@chrislj2890]

My wife made a cover for my turntable which I always keep on when not using. The scratches come from grinding dust and dirt into the surface when cleaning. I just wish the manufacturers would include a soft cover or at least make it an inexpensive option.

[@trystanjones2412]

Top Man 👍

[@dangerzone007]

Have you measured the wow and flutter on all your turntables?

[@VinylTV33]

No I have not. Of course wow and flutter are always paired as one term, but they are really two different versions of the same thing. Wow is a slow change in the speed over time and flutter is more like a jittering, which wouldn't happen on a turntable. It's more common with tape.

[@MMID303]

I tested mine with an app. Don't know how accurate it is. They claim 0.07% for the RT85 which is what I have. I measured an average of 0.15% for 33 and 0.10% for 45. Both numbers are below the recommended 0.25% max.

[@dangerzone007]

7:00 I think you mean damping material.

[@VinylTV33]

Tomato, tomawto :)

[@dangerzone007]

Why not just get an RT 85 then no need for further upgrades. Then just focus on the rest of your system.

[@robingagnon9659]

you are right! for only 200$ more why buy the lower end?

[@VinylTV33]

I guess it depends on whether you plan on upgrading, or is it good enough the way it is. At least the upgrade path is there if one decides down the road to go that route.

[@Pineconeboy55]

They scratch that easily!?

[@Skrenja]

The 85 has no preamp and it also has that ugly exposed belt.

[@georgebliss964]

The advantageous use of acrylic as a material for a platter mat is complete bullshit. The friction between this material and vinyl is poor, which is exactly what you do NOT want in order for the record and the platter to act as one with no possibility of slippage. Rubber or felt is much better, so don't waste your money on this acrylic mat nonsense.