Back in 2016–nine years ago–Fluance approached me about reviewing a new turntable. The Canadian audio brand was best known as a speaker manufacturer, but had decided to dip its toe into the thriving vinyl resurgence with a line of all-new turntables. It was a bold move, but the Fluance RT81 (reviewed here) delivered an unbeatable combination of affordability and upscale features. At that time, I had to go to my local used record shop to buy a few records for testing. After all, I’d given away my vinyl collection decades before. That Fluance turntable (re)hooked me and I’m now sitting at around 400 records, so I had plenty of material to throw at the company’s RT81+, a 2023 followup to that affordable model with a few extra tweaks that make it even more compelling.
Setup
Setting up a turntable for the first time can be a little intimidating if you’ve never done it before. However, Fluance has always done a nice job of making the process as straightforward as possible. The cartridge comes pre-mounted on a headshell. Simply insert it onto the end of the tonearm and when it click into place, tighten the locking sleeve. The counterweight also clicks into place. The platter has the belt preinstalled with a ribbon that makes it easy to stretch the belt over the pulley. The rubber isolation feet (one of the upgrades over the standard RT-81) are adjustable and a bubble level is included in the box so you can ensure the turntable is level.
The most complex (and important) step is balancing the tonearm and setting the correct tracking force, but the instructions walk you through this and no technical skill is required. It shouldn’t take more than a few minutes to have the RT81+ set up and ready to go. From there, it’s a matter of connecting to your audio system. This turntable has a switchable, built-in preamplifier and comes with RCA cables, so you connect it to a system with a PHONO input, or to pretty much anything with an AUX input. There is no Bluetooth support.
You’ll notice the RT81+ weighs more than many turntables in its class, tipping the scales at over 14 pounds. That’s because Fluance uses a solid MDF plinth instead of plastic to reduce vibration for better sound. It’s available in white, black, or my review unit’s glossy, real walnut veneer finish. This turntable also features an aluminum platter topped with an acrylic platter mat (another upgrade over the RT-81).
Hand-On With the RT-81+
The RT-80 (still available) comes with an Audio Technica ATN91 cartridge, but moving up to the RT-81+ gets you Audio Technica’s AT-VM95E with a bonded elliptical stylus. An elliptical stylus provides superior groove tracking and is better at capturing detail than a conical stylus, which is often found on record players and entry level turntables.
Speeds (45 or 33) are switchable and there is an auto-stop function, so you don’t wear that stylus unnecessarily if you hit the end of the record and happen to be out of the room.
I spent a week or so spinning records on the RT81+ and it delivered impressive sound. From new wave classics like Roxy Music’s Avalon, to “yacht rock” (Steely Dan’s Aja), classic rock masterpieces including The Band’s Music From Big Pink and more recent offerings like the Tragically Hip’s Day For Night all sounded fantastic. The Audio Technica AT-VM95E is known for providing a slightly warm sound with notable bass and midrange performance.
It may not have been able to match the nuance, frequency response and expansive sound of the Fluance RT85 turntable with an Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge, but for an entry level turntable costing half as much, the Fluance RT-81+ performed admirably.
What if you want an upgrade down the road? The basics of the Fluance RT81+ are solid, so if you want to take performance to the next level you don’t necessarily need to buy a new turntable. Simply swapping out the AT-VM95E’s stylus with an upgrade like the VM95ML–a simple plug and play operation–will make your record collection sound even better.
Fluance RT81+ Key Specs
- 2-speed belt drive turntable
- Audio Technica dual moving magnet, bonded elliptical AT-VM95E cartridge
- Static balanced S-Type aluminum tonearm
- Dampened aluminum platter with acrylic platter mat
- Three point rubber isolation feet
- MDF plinth
- Switchable Phono preamp with gold-plated RCA connectors (RCA cables included)
- Hinged plastic dust cover
- Available in white, black or walnut veneer finish
- 2 year warranty
- MSRP $299.99
Recommendation
Since the original RT81 was released nearly a decade ago, Fluance has expanded its turntable lineup and the company now offers eight models, with a range of features and finishes and available with cartridges from Audio Technica, Ortofon and Nagaoka.
Whether you are looking at the entry level RT-80 or the flagship RT85/RT85N, Fluance has continued its strategy of delivering turntables with solid MDF plinths, upgradability options, and best-in-class features–including cartridges that are a step up from competitors in the same price class. The $299.99 Fluance RT-81+ doesn’t stray from that formula and that makes it an excellent option for anyone looking to start a record collection and anyone looking for an upgrade from a basic record player.
For those interested in a complete record listening setup that’s affordable, compact and delivers outstanding stereo sound plus Bluetooth streaming support for your mobile device, Fluance also offers the RT-81+ (and other turntables) in bundles with its Ai41, Ai61 and Ai81 powered speakers.
Disclosure: Fluance provided a turntable for evaluation purposes but had no input into this review.
