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Fluance Turntables

cool9

cool9

Super Member
I'm looking for a good inexpensive turntable. I had questions about Fluance RT83 & Fluance RT82 & RT80.

Description of RT82 says: "accurate playback while having a flat frequency response for a natural sound without any coloration" (and Ortofon OM10 Cartridge $75).
Description for RT83 says: "Ortofon 2M Red ($100) is an all-purpose cartridge that delivers open, dynamic sound with a slight touch of warmth".
Description for RT80 says: HIGH PERFORMANCE CARTRIDGE - The Audio Technica AT91 featuring a diamond tipped stylus is designed to track your record grooves with greater precision & accuracy for high definition audio (but AT91 is very cheap and only costs $30!).

I don't know what "flat frequency response for a natural sound without any coloration" means. Is this high performance and have a realistic/dynamic sound?
And I don't know what "dynamic sound with a slight touch of warmth" means.
RT80 says it has high def audio and high performance cartridge but the cartridge is only $30. Is this a decent cartridge?

I listen to Hard Rock (at loud volumes) and Classical Guitar and I want the sound to be as realistic as possible. I have a very basic Audio Technica Turntable (maybe $85) and it doesn't have an adjustable counterbalance. I'm looking for a turntable with an adjustable counterbalance, too.
 
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It's marketing speak, which is to say that however they describe the sound, it's not apparently backed up with technical data. However, the descriptives are little different from those in use in this and any other forum.

Also, it seems that really they're just describing the character of the cartridge(s). You should be able to get reams of information on either of those as they're not even specific to Fluance. And you could now or later put just about any cartridge you like on the arm/table (suitably matched).

Of the two mentioned here, the closest to your stated preference for "realistic" sound would of course be the one described as "without colouration". Crucially, though, that's based on a not necessarily objective description. And no one will know for certain what you mean (or think you mean) by realistic. But hey, that's audio.
 
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Hi! Cartidges are hard to evaluate from writings. It is very personal what one likes and not.
One thing to note here is that the Ortofon red gets some criticisms from users (more than any other current cartridge I have seen). But on the other hand the red stylus easily can be swapped to an Ortofon Blue stylus (without having to do more than adjust the tracking force). This stylus usually gets very good reviews. But of course this switch come to the cost of a new stylus.

Regarding the cheapest of the three, the AT91, it also has a range of replacemt stylus that can improve performance without to much of a hassle.

What I am trying to say is maybe that it can be more important to focus on the turntable and tonearm itself than the cartridge it comes with. Cartridges and stylus can be changed more easily than the turntable.

Good luck with your purchase!
 
cool9 said:
RT80 says it has high def audio and high performance cartridge but the cartridge is only $30. Is this a decent cartridge?
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I've never owned the AT91, but I've had several cartridges with that same body type (AT-CN5625AL, the stock Denon-branded cartridge on a DP-300F, AT91R, AT3600L), and I've enjoyed all of them. The CN5625AL rescued me from disappointment with my Rega RP3 that I had ordered with a Rega Bias 2 cartridge. The Rega cartridge just didn't sound good to me at all, but installing the $29 AT made me super happy with my turntable purchase.
cool9 said:
I listen to Hard Rock (at loud volumes) and Classical Guitar and I want the sound to be as realistic as possible. I have a very basic Audio Technica Turntable (maybe $85) and it doesn't have an adjustable counterbalance. I'm looking for a turntable with an adjustable counterbalance, too.
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Which AT turntable do you have? I have an LP60X in my bedroom that might be similar (factory-set tracking force via a spring, and an AT3600L that's integrated into the tonearm and can't be changed out). It's just plugged into a Bose Wave table radio, but I love the sound it gives me--enough to wear out a stylus (that is, reach the owner manual's suggested 400-hour stylus life) about every six months.
 
Are you going to use the built in preamp? If not, buy the RT82. I had a RT80 and always had to fight a hum. Bought a RT84 and never had an issue with hum? If you need the built in preamp, how about the RT81+ with the AT VM95? Solid cart with many choices of C, EN, ML and SH stylus.
 
Pay little attention to the market-speak, the specs are more important. Specs are, however, mostly useless outside of a lab, or product description. They're great for comparisons, but tell you absolutely nothing about how a particular piece of gear is going to sound to you, in your room, with the rest of your gear. It would be nice, but it just ain't happenin....

Edit: At the entry level, I believe you should get the best TT you can afford, or maybe just a bit better. Fewer steps on the upgrade ladder.
 
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One thing which is relevant to these turntables is that they all have low mass tonearms which are most suited to high compliance cartridges. You won't go too far wrong with the Ortofon OM10 as a starting point, and then upgrade to the OM20 stylus. One issue with the Ortofon 2M cartridges is the high mass (7 grammes) and the fact that are quite tall. Some tonearms don't have pivot height adjustment.
 
KentTeffeteller said:
Why not a Nagaoka MP-110?. The best for the price, musical as the day is long
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I agree that it may be more musical (neutral) but the OP likes loud rock and classical guitar that's why I suggested the VM95ML as it reputedly has a bit more bite to its sound.
Also nude ML vs. bonded elliptical = longer stylus/record life.
 
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UncleAng said:
I agree that it may be more musical (neutral) but the OP likes loud rock and classical guitar that's why I suggested the VM95ML as it reputedly has a bit more bite to its sound.
Also nude ML vs. bonded elliptical = longer stylus/record life.
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The MP-110 does classical guitar and it's transients a lot better than the AT-VM 95 ML even does. I listen to a lot of rock and classical guitar records. Also, Nagaoka excels at reproducing drums (key for rock music).
 
I recently bought the Fluance RT81+ Elite for my daughter graduating medical school. Overall, a very fine sounding turntable - nice and quiet and the Audio Technica VM95E seems like a very decent cartridge for the price.
 
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