Old Thorens TD115 vs new Fluance RT85

[Thud3]

So, hello!
I have been checking AK out for a while, but not much of a poster.
My Thorens TD115 malfunctioned recently. I bought it new in the late ‘70s or early 80s.
It has given us many hours of service. The cartridge ( bought at same time as table) is an AT15Sa.
This is the second time that I’ve had to replace the patch cords.
Anyway, I decided to buy a newer turntable. I chose the Fluance RT 85.
I have them both connected now, and have been comparing them a bit. I am in no way a professional reviewer, but I like both players.
The old Thorens/AT rig is the sound I am accustomed to, and I still kinda prefer it over the new Fluance/Ortofon Blue set-up.
The new Fluance does seem “crisper”, some may say “harsher” , and also brighter and more clear and present.
The Thorens adds a smoothness and some color.
I have not taken the time to swap cartridges, nor do I plan to. I may eventually decide that one set-up is better than the other, but right now I will say only that they are slightly different.
Anyone else have thoughts about Fluance RT85 vs. Thorens TD115, or the cartridges I mentioned?

 

[AudioJag]

The sound difference is only going to be in the particular cartridge you use. An Ortofon cartridge is going to sound different from an AT one.... same for any other cartridge.

Mind that the mounting hardware for the TD115 are Thorens parts and not interchangeable with the Fluance hardware. But the cartridges should be interchangeable.

From what I have read and seen, the Fluance is a very good turntable, and should give you good and long service.

 

[Thud3]

Time for an update.
As AudioJag correctly observed, the difference in sound is primarily a function of the cartridge. The Ortofon 2M Blue does everything that I expect a cartridge to do, and it does it well. As i said earlier, it is brighter, clearer, crisper than the old AT15Sa. Some of that difference may be due to the age and service life of the AT. The Ortofon tracks really well, judging by my ears: even the loudest passages on a record do not distort. The AT did as well, but seemed to be a little thinner, maybe due to stylus wear. As far as the the sound difference between the two, words like “warmth “ and “harsh “, I was able to adjust most of that kind of difference with an equalizer and L-Pads on my speakers.
The tables themselves had other more intrinsic differences. The old Thorens TD115 (admittedly not the most sought after model) had noticeable speed fluctuations (wow,flutter). While it did have a strobe and an adjuster, it was difficult to get stabilized. Between record tracks, with the volume turned UP, there was audible rumble, but once the music started, the rumble was masked.
The Fluance did not have noticeable wow and flutter, but has no strobe or motor speed adjustment. The speed is controlled using an internal optical sensor, which appears to work work quite well. Whatever rumble is present, it was not audible between record tracks with the volume turned UP, as it was with the Thorens. So, I will say that the Fluance did what I expect a turntable to do: hold speed and be quiet.
I ended up trading the Thorens with the AT15 Sa away. It served me well for many years, but was showing its age.
As I said in my OP, the Ortofon sounded far brighter than the old AT cartridge, which I was able to moderate by tweaking the equalizer and adjusting the L-Pads on my speakers (turning the horns down with respect to the woofers). Also, over time I came to enjoy the new sound.
Bottom line... old was good, but new is, too- maybe better.