likebike23
Addicted Member
You have a Dual 1209 and you constantly hear a voice to get rid of it? Is it not working well? I bet it can be fixed for much less than $250.
U Turn Orbit Plus or Fluane rt81?
- Thread starter Dion Fan
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- fluance rt81 help turntables
Dion Fan
New Member
Oh its not bad. Just a warped platter, but it wasnt the best when it came out either.
Dion Fan
New Member
P
Plus, i picked it up for very cheap
I own, and lent it out to my brother, a Fluance RT-81 (purchased from AK'er 63Pontiac). It's not a bad table at all, built in pre or not, it's a very well insulated table with a nice faux glazed wood veneer. It comes with the AT95e stock and is a super easy full auto table. Someone must like them considering they've gone up in price since Mike bought it. For a STARTER table with no worries of age it's hard to beat!
Mike @63pontiacgp has owned both RT-81 and Orbit, curious which he thought was better (considering he has a top notch tube setup)?
Mike @63pontiacgp has owned both RT-81 and Orbit, curious which he thought was better (considering he has a top notch tube setup)?
I believe that a lot of people in this forum have used turntables all their lives, and like in any other hobby, they've had different experiences and preferences. My component turntable shopping experience only extends back to the late '70's, and like the OP and one other poster in this thread, I've only purchased 2 used turntables, neither of which performed well or lasted long.
I've also purchased 2 inexpensive, Chinese-made turntables, a Stanton STR8-80X and a Denon DP-300F, both of which worked perfectly and gave years of trouble-free satisfaction. These were both purchased for a specific need, the Stanton to play 78's and the Denon to provide automatic operation in a bedroom system. Neither of them broke down, but I did eventually give both away when I no longer had space or inclination for multiple turntables or systems (they were purchased as adjuncts to my primary source, which since 1985 has been a Linn, Well Tempered, or Rega).
I guess it depends on what you call poor. I wouldn't call either the Stanton or Denon poor--they played records with sufficient fidelity to let me enjoy my records. Do either sound as good as even a Rega Planar 1? No, and according to the reviews I've read, neither do either the Fluance or U-Turn, but it doesn't make a product poor just because it's not the best. We have positive reviews and positive attestations by actual owners that both of these turntables can play music enjoyably. And I don't think it takes thousands to get a "nice" turntable. My current Rega RP3 cost less than a thousand, but in terms of drawing me into the performance and causing me to want to play record after record on a daily basis, it does not take a back seat to the Linn and Well Tempered models that I did pay thousands for.
I attribute that to the improved sound at lower relative price levels that is available today. Rega, as one example, has improved the quality of their products up and down the line repeatedly. The RP3's immediate predecessor, the P3-24, did not sound quite good enough to me to serve as my main 'table, but the RP3 was a substantial improvement and won me over when I auditioned it at home.
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I've been weighing the pros and cons of a whole bunch of new tables, having had bad luck with vintage options. Somehow the cheap Technics belt-drive that I bought on Craigslist for $30 continues to work flawlessly while every "nicer" vintage table I've bought had an issue of some kind.
My father-in-law said the Denon DP300 was the best table he'd ever had and this was a man that had 5,000 plus records. I believe the Fluance is pretty close to the Denon, made by the same manufacturer with mostly the same parts.
I really like the looks of the U-Turn but lack of auto return is a problem for me.
I've listened to an AT-120 and thought it was pretty damn nice, but again, no auto return. I believe the Pioneer PLX-500 is the same table with cosmetic differences.
Pro-Ject Essential III is also on my list, along with a few others.
My father-in-law said the Denon DP300 was the best table he'd ever had and this was a man that had 5,000 plus records. I believe the Fluance is pretty close to the Denon, made by the same manufacturer with mostly the same parts.
I really like the looks of the U-Turn but lack of auto return is a problem for me.
I've listened to an AT-120 and thought it was pretty damn nice, but again, no auto return. I believe the Pioneer PLX-500 is the same table with cosmetic differences.
Pro-Ject Essential III is also on my list, along with a few others.
Is this the SL-B20? A friend of mine has had one of those seemingly forever, and it continues to work well, too.
Have you compared its sound to any of the newer models you mentioned? Just curious if those new models are offering better sound or if you're wanting something other than a p-mount for added flexibility/options.
olddude55
Super Member
I have a Dual 1209. I'd use the 1209 before I'd ever consider a Fluance or U-Turn or any other budget deck currently on the market and it's not even my main turntable (a Dual 1019 is).
Get a new platter for it. They're easy to find and incredibly cheap. Probably less than you'd pay for a replacement drive belt on a U-Turn.
Get a new platter for it. They're easy to find and incredibly cheap. Probably less than you'd pay for a replacement drive belt on a U-Turn.
hbucker
Well-Known Member
olddude55
Super Member
Ah...I was thinking Rega prices, you know, thirty bucks for a glorified O-ring.
But...there's a 1209 platter on Ebay right now for $12.50 BIN. More than a belt, but less than the whole megillah.
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SL-B20, yes indeed, it apparently cannot be killed. My only real beef is that it's silver and sticks out like a sore thumb since all my other stuff is black. Maybe I should just paint the stupid thing. LOL
The only newer one I've been able to directly compare it to was the AT-120. The AT was a little quieter and smoother in terms of the mechanism. I hesitate to compare sound quality because they didn't have the same cartridge, but they were about equal.
I actually much prefer the p-mount system but I've gone through 5-6 vintage p-mount tables at this point and I'm tired of things that don't work right. And obviously nobody makes a new p-mount table.
You are a bit behind the times. The standard Rega belt is $39 and the upgrade belt is $59. I think the $20 difference in price is well worth it for the better belt.
olddude55
Super Member
Both belts are ridiculously overpriced. You could probably find a suitable O-ring in a hardware store for pennies.
I paid less than $60 for my main turntable, which came with a good cartridge and it's better in every way than the P2 I stupidly bought 15 years ago.
MX5Racer007
New Member
Umm, not to revive an almost dormant thread (well maybe it will), BUT Fluance is NOT Chinese! They are Canadian (Niagara Falls, specifically) and they use an aluminum platter.
Fluance is a Canadian company, but their turntables are Chinese in the sense that that is where they are manufactured, as were my highly satisfactory Stanton and Denon turntables (along with a whole host of other fine products I enjoy on a daily basis, such as the Dell computer I'm typing this response on).
"The $249 Fluance RT81 is one of two new turntables that make up Canadian manufacturer Fluance’s entry into the turntable market. A less expensive turntable, the $199 Fluance RT80 turntable, is also available but is not as finely finished and has a lower quality cartridge. The turntable is made in China." http://soundadvicevinyl.com/2017/08/27/fluance-rt81-turntable-review-249/
All false, I've purchased many used decks on eBay for very reasonable money, warranties were offered if wanted, all are still operating as new, some going on 6 yrs now.
Some decks I've purchased, all under $350, some under $300, and one less than $200, some including cartridges and or boutique arms worth more than the price of admission, and ALL in pristine condition.
Kenwood KD500 770D
Kenwood KD500 with Grace G707 arm
Thorens TD166MKII
Mitsubishi dp ec8
Technics SL1200 MKII
The Technics purchased about 6 months ago for a young friend just getting into vinyl, here are some pics of the actual table.
All of these tables are waaaaaaay above anything new entry level, patience and due diligence contacting the seller are a must.
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rsrguy
Active Member
Rookie here 1st post. I'm now (after 30+ years) getting back into vinyl. I have the bride to thank. I ended up finding an extremely well kept early 80's pioneer system, including the rack($190). My eventual goal is a tube setup. Anyway the deck it came with is a pl 750. The local guy is huge into tube systems and has the rt81(along with many higher end decks) swears up and down its the best around for the $$$$. Here's the question.. How does what I have now stack up to the 81? Am I better off saving for a higher quality vintage deck and selling mine once I aquire it, or should I sell mine and grab the rt81? I'm leaning toward the using what I have and upgrading to tubes and better monitors first. I have a line on a set of Tannoy Dorset speakers I dont want to miss out on.
hbucker
Well-Known Member
I'm sorry, I don't have an answer to your question.
Just a suggestion: You might get more responses to your question if you post it as a brand new thread. Just copy and paste the above post as the O.P.
I don't have an answer for you either, having never heard either a PL 750 or a Fluance RT81. If "the local guy" you mentioned is a hifi shop, I would take in your present turntable to the store and let him demonstrate any sonic differences that might exist between your Pioneer and the Fluance, as well as other options he might recommend. In my opinion, nothing beats hearing with your own ears whether you're buying an improvement or not.
I think I'd rather have the Pioneer and 300 bucks than the Pioneer and the Fluance. I can understand that you might want to upgrade the Pioneer as your build your better system, but I'm pretty sure you'd equally want to upgrade the Fluance. Save your dough and keep an eye out at tag sales and on Craigslist - 300 bucks spend wisely can get you a very good vintage table, not just a decent entry level one.