For the last few years we've seen a steady rise in sales of vinyl records, along with a resurgence in the gear needed to play them on. Canadian hi-fi brand Fluance has added a new turntable to its Elite series that's designed to offer "an accessible, yet sophisticated and upgradeable, high-fidelity audio experience."
Though analog music lovers can pay a small fortune to satisfy their passion, most will start at the affordable end of the hi-fi gear spectrum. This latest turntable from Fluance launches as an upgrade to the company's 5-year-old RT81 model, a budget-friendly vinyl spinner that was well received by the audio press and vinyl record enthusiasts alike.
The RT81+ turntable's 3-lb (1.36-kg) MDF plinth is available in walnut, black or white finish and sits on three height-adjustable rubber feet to isolate it from external vibrations.
The balanced S-type aluminum tonearm with counterweight and anti-skating adjustment is home to a removable headshell sporting an Audio Technica VM95E moving-magnet cartridge as standard, which can be upgraded later on as the listener dives deeper into the vinyl adventure.
![The RT81+ benefits from an integrated pre-amp that can be deactivated for playback via an external phono pre-amp is preferred](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/ef85a0d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6240x4160+0+0/resize/1440x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F91%2F51%2Fd6bc76f943cf834ea0acb566c0c2%2Frt81plifestyle-9.jpg)
A belt-drive turns the 1.25-lb (0.56-kg) anti-resonant aluminum platter topped by a 3-mm acrylic mat at 33 or 45 rpm. The turntable comes packing its own TI phono pre-amp, which can be bypassed if the user prefers an external unit, and the system outputs to a hi-fi amp via gold-plated RCA connections.
"This turntable is designed to stand out and last for decades to come," said the company's Justin Koetsier. "It incorporates a number of unique features that reflect Fluance's commitment to superior sound quality, upgradeability, and customer accessibility.
"In essence, the RT81+ aims to deliver an accessible, yet sophisticated and upgradeable, high-fidelity audio experience, embodying our vision of inclusivity. Even as products become more expensive, we remain focused on enabling customers to start with a base model and build it up into a high-end model over time, as they desire and as their resources allow. This is more than a product; it's an enduring commitment to our customers' evolving audio lifestyle."
The RT81+ is on sale now for US$299.99, and ships with a tinted dust cover.
Product page: Fluance RT81+