Fluance RT85N Review: A High-Value Belt-Drive Turntable With the Nagaoka MP110

Introduction

The Fluance RT85N sits at the top of a six-model turntable line, and it is the version that ships with the Nagaoka MP110 cartridge. The letter in the name stands for Nagaoka. Fluance is a direct-to-consumer company based in Canada that builds turntables, powered speakers, and turntable accessories such as record weights and cork mats, and it has earned a reputation for packing a lot of hardware into a modest budget.

The RT85N is a belt-drive, semi-automatic turntable with a clear acrylic platter, an S-shaped tonearm with a removable headshell, and a plinth that is noticeably thicker than much of the competition at the price. It sells for around $500, which places it above the entry models in the same family while staying well below the cost of most high-end decks.

Who This Turntable Is For

The RT85N suits listeners who want a complete, well-sorted turntable rather than a project. The cartridge arrives fitted, the counterweight and anti-skate are simple to set, and the adjustable feet make leveling straightforward on almost any surface. It is a sensible step up from an entry-level deck, and it also works well as a first serious turntable in a room where the shelf or rack is not perfectly flat.

It is equally appealing to anyone who expects to swap cartridges at some point. The removable headshell turns that job into a quick one rather than a delicate one.

One thing to plan for: the RT82 and every model above it, including the RT85N, do not include a built-in phono preamp. Buyers need either a separate phono stage or a phono input on their receiver or integrated amplifier.

Listeners who already own a phono stage, or who intend to add one, get the most from this deck. Anyone who wants a single box that connects straight to powered speakers should budget for that extra component as part of the purchase.

Main Strengths

Across the range, the RT82, RT83, RT84 and RT85 are fundamentally the same turntable with different cartridges, and the RT85 adds the acrylic platter. That shared platform is a large part of why the RT85N feels more substantial than its price suggests.

Build Quality, Plinth, and Leveling Feet

The plinth is roughly half an inch thicker than many competing turntables at the same price, and the finish is a proper glossy surface rather than a vinyl wrap that can lift at the corners. The dust cover hinges are plastic but thick and heavily sprung, and they hold up better than the hinges typically found on budget decks.

Leveling is handled by three adjustable rubber feet. They rotate clockwise or counterclockwise to raise or lower each corner, and they have a little spring to them, so a turntable can be leveled quickly even on a rack that sags in the middle. On decks with fixed feet, the usual workaround is stacking coins or folded paper, and the difference in convenience is significant.

The feet also help isolate the deck from the surface beneath it, which matters in a shared room where a shelf or cabinet is not dedicated to audio gear.

Tonearm, Counterweight, and Removable Headshell

The tonearm is S-shaped rather than straight, and it feels solid and slightly heavier than the arms on many rivals at this price. The counterweight is not fixed. It slides onto the end of the arm, and an inner numbered dial sits inside the outer weight.

Setup is straightforward. With the stylus guard removed, the counterweight is adjusted until the arm floats horizontally. The arm is then returned to its rest, the inner numbered wheel is turned to zero, and the outer assembly is rotated to the tracking force the cartridge calls for, such as two grams. A small anti-skate dial on the side is then set to match. Fine adjustments later are just as easy.

The removable headshell is one of the most practical features here. It uses a common bayonet fitting, Fluance sells spare headshells, and headshells from other turntables are often compatible because the design is a standard one. Because the cartridge mounts to the headshell rather than the arm, a swap takes seconds once a second headshell is on hand, and many cartridges can be bought already mounted.

Belt Drive and Semi-Automatic Operation

The RT85N is belt driven with electronic speed control. A knob on the front left corner switches between off, 33 and 45, so there is no need to move the belt to change speed, though no additional speeds are available. The belt is slightly thicker than some alternatives and sits flat on the platter, and keeping a spare in a drawer is a cheap precaution since belts are a wear item.

Semi-automatic operation is the feature that quietly matters most day to day. At the end of a record, the platter stops rotating. The tonearm is not lifted or returned to its rest, so it is not fully automatic, but stopping the platter prevents the stylus from sitting in the run-out groove and wearing unnecessarily. That is useful for anyone who gets interrupted mid-side or tends to fall asleep while listening.

Cartridge Choices: Nagaoka MP110, Ortofon 2M Blue, and Ortofon 2M Red

The RT85N ships with the Nagaoka MP110, and that is the main difference between it and the standard RT85. The MP110 is a relaxed, full-bodied cartridge with a rich, buttery bottom end and plenty of warmth. It is detailed, but noticeably less detailed than the Ortofon 2M Blue and considerably more relaxed than the 2M Red. Paired with the right phono stage, it can be nudged toward a more neutral balance.

The Ortofon 2M Blue leans the other way. It pulls out more detail, sounds more like a modern recording, and delivers a balanced, dynamic presentation. It pairs well with phono stages such as the Schiit Mani, the iFi Zen Phono, or the U-Turn Pluto 2, all of which also work nicely with the MP110. For a warmer, lusher presentation, a tube phono stage such as the Fosi Audio X2, which costs around $60, is a fun match with the MP110, though that combination is not the most resolving option available.

The Ortofon 2M Red, fitted to the RT83, is a good cartridge that many listeners enjoy. Its upper midrange is a touch forward, which is exactly the trait that sends some buyers looking for something smoother and warmer.

Because most of the audible character of a turntable comes from the cartridge, this choice matters more than any single specification. The good news is that the removable headshell makes trying a different flavor inexpensive in time, if not in money.

Things to Consider Before Buying

There is no built-in phono preamp on the RT85N, so a separate phono stage or a phono input on an amplifier is required. That is an extra cost to plan for.

The styling is more traditional and more substantial than some competing decks, which are sleeker and more modern in appearance. Buyers who want a minimalist look may prefer something else.

Upgrading into this specification later costs more than buying it outright. An RT83 at around $350 plus a Nagaoka MP110 at roughly $120 to $130 already approaches the price of the RT85N, and adding the acrylic platter is another $100.

The belt is a wear item, so a spare is worth keeping on hand. And while the tonearm feels heavier than some alternatives, that weight has not translated into a sonic penalty in practice.

Buying Advice

At around $500, the RT85 and RT85N are among the strongest values in turntables right now. The price includes an acrylic platter, a tonearm with a removable headshell, simple counterweight and anti-skate adjustment, three adjustable feet, semi-automatic operation, and a cartridge that is often more expensive than the ones bundled with rivals at the same price.

If the RT85N is out of reach, the RT82 is the better place to start, because it shares the same platform and can be upgraded toward RT85 or RT85N specification over time. That route costs more in total, but it spreads the spending across a longer period. Anyone who already knows they want the Nagaoka MP110 or the Ortofon 2M Blue is better off buying the RT85N or the RT85 from the start.

Conclusion

The Fluance RT85N is a well-built, thoughtfully specified belt-drive turntable that arrives with a genuinely good cartridge and enough adjustability to grow with a system. The combination of the acrylic platter, the removable headshell, the leveling feet, and semi-automatic operation makes it easy to live with, and the Nagaoka MP110 gives it a warm, relaxed character that suits long listening sessions. Buyers who want more detail can move to the Ortofon 2M Blue later without much fuss. For anyone shopping in this price range, it is one of the most complete packages available.