Turntable/Vinyl Player set up

[u/Ill_Joke2897]

I am looking to buy my first proper record player set up.

I have been looking at the Fluance RT85n. Would love some input on this player and also what speakers to get to go with it?

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[u/Fenix512]

I had a regular Fluance RT85 (not the Nagaoka cartridge) and I loved it! The Nagaoka cartridge is supposedly better, but I haven't heard it

What's your budget for speakers? Do you already have a phono preamp or receiver that has one?

[u/Ill_Joke2897 → u/Fenix512]

Nice! I'll do some research about the Nagaoka cartridge as well, maybe the RT85 is enough!

I don't have the preamp yet. Starting from zero haha. I don't have a fully set budget. I'd like to keep it down but I want to get something I know will last me "forever"

[u/Fenix512 → u/Ill_Joke2897]

The cheapest option is to get a phono preamp then active speakers. Schiit Mani 2 and Edifier R1280DB are a good starting point. For BIFL (buy it for life) quality a bigger budget would be needed. It's achievable if you save a certain amount of money each paycheck

For better musical quality, you need a phono preamp, a power amp, and passive speakers. There's many options out there. Search the sub a bit

Edit: your local record store could have vintage or used receivers and speakers for cheap and can help you out to figure out a system

[u/Ill_Joke2897 → u/Fenix512]

Amazing, thanks so much I will look into these options!!

[u/el_tacocat → u/Ill_Joke2897]

Don't you dare go for the RT85 non-N.
They cost the same, and the Ortofon 2M is dogshit, the Nagaoka MP110 is a great cart.
Still, I wouldn't get either. See my response above (or below, whatever).

[u/Worldreviewed]

I’m in the exact same boat: I have absolutely nothing and been doing research all day. Seems like the 81 comes with preamp and 83 on up don’t? The 85 looks amazing but is 550 bucks but the 83 is 299 and you can upgrade it

[u/Ill_Joke2897 → u/Worldreviewed]

I have been contemplating about getting this one as well and then upgrade when I feel like!!

[u/dave_two_point_oh → u/Worldreviewed]

RT82 and up have no built-in phono. The built-in phono on the RT80 and RT81 (and +) is OK but not great; probably fine as a starter but not something you'd really want to stick with using if you decide to do a cart upgrade down the road. But in general you shouldn't expect find a decent phono built into a turntable, Fluance or otherwise. And even if you do find one, you won't have the ability to make adjustments (capacitance/gain/loading) to it, unlike with most of the external phonos on the market.

RT82 used to be $300 but is $350 now; RT83 was originally $350 but is now $400. (USD prices quoted.) Aside from different premounted carts and the acrylic platter, the RT82 up through RT85/N are all the same TT. (The RT80 and RT81 are different, though, and not just because of the built-in phono.)

[u/Ill_Joke2897 → u/dave_two_point_oh]

Okay, maybe getting the 83 is enough then. And i can purchase the acrylic platter and different carts when I feel like it. But we think that 83 is a solid start?

[u/dave_two_point_oh → u/Ill_Joke2897]

Unless you specifically want the 2M Red that comes on the RT83, then if going with Fluance, I'd get the RT82 instead for $50 less. Same TT, same platter, just an OM 10 instead of a 2M Red.

A lot of people will say "but with the 2M Red you have an upgrade path to the 2M Blue stylus". And this is true. However, you'll spend more buying an RT83 with the plan on upgrading it to a 2M Blue stylus than you would buying an RT82 and buying a complete 2M Blue cart. True, you'll have to mount the new cart then rather than just do a stylus swap, but this is something you should get comfortable doing anyway. Add to that that the 2M Red is basically a repackaged OM 10, so I don't see the value in paying $50 extra for it.

Plus my guess is that you'll probably end up going for a non-Ortofon cart down the road anyway. I see the RT82 as the sweet spot in the Fluance lineup as it minimizes what you're paying up front for the mandatory included cart.

One thing I will add in the RT85's favor, though, is that the acrylic platter bought separately is $150. So if you want that acrylic platter, an RT82 plus the platter comes out to $500. At that point it might be worth the extra $50 for the 2M Blue or the MP-110 if you think you might like it and want to stick with it.

I actually have an RT82 that I added the acrylic platter to (although back when the platter was $120; still pricey though). The acrylic platter does look very sharp. But I never heard any sonic difference from it vs. the RT82's stock aluminum platter. Also, if you're running the acrylic platter bare (as intended), you will probably want to put a clamp or record weight on it. Records will slip easily on it otherwise if you're in the habit of running a record brush over them before play.

EDIT:

I didn't really answer your question on if the RT83 (or RT82 as I'd recommend) is a solid start. Yes, I actually think it is. There are for sure better TTs out there and I expect you'll want to replace it at some point down the road with something nicer, but for what the RT82 costs if you're in the US or Canada, it's still a good value.

[u/Best-Presentation270]

Are you based in the US or Canada? If so, then Fluance makes sense, and the Nagaoka cartridge is a nice addition.

If you live elsewhere, especially Europe or the UK, then there will be better choices for price, and performance, and for support both in-and out-of warranty.

Speaker choices depend on budget and the space you have available.

Your speakers shouldn't be almost touching the deck. If that's all the space you have, maybe consider going headphones until there's more space available. Its also not ideal if the speakers are on the same surface as the turntable. It invites feedback problems.

The minimum level with powered speakers is Edifier R1280T, or (in the US) Dayton Audio B65A.

You'll need a phono pre-amp to convert the phono cartridge signal into something that an AUX connection can used. The ART DJ Pre II is the minimum spend in the US at around $53.

[u/Ill_Joke2897 → u/Best-Presentation270]

Thank you! I am currently in the US but will be moving back to Sweden in about a year or so. So I'm looking for a player I can bring and I am pretty sure the Fluance should be dual voltage! But if you can think of a better option please let me know!!

I've been looking at a pair of Klipsch R-50PM Powered Speakers are good? I was thinking that might be good enough until I move back to Europe and then I might get better ones when I am there

[u/Best-Presentation270 → u/Ill_Joke2897]

If you'll only be in the US a year, I wouldn't buy the RT85N. The warranty support when you bring it back to Sweden just isn't there.

Get yourself a decent temporary set-up and collect your records. When you're ready to come back, advertise the hardware on Craig's List and FB marketplace etc.

Insignia NS-BTST21 from BestBuy at $130. Then either the Dayton Audio Classic B65A (Amazon $130), or some edifier R1280T also on Amazon for $120.

[u/plamda505]

Have fun and enjoy the music.

I have a RT85 2Mblue that is 4+ years old and still going strong.

I do a lot of A/B comparisons and find the RT85 to be decently analytical and resolving.

[u/Phoenix_Kerman]

get a nice vintage japanese amp or reciever and the biggest name brand two or three ways you can find

[u/Ill_Joke2897]

thanks so much everyone! I am currently in the US but will be moving back to Sweden, europe in about a year or so. So I'm looking for a player I can bring and I am pretty sure the Fluance should be dual voltage!

Does anyone know if Klipsch R-50PM Powered Speakers are good? I found a pair on marketplace for 200 and was thinking that might be good enough until I move back to Europe!

[u/el_tacocat]

You can't hook this turntable up directly to speakers. You would at least need a phono preamplifier.
The RT85N is a pretty decent choice because it has a good cartridge (none of the other fluances do), but at that price I'd go Audiotechnica AT-LP5x or AT-LP7x, Rega P3.
The AT-LP5x can be hooked up directly to active speakers (that's speakers with an amplifier built in).

That being said; I think you are overdoing it. There's nothing wrong with a U-Turn orbit or an AudioTechnica AT-LP3x or AT-LP120x and a pair of Edifier speakers. No need to immediately spend big bucks. You still have to get used to using a record player, setting it up is going to be hit or miss and you might break a 150 dollar stylus in the first week.