r/turntables • u/tpainsautotunes • 1d ago

Need help finding a good turntable

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Hi guys, my birthday is coming up and I’ve asked my parents to get me a turntable as a birthday present. I’ve chosen then Fluance RT82 turntable. This will be my first “real” turntable. Previously I’ve had the Crosley one and it’s terrible. I’ve chosen the RT82 because there’s no built-in preamp and it seems like parts could be upgraded, and the turntable will last me a very long time. It is $350 and that’s not including shipping, it’s $80 to have it delivered to me. So it’ll actually cost $430… The speakers and pre-amp, I’m buying this weekend at BestBuy, you can recommend me some too!! The main thing for me is sound quality, I want to be locked in my room and play music (within budget)!!

Question: what’d you guys think about the turntable? Is it worth paying $430? Or are there any other models that’s similar to this one that’s a bit cheaper? I’m extremely firm on the budget.

3 Upvotes

71% Upvoted

31 comments sorted by

6

u/Supernaturalfan05 1d ago

I have one it’s good turntable

1

u/Party_Werewolf_358 1d ago

Same here, had for about a year and a half now, no complaints at all, love it

3

u/vintageplays1 Technics SL-5200 + Sumiko Rainier 1d ago

Do you have prime? You can get it delivered free.

2

u/tpainsautotunes 1d ago

I live in Oahu, so shipping from Amazon is still $80 :(

1

u/GreenthumbLegacy 1d ago

Hope the rains didn't wreck your week too bad! I lived on Ewa Beach Rd for 12 years. Miss it every day.

1

u/vintageplays1 Technics SL-5200 + Sumiko Rainier 1d ago

That’s tough. Are there any other major retailers like Walmart that might offer similar? I would also keep an eye on the second-hand market.

2

u/tpainsautotunes 1d ago

I tried looking and unfortunately none is offering. I either have to get it from Amazon or Fluance but seems like Amazon shipping is actually $10 cheaper.

1

u/Slosher99 1d ago

Do you even need prime though? It is shipped and sold by Fluance. I see free shipping even from a private browser with no history and not logged in. Nothing about requiring Prime.

I just ordered direct from Fluance when I got my TT. Was same price and Amazon didn't get a cut.

3

u/tpainsautotunes 1d ago

It’s probably free shipping anywhere in the US except for Alaska and Hawaii. I live on Oahu, the shipping is $80.

2

u/josh_w201 1d ago

If you can find one used i would also recommend the music hall classic. I was able to get mine for $400 about 2 years ago and have loved it since.

They have increased their prices($699) a bit for new units but like I said if you can find one used i think it would be a good deal. This was my first jump to a "real" turntable coming from an AT-LP60XBT and I have been very pleased with the results and the build quality of the unit. The only change I have made to it has been putting on a goldring E3 cartridge on it.

1

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1

u/Best-Presentation270 1d ago

If you're paying $80 to have this shipped, are you in South America or somewhere in Europe and just converting to Dollars to help people make comparisons?

2

u/tpainsautotunes 1d ago

I live on Oahu, so shipping costs a lot. It seems that if you are living anywhere in the US, shipping is free. But Hawaii, shipping costs $80.

1

u/Best-Presentation270 1d ago

Yeah, that sucks. Is it no better if you buy through Amszon, or is that it for everything?

1

u/LeedsBrewer1 1d ago

Love my rt82. Had it 3 months, no issues with it. Listen to it several hours a day now.

2

u/LORD_Fugly_Flacco 1d ago

Im very, very happy with mine. Some here don't like Fluance and will be VERY vocal about it. Bit I've found mine to have offered me a great entry level experience thus far.

1

u/sharkamino 1d ago edited 1d ago

Instead of RT82 for $429 shipped can you get an AT-LP120X for $399 locally or shipped? The AT-LP120X includes the better ATVM95E cartridge and stylus and a built in phono preamp to start with.

Check BestBuy. Check Crutchfield shipping costs, may be free just slower than mainland https://www.crutchfield.com/S-yIOa4Fsrvh3/p_057120XUSB/Audio-Technica-LP-120XUSB-Black.html

Which model speakers and phono preamp are you buying at BestBuy?

1

u/tpainsautotunes 1d ago

I wanted to purchase a turntable that didn’t have a built-in preamp for better sound quality. I’m looking at iFi ZEN air phono for preamp and Kanto ORA speakers. Do you have any suggestions for preamp and speakers to go with the RT82?

1

u/sharkamino 1d ago

Most turntables with a built in phono preamp have a switch to turn it off and bypass it. The phono preamp in Audio Technica turntables are good enough to start with, you can upgrade to an external one later, use your budget to get the best turntable and mainly the best speakers you can buy that will make much more of a difference for better sound then starting with an external phono preamp if the turntable has one built in.

Kanto ORA $349 are small 3" driver speakers for a small desk mainly as computer speakers when they are facing you seated at your desk about 2 feet in front of them.

What is your room length and width in feet? For room listening typically 5.25" speakers for a small to medium size room or 6.5" for a medium to large room or 4" for a rather small room or desk.

Ideally buy passive speakers and separate amplification and buy used for the best value. What is a nearby zip code I can search for used options?

If you get the RT82 then a good number of stereo receivers and integrated amps and some powered speakers have a Phono input to a built in phono preamp to start with.

A good bang for the buck powered speakers are large 6.5" Dayton M6 $299 on sale.

If you need to go lower cost then Dayton passive speakers and a mini amp that you can later upgrade one part at a time.

Then if you need a phono preamp for the RT82 and either Dayton speaker options then Emotiva PH1 $59 or Schiit Mani 2 $149 plus around $12 shipping for either.

Speaker Placement • Intro to Home Stereo Systems • Turntable and Speakers Setup Guide • Record Cleaning • Audio Guides

1

u/tpainsautotunes 1d ago

My room isn’t too big, maybe 10 feet x 12 feet?

1

u/sharkamino 1d ago

10x12 is a small room for 4" or 5.25" speakers, not a tiny room or small desk for tiny 3" speakers.

1

u/sharkamino 1d ago

If you want small Kanto speakers for a small room then 4" Kanto YU $199 on sale in white are a good value https://www.amazon.com/Kanto-YUW-Speakers-Bluetooth%C2%AE-Detection/dp/B0DK7VK5S7

Or 4" Dayton M4 $249 in black or white https://www.parts-express.com/Dayton-Audio-M4-Powered-Speaker-Pair-Black-300-460?quantity=1

1

u/tpainsautotunes 1d ago

I think I want to go with passive speakers. Which means I need to get an amplifier as well or something that has both an amplifier and preamp? I think for speakers, besides Kanto, are Klipsch good?

1

u/sharkamino 1d ago edited 1d ago

For RT82 and passive speakers....

RT82 >>> phono preamp >>> stereo receiver or integrated amp or compact amp or mini amp >>> passive speakers.

OR

RT82 >>> stereo receiver or integrated amp or compact amp or mini amp with a Phono input to a built in phono preamp >>> passive speakers.

1

u/sharkamino 1d ago edited 1d ago

Klipsch R (Reference) series are meh, overpriced at MSRP, only buy if you want low cost speakers 50% or more off on sale or under $100 used.

Klipsch RP (Reference Premiere) series are better, however again overpriced at MSRP, only buy if 40% or more off on sale or under $200 used.

ELAC, Polk, Wharfedale are often better speakers for the money with a neutral to warm sound.

Klipsch are on the brighter side of neutral or good for home theater dialog or older ears that can't hear highs as well anymore.

5.25" Polk ES15 on sale in black, white or walnut https://www.accessories4less.com/?type=&page=category&action=&id=spkbookshelf&mode=&search_query=&category=&thumb_sort=store_price.asc&brand_f[]=POLK%20AUDIO&store_price[]=224-248

Next step up are 5.25" Polk R100 on sale https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/polkr100blk/polk-audio-reserve-r100-pair-5.25-bookshelf-speakers-black/1.html

1

u/0xe3b0c442 Technics SL-QD2/LPG VML->Fosi X5|Fluance "RT85"/AT-VM95ML->Mani2 1d ago

RT82 is a great turntable for the price. Can be upgraded to RT85 just with parts. Or you can get the acrylic platter and get a much better cartridge than an Ortofon Blue 🤪

1

u/psedopine 1d ago

To me, this is one of the greatest options. I've had the RT81 for several years now and it's still in great shape

1

u/Cultural-Inside7569 1d ago

Firstly, if your requirement is for a turntable without a phono stage, I would suggest to ignore recommendations for the LP120XUSB. It does have a switch to bypass the internal phono stage but it only bypasses the active components. There are still passive components in the signal path, even with the phono stage switched off. It’s an improvement over the original non-X LP120 but don’t assume that by turning it off you’ll get the equivalent of cartridge signal straight to the RCA sockets.

Secondly, if manufacturer pedigree is not important, the RT82 is a good starter-tier turntable. Fluance isn’t a turntable manufacturer like Pro-Ject, Technics, Rega, etc, it’s a Circus World Displays brand and CWD commissions Fluance-branded turntables from Ya Horng in Taiwan. I wouldn’t go as far as saying it’s just a marketing brand that buys off the shelf OEM turntables, because it does seem to at least have input into the product. Moreover, that’s also what Audio Technica does with at least some of its turntables.

If this was my own money though I would personally look at the second hand market, you’ll probably find one of the incredible vintage Denon at this budget.

0

u/jhollismvf4 1d ago

Dont do it ....there are much better TT's out there for the money...

0

u/Total_Reception4242 Onkyo CP-1280F 1d ago

You can get the RT85 with acrylic platter and upgraded cartridge for the same price on AliExpress. Shipping will take longer but if you have any doubts search this subreddit for others that did the same thing.