Fluance RT81+ turntable
Budget turntables · 2023–present In production
$350 US reference price
Fluance RT81+ is a current belt-drive, semi automatic operation, 33/45 rpm playback budget turntable. Documented convenience features include a built-in phono preamp. The US reference price is $350.
Decision snapshot
The five things to check first
- Plays
- 33/45 rpm
- System hookup
- No separate phono preamp
- Cueing
- Semi-automatic
- Stylus path
- Mapped: AT-VMN95E
- Buying status
- Current model
Setup bottom line: Add amplification and speakers, but a separate phono preamp is not required. Check model-specific stylus evidence →
The refreshed RT81: VM95E cartridge, upgraded isolation feet and a solid walnut-finish plinth — a frequent budget recommendation in its class.
Model history: The RT81+ is Fluance's direct upgrade to the RT81, swapping the discontinued AT95E for the more versatile AT-VM95E cartridge (with six stylus upgrade options), adding a damped acrylic-topped platter, and replacing the four fixed feet with three adjustable isolation feet.
Checked against the manufacturer’s site: 2026-07
Who it suits
Best suited to: a first turntable for casual, low-effort listening. Less ideal for: an existing hi-fi system where you want to hear more detail — the fixed cartridge and light tonearm are the limiting factors there.
Good to know
- Has a built-in phono stage, so it can feed a normal line input on an amplifier or powered speakers without a separate phono box.
Specifications
| Drive | belt drive |
|---|---|
| Speeds | 33/45 rpm |
| Operation | semi-automatic |
| Cartridge included | Audio-Technica AT-VM95E |
| Built-in phono stage | Yes |
| USB output | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Platter | die-cast aluminium |
| Tonearm | S-shaped aluminium |
| Wow & flutter | <0.15% |
| Dimensions | Product page lists 16.5 x 6 (+/-0.5) x 14.25 in; official RT80/RT81/RT81+ manual v2.6 gives 16.5 x 5.5 x 13.75 in for the group (labeled RT81P in the manual, sold as RT81+ on site). |
| Weight | 14.1 lb (6.4 kg) |
| Finishes | Natural Walnut, Piano Black, Gloss White |
| Warranty | 2-year manufacturer's warranty + lifetime customer support |
| Years | 2023–present |
How it sits in the catalogue
Its belt-drive mechanism is the majority choice in the database (151 of 183). A built-in phono stage puts it with the 47% of current decks that plug straight into any amp or powered speaker. On price it sits mid-pack of its category — 54% of priced budget decks cost less.
Cartridge and replacement stylus
Factory cartridge: Audio-Technica AT-VM95E · replacement stylus: AT-VMN95E · around $49.
Keep the evidence layers separate
Buying evidence for this model
- US reference price
- $350. A dated guide value for comparison, not an offer or availability claim.
- Live retailer offers
- No live offer feed is enabled for this model.
- Retailer links
- Brand or product routes to relevant US retailers; a search link is not a stock claim.
An internally verified exact identifier may improve offer matching, but it is not published as a catalogue fact unless independently corroborated. Always confirm the exact model, final price, delivery and returns with the retailer.
Where to buy the Fluance RT81+
3 US retailers stock Fluance — each outbound link searches the deck on that retailer’s site.
| Retailer | Type | Shipping | Product search |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | marketplace | Free shipping on $35+ orders (free on most items with Prime, often same/next day). | Search at Amazon ↗ |
| eBay | marketplace | Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. | Search at eBay ↗ |
| Walmart | department store | Free shipping on orders $35+ (free with Walmart+); store pickup available. | Search at Walmart ↗ |