Fluance RT81 turntable
Budget turntables · 2016–present In production
$300 US reference price
Fluance RT81 is a current belt-drive, manual (auto stop) operation, 33/45 rpm playback budget turntable. Documented convenience features include a built-in phono preamp. The US reference price is $300.
Decision snapshot
The five things to check first
- Plays
- 33/45 rpm
- System hookup
- No separate phono preamp
- Cueing
- manual (auto-stop)
- Stylus path
- Mapped: ATN95E
- Buying status
- Current model
Setup bottom line: Add amplification and speakers, but a separate phono preamp is not required. Check model-specific stylus evidence →
Belt-drive turntable with a solid-wood-look MDF plinth, AT95E moving magnet cartridge, bypassable built-in phono preamp and auto-stop. Sits between the RT80 and the Reference series; still sold alongside the upgraded RT81+.
One of the most recommended entry-level turntables in the US market for years.
Who it suits
Best suited to: a first turntable for casual, low-effort listening. Less ideal for: buyers needing a particular cartridge mount or upgrade path without checking the model-specific specifications.
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 | manual (auto-stop) |
| Cartridge included | Audio-Technica AT95E |
| Built-in phono stage | Yes |
| USB output | No |
| Bluetooth direction | Not listed |
| Platter | aluminum |
| Tonearm | S-type aluminum |
| Wow & flutter | 0.10% |
| Dimensions | 16.5 x 5.5 x 13.75 in |
| Weight | 14.1 lb (6.4 kg) |
| Finishes | walnut, piano black, piano white |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Years | 2016–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 — 43% of priced budget decks cost less.
Cartridge and replacement stylus
Factory cartridge: Audio-Technica AT95E · replacement stylus: ATN95E · around $39.
Keep the evidence layers separate
Buying evidence for this model
- US reference price
- $300. A reference value for comparison. The price observation date is not recorded; this is not a current 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.
Retailer links for the Fluance RT81
2 US retailers are listed in our Fluance retailer guide — 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). | |
| Walmart | department store | Free shipping on orders $35+ (free with Walmart+); store pickup available. | Search at Walmart ↗ |