Fluance RT85N Reference Turntable - budget, or not ?

So, last year I sold my entire rig (don't ask, it's complicated), but I still had around 300 albums with nothing to play them on.

With my  Bluesound Pulse Mini, I was able to stream my digital collection and since it had a analogue input, I thought about getting a budget turntable to play the vinyl.

I looked at several brands and investigated both U-Turn and Fluance in detail.

Both brands has some very nice features and design points, but since I like to buy "Local" whenever possible, I opted for the Fluance RT85N Reference Turntable 

The model I opted for has...

• a very nice piano white gloss finish
• great design features like...
  • Heavy plinth with suspension feet to reduce vibration transfer
  • Platter rim belt drive for stable speed control
  • no subplatter issues to contend with
  • Acrylic platter - for great details, clarity and bass
  • 33/45 speed switch
    • no fussing with changing the belt on the pully located under the platter like on a Rega
  • a decent arm,
    • with removable headshell
• Their lineup comes with a variety of cartridge options but the RT85N comes with the Nagoka MP-110

Now, on paper, this TT pails in comparison to the turnable I sold with my rig in every way - except one - SOUND QUALITY!

• OK so it's not as good as my previous TT with..
  • the 10 pound plnith
  • the bronze cone feet
  • the Audiomods Series III Arm with one piece harness
  • the Soundsmith modified Denon DL103

But it does play music in a very rich and sure-footed manner.

I also opted for the seperate Fluance Phono Stage and not a model that has the  included phono stage, because it provides better upgrade possibilities (if needed)

As with all things audio, I consider cables to be the heart of any system, so I built two pairs of interconnects based on the HELIX DIY design...

• HELIX DIY Interconnect Cables

The Pulse Mini already had an upgraded power cable

• HELIX DIY Power Cable

The resulting sound provided a very pleasant detailed reproduction that did not disapoint my ears

• very pleasant details
• pleasant high end
• nicely controlled sibilence
• a rich and well controlled bass performance 

Unfortunately, using the Puse Mini does not really allow me to discern the imaging capabilities of this TT, but there is nothing to suggest it would not provide adequate performance in this area

So if you are looking for an entry level turntable, I would recomend taking a look at the Fluance line

OR - it you are looking to buy a second TT to try/compare different cartridges - this TT might be a very useful tool for that purpose

Regards - Steve