Fluance RT87 Turntable Debuts as Brand’s New Flagship with Dual Plinth Design

Fluance has built its reputation by walking the line between affordability and performance, offering a wide range of powered speakers, passive loudspeakers, and turntables aimed at listeners who want better sound without wandering into boutique audio bankruptcy. The new $799.99 Fluance RT87 turntable pushes that formula further, arriving as the company’s most advanced record player to date with a dual plinth construction and a choice of moving magnet cartridges.

That matters because the entry-level turntable category is no longer a sleepy corner of the hi-fi market. Fluance, U-Turn Audio, Pro-Ject, Rega, and Audio-Technica are all fighting for the same growing audience: vinyl buyers who want real performance, clean industrial design, upgrade potential, and pricing that does not require explaining a “lifestyle purchase” to another adult. With the RT87, Fluance is clearly trying to move higher up the food chain without abandoning the value equation that made the brand relevant in the first place.

“With the RT87, we wanted to push every aspect of high-fidelity playback performance further, from vibration isolation to tonearm precision,” said Justin Koetsier, Product Manager at Fluance. “Every decision behind this turntable was made with musical accuracy in mind. As more listeners demand higher-resolution analog systems, the demand is no longer just for a turntable, but for a platform that allows the stylus to retrieve the clearest possible signal from the groove.” 

Dual Plinth Construction

The RT87’s most distinctive physical attribute is its newly developed dual-plinth architecture, designed to isolate key signal-path components from unwanted resonance and environmental vibration. The motor is mounted independently on the lower plinth, while the tonearm and cartridge assembly sit on a decoupled upper plinth, separated by precision conical isolators.

The physical separation created by the RT87’s dual-plinth construction is designed to reduce the transfer of motor-borne resonance and external vibration before it can reach the stylus. The dense wood plinths are also intended to help damp mechanical resonance within the chassis. If properly implemented, this type of isolation can support more stable groove tracking, a lower noise floor, and improved clarity across the soundstage.

The Tonearm

The RT87 features a 9-inch carbon fiber tonearm designed for low resonance, high rigidity, and precise stylus control. Its straight-arm geometry and 230 mm effective length are intended to trace a controlled arc across the record surface, helping reduce tracking error when properly aligned. The tonearm supports cartridges weighing 5 to 9.5 grams.

Adjustable Vertical Tracking Angle (VTA)

This feature enables listeners to fine-tune cartridge alignment for optimal stylus contact and enhanced detail retrieval, while a removable headshell makes cartridge upgrades and adjustments simple, giving listeners the flexibility to evolve their setup over time. 

Two Premium Cartridge Options

The Fluance RT87 is available in two configurations, each fitted with a premium moving magnet cartridge. The Audio-Technica AT-VM95ML version uses a Microlinear stylus and offers a 3.5 mV output, making it the more detail-focused option, particularly for listeners concerned with groove tracing and inner-groove distortion.

The Ortofon 2M Blue version uses a nude elliptical stylus and delivers a higher 5.5 mV output, giving it a stronger signal into a MM phono stage and a different tonal balance. These are not interchangeable flavors of the same cartridge; the AT-VM95ML and 2M Blue have distinct output levels, stylus profiles, and sonic personalities.

“Each cartridge brings its own character to the RT87,” said Justin Koetsier, Product Manager at Fluance. “Whether listeners prioritize warmth, detail retrieval, or overall musicality, both options were selected to fully showcase the capabilities of the platform.”

High-Mass Acrylic Platter

For improved playback stability, the RT87 uses a thicker and heavier 22 mm, 4.1-pound anti-static acrylic platter. Compared with the 16 mm, 3-pound acrylic platter used on the RT85 and RT85N, the new platter adds both thickness and mass, which should increase rotational inertia and may help reduce speed instability. Fluance also claims the acrylic construction helps damp unwanted resonance and reduce static. The belt-drive system supports 33⅓, 45, and 78 RPM playback speeds, and the RT87 also includes auto-stop functionality.

Traditional Connectivity

Fluance takes a traditional connectivity approach with the RT87. There is no built-in phono preamp, USB output, or Bluetooth connectivity, so the turntable is aimed at listeners who plan to use a conventional analog setup. The RT87 provides a standard phono-level output with a ground connection. To connect it directly to an integrated amplifier or stereo/AV receiver, that component needs a dedicated MM phono input. If it does not, an external MM phono preamp must be connected between the turntable and an available line-level input on the amplifier or receiver.

Comparison

In the following chart, we have compared the Fluance RT87 with their popular, but lower-priced RT85N and the popular Denon DP-500BT at a similar RT87 price point, which includes built-in Bluetooth. 

The Bottom Line

The under-$1,000 turntable category has become one of the more competitive corners of hi-fi, and Fluance is clearly trying to move beyond its value-driven comfort zone with the RT87. At $799.99, this is not just another RT85 variant with a different cartridge bolted to the headshell. The RT87 adds a dual-plinth chassis, a thicker 22 mm acrylic platter, a 9-inch carbon fiber tonearm with VTA adjustment, 78 RPM playback, auto-stop, and the choice of either the Audio-Technica AT-VM95ML or Ortofon 2M Blue moving magnet cartridge.

That makes the RT87 more focused than many of the lifestyle-driven turntables now crowding this price range. Fluance is not chasing Bluetooth, USB ripping, app control, or plug-and-play convenience here. There is no built-in phono preamp, no wireless output, and no USB connection, which means buyers will need an amplifier or receiver with a proper MM phono input, or a separate outboard phono stage.

Those omissions will matter to anyone looking for an all-in-one vinyl solution. The Technics SL-40CBT and Denon DP-500BT offer more modern convenience, while Pro-Ject, Rega, and U-Turn continue to fight hard on tonearm design, speed control, build quality, and upgrade paths. But the RT87’s argument is different: spend the money on the mechanical parts that matter most to analog playback and leave the digital extras outside the plinth.

That makes the Fluance RT87 a more serious step up for listeners who already own, or plan to buy, a proper phono stage. It is less convenient than some of its rivals, but also more purpose-built. For the dedicated record listener who wants cartridge flexibility, better isolation, and a more substantial platform without crossing the $1,000 line, the RT87 looks like Fluance’s most credible turntable yet.

Price & Availability

The Fluance RT87 is available now in Natural Walnut, Piano White, and Piano Black with a choice of  an Audio Technica AT-VM95ML or Ortofon 2M Blue phono cartridge for $799.99 at Amazon or Fluance.

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