The story goes back to last Christmas when my cousins and I gathered for a get-together to enjoy the evening. My cousin sister had purchased a Fluance RT85, and she couldn’t stop talking about how perfect it was. To be honest, it sounded great.
Almost a year later, last week, we met again. This time, my cousin brother also joined us at her home with his Audio-Technica LP120XUSB. It was the perfect moment, and it gave me the idea to do a fluance vs audio technica comparison and test which brand truly outperforms the other.
So, we compared turntables from both brands in terms of sound and build quality, signal-to-noise ratio, wow and flutter, tonearm and cartridge type, as well as price and I can’t wait to share the results with you.
Stay tuned to find out which brand’s turntable is actually better. Cheers!
Fluance vs Audio-Technica: Detailed comparison between the two
Built-in pre-amplifier
A phono preamp or a phono stage is a small device that lets you connect your turntable to an external speaker, receiver or sound station.
While some turntables already come with a built-in phono preamp, for some, you need to buy them separately.
When it comes to turntables from these two brands, both Audio-Technica and Fluance come with an inbuilt preamp feature that operates at 2.5 millivolts nominal at 1 kilohertz.
Operation type
There are two types of turntables: manual and automatic. A manual turntable will require you to place the tonearm on the vinyl record to start playing it, and once the record is done playing, you need to bring the tonearm to the resting position.
On the other hand, an automatic turntable performs all these operations by itself.
In the case of these two turntables, Audio-Technica requires you to manually perform all the operations, from playing the record to stopping it by yourself. In comparison, Fluance, on the other hand, is fully automatic and does everything by itself while you relax.
Speed control feature
Vinyl records come in three different sizes, i.e. 7 inches, 10 inches and 12 inches, that are played at three different speeds: 33 ⅓, 45 and 78 revolutions per minute.
The Audio Technica turntables are equipped to play all three speeds, which makes them an ideal choice. On the other side, Fluance gives you the option to play records at only two speeds, 33 ⅓ and 45 RPM.
Motor drive mechanism
Turntables have two types of motor drive mechanisms: belt drive and direct drive.
The audio-technica turntables offer a direct drive motor mechanism that delivers high-quality sound, better aesthetics and durability.
Fluance, on the other hand, provides a belt-drive motor mechanism that reduces noise on the hub and platter, making your vinyl sound more precise and smoother. The only downside of a belt drive turntable is that the belt needs to be replaced after a while, although replacing the old belt with a new one is relatively easy and inexpensive.
Cartridge type
The Audio Technica turntable model AT-LP120 comes with an AT-VM95E Dual Magnet phono cartridge. At the same time, Fluance turntable model RT85 comes with an Ortofon 2M Blue Cartridge.
Stylus type
Both audio technica and fluance come equipped with a diamond elliptical stylus that is more durable compared to other stylus types available.
Tonearm type
The models from Audio-Technica and Fluance, such as AT-LP120 and Fluance RT85, come equipped with a balanced s-type tonearm. The s-type toneram offers the benefits of less groove-angle distortion and delivers superb tracking.
Build quality
If we compare both turntable brands in terms of build quality, the Audio-Technica LP120 comes with a die-cast aluminium platter and a plastic base (chassis). On the other hand, the Fluance RT85 features an acrylic platter and an MDF wood base.
Turntables from both brands are built with high-quality materials, making them highly durable.
Signal-to-noise ratio
A good turntable has a built-in preamp and a signal-to-noise ratio of 60 decibels or more.
The audio-technica turntables deliver a signal-to-noise ratio of around 50 decibels, which is relatively low. Fluance, on the other hand, delivers a signal-to-noise ratio of around 67 decibels, which is way above the average standard.
Hence, this makes fluance a clear winner against AT turntables when it comes to signal-to-noise ratio.
Wow and flutter
Wow and flutter in a turntable refer to variations in pitch caused by motor speed fluctuations, which can affect sound consistency and cause distortion. A good turntable has a wow and flutter under the 0.25 percent range. If you are an audiophile like me, you will prefer a turntable that doesn’t produce any distortion.
When we compare the turntables from these brands, both Audio-Technica and Fluance have wow and flutter under 0.20 percent, which is way below the maximum range.
Sound quality
If we compare the sound quality of turntables from both brands, the Fluance RT85 comes equipped with a belt-drive mechanism, while the Audio-Technica AT-LP120 uses a direct-drive mechanism. As mentioned earlier, one of the benefits of a belt drive over a direct drive is that it reduces noise from the hub and platter, resulting in a more precise sound.
In addition, the Fluance RT85 has a higher signal-to-noise ratio than the Audio-Technica LP120, potentially leading to cleaner audio output.
Hence, these factors contribute to Fluance offering superior sound quality compared to Audio-Technica.
Price and affordability
Regarding cost, the Audio-Technica entry-level turntable model LP-60X starts at 149 USD, whereas the Fluance turntable model, such as RT80, starts at 199 USD.
On the other hand, a high-end turntable from Audio Technica such as AT-LP120XUSB can cost upto 299 USD, and if we talk about Fluance RT85, it can cost upto 499 USD.
Vinyl to digital feature
Some models of Audio-Technica turntables, such as the LP120XUSB, allow you to connect your turntable to a PC via its USB port and convert your vinyl records to digital audio files using software like Audacity. However, if we talk about Fluance, none of its turntables offers this feature.
The benefit of this feature is that you can continue enjoying your favourite music for years, even if the vinyl records get damaged.
We tried connecting the AT-LP120XUSB and successfully converted the Pink Floyd album “The Wall” to a digital version.
Which one is better?
In my opinion, Fluance turntables offer a better sound experience than Audio-Technica turntables.
But ultimately, it all comes down to personal preferences. If you’re an audiophile like me and want pure analog sound with high quality audio, you’ll likely choose a Fluance turntable like the RT85 for its high signal-to-noise ratio and automatic operation.
On the other hand, if you’re someone who values additional features like USB connectivity, vinyl to digital conversion, and three speed settings, the Audio-Technica LP120XUSB might be the right choice for you.
Final Words
Both brands have something to offer, whether you’re a vinyl enthusiast or just starting your record collection journey.
While Fluance is for audiophiles who cannot compromise on sound quality, Audio-Technica, on the other hand, provides turntables for beginners and those who want additional features like three-speed control, Bluetooth, and USB connectivity.
I hope you enjoyed the comparison between the two! Don’t forget to leave a comment below and let me know which turntable you prefer. Cheers!
