Fluance RT85N – Does The Cartridge Make A Difference?

I have been an audio enthusiast for a long time, with my formative years spent listening to vinyl and CDs. This means that I have a soft spot for analog media. During the pandemic, I ventured back down the vinyl rabbit hole. Anyone who has read my stuff knows I enjoyed the Fluance Reference line of turntables, with positive (almost glowing) reviews of the Fluance RT81 and Fluance RT85. As such, the RT85 has become my reference turntable. My Fluance RT85 came with the Ortofon 2M Blue installed, but Fluance also offers the RT85N, with a Nagaoka MP-110 stylus installed for the same price, $499. Of course, this made me curious about the Fluance RT85N – does the cartridge make a difference? Let’s discuss.

Fluance was nice enough to send me the MP-110 to convert my RT85 to the RT85N.

Recap Of The Fluance RT85

I am not going to give a full-blown review of the Fluance RT85. I’ve included my original review here. The TL;DR version is that the Fluance RT85 is a very capable turntable that competes against all the big boys in the turntable market while leaving a pile of cash in your wallet. At $499, it’s scads cheaper than the other “audiophile” brands, but performs as well, if not better in all aspects.

The difference between the Fluance RT85 and RT85N is the cartridge. The RT95N comes equipped with the Nagaoka MP-110. You still get the high-mass plinth, servo-controlled motor, acrylic platter, and s-shaped tonearm with a removable headshell. Plus let’s not forget those gorgeous finishes including gloss white/black, walnut, and bamboo.

So for those who are curious about the differences I found with the Fluance RT85N and its Nagaoka MP-110 cartridge, keep reading. The remainder of my review will center around that specific cartridge and my impressions of it.

Design and Build

The Nagaoka MP-110 is a lightweight design, with a bonded elliptical stylus. What does this mean for you? First, the cartridge is light at 6.5 grams. This means the Nagaoka MP-110 will work with most turntables that allow you to swap cartridges. A quick search of the Google machine tells me that 99% of the turntables that most enthusiasts own will accept this cartridge.

The elliptical stylus allows for better tracking and improved high-frequency response. How? LPs have grooves that the needle sits in to read the bumps in the LP and reproduce the music. The elliptical stylus is sharper and more pointed, thus it can seat itself deeper in the groove. In theory, it makes better contact with the bumps and extracts more audio.

Setup and Compatibility

Setting up the Nagaoka MP-110 is relatively simple. It features standard 1/2-inch mounting points, which makes it compatible with a wide range of tonearms. The elliptical stylus requires alignment, but once dialed in, it tracks records well without excessive distortion or surface noise. The recommended tracking force range is between 1.5 to 2.0 grams, making it easy to set up for beginners and experienced users alike.

Additionally, because the MP-110 is light and relatively compact, it will fit on almost any headshell. Some cartridges are long or wide and need specific headshells or spacers/shims to get them to fit correctly. Not the MP-110. I threw it on an old Audio Technica headshell I had floating around and got it up and running quickly.

I used my stylus tracking force scale to set the Nagaoka MP-110 to 1.8g (it calls for a tracking force of 1.5-2.0g) and matched that to my anti-skate dial. The most tedious part of the setup was mounting it to my headshell and aligning the cartridge, but my Fluance RT85N came with an alignment guide, so it took me about 10 minutes to get it set up and sounding perfect.

Sound Quality

Here is where I get subjective. One of the standout features of the Nagaoka MP-110 is its rich, warm, sound signature. That is not surprising because vinyl is known to have a warmer sound due to the imperfections of vinyl. This cartridge provides an enjoyable listening experience, making it a great choice for genres like jazz, classical, and rock.

When I compare the Nagaoka MP-110 to the Ortofon 2M Blue, I hear a stark difference. If I had to describe the Ortofon 2M Blue, it would be clinical. Treble is pronounced, and bass is bloaty. Whereas the treble on the Nagaoka is smoother and the bass is controlled. In fact, I suffered from listener fatigue quickly with the Ortofon 2M Blue. Not so with the Nagaoka MP-110. I happily sat down and listened to a collection of my favorite music for hours, without a hint of fatigue.

My editor tells me to be critical when I am reviewing so I can admit that both the Ortofon and Nagaoka are coloring the music. How do I know? When I play a CD of the same albums, with the same masters, they sound completely different. I objectively know that vinyl is inferior to my CDs, but I really enjoy the sound signature of the Nagaoka MP-110.

The only knock I have against the Nagaoka MP-110 is that when compared to other cartridges I own or have tried, it has a lower output. This means that I have to either turn up the volume or use a phono pre-amp that has more gain than the phono stage in my Onkyo. I have always found the phono stage on my Onkyo to be meh, so I always use a phono stage with 20-30dB of gain.

Value

For the price, the Nagaoka MP-110 is hard to beat. It provides a significant step up from entry-level cartridges in terms of both sound quality and durability. What’s better, the MP-110 is a cost-neutral choice when you select the Fluance RT85N. If you were to purchase it as a standalone, the cartridge is currently $139 on Amazon.

The only knock I give the Nagaoka MP-110 is its projected lifespan. Whereas my Ortofon 2M Blue claims up to 1000 hours of playback, Nagaoka recommends replacing the stylus after 250 hours. That’s a pretty stark difference in longevity. That said, 250 hours is a VERY conservative recommendation, and if you take care of the needle and your LPs, you can double that handily. Plus, the stylus replacement can be found for between $65-100, so it won’t cost you a ton.

Our Take

Fluance has hit another home run with the RT85N. They have taken an already proven model and added a bit of choice for the end user. As for the Fluance RT85N, does the cartridge make a difference? It does. I will gladly recommend the Fluance RT85N over the RT85 any day of the week. If you already have an RT85, I highly recommend that you grab the Nagaoka MP-110 and install it.