Setup
Fluance RT85 and RT85N setup: separate cartridge and arm instructions
The RT85 and RT85N share a belt-drive Reference-series setup, but they arrive with different cartridges and different model-specific arm data. Use the exact RT85/RT85N manual supplied for the edition; the RT85/RT85N v2.5 manual below records the included cartridge, starting force, anti-skate and replacement stylus for each package. This checklist is research from manufacturer documentation, not a substitute for the model instructions or a claim that the decks were assembled or tested here.
Before assembly: identify the package and signal path
Confirm whether the exact deck is RT85 with Ortofon 2M Blue or RT85N with Nagaoka MP-110, then check the finish code on the offer. The two cartridges have separate tracking-force and stylus instructions; the RT85N also has a different published tonearm effective mass and VTA. The shared manual lists the replacement styli as Stylus 2M Blue and JN-P110, respectively.
Neither version has a built-in phono preamp. Choose one full connection route before positioning the deck: RCA and ground to a compatible receiver/integrated amplifier PHONO input, or turntable to external MM phono stage and then to line-input powered speakers or an amplifier that drives passive speakers. Follow the exact ground-terminal instructions and do not place an external stage in a route already using a built-in PHONO stage unless the component manuals require it.
RT85 with Ortofon 2M Blue
The RT85 manual lists 1.8 g as the 2M Blue tracking force and 1.8 as the matching anti-skate setting. Its specification table gives a 1.6–2.0 g recommended force range, a 7.2 g stock cartridge, 27.5 g effective tonearm mass and 20-degree VTA. Use the force printed for the included 2M Blue; the 2M Blue stylus replacement listed by Fluance is not the same item as a complete new cartridge.
After the force is set, connect the turntable to your chosen PHONO route, recheck that the RCA channels and ground lead are attached to the correct terminals, and select 33 1/3 or 45 RPM to suit the record. The acrylic platter requires no separate turntable mat according to the manual. Fluance advises using the cueing lever rather than lowering the arm by hand.
RT85N with Nagaoka MP-110
The RT85N manual also specifies a 1.8 g force and 1.8 anti-skate setting for its included cartridge, but its other cartridge data differ: the MP-110 weighs 6.5 g, the effective tonearm mass is 21.1 g, the VTA is 31 degrees, and the named replacement stylus is JN-P110. Keep that setup separate from the RT85's 2M Blue instructions. Fluance says the MP-110 is compatible with RT85N specifically because of its different VTA.
There is a discrepancy in Fluance's general replacement-cartridge weight guidance: the RT85N page FAQ says 3.5–7.5 g, while the RT85/RT85N manual's specification table says 5.0–7.5 g. This guide does not infer approval for a replacement from the broader number. If changing the cartridge, ask Fluance for current model-specific guidance and confirm the alignment, force and VTA conditions rather than assuming that a half-inch mount ensures compatibility.
Check stop behavior and installation room
The stop switch controls platter behavior, not the tonearm. With auto-stop enabled the manual describes an approximately 30-second delay at the end of a record and warns that some records may not trigger correctly. Neither model starts the arm, lifts it or returns it automatically. Confirm that manual cueing is acceptable before treating auto-stop as a convenience.
For a first-pass body fit, the current pages list 16.5 inches wide, 14.25 inches deep and 6 inches high with a ±0.5-inch height tolerance. The v2.5 manual lists 16.5 × 5.5 × 13.75 inches in width-height-depth order. Width agrees; depth and height do not. The finder uses the current page's depth for its limit, but a close installation should be checked against the actual deck and furniture. Reserve additional room for cable exits, controls, cover movement and access to the record and tonearm.
For the separate package assessment, see the RT85 with 2M Blue and RT85N with MP-110 reviews. For broader component routing, use the phono-stage paths guide.