Pro-Ject or Fluance: Who’s Stealing the Spotlight?

Pro-Ject vs Fluance – both companies produce seriously good turntables and have built loyal followings in recent decades.

Each manufacturer provides a great range of product offerings, high-quality turntables, and excellent reviews from experts and audiophiles.

Which company should you choose, and which turntable is best? Read on to find out!

We certainly hope you find this article helpful, informative and unbiased. Just so you know, we may receive compensation if you use the links on this page. If you do, thank you so much!

Do Pro-Ject and Fluance Make Good Turntables?

While Fluance has fewer turntable models, they do have a good range of features and price points.

Fluance turntables have high-quality construction, particularly in attention to detail in their popular RT85 model.

Popular Fluance Turntable Models

Fluance RT85 Turntable with Ortofon Cartridge,...

Fluance RT81 Elite High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable...

Fluance RT80 Classic High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable...

Pro-Ject on the other hand, has a much more comprehensive range of turntables, with specialty lines, features, and designs to cater to different needs and preferences.

Because Pro-Ject has such a wide range of turntables optimized for different needs, they offer a wider choice for audiophiles who want a precise selection of features and specs.

Popular Pro-Ject Turntable Models

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC Turntable with Ortofon 2M...

Pro-Ject - Debut Carbon Esprit SB (Black)

Pro-Ject T1 Turntable (Satin Walnut)

Conversely, Fluance offers a superior value in terms of an individual unit sporting exceptional components.

When making a choice between Fluance and Pro-Ject, it’s always a matter of finding good information that helps you make the right decision.

A Little About the Pro-Ject Company

Founded in 1991, Pro-Ject started with the mission to offer the best analogue experience at reasonable prices.

With digital audio media on the rise, and vinyl considered outdated and dead, Heinz Lichtenegger kept his belief in a simple way to enjoy music – turntables.

The aim was to get as many people as possible and deliver a real stereo experience for the lowest cost possible.

The best way to start was with a proper well-built turntable without unnecessary features.

Fluance as a Company

In 1999, Fluance began with founder, Deepak Jain in Niagara Falls, Canada. Deepak found listening to his music at home lacked the impact of live shows.

This formed the ultimate goal of Fluance to develop high-performance music systems that recreate the concert experience.

Fluance has strived to make serious performance accessible to everyone by developing award-winning products for audio enthusiasts.

Pro-Ject and Fluance, How Similar Are They?

For the purpose of direct comparison, let’s look more closely at the Fluance RT85 vs the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC.

What We Looked For

Cartridge

Ortofon cartridges have become incredibly popular in recent years because they offer fantastic all-around sound quality in their price range.

These cartridges are standard and easily upgradable, whichever turntable you choose.

Ortofon 2M Red

The Ortofon 2M Red has a standard elliptical diamond stylus

Ortofon 2M Red

Ortofon 2M Blue

The Ortofon 2M Blue is a nude stylus, with the diamond fastened directly to the cantilever.

Ortofon 2M Blue

The 2M Blue costs more than twice as much as the Ortofon Red because it has a lower mass for more agile tracking, and better reproduction of high-frequency sounds.

Winner – FLUANCE RT85

Why? – Higher quality cartridge

Tonearm

These turntables have significantly different tonearm constructions, which affects the resonance and potential for interference in the audio. Which is better?

Aluminum

Aluminum has been a favorite material for tonearms for decades because of its combination of light weight and stiffness.

Fluance RT85 aluminum tonearm

The Fluance RT85 has an aluminum tonearm with an effective mass of 27.5 grams.

Carbon fiber

The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon line’s claim to fame is their carbon fiber tonearm, which gives exceptional strength at an incredibly low weight, reducing unwanted resonance.

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC carbon fiber tonearm

The effective mass of the Debut Carbon DC tonearm is just 6 grams.

Winner – PRO-JECT DEBUT CARBON DC

Why? – Revolutionary tonearm design

Sound Dampening Features

One of the distinguishing characteristics of a high-quality turntable is the selection and engineering of materials to reduce and isolate sound.

This attention to sound-dampening affects every aspect of the turntable’s design and manufacture.

Fluance RT85 Sound-Dampening Features

• Solid wood plinth has a multi-layered wood chassis that inhibits unwanted resonance, with adjustable resonance damping feet
• High-density acrylic platter with a natural resonant frequency that is similar to vinyl, so it cancels unwanted reverberations and dissipates excess energy
• Motor isolation with seven points of silicone rubber and a decoupling isolation ring suppresses motor vibrations and prevents them from reaching the stylus
• Gold-plated RCA outputs suppress unwanted noise

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC Sound-Dampening Features

• Carbon tube tonearm decreases unwanted resonance
• High-density acrylic platter with a natural resonant frequency that is similar to vinyl, so it cancels unwanted reverberations and dissipates excess energy
• Low noise AC motor with motor decoupling via TPE-damping provides stability without unwanted vibration
• Gold-plated RCA outputs suppress unwanted noise

Winner – FLUANCE RT85

Why? – Greater sound suppression and isolation throughout the turntable

Wow and Flutter, Speed Drift

Wow and flutter were once measured and rated separately but are now treated as a single measurement of speed fluctuations during playback.

All analog playback mechanisms are subject to some degree of wow and flutter.

Even digital media can have fluctuations due to crystal oscillations; below a certain threshold, these variations are inaudible.

Likewise, there is always some degree of speed variation because of natural fluctuations in energy flow through a turntable.

Winner – BOTH!

Why? – While the Fluance RT85 has better specs than the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC, both turntables have an excellent score for these metrics. The variations are below the level of human hearing.

Final Recount

These turntables really are very similar to each other, and both perform exceptionally well.

The Pro-Ject carbon fiber tonearm is a clear advantage, with an effective mass that is less than ¼ that of the RT85.

However, the Fluance RT85 is the clear winner of this comparison, with a significantly better cartridge and more quality construction and sound isolation properties throughout the entire turntable.

Pros and Cons of Each

Fluance RT85 Reference High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable	The Good Orofon 2M blue cartridge Sound isolating plinth reduces unwanted vibrations High-density acrylic platter	The Not So Good Heavy tonearm
Pro-Ject – Debut Carbon DC	The Good Light carbon tonearm Heavy non-resonant acrylic platter Has improved speed control over earlier Debut Carbon turntables	The Not So Good Fewer sound reduction and isolation features

Pro-Ject vs Fluance – Which is the Superior Turntable?

Fluance vs Pro-Ject – both make excellent turntables.

Overall, we found Fluance excels at quality construction and attention to detail throughout their product line.

It’s a good choice for people who want to simply buy a turntable and enjoy their music without a lot of fuss and customization.

However, high-end Pro-Ject turntables may not stand up to direct comparison with other premium record players in their price range.

Overall, while some Pro-Ject turntables will outperform the competition, Fluance is a slightly better brand.

Specifically, the Fluance RT85 has better construction, specs, and attention to detail than the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC offered at a slightly more affordable price.

Fluance RT85 Turntable

Upgraded Quality and Simplicity for an Excellent Analog Sound

Rega Planar 1 Ratings at a Glance

Rega Planar 1 Turntable Review

Overview

If you want to be up-to-date with the newest record player design technologies, purchasing a REGA Planar 1 might be the best decision you could make.

Every little detail of this turntable has been designed with care to create a delightful experience for the listener.

This model features, among other innovations, a new type of tonearm which enhances the record player’s performance. What’s more, it’s Rega’s currently pending patent.

In October 2020, What Hi-Fi named this model the best turntable in its price range. To learn more details about this excellent turntable, keep reading our Rega Planar 1 review.

Faster, Stronger, Better

Rega turntables make listening to vinyl an incredible adventure thanks to the improved performance and upgraded features.

They ensure more outstanding durability of the product, enhanced sound quality, and a better overall experience.

Rega released this particular model in 2016, but there have been significant improvements since then. It weighs less than 10 pounds and is available in two glossy colors – white and black.

One of the most significant upgrades is the introduction of the brand-new RB110 tonearm. This patented design is based on the “plug & play” principle.

The rest of the turntable follows suit – it’s ergonomic, low-noise, and looks elegant and stylish.

Who is the Rega Planar 1 for?

Whether you’re a dedicated audiophile, a vinyl collector, or you just want a fancy record player to complement your home décor, this Rega turntable will amaze you.

The British company has made quite a few changes to the original record player of the same name. Still, one thing hasn’t changed: the expressive music with high-quality sound remains easily recognized by loyal Rega fans.

… more than a suitable choice for a beginner

Moreover, this turntable is very simple to use. If you’re not familiar with record players and buying one for the first time, you don’t need to read every Rega Planar review out there to find out if it’s easy to set up. We’ll tell you right away – it’s more than a suitable choice for a beginner.

However, suppose you’re not a newbie or are looking for a turntable with more connectivity options. In that case, you might want to look for more complex models that have a Bluetooth receiver.

What’s Included With the Rega Planar 1?

When you buy a Rega Planar 1, you get a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects. Just remember it doesn’t cover wear and tear damage.

And if you are wondering what else is in the box, you’ll be happy to hear the turntable comes with a transparent dust cover. This should be placed into the two slots at the back of your Planar 1.

Unfortunately, you will need to get an amplifier or phono pre-amp separately because it’s not included with the turntable. Rega makes compatible units that will work perfectly well with this model.

Rega Planar 1 Features

As mentioned above, the Rega Planar 1 is straightforward to set up and use. The manufacturer even claims it’s possible to set up in less than 30 seconds.

The turntable not only looks great – it’s optimized to ensure the highest possible performance and excellent sound quality.

To make that happen, the manufacturer patented the RB110 tonearm with an integrated clip and automatic bias assembly.

That means you don’t need to assemble it on your own – it’s enough to plug it in and start playing your records.

The headshell has also been improved to become more ergonomic and practical, with the switch button placed on the underside.

That way, this turntable’s appearance remains impeccable, mainly due to the gloss black or white plinth finishes.

The main bearing has also been re-designed to reduce stress on the brass bearing and reduce potential energy transfer to a minimum.

bespoke, ultra-low friction bearings (patent pending)

The higher-mass phenolic platter features an increased flywheel effect. That means the record playing speed will be more stable.

This is helped by the low-noise synchronous motor and the aluminum pulley, one of the best features of the new Planar 1.

The record player’s new re-designed feet reduce the vibration, which makes the whole unit more stable. It also comes with a motor cover tray with integrated cooling.

This prevents the turntable from overheating and makes it more durable.

Highlights

• Low-noise motor
• Reduced vibration
• RB110 tonearm
• Fitted zero play bearings
• Carbon cartridge fitted
• Phenolic platter with improved flywheel
• Clear dust cover included

Setting Up the Rega Planar 1 Turntable

If you need help installing your Rega Planar 1 turntable, refer to the video below. It provides clear and detailed instructions that’ll walk you through the process.

Experienced music lovers suggest you unbox your Rega Planar 1 close to where you’re going to put it. If you can do it on the floor, even better.

That way, you will make sure no parts are damaged, especially since there will be wires coming out of the turntable. You don’t want the gloss surface to get scratched before you even start using the player.

Remember that your Planar 1 turntable should be placed close to the pre-amp or amplifier but not too close to a subwoofer or large speakers.

If the latter is too close to the record player, you will hear an unpleasant, howling acoustic feedback.

Rega Planar 1 Review Key Points

Other Turntables to Consider

Rega is a famous British brand, well-known for its high-quality record players. This model has been immensely improved since its first version and is an excellent choice for most people.

For comparison purposes, let’s look at a few alternatives from other brands you may find suitable, all within the same price range:

The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC model turntable comes with a carbon tonearm, which reduces resonance and enhances sound quality. The turntable works with a precision belt-driven mechanism, and the Ortofon 2M Red cartridge is already set up in place.

The record player supports two speeds, but you have to change them manually. The dust cover is included, and you can add a phono pre-amp to connect the turntable to your speakers.

The Fluance RT81 Elite is somewhat cheaper than other turntables mentioned in this article, but it’s just as good. It provides a pure analog listening experience thanks to its premium components.

The diamond-tipped stylus enables better accuracy, while the balanced aluminum tonearm can catch every detail from all your favorite recordings. The vibrations are also reduced to the minimum due to the rubber slip mat.

The AT-LP120XUSB from Audio-Technica, another famous brand in this industry, supports three speeds and enables you to operate the player manually. The pitch control switch has a speed lock, and the balanced tonearm can also be locked.

One of this turntable’s best features is that you can download the Audacity recording program to your computer (both Mac and Windows) and convert your favorite records to digital format.

Final Thoughts

If you’re planning to get a turntable within the price range, the Rega Planar 1 is undoubtedly one of the best choices you can make.

However, do bear in mind that there have been complaints about cheap generic parts used in this model which may be hard or impossible to replace.

On the upside, it’s been dramatically improved with patented mechanisms that contribute to its functionality and quality of sound – it’s clear, expressive, with no unpleasant feedback.

Overall, the Rega Planar 1 is an award winning turntable with top-quality design and fully analog output character, a device that’s easy to install and use.

Check REGA Planar 1 Availability Here >>

The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC Turntable In Review. Does It Sound As Good As It Looks?

The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC Turntable at a glance:

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC Turntable with Ortofon 2M Cartridge

Pro-Ject, the Pros of Analog

When the whole world was switching to compact discs and CD Players back in 1991, there was one company founded with the objective of bringing back analog.

After all, nothing can replace vinyl records when it comes to the quality of music. This company was Pro-Ject.

Today, we’re going to review one of their flagship units, the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC Turntable. We’ll share with you its premium features, walk you through its set-up, compare it to other similar turntables out there, and more.

We certainly hope you benefit from the information we provide in this article! Just so you know, we may receive compensation if you use the links on this page. If you do, thank you so much!

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC Turntable Overview

Debut Carbon DC Turntable – Blue

This unit is considered as one of the company’s iconic models, having been released way back in 1991 when the company was also starting out.

Pro-Ject’s main objective back then was to bring back the dying industry of vinyl records and record players and provide music lovers of a quality turntable that’s packaged for “mass market”.

The Debut Carbon model has undergone technological advances ever since. In this particular piece, it was the inclusion of a carbon tube tonearm; hence, the name.

This material has been used by other brands for tonearms before, but they have never produced it for a unit in the same price range that Pro-Ject offers.

However, it’s still important to note that this unit is still higher in price compared to other average, record players out there.

Who Is The Debut Carbon For?

Debut Carbon DC Turntable – Walnut

This unit is for music lovers who know their way around turntables already. Absolute beginners might find this piece a bit complicated to set-up and use, especially with the absence of automatic features.

However, this effort is definitely paid off by the higher quality of music you’ll get to enjoy.

If you’re looking for a piece that can upgrade your experience from an entry-level turntable, and you’re willing to pay for the extra price, then we definitely recommend this model.

What’s Included?

If you do decide to purchase one, you will receive the turntable equipped with an Ortofon 2m Red phonograph cartridge. This unit will also come with a dust cover. To learn more at what you can expect from the product, here’s a quick unboxing video:

DC Turntable Features

Debut Carbon DC Turntable – Yellow

Anyway, now that we know a little bit more about the product, let’s move and discuss its features starting with the carbon tonearm.

• Carbon Tube Tonearm: This is where this unit got its name. As we mentioned above, this construction has already been made by other units, but not in the price range that Pro-Ject offers. This tonearm provides extra stiffness, efficiently decreasing resonance for higher sound quality.
• Better Platter: Another notable feature is its wider, heavier platter that allows your records to rotate a little bit more smoothly.
• Eight Different Color Variants: We also love the fact that this unit is available in eight different colors: blue, piano black, purple, silver, gloss white, red, walnut, and yellow. We just want to give you a heads up that some colors are more expensive than others.

It would have been nice, however, if the unit was equipped with more user-friendly features given the price that it’s being sold in. In this way, even the more novice users will be able to enjoy the excellent sound quality that this unit provides.

How to Set-up and Use the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC Turntable

To learn how to set-up your new Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC Turntable so that it’s ready for use, you may follow the following video:

Pros and Cons

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC Turntable Review

What are Owners of Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Turntables Saying? >>

Comparing the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Turntable vs. Similar Units

Now that we know all about the unit, how does it measure up compared to other similar models out there? Is it better? Let’s find out.

• Denon’s DP-300F Analog Turntable

The first unit we’ve found similar in terms of sound quality is Denon’s DP-300F Analog Turntable. What we love about this product is that it has all the user-friendly features that Pro-Ject’s unit lacks.

It has an automatic start-up button that allows you to just push and play, and more impressively, it’s also equipped with an automatic tonearm that rises and returns to place after completing the track.

What’s more, is that the price is a bit lower. The only problem is that Denon’s piece has limited rotation speeds.

• Fluance’s RT81 Vinyl Turntable

For those looking for an even more affordable, yet still high-quality piece, you can look at Fluance’s RT81 Vinyl Turntable.

While it doesn’t have the carbon tube tonearm that Pro-Ject takes pride in, it’s still made of premium components such as gold-plated RCA line outputs. Both Denon’s and Fluance’s units are limited when it comes to design options, though.

• Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB Direct-Drive Turntable

Finally, there’s the Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB Direct-Drive Turntable. We love that this product offers three-speed options, and the lowest price of al the turntables we have featured here.

It also comes with various add-ons such as different cables and other accessories. It also comes with an audio conversion and recording feature that you won’t find in the other record players we’ve mentioned.

Don’t expect the product to be made from premium components, though. You would have to check out Audio-Technica’s higher-end models.

Final Thoughts: Is The Debut Carbon DC The Right Turntable For You?

In the end, it will depend on your priorities. If you want to an upgrade from your usual fare, and you’re willing to invest a little bit of money and effort, then we definitely recommend Pro-Ject’s Debut Carbon DC Turntable.

For those who want a unit with a lot of user-friendly features, then we recommend Denon DP-300F Analog Turntable. It’s the easiest to set-up and use of all the units we’ve featured here.

Finally, if you’re looking for a unit that provides the best value for money, then we recommend the Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB Direct-Drive Turntable. It has a lot of features and accessories, combined with a brand renowned for its quality audio appliances.

What Do Pro-Ject DC Turntable Owners Think? >>