The Coolest Pieces of Gear We Tested This Week

I’m not new to vinyl. I was moving crates of records from dorms to apartments to houses years before Urban Outfitters devoted entire sections to selling T. Swift albums. This is not a brag (really it just says I’m old), but I bring it up because while my love for vinyl hasn’t changed, my demands on how records sound has. In the beginning, I embraced the pops and the hiss. “It’s a record,” I’d tell myself, “it’s supposed to sound that way.” Not true. Records certainly sound different than their digital music counterparts, but they can also sound better. And the beauty of the vinyl renaissance is that a turntable that showcases that deep, rich sound no longer requires a monthly payment plan. The Fluance RT85 hits that sweet spot of affordable and high-end. A belt driven, acrylic platter and an incredible out-of-the-box 2M Blue stylist help create a flawless analog sound. And the stripped-down stylish cabinet is a beauty on any shelf. The RT85 is a guarantee I’m going keep carting those records around—I just wish I’d taken better care of them. —Greg Emmanuel, Editor-in-Chief

[$499; fluance.com]

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