# Fluance RT81 vs Rega Planar 1: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Fluance RT81 (Fluance) and Rega Planar 1 (Rega) among turntables. Fluance RT81 is the cheaper of the two at $299.99.

## Side by side

| Spec | Fluance RT81 | Rega Planar 1 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $299.99 | $595 |
| Brand | Fluance | Rega |
| Released | 2016 | 2016 |
| Drive type | belt | belt |
| Speeds | 33⅓ / 45 RPM | 33⅓ / 45 RPM |
| Cartridge included | Audio-Technica AT95E | Rega Carbon MM |
| Built in preamp | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| USB output | No | No |
| Weight (lb) | 14.1 | 9.3 |

## Key differences

- Cartridge included: Fluance RT81 Audio-Technica AT95E vs Rega Planar 1 Rega Carbon MM
- Built in preamp: Fluance RT81 Yes vs Rega Planar 1 No
- Weight (lb): Fluance RT81 14.1 vs Rega Planar 1 9.3

## What reviewers say

**Fluance RT81** — Three whitelisted outlets (What Hi-Fi, TechRadar, TechHive) reviewed the exact Fluance RT81 hands-on and agree it is a standout entry-level turntable: easy near plug-and-play setup, a defeatable built-in phono preamp, and clear upgrade headroom via swappable cartridge and phono stage. None published lab measurements. Criticisms are largely model-dependent: TechRadar flags a plastic tonearm with average tracking and slightly inconsistent speed, What Hi-Fi says pricier rivals better it on detail and dynamics, and TechHive misses USB ripping and Bluetooth. (3 sourced reviews.)

**Rega Planar 1** — Two whitelisted hi-fi testers, What Hi-Fi and TechRadar, reviewed the Rega Planar 1 (aka PL1) hands-on, both rating it a class-leading entry-level deck with detailed, rhythmic, unified sound and easy setup. Both are qualitative listening tests with no lab measurements. The only recurring critique is that it can over-indulge warm or lush recordings. No RTINGS-style benchmarks exist. (2 sourced reviews.)

## Sources

- Fluance RT81: https://www.fluance.com/rt81-high-fidelity-vinyl-turntable-record-player-with-premium-cartridge-diamond-needle (fluance.com, verified 2026-06-15)
- Rega Planar 1: https://www.rega.co.uk/products/planar-1 (rega.co.uk, verified 2026-06-15)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/turntables/fluance-rt81-vs-rega-planar-1/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Fluance RT81 ($299.99) vs Rega Planar 1 ($595) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/turntables/fluance-rt81-vs-rega-planar-1/
License: CC BY 4.0.