Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

If you're trying to decide between this turntable and the (apparently super popular) Audio-Technica LP120-USB, and you're not a DJ, I recommend this one. The RT81 is the third record player I've tried out in my attempts to re-boot my record collecting interests, in the price point that works for me, and it's the winner. I tried one of the Audio-Technica LP60s, but found it too cheap-feeling, so then I went with the AT LP120-USB. But I could swear that it sounded too muddy/mid-rangey, given the hype it's received. So before I returned it, I got the RT81, and played the same record on both units. The RT81 was better-sounding than the 120-USB to my ears; brighter/clearer, less 'mid-rangey'. What's interesting to note is that both units ship with the SAME cartridge, the AT95E, so my conclusion is that the on-board preamp of the RT81 is better than the 120-USB. I read another review of the 120-USB by a fellow who sounds like an expert, and how there's a sacrifice of sound quality to get the USB function to operate, so I can only agree with him. I was also looking for an automatic turntable that wasn't crap, and although the RT81 isn't fully automatic, it delivers the very simple function I wanted: it stops turning the record when a side is done, rather than going on and on as I get distracted with other things, or forget it's on, etc. Granted, it's kind of funny in what it delivers: the tone arm doesn't lift and return to its cradle. The platter simply stops turning. It just stops, with the tone arm/cartridge resting on the record. At first it bugged me, but then I realized: so what? So, it wins by being a great sounding record player, with a touch of automatic functionality. I do wish Fluance had done one tiny thing: provide a slot for the 45 rpm adaptor, and make the adaptor more than what it is: a super-cheap piece of plastic. There's nowhere to store it, whereas there is on the 120-USB. But whatever. I'll be playing 33 1/3 records 99% of the time. Finally, the RT81 is gorgeous; the pictures don't do it justice. It's a truly handsome piece of equipment. I don't need my record player to play backwards, or have crystal sync, or play variable speed; if you do, go with the 120-USB, obviously. Now, I haven't given it the test of time, I only just bought it, but for now, I'm super pleased with the RT81.