Fluance RT81+ vs Lenco LBT-188
Side-by-side specifications and a plain-English account of the recorded differences. Full profiles: Fluance RT81+ · Lenco LBT-188.
| Specification | Fluance RT81+ |
Lenco LBT-188 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £249 | Highlighted difference. £230 |
| Category | Budget | Budget |
| Status | current | current |
| Years | 2023–present | 2018–present |
| Drive | belt drive | belt drive |
| Speeds | 33/45 rpm | 33/45 rpm |
| Operation | semi-automatic | manual |
| Cartridge supplied | Audio-Technica AT-VM95E | Audio-Technica MM |
| Phono stage | Yes | Yes |
| USB output | No | Highlighted difference. Yes |
| Bluetooth | No | Highlighted difference. Yes |
| Platter | die-cast aluminium | aluminium |
| Tonearm | S-shaped aluminium | straight |
| Wow & flutter | <0.15% | — |
Practical differences
Highlighted cells show a lower reference price, support for more listed speeds, or the presence of a convenience feature. They are not an overall score.
On price alone the Lenco LBT-188 costs less, coming in £19 (about 8%) below the Fluance RT81+.
Both are belt-drive, so that part of the experience should feel similar on either deck: a motor that's mechanically isolated from the platter by an elastic belt, which is the usual route to a quieter noise floor — the default choice across most of hi-fi.
The Lenco LBT-188 has a USB output for ripping vinyl and Bluetooth streaming.
Operation differs: the Fluance RT81+ is semi-automatic, the Lenco LBT-188 is manual.
Bottom line: the Lenco LBT-188 has the lower reference price; the table shows which documented features change with the £19 gap.
Live merchant offers
Checking current in-stock offers for Fluance RT81+…
Merchant searches
1 UK merchant stock Fluance — each outbound link searches the deck on that merchant’s site.
| Merchant | Type | Delivery | Product search |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon UK | marketplace | Prime next-day on many items | Search at Amazon UK ↗ |
Live merchant offers
Checking current in-stock offers for Lenco LBT-188…
Merchant searches
9 UK merchants stock Lenco — each outbound link searches the deck on that merchant’s site.
| Merchant | Type | Delivery | Product search |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon UK | marketplace | Prime next-day on many items | Search at Amazon UK ↗ |
| Argos | electronics chain | Fast track delivery and collection | Search at Argos ↗ |
| Currys | electronics chain | UK delivery and store collection | Search at Currys ↗ |
| Gear4music | dj music gear | Free UK delivery over £99; fast dispatch | Search at Gear4music ↗ |
| HMV | music retail | UK delivery and store collection | Search at HMV ↗ |
| John Lewis | department store | Free UK delivery over £50; click & collect | Search at John Lewis ↗ |
| Richer Sounds | hifi chain | Free UK delivery on most orders; click & collect from stores | Search at Richer Sounds ↗ |
| Superfi | hifi independent | Free UK delivery over £50 | Search at Superfi ↗ |
| Vinyl Revival | music retail | UK delivery | Search at Vinyl Revival ↗ |