Head-to-head · Best Turntables Under $500

Fluance RT85 vs Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Fluance RT85 comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.7 vs 4.3). The gap is mostly about Vinyl listeners who already own (or will buy) a phono preamp and want the best pure sound quality under $500. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Turntables Under $500

Fluance RT85

4.7

$549.99as of Jun 7

The Fluance RT85 is the most complete sub-$500 turntable for buyers who want audiophile sound out of the box. Its pre-installed Ortofon 2M Blue, acrylic platter, and servo-controlled DC motor combine for a clean, detailed, speed-stable presentation that reviewers repeatedly described as overachieving for the price. It demands a separate phono stage and is fully manual, but for sound-per-dollar it sets the bar in this group.

Strengths

— Factory-mounted Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge punches well above the price class
— High-density acrylic platter and isolated DC servo motor keep wow & flutter at a measured 0.07%
— High-mass MDF plinth with vibration-isolation feet resists footfall and resonance

Watch-outs

— No built-in phono preamp, so you need a receiver or external phono stage
— Fully manual operation, no auto-stop or auto-return
— Single-speed motor swap (no electronic 33/45 button)

$549.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #4 in Best Turntables Under $500

Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB

4.3

$399

The Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB is an Austrian-built belt-drive deck that bundles a built-in phono preamp and electronic 33/45 speed switching into a tidy, beginner-friendly package. Reviewers rate its build and features highly (5/5 from What Hi-Fi on both) and call it an easy recommendation, though its sound leans warm and full rather than the cleanest at the price. It is the convenient, plug-and-play option for newcomers who want a respected hi-fi brand.

Strengths

— Built-in Pro-Ject-designed MM phono stage plays straight into any line input
— Electronic speed switch changes 33/45 RPM at the touch of a button
— Glass platter and low-resonance design sound clean and full-bodied

Watch-outs

— What Hi-Fi found bass isn't the cleanest, leanest or most detailed
— Timing and dynamics trail the best decks at the price
— No USB output or Bluetooth

$399 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Fluance RT85

The RT85 outclasses the Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB and U-Turn Orbit Plus on out-of-box cartridge quality thanks to its Ortofon 2M Blue, but unlike the AT-LP120XUSB and Sony PS-LX310BT it has no onboard phono stage. Its acrylic platter and 0.07% wow & flutter measurement are the best in this group.

Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB

Like the Sony PS-LX310BT and Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB, the T1 Phono SB includes a built-in phono stage, making it plug-and-play unlike the Fluance RT85 and base U-Turn Orbit Plus. It adds electronic speed switching the manual-belt Orbit Plus and RT85 lack, but its belt drive trails the AT-LP120XUSB's direct drive on raw speed stability, and reviewers found its bass less clean than the best in the group.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Fluance RT85	Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB
Cartridge	Ortofon 2M Blue (moving magnet)	Ortofon OM5E (pre-mounted)
Drive	Belt drive, DC servo motor	Belt drive, AC motor
Platter	12" acrylic, 3 lb	Glass
Speeds	33⅓, 45 RPM	33⅓, 45 RPM (electronic switch)
Wow & Flutter	0.07%	—
Signal-to-Noise	76 dB	—
Tonearm	Static-balanced S-type aluminum	8.6" aluminum
Weight	16.76 lb	8.4 lb
Phono Preamp	—	Built-in MM
Outputs	—	RCA (line/phono switchable)

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