The verdict
The RT85 is the best-overall pick under $500. Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge + acrylic platter + 0.07% wow/flutter is a spec sheet that competes with turntables twice the price. Best for serious vinyl listeners who'll add a phono preamp downstream.
Strengths
- +Pre-installed Ortofon 2M Blue Elliptical cartridge — a $230 cartridge included
- +Solid acrylic platter dampens resonance and adds rotational mass
- +0.07% wow and flutter — lowest in this round-up by a meaningful margin
- +Belt-drive design with high-torque AC motor for stable speed
Watch-outs
- −No built-in phono preamp — pair with PA10 or use your amp's phono input
- −No USB output for digitizing records like the Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB
- −Manual operation — no auto-return like the Sony PS-LX310BT
How it compares
Best cartridge (Ortofon 2M Blue) and lowest wow/flutter in this lineup. No built-in preamp unlike the Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB or Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB. No Bluetooth like the Sony PS-LX310BT.
Who this is for
At a glance: serious vinyl listeners who want premium cartridge quality and will run an external phono preamp.
Why you’d buy the Fluance RT85
- Pre-installed Ortofon 2M Blue Elliptical cartridge — a $230 cartridge included.
- Solid acrylic platter dampens resonance and adds rotational mass.
- 0.07% wow and flutter — lowest in this round-up by a meaningful margin.
Why you’d skip it
- No built-in phono preamp — pair with PA10 or use your amp's phono input.
- No USB output for digitizing records like the Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB.
- Manual operation — no auto-return like the Sony PS-LX310BT.
Rating sources
Our 4.8 score is the average of these published ratings. More about methodology.
