Fluance RT81+ vs Pro-Ject E1 Phono
Side-by-side specifications and a plain-English account of the recorded differences. Full profiles: Fluance RT81+ · Pro-Ject E1 Phono.
| Specification | Fluance RT81+ |
Pro-Ject E1 Phono |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Highlighted difference. $350 | $399 |
| Category | Budget | Budget |
| Status | current | current |
| Years | 2023–present | 2022–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 AT3600L |
| Phono stage | Yes | Yes |
| USB output | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Platter | die-cast aluminium | ABS with anti-resonance ribs |
| Tonearm | S-shaped aluminium | 8.6" aluminium |
| Wow & flutter | <0.15% | 0.25% (33rpm) / 0.23% (45rpm) |
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 Fluance RT81+ costs less, coming in $49 (about 14%) below the Pro-Ject E1 Phono.
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.
Operation differs: the Fluance RT81+ is semi-automatic, the Pro-Ject E1 Phono is manual.
Bottom line: the Fluance RT81+ has the lower reference price; the table shows which documented features change with the $49 gap.
Live retailer offers
Checking current in-stock offers for Fluance RT81+…
Retailer searches
3 US retailers stock Fluance — each outbound link searches the deck on that retailer’s site.
| Retailer | Type | Shipping | Product search |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | marketplace | Free shipping on $35+ orders (free on most items with Prime, often same/next day). | Search at Amazon ↗ |
| eBay | marketplace | Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. | Search at eBay ↗ |
| Walmart | department store | Free shipping on orders $35+ (free with Walmart+); store pickup available. | Search at Walmart ↗ |
Live retailer offers
Checking current in-stock offers for Pro-Ject E1 Phono…
Retailer searches
12 US retailers stock Pro-Ject — each outbound link searches the deck on that retailer’s site.
| Retailer | Type | Shipping | Product search |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | marketplace | Free shipping on $35+ orders (free on most items with Prime, often same/next day). | Search at Amazon ↗ |
| Audio Advice | hifi independent | Free shipping on most orders. | Search at Audio Advice ↗ |
| B&H Photo Video | electronics chain | Free expedited shipping on most orders in the contiguous US. | Search at B&H Photo Video ↗ |
| Best Buy | electronics chain | Free shipping on orders $35+; free store pickup at most locations. | Search at Best Buy ↗ |
| Crutchfield | electronics chain | Free shipping on nearly all orders, with free 2-day delivery on most gear. | Search at Crutchfield ↗ |
| eBay | marketplace | Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. | Search at eBay ↗ |
| Elusive Disc | hifi independent | Free shipping on orders over $79. | Search at Elusive Disc ↗ |
| Reverb | used marketplace | Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. | Search at Reverb ↗ |
| Sweetwater | music retail | Free shipping on almost every order, no minimum. | Search at Sweetwater ↗ |
| Turntable Lab | hifi independent | Free shipping to the continental US on most orders (bulk/oversized items excluded). | Search at Turntable Lab ↗ |
| Upscale Audio | hifi independent | Free USA shipping on orders over $99 (exclusions for oversized items). | Search at Upscale Audio ↗ |
| World Wide Stereo | hifi independent | Free shipping on all orders. | Search at World Wide Stereo ↗ |