Sheet 05 · Head to head
MK1 vs G
8 of the 8 figures in the comparison table differ. The MK1 is from the classic line (1972 to 2010), the G from the revival (2016 on).
MK1
The original, sold as a hi-fi deck. Disco and radio DJs picked it up anyway.
1972–78
G
The hi-fi flagship: coreless twin-rotor motor, four-layer cabinet, 18 kg.
2016–
05.1Where they differ
- Years
- 1972–78
- 2016–
- Motor
- FG-servo direct drive
- Coreless twin-rotor direct drive
- Starting torque
- –
- 3.3 kg·cm
- Wow & flutter
- –
- 0.025%
- Pitch
- ±5% rotary (33/45 separate)
- ±8% / ±16%
- Speeds
- 33⅓ / 45
- 33⅓ / 45 / 78
- Weight
- –
- ~18 kg
- At launch
- ~$350
- ~$4,000
05.3What each one changed
MK1
First of the line. Direct-drive motor derived from the SL-1100, integrated S-shaped tonearm, die-cast aluminum cabinet.
Used market: US askings ~$600–850 in Good condition (Aug 2026); clean collector examples go higher
Full model sheet →G
vs classic 1200s: everything, new motor, cabinet, platter and tonearm. Shares only the silhouette and the controls.
Used market: Holds value: used asks ~$3,000–4,000 equivalent (mostly European listings, Aug 2026); US used supply is thin
Full model sheet →Figures from the same sources as each model sheet. A dash means the figure is not published in our sources; we do not invent specs.[1] Wikipedia[2] Vinyl Engine[3] Technics Heritage[4] Stereophile specs