Sheet 05 · Head to head
MK1 vs LTD
7 of the 8 figures in the comparison table differ. Both are from the classic line (1972 to 2010).
MK1
The original, sold as a hi-fi deck. Disco and radio DJs picked it up anyway.
1972–78
LTD
Piano-black and gold-plated: 5,000 units celebrating two million 1200s sold.
1995–96
05.1Where they differ
- Years
- 1972–78
- 1995–96
- Motor
- FG-servo direct drive
- Quartz-locked DC direct drive
- Starting torque
- –
- 1.5 kg·cm
- Wow & flutter
- –
- 0.025% WRMS
- Pitch
- ±5% rotary (33/45 separate)
- ±8% + reset
- Weight
- –
- 12.5 kg
- At launch
- ~$350
- ~$1,200
05.2Identical on both
- Speeds
- 33⅓ / 45
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 →LTD
vs MK3: commemorative gold-hardware finish, pitch reset button.
Used market: Highly collectible; commands a strong premium over an MK2
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] Crossfader