Sheet 05 · Head to head
MK2 vs MK3D
3 of the 8 figures in the comparison table differ. Both are from the classic line (1972 to 2010).
MK2
Quartz lock and the pitch slider, then 31 years with barely a change. The one hip-hop and house were built on.
1979–2010
MK3D
The MK3 without the click at 0% pitch, plus a reset button, a recessed power switch and a headshell stand.
1997
05.1Where they differ
- Years
- 1979–2010
- 1997
- Pitch
- ±8% slider
- ±8% detent-free + reset
- At launch
- $299 (1979)
- Japan only
05.2Identical on both
- Motor
- Quartz-locked DC direct drive
- Starting torque
- 1.5 kg·cm
- Wow & flutter
- 0.025% WRMS
- Speeds
- 33⅓ / 45
- Weight
- 12.5 kg
05.3What each one changed
MK2
vs MK1: quartz lock, rotary pitch → ±8% slider, electronic braking with symmetric response, better isolation.
Used market: US askings (Aug 2026): singles $700–1,200 in Good, $900–1,650 in Excellent; LA local listings cluster $800–850; working pairs $1,200–1,600
Full model sheet →MK3D
vs MK3: no center detent, pitch reset button, recessed power switch, hinge-free dust cover, spare-headshell stand, silver finish returns.
Used market: US askings ~$480–650 in Very Good (Aug 2026); mostly 100V Japan imports
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] Technics operating instructions[2] Wikipedia[3] Stereophile[4] audio-database