Sheet 05 · Head to head
M5G vs M7L
Different machines that share a silhouette. 6 of 8 published figures differ. One classic-line, one revival. These share a silhouette and almost nothing else.
M5G
The 30th-anniversary hot rod: first digital pitch, ±16% range, blue LEDs. The turntablist favorite.
2002–10
M7L
50 years of the 1200: 12,000 units, seven colors, gold tonearms.
2022
05.1Where they differ
- Years
- 2002–10
- 2022
- Motor
- Quartz-locked DC direct drive
- Coreless direct drive
- Starting torque
- 1.5 kg·cm
- 1.8 kg·cm
- Speeds
- 33⅓ / 45
- 33⅓ / 45 / 78
- Weight
- 12.5 kg
- 9.6 kg
- At launch
- MK5 + premium
- $1,099.99
05.2Identical on both
- Wow & flutter
- 0.025% WRMS
- Pitch
- Digital ±8% / ±16%
05.3What each one changed
M5G
vs MK5: digital pitch control (±8/±16 switchable), blue LEDs, upgraded tonearm wiring, brake knob.
Used market: Scarce on the US market (Aug 2026): historically $800–1,200+ per deck, and current listings are so thin that a lone 1210M5G ask sits at $4,000
Full model sheet →M7L
vs MK7: colorways, gold tonearm, serial badge, slipmat.
Used market: Well above launch (Aug 2026): $2,500+ single asks in LA, ~$4,500 for a pair, ~$3,000 ask for a white one on Reverb
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] Turntable Lab[3] Crossfader[4] Panasonic press release