Sheet 05 · Head to head
MK1 vs MK7
Different machines that share a silhouette. 8 of 8 published figures differ. One classic-line, one revival. These share a silhouette and almost nothing else.
MK1
The original. A hi-fi deck that disco and radio DJs hijacked, the accident that started everything.
1972–78
MK7
The DJ deck returns: coreless motor, 78 rpm, reverse play; the first new DJ 1200 in nine years.
2019–
05.1Where they differ
- Years
- 1972–78
- 2019–
- Motor
- FG-servo direct drive
- Coreless direct drive
- Starting torque
- ,
- 1.8 kg·cm
- Wow & flutter
- ,
- 0.025% WRMS
- Pitch
- ±5% rotary (33/45 separate)
- Digital ±8% / ±16%
- Speeds
- 33⅓ / 45
- 33⅓ / 45 / 78
- Weight
- ,
- 9.6 kg
- At launch
- ~$350
- ~$999–1,199
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 →MK7
vs MK5/M5G: coreless motor, digital pitch, 78 rpm, reverse, adjustable torque, detachable cables, much lighter build.
Used market: US askings (Aug 2026): $850–1,000 in Excellent; LA locals $850–1,300 single, ~$2,300 a pair; barely below new
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] Technics UK specs