Sheet 05 · Head to head
MK3D vs GAE
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.
MK3D
The 'D' is for de-detented: the click at 0% pitch removed, a reset button added.
1997
GAE
The resurrection: 1,200 numbered units for the brand's 50th, gone in about 30 minutes.
2016
05.1Where they differ
- Years
- 1997
- 2016
- Motor
- Quartz-locked DC direct drive
- Coreless twin-rotor direct drive
- Starting torque
- 1.5 kg·cm
- 3.3 kg·cm
- Wow & flutter
- 0.025% WRMS
- 0.025%
- Pitch
- ±8% detent-free + reset
- ±8% / ±16%
- Speeds
- 33⅓ / 45
- 33⅓ / 45 / 78
- Weight
- 12.5 kg
- ~18 kg
- At launch
- Japan only
- ~$4,000
05.3What each one changed
MK3D
vs MK3: no center detent on the pitch fader, pitch reset button.
Used market: US askings ~$480–650 in Very Good (Aug 2026); mostly 100V Japan imports
Full model sheet →GAE
First new 1200 since 2010. A ground-up audiophile re-engineering, shared with the G.
Used market: Numbered units trade above launch price
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] Save The Vinyl[3] StereoNET