Compare · sheet 05 · MK5 vs GAE
MK5 vs GAESL-1200MK5 / SL-1210MK5 and SL-1200GAE
8 of the 8 figures in the comparison table differ. The MK5 is from the classic line (1972 to 2010), the GAE from the revival (2016 on).
MK5
The scratch-era workhorse: doubled anti-skate, white LED target light, last of the analog pitch.
2000–10
GAE
The comeback: 1,200 numbered units for the brand's 50th, gone in about 30 minutes.
2016
05.1Where they differ
- Years
- 2000–10
- 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% analog, detent-free
- ±8% / ±16%
- Speeds
- 33⅓ / 45
- 33⅓ / 45 / 78
- Weight
- 12.5 kg
- ~18 kg
- At launch
- ~$500–600
- ~$4,000
05.3What each one changed
MK5
vs M3D: anti-skate 0–6 g, LED target light, removable dust cover refinements.
Reverb sold median $765 (40 listings, published Jan 2025–Sep 2026). Middle half $665–$820.
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] Crossfader[3] StereoNET