Sheet 05 · Head to head
MK5 vs MK6
Same platform, real differences. 3 of 8 published figures differ. Both are classic-line decks, so the shared figures below are shared mechanicals rather than coincidence.
MK5
The scratch-era workhorse: doubled anti-skate, white LED target light, last of the analog pitch.
2000–10
MK6
The final classic: quiet refinements, plus a 1,200-unit 35th-anniversary edition with a gold record.
2008–10
05.1Where they differ
- Years
- 2000–10
- 2008–10
- Pitch
- ±8% analog, detent-free
- ±8% detent-free
- At launch
- ~$500–600
- 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
MK5
vs M3D: anti-skate 0–6 g, LED target light, removable dust cover refinements.
Used market: US askings (Aug 2026): $690–800 in Very Good, up to ~$1,450 in Excellent; LA local asks run higher
Full model sheet →MK6
vs MK5/M5G: incremental quality refinements; no new features.
Used market: US askings ~$700–950 (Aug 2026); low-hours examples fetch a premium as 'the last classic'
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