Technics SL-1200MK2 vs Technics SL-1200MK3D
Side-by-side specifications and a plain-English account of the recorded differences. Full profiles: Technics SL-1200MK2 · Technics SL-1200MK3D.
| Specification | Technics SL-1200MK2 |
Technics SL-1200MK3D |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £700 (used) | Highlighted difference. £600 (used) |
| Category | Vintage | Vintage |
| Status | discontinued | discontinued |
| Years | 1979–2010 | 1997–2010 |
| Drive | direct drive | direct drive |
| Speeds | 33/45 rpm | 33/45 rpm |
| Operation | manual | manual |
| Cartridge supplied | None | None |
| Phono stage | No | No |
| USB output | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Platter | die-cast aluminium with rubber damping | die-cast aluminium with rubber damping |
| Tonearm | Technics S-shaped aluminium arm, gimbal bearing | Technics S-shaped aluminium arm |
| Wow & flutter | 0.01% WRMS | 0.01% WRMS |
Practical differences
Highlighted cells show a lower reference price, support for more listed speeds, or the presence of a convenience feature. They are not an overall score.
On price alone the Technics SL-1200MK3D costs less, coming in £100 (about 17%) below the Technics SL-1200MK2.
Both are direct-drive, so that part of the experience should feel similar on either deck: instant start-up, rock-steady speed under load, and enough torque to nudge or backspin the record — the reason DJs and scratch decks are built this way.
Bottom line: the Technics SL-1200MK3D has the lower reference price; the table shows which documented features change with the £100 gap.
Merchant searches
2 UK merchants handle used or discontinued decks like this — each outbound link searches the deck on that merchant’s site.
| Merchant | Type | Delivery | Product search |
|---|---|---|---|
| eBay UK | used marketplace | Varies by seller | Search at eBay UK ↗ |
| Vinyl Revival | music retail | UK delivery | Search at Vinyl Revival ↗ |
Merchant searches
2 UK merchants handle used or discontinued decks like this — each outbound link searches the deck on that merchant’s site.
| Merchant | Type | Delivery | Product search |
|---|---|---|---|
| eBay UK | used marketplace | Varies by seller | Search at eBay UK ↗ |
| Vinyl Revival | music retail | UK delivery | Search at Vinyl Revival ↗ |