Garrard 401 vs Technics SP-10MK2

Side-by-side specifications and a plain-English account of the recorded differences. Full profiles: Garrard 401 · Technics SP-10MK2.

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.

There's a real gap here: $800 separates them, with the Garrard 401 the pricier of the two.

The mechanics differ too: the Garrard 401 is idler-drive, the Technics SP-10MK2 is direct-drive. The Technics SP-10MK2 gets 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: $800 separates these reference prices. That difference is factual; this specification comparison does not assign an overall winner.

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