the regular mk5 and the mk2 and mk3 are all about the same. playing w/ them you're not going to notice a big difference. few minor features like the mk3 have a pitch reset button that others like gemini have had for years. BTW a friend bought the mk3s and they pitchreset button was messing up the whole table really bad. sometimes the pitch wouldn't slow down or speed up quick enough as would other times, sometimes it would drift for a little bit and then catch. He returned it and the same thing happened to his new one. He eventually ended up returning that one for the Original technics sl1200MK2. the mk5 just replaced the discontinued mk3. again not a big difference. Now the mk5G the Grand master flash is another story. Glossy black finish, Blue lights, BUT what sets this apart from all the other Technics 1200 series is the adjustable pitch. Not only does it go from -8 to +8 percent, w/ a quick press of a button you go immediately from -16 to +16 percent. MAJOR improvement. I can not stress what a big deal this was to me. I could finally get my slooooww records to match my fstr ones. Awesome for Drum n bass and EVerything. If you are going to purchase tables Get the Technics mk5G(grand masta flash). W/ the solid Technics DNA you cannot go wrong. However if you can't quite afford mk5G get the proven originals Technics sl 1200MK2's. I still have one of my original mk2's still works perfect. still kinda feeling guilty about selling his brother off to purchase a pair of the new Mk5Gs though. the mk3 and Regular mk5 aren't quite worth the xtra Cash. If you're gonna spend THAT much you might as well save up for the Flagship mk5G. These are SOLID.