Revox

Swiss precision tape machines that still run like clockwork

History

Revox was founded in Zurich, Switzerland in 1948 by Willi Studer, an engineer who had previously worked at a radio station and been frustrated by the poor quality of available tape recorders. Studer set out to build the finest tape machines in the world.

The company's first product was the Revox T26 (1949), a professional tape recorder. This was followed by the Revox A36 (1952), which established the company's reputation for precision engineering. The "Revox" name came from "revolution" and "voice," reflecting Studer's desire to revolutionize sound recording.

The A77 (1967) became Revox's most iconic product. This quarter-track stereo reel-to-reel recorder brought professional quality to serious home recordists. The A77 featured three motors, three heads, and exceptional tape handling that made it a favorite among audiophiles and professionals alike.

The B77 (1977) updated the A77 design with improved electronics and features, remaining in production for over a decade. The PR99 (1980) was Revox's final reel-to-reel recorder, bringing professional features to the consumer market.

Willi Studer also founded Studer (the professional brand), which became the industry standard for professional multitrack recording. The Studer A800, A827, and A820 tape machines were found in virtually every major recording studio worldwide.

Key Facts

• Founded: 1948, Zurich, Switzerland
• Founder: Willi Studer
• First Product: Revox T26 tape recorder
• Most Popular: A77 (hundreds of thousands sold)
• Professional Brand: Studer (studio standard)
• Current Status: Vintage units highly collectible

Legendary Products

Revox A77 (1967-1977)

The most popular high-end reel-to-reel recorder ever made. The A77 featured three motors (two capstans, one for reels), three heads (erase, record, playback), and a robust transport mechanism. It offered professional quality at a price home recordists could afford.

Revox B77 (1977-1990s)

An improved version of the A77 with better electronics, improved speed stability, and enhanced features. The B77 remained in production for over a decade and is still highly sought after by tape enthusiasts.

Revox PR99 (1980-1990s)

Revox's final reel-to-reel recorder, bringing professional features like XLR inputs and balanced outputs to the consumer market. The PR99 represented the pinnacle of Revox's tape recorder engineering.

Revox A700 (1970s)

A high-end reel-to-reel featuring direct-drive capstan motors and advanced electronics. The A700 offered exceptional speed stability and was considered the ultimate consumer tape recorder.

Classic Models

• T26: 1949, Mono, 7.5/15 ips, First Revox
• A36: 1952, Mono, 7.5/15 ips, Early classic
• A77: 1967, Stereo, 3.75/7.5/15 ips, The legend
• A77 MK II: 1970s, Stereo, 3.75/7.5/15 ips, Improved A77
• B77: 1977, Stereo, 3.75/7.5/15 ips, Updated classic
• B77 MK II: 1980s, Stereo, 3.75/7.5/15 ips, Final B77
• PR99: 1980, Stereo, 3.75/7.5/15 ips, Pro features
• A700: 1970s, Stereo, 3.75/7.5/15 ips, High-end deck
• A76: 1970s, Tuner, -, FM tuner
• A78: 1970s, Amp, -, Amplifier

Sound Signature

Revox tape recorders deliver a sonic quality that reflects their Swiss precision engineering. The three-motor transport systems provide exceptional speed stability, which translates directly into low wow-and-flutter figures and a solidity in pitch that makes sustained piano notes and orchestral strings sound rock-steady. The recording and playback electronics are designed to be transparent — Revox machines aim to capture and reproduce the signal with minimal coloration.

The A77 and B77 produce recordings with a warmth and dimensionality that digital formats struggle to replicate. There is a smoothness to the high frequencies and a natural compression characteristic that many engineers and audiophiles find musically satisfying. The tape handling is exceptionally quiet — gentle reel tension, smooth braking, and precise head alignment mean that the mechanical noise floor is negligibly low, allowing the full dynamic range of the tape to come through. These are machines that make the case for analog tape as a serious listening format.

Collecting Revox

The A77 is the most popular high-end consumer reel-to-reel ever made, and it remains the essential Revox collectible. Hundreds of thousands were produced, so finding one is not difficult, but condition varies enormously. The B77 improved on the A77 with better electronics and enhanced reliability, and the B77 MK II represents the most refined expression of this design. The PR99, Revox's final tape recorder, brought professional features like XLR balanced connections to the consumer market.

The A700 is the high-end collector's choice — a direct-drive capstan design with advanced electronics that represented the ultimate in consumer tape recording. Beyond tape machines, the A76 tuner and A78 amplifier allow collectors to build a complete Revox system. When buying any Revox, the condition of the tape transport is critical — heads should show minimal wear, brakes should hold firmly, and the transport should move smoothly between modes without hesitation. The Studer/Revox parts network remains active, making these machines among the most serviceable vintage tape recorders available.

Competitors & Comparisons

Revox vs Tandberg: Both European; Revox more studio focus. Revox vs Akai: Akai more consumer; Revox more professional. Revox vs Technics: Technics direct-drive; Revox three-motor transport.

Reel To Reel

• Revox - Swiss Precision Engineering — Founded by Willi Studer in 1948. Creator of the legendary A77, B77, and PR99 reel-to-reel tape recorders. Swiss precision and build quality that defined professional analog recording.

Amplifiers

• B780 (1980) — Revox B780 Preamplifier (1980) — Swiss-built integrated preamp with quartz PLL tuner, motorized volume, and dual power supplies. A broadcast-grade statement piece.
• G36 (1967) — Tube-based reel-to-reel preamp and recorder with professional build quality and warm analog sound.
• PLENUM-B-MKII (1979) — A high-fidelity stereo power amplifier from Revox, known for its robust build and clean analog performance.

Speakers

• Piccolo — Revox Piccolo S60 (1984–1989) — compact 140mm cube speaker with 116mm aluminium woofer and syncaxial tweeter. Known for studio-quality sound and modular satellite-sub design.
• symbol-b-mkii (1979) — High-end floor-standing speaker from Revox with 3-way design and Swiss precision engineering, produced from 1979 to 1982.

Tuners

• A76 — FM stereo tuner with modular construction, all-silicon circuitry, and precision tuning instruments
• B760 (1981) — High-end FM tuner with RDS compatibility and quartz PLL synthesis from Swiss manufacturer Revox.
• T78 (1975) — High-end FM/AM tuner from Revox with quartz PLL synthesis and digital display, known for precision tuning and Swiss build quality.

Other Models

• Revox - Swiss Precision Engineering — Founded by Willi Studer in 1948. Creator of the legendary A77, B77, and PR99 reel-to-reel tape recorders. Swiss precision and build quality that defined professional analog recording.
• A36 — A tube-powered mono tape recorder from Studer-Revox, marking the start of the 36 series and setting the standard for precision in postwar European audio.
• A700 — A high-end consumer open reel tape recorder with direct-drive capstan and built-in preamplifier, made in Switzerland.
• A76 — FM stereo tuner with modular construction, all-silicon circuitry, and precision tuning instruments
• A77 — A modular, three-motor reel-to-reel tape deck that brought professional-quality analog recording to home audiophiles.
• AGORA B — A Swiss-designed active three-way loudspeaker system produced from 1984 to 1989 with a high original price point.
• ATRIUM B MKII — A floorstanding two-way bass reflex loudspeaker from Revox, noted for serviceability and long-term support through repair parts.
• B150 — A stereo integrated amplifier from Revox, documented in use during the late 1980s.
• B200 — A timer and audio/video controller from Revox’s B200 series, designed to integrate with other components in a high-fidelity system.
• B215 — A microprocessor-controlled cassette deck with automatic calibration and Dolby noise reduction, introduced by Swiss manufacturer Revox.
• B22 — A CD player from Revox's Emotion Series featuring bitstream digital conversion and differential mode output.
• B226 — A German-built compact disc player from the late 1980s, known for its durable construction and enduring performance.
• B242 — A solid-state stereo power amplifier from Revox, noted for its high output and rarity.
• B25 — A stereo integrated amplifier from Revox, part of the B-series lineup including the B22, B25, and B26.
• B250 — A stereo integrated amplifier from Revox, produced in 1991, known for robust performance and a high original price.
• B260 — A high-end FM stereo tuner from Revox, built in the late 1980s and known for its rich sound and RDS readiness.
• B285 — A stereo receiver from the mid-1980s, known for high build quality and requiring capacitor maintenance.
• B710 — Revox B710 two-motor cassette deck with HX Pro and Dolby C. Specifications, service manual references, common faults, and current market pricing for collectors.
• B720 — A high-end Swiss-built cassette deck with digital nixie tube display and precision tuning, made during the peak of analog fidelity.
• B750 — A stereo integrated amplifier produced in Germany by Studer Revox during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
• B760 (1981) — High-end FM tuner with RDS compatibility and quartz PLL synthesis from Swiss manufacturer Revox.
• B780 (1980) — Revox B780 Preamplifier (1980) — Swiss-built integrated preamp with quartz PLL tuner, motorized volume, and dual power supplies. A broadcast-grade statement piece.
• B790 — Revox B790 (1977–82) — quartz-controlled direct drive turntable with tangential arm. Prized for precision, notorious for setup. Signal-to-noise better than 65 dB.
• B795 — Revox B795 (1979–mid-1980s) turntable: 4 cm linear tracker, quartz direct drive, 9.1 kg precision deck
• C270 — A stereo reel-to-reel tape recorder developed by Studer Revox in the late 1980s, among the last of its kind from the brand.
• C274 — A 4-track 1/4-inch reel-to-reel logging tape recorder made by Revox
• C278 — Revox C278 8-track 1/2-inch tape machine, 32.5 kg, 20Hz–20kHz response — compact studio recorder with aluminium head block, once $5,995, now $950
• D36 — A stereo reel-to-reel tape recorder marking Revox’s entry into stereo recording, part of the 36 series.
• F36 — A Swiss-built hybrid stereo reel-to-reel tape recorder from Studer-Revox, produced in the early 1960s.
• G36 (1967) — Tube-based reel-to-reel preamp and recorder with professional build quality and warm analog sound.
• Piccolo — Revox Piccolo S60 (1984–1989) — compact 140mm cube speaker with 116mm aluminium woofer and syncaxial tweeter. Known for studio-quality sound and modular satellite-sub design.
• PLENUM B MKII — Revox Plenum B MKII speakers, 3-way studio monitors with 10-inch drivers — rare, foam surrounds degrade, original price 179€
• PLENUM-B-MKII (1979) — A high-fidelity stereo power amplifier from Revox, known for its robust build and clean analog performance.
• symbol-b-mkii (1979) — High-end floor-standing speaker from Revox with 3-way design and Swiss precision engineering, produced from 1979 to 1982.
• T78 (1975) — High-end FM/AM tuner from Revox with quartz PLL synthesis and digital display, known for precision tuning and Swiss build quality.