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Ted Kendall · 9th May 2019, 7:55 am

What is Revox quality? Well, it starts with a determination to spend the money where it really matters. A tape recorder without an accurate and stable transport is a waste of time, so you find the Revox attaching three robust motors to a solid casting. The headblock is likewise cast. The bearings throughout are generous and the brakes are simple and effective steel bands. The heads are superb, and guttered so that superb performance remains available almost until the pole pieces are worn away. The electronics are devoid of many of the frills the Japanese love, but onit nothing which actually improves results.

What of the downsides? A lot of the switchgear and external panels use plastic - all the better to spend money where it improves performance. Brutal? I don't think so, properly operated, and if the tension switch is in the right position for the spools in use. The 805 was a turkey anyway - if you take a quarter inch transport and expect it to handle half inch tape with minimal modification, on your own head be it.

Impressive as the appearance and specs of the Japanese machines are, when you actually use them day in, day out, they flatter only to deceive. And fixing a Revox is so much more straightforward, with its logical and tidy internal layout and modular construction.

9th May 2019, 7:55 am	#48
Ted Kendall Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kington, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 3,670	Re: Reel to reel revival What is Revox quality? Well, it starts with a determination to spend the money where it really matters. A tape recorder without an accurate and stable transport is a waste of time, so you find the Revox attaching three robust motors to a solid casting. The headblock is likewise cast. The bearings throughout are generous and the brakes are simple and effective steel bands. The heads are superb, and guttered so that superb performance remains available almost until the pole pieces are worn away. The electronics are devoid of many of the frills the Japanese love, but onit nothing which actually improves results. What of the downsides? A lot of the switchgear and external panels use plastic - all the better to spend money where it improves performance. Brutal? I don't think so, properly operated, and if the tension switch is in the right position for the spools in use. The 805 was a turkey anyway - if you take a quarter inch transport and expect it to handle half inch tape with minimal modification, on your own head be it. Impressive as the appearance and specs of the Japanese machines are, when you actually use them day in, day out, they flatter only to deceive. And fixing a Revox is so much more straightforward, with its logical and tidy internal layout and modular construction.