Independent reviews on the ReVox A77

from a reprint in

AUDIO RECORD REVIEW

THE REVOX A77

Manufactured by Willi Studer, Switzerland.

Models:

1102 (2T) 1104 (4T) Chassis in wood case, less output amplifiers

1122 (2T) 1124 (4T) Chassis in wood case with10 + 10 watt power amplifiers

1222 (2T) 1224 (4T) Suitcase model with amplifiers and speakers

1302 (2T) 1304 (4T) Chassis in metal case for rack mounting

1322 (2T) 1324 (4T) Chassis in metal case for rack mounting with amplifiers

Manufacturer's specification:

Push-button controls. Drive system: three motors, with servo controlled capstan motor. Speeds: 7½ and 3¾ i.p.s. +/-2%. Wow and flutter: equal to or less than 0.08% at 7½ i.p.s. and 0.1% at 3¾ i.p.s. Spool max. Capacity: 10½ in. Amplifier: silicon planar transistors; printed circuits. Non-linear (harmonic) distortion: equal to or less than: 2% at 7½ i.p.s. and 3% for 3¾ i.p.s. Equalization: recording NAB. Reproduction: NAB and IEC, by switching. S/N ratio: equal to or better than 54 db. at 7½ i.p.s. and 52 db. at 3¾ i.p.s. Crosstalk: Mono: 60 db, Stereo: 45 db. Bias oscillator frequency: 120 kHz. Inputs: microphone (switched) low and high impedance: Low: 50-600 ohms 0.2 mV. High: 100 kOhms. 2 mV. 5 pin DIN for Radio: 2 mV/33 kOhms. Cinch for auxiliary: 40 mV/1 Megohm. Outputs: Cinch for output max. 2.5 V/Ri 600 ohms. 5-pin DIN for Radio max.: 1.2 V/Ri 2.5 kOhms. Jack: 200-600 ohms. These input/output figures apply to each channel. Remote control by impulse system for all functions, if required. Output wattage (8 ohms): Music Power rating 20 watts (10 watts per channel); r.m.s. rating: 16 watts (8 watts per channel). Output impedances: 4 to16 ohms. Electronically-regulated power supply. Circuitry Includes 54 transistors and 32 diodes. Mains voltages: 110 130, 150, 220, 240, 250 Volts. 50/60 Hz.

It really does not seem long ago since Mr. Colin Hammond first brought me a Revox tape recorder for examination, but l find it was back in 1962, when he had just formed a company to bring these remarkable Swiss machines into Britain. I can readily recall my mounting enthusiasm as the then model E36 passed test after test with flying colours and the realization was born that I had in my hands a machine which was head and shoulders above its competitors. Since then the 36 series has gone from strength to strength following a continuing process of evolution, which has involved one major mechanical re-design, plus a number of detail improvements. It is now properly established as the recorder for those who place quality first: and, a praiseworthy point, through all this progress the price has been held down so that the sheer value for money was itself a challenge.

One of the tasks of a technical journalist, even a part-time one, is to combine the attributes of Sherlock Holmes with those of a bloodhound and in this way to anticipate the arrival of anything of interest to his public. This Sherlock reasoned sometime ago that the 36 could not be developed much further and that, therefore, a complete re-design was probably under way. The bloodhound bit set about uncovering the details and then harassed the long-suffering Colin Hammond (several thousand Revoxes later) until the poor fellow was persuaded to part with his sample of this new model 77 only a few days after its arrival in this country.

ARR readers then are fortunate in being the first to have details of this exciting new machine: even more fortunate are those who find themselves in a position to acquire one. At the time of writing I have had the machine only a few weeks; a second sample was lent to me for several days so that I might check the consistency, for I normally like to use a product for sometime before writing about it; but I have no hesitation about this one.

The new Revox is so advanced an example of brilliant technical thinking and is executed to such superb standards of engineering and electronic skill that any existing competitor who has not got his head stuck firmly in the sand might well feel like giving up. Indeed I might hazard a guess that as the external appearance has obviously been deliberately given a Trans-Atlantic slant, there could be some future wailing and gnashing of teeth in Japan, where so many of the machines on the American market originate - with or without acknowledgement.