Revox B710
built from 1981 - 1984
Late, very late, Revox introduced a cassette recorder. The quality was not enough for Willi Studer before to deal with the music cassettes as a medium. Revox did not come onto the market until 1981 with the B710.
If Revox, then right! 4 motor drive, two of which are directly driven, quartz-synchronized capstan motors for exact synchronization. The cartridges are treated like a raw egg thanks to the sophisticated electronics and monitoring of the drive functions. The smallest mistake and the tape deck stops immediately.
Unfortunately, this also makes the tape deck seem too nervous and many complain that the music cassette is playing on other decks! The music cassette (MC), compact cassette (CC) or audio cassette was introduced as early as 1963. What a vintage :-)
The drive
The mechanical structure consists of three very stable aluminum injection-molded parts. The lower part takes the tape guide with the tape heads and the two pressure rollers and is movably mounted. The middle part houses both sound motors and the guide pins of the music cassettes. The upper injection molded part, which is screwed to the middle part, houses the escape reel motors and the heavy lifting magnet that is responsible for lifting the tape heads. All of this is covered by a very stable 1.2 mm steel plate. The whole unit weighs an impressive 2.5 kg!
Mechanics that inspire and can only be found at Revox or Studer with this precision and stability!
The counter signal and tachometer signal are generated with two optical scans on the reel motors. If the settings are not correct here, the device switches off prematurely when winding. Moving to the beginning of the tape and zeroing does not work when rewinding the cassette.
The drive with the four motors and the sound heads is built on a torsion-resistant die-cast chassis and is so stable and robust that it was even used in Studer's studio equipment. The chassis was also used in the Revox B215 with minimal changes. Brilliant!
Dolby noise reduction
It was only through Dolby noise suppression that tape noise could be minimized to such an extent that the music cassettes also became interesting for Revox and Studer. The Revox B710 MK I was only offered with Dolby-B, the later MK II was available with Dolby-B and C to switch between. Four Dolby processors were used in both Revox B710 Dolby versions. Technology that still inspires us.
controls
Revox has arranged the operating elements clearly and concisely. On the left are the push-button controls for the drive, the digital display for the counter or the clock and the toggle switches for Dolby B and Dolby C. On the right are the potentiometers for the microphone and line inputs, the LED control chain, microphone inputs and headphone connection. The buttons for tape type selection, timer operation and MPX filter are located behind the REVOX cover. This ease of use gives hi-fi enthusiasts the freedom they need to give free rein to their creative ideas. The B710 is just as durable as all the components of the high-quality Revox B700 range.
LED volume unit
As with the Revox B215, the display takes place over 24 segments. The display range from -30 dB to + 8 dB is also completely identical! The evaluation and control of the Revox B215 is done by one of the three processors, with the Revox B710 everything is analog! With the Revox B710 MK I the range "only" extends up to +6 dB and I mean, an LED is completely masked out.
The volume is displayed on the Revox B710 via 24 LEDs. The evaluation is carried out with the help of 24 comparators in 6 ICs and an equally huge resistor network for the respective dB gradation. The display takes place in the multiplex between the channels "right" or "left". An active precision rectifier, a delay for the flyback and the multiplex circuit are also present on the circuit board.
Technical specifications
| Drive: | 4-motor drive with double capstan |
| 2 DC winding motors | |
| 2 individually controlled, directly driven capstan motors | |
| 7-segment display: | Tape counter, 4-digit, can be switched to clock function |
| Belt speed: | 4,76 cm/s |
| Rewind time: | approx. 45 sec. for C60 |
| approx. 65 sec. for C90 | |
| Playback equalization: | 3180 120 µs for IEC I (iron oxide tape) |
| 3180 70 µs for IEC II IV (chromium dioxide, pure iron strip) | |
| Band control: | 200 nWb / m for 0 dB display on the peak reading meter |
| Harmonic distortion: at 315Hz: 0dB / K3 | IEC I better than 0.8% |
| IEC II, IEC IV better than 1.5% | |
| Frequency access: -20dB measured: | IEC I 30Hz ... 18kHz 2/-3 dB |
| IEC II, IEC IV 30Hz ... 20kHz 2/-3 dB | |
| Crosstalk attenuation: | at 1 kHz better than 40 dB |
| Inputs for 0 dB: | Microphone 0.35 mV / 10 kOhm |
| Line 70 mV / 220 kOhm | |
| Outputs 0 dB = 200 nWb / m: | Line output: max. 775 mV with level control adjustable down to -26 dB |
| Headphones: max. 2.45 V to headphones from 200 - 600 ohms | |
| Weight: | 10,4 kg |
| Dimension: | 45,2 cm x 15,1 cm x 35,2 cm |
Accessories for Revox B710
Cassette cover
Wired remote control
From now on we will receive the cable remote controls of the Revox B710. Really rare, cable remote controls still in the original packaging as in the photo.
Even if the cable remote control is very manageable, the remote controls are only sold revised and tested!
Cleaning kit
In our experience, most faults in recording or playback are caused by dirty tape heads and dirty tape guides.Wow and flutter and poor winding are also part of the error picture!
Sintered bearing oil PDP 65
Once the bearings have run dry, it's too late!
Spare parts for Revox B77
Pinch roller B710
It was a long way until we were able to offer you the rubber pressure rollers in the current quality!
We only use sintered bronze bearings and real rubber. After production, all pressure rollers are given a round cut. This is the only way we can adhere to the original Studer and Revox specifications.
Toggle switch lever
We offer full metal levers for replacing the broken plastic lever of the toggle switch. These toggle switch levers cannot be distinguished from the original!
more Revox tape decks
Thomas Schröder
Schottjer Straße 30a
26529 Upgant-Schott
Germany
Schottjer Straße 30a
26529 Upgant-Schott
Germany
+49 4934 - 80 44 39
info@revox-online.de