Revox B215 High-End Cassette Deck

Revox B215 High-End Cassette Deck

The Revox B215 is undoubtedly one of the most technically sophisticated and fascinating cassette decks of the great analogue Hi-Fi era. With this model, Revox pursued an exceptionally uncompromising engineering concept and created a tape transport that differed considerably from conventional designs of its time.

At the heart of the B215 is its remarkable four-motor transport. Two electronically controlled direct-drive motors operate the two capstans, while another two direct-drive motors are responsible for the tape reels. Combined with the dual-capstan tape transport, this elaborate construction provides exceptionally precise and stable tape movement.

The B215 is a three-head cassette deck, allowing true off-tape monitoring during recording. Another outstanding feature is its computer-controlled automatic tape calibration system. An 8-bit microprocessor determines the appropriate settings for the cassette being used and adjusts the recording parameters accordingly. This enables the B215 to extract an impressive level of performance from a wide variety of tape formulations.

Dolby B and Dolby C noise reduction are complemented by HX-Pro. The latter improves high-frequency headroom and helps extend the performance limits of the Compact Cassette considerably.

The exceptional quality of the design was already demonstrated in a contemporary comparative test published by SOUND magazine in 1988. The Revox competed directly against highly regarded machines including the Nakamichi CR-7E, Tandberg TCD 3014A and Luxman K-109. Despite having already been on the market for approximately three years, the B215 was still explicitly described as a reference machine.

Its measured wow and flutter performance was particularly impressive. At just 0.04 % DIN weighted, the Revox achieved the best result of the entire comparison group. Its high-frequency dynamic performance was equally impressive. With high-quality tape and Dolby C, the listening test found the differences between a CD source and the cassette recording made from it to be remarkably small.

The B215 also offers an extraordinary degree of operating convenience for a cassette deck of its period. Features include a real-time tape counter, automatic tape-type detection, programmable tape positions, loop operation, fade-in and fade-out functions and Revox's Set Level function for optimising recording levels.

The Revox B215 is therefore much more than an excellent vintage cassette deck. It is an impressive example of the enormous engineering effort Revox invested in pushing the Compact Cassette format towards the limits of what was technically possible.

Technical Highlights

• High-end stereo cassette deck
• Three-head design
• True off-tape monitoring
• Dual-capstan tape transport
• Four electronically controlled direct-drive motors
• Two dedicated capstan motors
• Two dedicated reel motors
• Computer-controlled automatic tape calibration
• 8-bit microprocessor
• Automatic tape-type detection
• Dolby B
• Dolby C
• HX-Pro
• Real-time tape counter
• Set Level function
• Programmable tape positions
• Loop function
• Fade-in / fade-out
• Adjustable headphone output

Historical Measurements

A comparative test published by SOUND magazine in 1988 measured, among others, the following values:

• Wow & flutter, DIN weighted: 0.04 %
• Wow & flutter, unweighted: 0.07 %
• Signal-to-noise ratio without noise reduction: 60 dB
• Signal-to-noise ratio with Dolby B: 68 dB
• Signal-to-noise ratio with Dolby C: 75 dB
• High-frequency dynamics with Dolby C: 75 dB
• Rewind time C60: 50 seconds
• Weight: approx. 9.1 kg
• Dimensions (W × H × D): approx. 450 × 153 × 332 mm

The measurements stated above originate from the historical comparative test and are not individual measurements of the unit offered here.