Revox B77 MK III Stereo Tape Recorder - Return of an icon of the analogue era

Foto © Revox Deutschland GmbH | Revox B77 MK III Stereo Tape Recorder

Revox describes the presentation of the new Revox B77 MKIII Stereo Tape Recorder as the return of an icon and a significant step for the analogue community.

It is no exaggeration when the Revox company refers to the Revox B77 as a true icon. In fact, this tape machine is regarded as an outstanding solution from the heyday of analogue High-end HiFi and is still cherished like a true treasure by lovers of reel-to-reel tape recorders who are proud owners of this solution.

It is therefore extremely gratifying that Revox has now decided to bring a new generation of the legendary tape machine onto the market, making excellence even better, as promised by the manufacturer at the presentation of the new Revox B77 MKIII Stereo Tape Recorder.

Revox B77 – An icon in the audio world

Yes, as already mentioned, Revox rightly refers to the Revox B77 as an icon in the audio world, setting standards for analogue, audiophile excellence with its outstanding sound quality, as the company itself describes it. The robustness of this solution due to its ingenious design and high-quality manufacturing is also remarkable and ensured that many of these solutions are still in perfect working order today.

But Revox didn’t want to stop there: in April of this year, the company surprised everyone with the presentation of a special version of the Revox B77 MK II, which was realised together with the Swiss duo Yello as the Revox B77 MK II Yello Limited Edition.

However, these were not newly produced devices, but rather the decision was made to restore ten of these legendary machines, and to do so in such detail that one can almost speak of brand-new systems.

The latest, third generation – Revox B77 MK III

The Revox B77 MK III is a completely different story, as this is actually a completely new product and therefore the third generation of the Revox tape machine.

With the new Revox B77 MK III stereo tape recorder, the Revox development team has redesigned a very special product and improved it with significant innovations, as they state. The entire electronics have been optimised using the highest quality components available today with the lowest tolerances and with the aid of the latest simulation possibilities. Even tried and tested components that are still used in principle, such as the original Revox sound heads, have been further optimised to guarantee a considerably longer service life. This also applies to the Revox motors used in the new Revox B77 MK III.

All the new details, such as the audio technology for even better sound reproduction and recording quality, the precisely manufactured, high-quality Revox heads just mentioned, a digital counter, the ability to play all common tape standards, a wide range of connection and optional expansion options have been perfected by the developers, technicians and designers, according to the manufacturer’s promise. Incidentally, the new Revox B77 MK III is manufactured in the Revox factory in Villingen.

A wide variety of tapes are supported

The latest generation of the tape machine should guarantee the user full flexibility and therefore be equipped to use a wide variety of tapes. The manufacturer states that many different 1/4’ 2-track tapes can be played and recorded at 19 cm/s recording and playback at 257 nWb/m and NAB as well as 38 cm/s recording and playback at 510 or 320 nWb/m and NAB or CCIR.

All relevant connections

It goes without saying that the new Revox B77 MK III Stereo Tape Recorder has all the relevant connections for integration into existing audio systems in a wide variety of ways.

The Revox B77 MK III Stereo Tape Recorder has inputs and outputs designed as XLR, but also designed as RCA sockets. The levels of the inputs and outputs can be adjusted via DIP switches on the underside to set them to studio or home system level.

There is also a headphone connection, which, as the manufacturer promises, conceals a headphone amplifier of the highest quality.

Digital totaliser, VU meter and every conceivable control option

In times of digital solutions, we are no longer used to a device having countless rotary knobs, buttons and control facilities, but of course the new Revox B77 MK III Stereo Tape Recorder offers all of this in order to really have everything under control. This also applies to the playback control buttons.

However, digital is also an issue here, at least for the totaliser, whereas the VU meters are designed as classic backlit pointer instruments.

FAQ – All the facts about the new Revox B77 MK III Stereo Tape Recorder

Is the new Revox B77 MK III Stereo Tape Recorder based on its predecessors from the 1970s and 1980s?

Yes, the proven design of the Revox B77 naturally forms the basis of the new Revox B77 MK III Stereo Tape Recorder.

What distinguishes the new Revox B77 MK III Stereo Tape Recorder from the previous generations?

Firstly, it is the electronics, which now rely on state-of-the-art components and everything has been rebuilt on this basis. The sound heads have also been optimised so that they now have a significantly longer service life.

Is the new Revox B77 MK III stereo tape recorder designed for pro users or consumers?

Even though the new Revox B77 MK III Stereo Tape Recorder has the tried and tested features that are familiar from the studio segment, this new reel-to-reel tape recorder is also designed for the ambitious consumer.The manufacturer even speaks of a solution that corresponds to the modern lifestyle and can fulfil the desire for analogue at the very highest level.

What connections are available on the Revox B77 MK III Stereo Tape Recorder?

The Revox B77 MK III Stereo Tape Recorder has both balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA sockets, both at the inputs and outputs. The level can be adjusted via DIP switches.

Prices and availability

The new Revox B77 MK III Stereo Tape Recorder will be available from specialist retailers from December 2024, according to Revox. The price is listed at US$ 15.950,-, whereby the manufacturer explicitly points out that no more than 20 machines per month will probably leave the factory in Germany.

Getting to the point

The first Revox B77 was introduced in 1977 and has since been recognised as one of the most reliable, best sounding tape machines on the market. This impeccable reputation was only cemented with the Revox B77 MK II presented in 1980, and even though production was discontinued in 1998, many of the reel-to-reel tape recorders are still in use and continue to delight analogue purists. And there could soon be a few more analogue lovers, because Revox is now presenting the new Revox B77 MK III stereo tape recorder and wants to have made the excellent even better.