The Revox B215 3 Head Cassette Deck - The Cassette Deck Of The Future...From The 80's
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 31 ต.ค. 2020
- In this video I go into why I love the Revox B215, my experiences with it, how it works, what makes it special and more importantly how good it sounds.
Main bits:
00:17 - So what's so special about The B215
08:05 - Pretty Innit?
09:13 - Overview of buttons and functions
12:20 - Trick play & the red light
19:10 - BASF Chrome Standard II
21:45 - Calibration
24:05 - Live recording
26:40 - Final thoughts
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Hi, over 50 years, I have repaired and calibrated many hundreds of cassette decks as well as owning every Nakamichi - from the 700 & 1000 models to the Dragon. I also own many other 3 head decks, with some being very good and some (newer models) being 'fantastic plastic'. I was given a Revox B215 after sugared black coffee was spilt down through the perforated cover. The motors and mechanical block completely seized and the cost to repair was more than buying a new deck. I stripped the mechanism and spent a week dissolving the coffee from all the mechanical parts and eventually got the machine back to perfect working order. During calibration I used a 10Khz azimuth tape to adjust the azimuth but could only see one trace. It was then I realised the left channel was superimposed over the right channel, with absolutely no wow or flutter. I have never seen this marvelous result from any other cassette deck. Sound from the B215 is superb and I personally think it's the best deck on the market!
Can you fix my revox 215 I pay you no problem with that it play n rewind n forward fine but sometimes it play slow once the tape reach the end of the cassette tape is all it have I don't know maybe it need maintenance oh recap I really don't know was wrong with it I'm looking for someone that know how to deal with this tape deck I don't want to give it to anybody that don't know the revox 215
Thoughts on the Nak BX-2? I got one for $50 and really like it, but am wondering how the quality stacks up to comparable 3 head decks
@@thehunterofdeath2180 I know these decks inside and out, but they are expensive to overhaul. I do this for a living. They are amazing decks.
At the duplication house I worked at as a technician during the 1980s, we had 250 Revox B-215s. I had them apart on the bench most every day for years. We ran them 18 hours a day. I know them inside and out. Whoever says this is not one of the best cassette machines ever made, doesn't know what they're talking about. Yes, there are no belts or tires (tyres). The only thing I didn't like was the optical end sensor, since the transparency of cassette leaders was never standardized, it tended to stop when it shouldn't or not stop when it should. We adjusted the sensitivity of the sensor down to defeat it. The earlier units we had used an IR LED rather than visible red.
I work on the radio on early 90's with this machine, but the version S.
This machine are awesome on sound and is built like a tank!
They are power on 24 hours day by day and never failed.
Revox rules!
The BBC used these decks they even recorded a radio programme I missed onto a cassette for me on one ,that was over twenty tears ago.......Great video Tony for a great machine.
I have this deck. I’m so happy with it. It won’t be snatched up like others might because it’s on the hefty side. I plan on recapping it with the best of everything and absolutely no electrolytic caps in the signal paths. Matched components for each channel. It will be a labor of love as my NAD 6300 will also be. I’m sourcing the parts now. Looking forward to it Tony. It’s what I’ve dreamed of so now it’s time to pour all the love into it I can because it will outlast me. Bless you and cheers to you! Stay safe my mates!😊👍🏻😷
It's worth the effort and it will reward your labor.
I completely overhauled my 215 and you wont be disappointed. I sold all my other decks Pioneer Ct95, Dragon etc nothing comes close to the B215.
@@JamesT65, I’m not kicking anyone’s choice because everyone has their opinion and you love what you love. As for the Revox B215, my love of it is unquestionable. This is a deck worth spending money on. No belts is a big plus! This is not a deck that you can snatch up. It weighs a lot. It is well made and when it is restored, it will be a jewel in your system. Hope you love yours as I do mine. Revox rules!
@@markphilpot8734 totally love it, I just replaced the motors and now it will run forever. I have put my 2 x B710 MK II's up for sale completely overhauled top to bottom.
@@JamesT65, the B710 is made like a tank. Someone will be happy to get those. Revox on the faceplate is sure sign that quality is on the inside. Good luck to you on your sale.
very cool, thank you for making this, never knew about this deck previously.
Tony, for the record, I'm the one who put together the wikipedia articles on the 215 and the Dragon.
That bit about lesser-than-Dragon dynamic range was repeated in two different magazine review: high-level distortion of the 215 rises earlier than the Naks. On all tapes except true chrome ("that
BASF CR-M II gave approximately a 2 dB improvement in S/N, [vs the] TDK SA". For what it's worth. Never went too far in the red myself.
Nice work on the articles 👍
Very wonderful and touching speech in the end of the video. Thank you.
A really excellent overview. Thank you for doing this.
small correction: Revox is Swiss, but they were bullt in Germany. Just recorded a mixtape for Christmas on my B-215-S today, works perfectly after 32 years, not sure if a dragon would have lasted that long...
My Dragon still works...
@@CassetteComeback Im glad it does, if I'm correct it was more expensive when they both were on the market. But let's check again in 10 years ;-)
* BOOM! *
Challenge accepted?
Dynamic range is to do with amplitude, not frequency response. The Dragon for example goes down to -40Db and up to 10 (although no one should be anywhere near there). This is from -30 to 8 . That could be the criticism... To be fair, -30 to 8 is plenty.
DR is not measured as +-. It’s always measured relative to 0dB input signal. 40dB is not a fantastic value, but it’s definitely usable. 60dB would be better of course, but German/Swiss products don’t care of 50/60Hz hum too much.
This type of cassette drive was very rare.
19:45 It was recommended from Revox back in the days to use the BASF "Chrome Maxima 2" Tape. I use to live 2 KM from Ludwigshafen in Mannheim, and i remenber the tec sheet from BASF as well as the Revox sheet. Their new Chrome Maxima II tape was tested and calibrated on the B215. so it is perfect match.
Your cassette is very similar, but it would be even be better on the Chrome Maxima II from BASF.
I remember very good results on this deck.
For remote control, try a Logitech solution. They have all supported devices on their website and second hand these are well priced.
The Revox decks were built to last with good quality mechanisms and motors.
In Comparison, Nakamichi gave a slighly better performance until they broke
down due to inferior plastic parts, and were a nightmare to repair.
Whith a little maintenance the Revox decks will last a lifetime.
How many Naks do you have that broke down due to plastic parts?
@@gordonshumway7465 Not so much from plastic parts, but idler tires and belts that dry up over the years. I've rebuilt dozens of the classic transport machines over the years. The Naks are great machines but the performance is very dependent on the quality of the rubber parts.
@@fflynnful I agree, but that's not what the commenter said. "Nakamichi gave a slighly better performance until they broke
down due to inferior plastic parts".
@@gordonshumway7465 Actually, the plastic parts have held up pretty well over the years. I've probably refurbished over 100 of them.
@@fflynnful Yes, that's my entire point of my reply to the original comment. I am not the one who said Naks break down due to inferior plastic parts, I was calling out that comment.
The Wonderful REVOX and Tony. It sound the Eternal Love. Sure one of the best Quality and performant Deck. It's very understanding choice. You are right. I agree.🙂👍
I believe the aforesaid dynamic range has to do with the span between the loudest and softest passage (above a noise floor). Said differently, dynamic range refers to amplitude capability, not to frequency response.
Others may say it more articulately.
The neat thing about that BASF shell is that you can identify side 1 from 2 without looking at it, good if you are driving a car and want to keep your eyes on the road as you are going down the Autobahn at 300km/hr :). A clever design. (20:32).
Hey Tony the other poster commented about dynamic range and this person is correct dynamic range is the level of volume in music or voice (softer to louder) that's very important concerning classical music, not that I presume you listen to classical, however I'm sure you are well aware classical music can have very soft and very loud portions, that's what dynamic range is all about. Even in music your play has softer portions and louder portions. Modern music is mostly stripped of dynamic range it's just mostly loud loud loud. In my humble opinion the listener doesn't get to appreciate the ability to enjoy what the artist(s) can use to emphasize the importance of the music and what they are singing about.
dynamic range doesn't mean frequency response, but is about the recorded volume (max and min), so signal to noise ratio is linked to it
Thanks Tony, I currently own the following Dragon 2 B215's, CR7, CR5, CR4, CR3, CR2, CR1 and a Tascam 122MKlll. I l love all of them, for taping I use the Dragon>B215>CR7>CR5>Tascam 122MKIII (something about those meters).
You right Tony I feel the same way too this tape deck sound nice n I love it n it still look good on 2022 n all you said you are very right I had nakamichi dragon but it broke on me I got mine since 89 still working like a champ so many good tape deck I had to me this one is the best I don't care what other people said this revox is the best to me I feel the same as you said that it the king to me those motor OMG look nice n strong no belt at all waoo
What is crosstalk on it channel separation do you know and how does that compare to the nakamichi
I think the Sony TC-K81 is the best (cheapest) cassette deck for someone wanting to get into tapes. Solid piece of kit and old school sound.
Indeed. That modern opamp sound is meh. Even a “high-end” discrete input differential stage followed by opamp is still meh. I prefer TC-K75 for UK to 81 by the way. Its ferrite playback head gives better sound to me.
Great Deck!! 😎
Fantastic deck!
I bought this recorder new in 1986. If it can calibrate a tape, ANY tape will just sound perfect. Back then I even recycled all of my "Agfa Super" from 1972 with perfect results.
A friend of mine has it. He said there was never any tape that it did not calibrate.
Tremendously expensive yet I see the value.
Why do some of these have smaller black buttons instead of these larger grey buttons? Which one was older, assuming either one was an update?
Yes - frequency response and dynamic range are different things !
are the levels on both channels always the same?
It (Revox B215) does have HX pro (11:40 in the video). Even though it's there, it really doesn't do much. it gives you about a Db or so of extra headroom. I know this machine inside and out. I spent 3 years maintaining a room full of them for real time duplication. All HX does is back off the bias when there is a certain amount of high frequency content in the recording audio.
Hx pro helps with high frequencies only. It controls a bias level. And it really works for Type I. For Type II it makes almost no sense
Sorry but dynamic range and frequency response are totally different topics. So strange that you compare these 2
My brother worked in big rental company. One of these that are working at big live music events.
They had two of these. We recorded some music on one of them. That was one crazy thing? We recorded on type one with levels plus 8db! Even distortion sounded different and recording stayed useful.... Sounded bit strange, but not very bad. Of course, you can't hear difference on 50kW sound system 😂
Recording at plus 4db was very good. Brother still have some cassettes recorded then.
My experience with cassettes is with an early 80s Technics model which I finally wore out the head. The unit wasn't adjusted right from the factory and was minus 3db at less than 10khz. I finally adjusted everything myself for a satisfying response. My concern was minute tape dropouts. Do these better double capstan decks solve this problem? Could they have been used for studio work without worry of dropouts? I'm talking drops on a channel especially in the high frequencies when listening with headphones.
Dropouts are usually due to the the tape more than the deck, in my experience.
Dual capstan machines are superior when it comes to tape/head tracking. The LH capstan is minutely smaller in diameter to the RH capstan, resulting in a taught tape across the heads. Any undulations on the tape are eliminated (to a degree) resulting in better head to tape contact. Drop out can sometimes be attributed to undulating tape skewing across the PB head.
Hello .I wanna buy a hifi -casette deck but I dont know which one is better .what is your suggest ?
Buget? Any Nalamichi sounds special, and you find them from $100 to $2000 depending on model. Another way is to buy from any producer but top series or close to that but keep in mind that are not cheap.
11:35 Sure it has HX Pro, it's just not mentioned on the front plate.
How do you know this ?
@@josephsiciliano3681 I own it and I hear it. Or read the Wikipedia article and text search for HX Pro: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revox_B215
@@oschiri66 OK, so it was the same as my HK CD491 it was always in the circuit only it wasn't noted on the front like my CD491was. Thanks for the info.
Yeah, it's kinda mentioned on the back plate
Those Revox decks, took NO PRISONERS, they were BAD-ASS, built like a panzer tank! I have a C115 professional, which I ❤️, but couldn't find a B series, you can KEEP the Naks, I'll have one of these ANY DAY over them!
I find that this deck has real weight behind the drums, plenty of presence, for want of better words. It’s also über cool looking
Good video on what cassette decks could do. I still play cassettes from the 1970s that sound good. Take good care of them, keep them out of the sun and away from extreme temperatures.
Nice Video, I'm stuck here with a Sony 3 head Dolby S from 1995ish, Its pretty decent tbh, but I'd love to have something like one of the best cassette decks ever made! :)
Save up I guess, but your deck isn't shabby.
@@CassetteComeback Thanks
I mean if you can find a functional one a Philips DCC deck is pretty amazing I'd say much better than the Sony
@@abdelkaderelbachir3817 Yes, but that means I won't be able to record standard analog Cassettes, I might consider it though, Although they're very hard to find (at lest in the UK in working condition)
Studer stuff is second to none. this was designed for radio stations. got mine 15 years ago when nobody wanted them.
thanks a lot
The design is very Star Wars to me, it's like an imperial cassette deck.
My stephfarther aslo does have the B215 aswell the CDplaer B225 and receiver B285. The complete set as you would buy like you mention. He has new recap and led ligt.
pitty he no use it that many, it is in his hobby room. In living room he use the pro version Studer A721 cassette, Studer A727 Cd player and the A725 Cd player wiht Studer A68 ampflier.
I have 2 Revox A77 open reel machines, a mk1 and 15ips mk 4 which are both very special. I was keen to see the Revox cassette deck in action and it’s obvious the standard of quality build is still evident. For cassette use I have an Aiwa ADM 700 deck from the eighties which has fallen into disuse due to belt death. I wish I could get the deck sorted and back in action. Can you offer any contact details of a company that can rescue my Aiwa? I’d be most grateful as I’ve got hundreds of cassettes aching to be played again.
Regards,
Airion
My Aiwa was pretty easy to rebelt. Get some from Marrs and try yourself first. Won't cost you much.
@@CassetteComeback thanks for the tip. There’s a TH-cam clip somewhere showing how to rebelt my Aiwa deck. Watching the video showed it to be a job beyond my expertise and tool supply. I’ll give it another look though just to check.
8:15 It did not look futuristic, but professional. And it is.
Excellent video, no azimuth adjustment?
Yeah, but it's all manual and you have to do it with a screwdriver.
Seen a demo recently of B215 being used, aligned with screw driver, connected to Oscilloscope to refine azimuth. Used in a Sound and Archive studio. Play back of old tapes to archive to digital. Impressive to watch.
It seems a little like the DX7 of tapedecks but it's pretty cool nonetheless
can we trust LINKED at all ?
dream machine... 1300€ on EBAY
That's a nice machine but you know what I like those DCC decks made by Phillips this sounds pretty damn good for what they are but shamefully coming from the 90s they are notorious for leaky capacitors and especially the first generation
Happy party mamy
frequency response and dynamic range are two different things
8:20 The future is not how we imagine it making technology. Any technology you make is already from present.
Dynamic range is NOT the same as frequency response… it’s the difference between the quietest
sound and the loudest sound…
I wish I could compare this with the Nakamichi. The Nakamichi has a smooth, refined yet detailed sound that I haven't heard from other decks. Something this deck doesn't have that some Nakamichi decks have is azimuth adjustment.
If the PB azimuth is properly calibrated, then the Revox doesn't need user record azimuth calibration, as the record and playback head is combined in the one block, so they are always in alignment. This is different with discrete 3-head machines as the record head must be optimised for each recording. One exception is the Dragon, which has auto PB azimuth, but it is a complicated setup and I found there was a serious compromise in the recording quality with this machine. Playback of old tapes was superb, but record quality rolled off on the high frequencies, even after record head azimuth adjustment had been optimised. My choice will always be the Revox B215.
@@sdi1111 Nakamichi are the most high end sounding decks I have heard; they sound similar to expensive British equipment. I wanted a decent deck for converting tapes to digital. Since they were recorded on many different decks, azimuth control is very useful. Nakamichi's DR-1 or Cassette Deck 1 appear to be good choices. I can "tune" the sound in seconds. They're not equal to the Dragon but are simpler (by Nakamichi standards).
@@Henrydrn1 Of course having an auto azimuth PB facility makes life easier. In reality however, a small degree of azimuth error on most so-called calibrated machines should suffice, with no need for adjusting the azimuth, though tracking tapes in Dolby C is more critical. Listen to a Revox B215 before you make your final choice
@@sdi1111 I didn't mean to criticize Revox. The Revox, like the Tandberg 3014 and the Dragon are among the best decks ever made. I just meant to point out the importance of azimuth control when archiving tapes recorded on multiple devices. The Tandberg 3014 reminds me of a tank every time I see it. I have been curious about the TEAC V-8030S, it seems to "have everything."
@@Henrydrn1 No offence taken Henry. My first deck was a National Panasonic model RS271...around 1971. It was one of the first Cass decks with Dolby B. As a singer, I often performed overseas and always brought back the latest Cass deck and as time moved on, so did the sophistication of the 3 head cassette decks. I then started to dabble with their adjustments and bought an oscilloscope (CRO) and ironically - as the Club Industry in Australia declined - I began a new career in Electronics. I still have my Sansui SD7000 Open Reel which I bought in Fiji in 1972 and on my way to work one day, I found a (as new) Pioneer RT909 on the side of the road. Pinch rollers had melted, but I bought a new set from a site in the US.The machine is mint! I have owned many 3 head cassette decks, including the Dragon, but my tests don't only rely on just what I hear, but what my trusty oscilloscope shows me and the Revox B215 stands alone! However, auto PB is ideal for you if you are copying your old tapes onto another format. Best regards, Robert
dinamic range isn't freq. response...
My two.revox said made in germany too the best tape deck I ever had fck nakamichi I had the dragon it broke on me to expensive to fix it sounded nice but it didn't last me like the revox 215 I got two of them I bought 3 different nakamichi n they broke on me I got my first revox since 89s still workings like a champ on 2021 just put a little oils on the revox moving part inside that it n clean it cus had crazy dust once I clean it still working like a champ man to.me is the best tape deck in the world beautiful motor inside love it I can't believe is still working n never gave me trouble at all I'm buy another one in black so I could match it with my other equipment I got in the basement in the house I don't care what people said this sound n record beautiful n sound beautiful I love the grey color is better got two of them I'm just buy a black one for my other equipment to match it
Bought the dragon at the px in germany 1985 also bought the Harmon Kardon cd491 and the HK was much better .
I have some rarities, the Revox Metal Particle cassette, New sealed in box. German made by Basf. If there is a real Revox collector here, just contact me.
Are you the guy trying to sell the box of 10 for 280 euro?
@@CassetteComeback no, I am not crazy. I will not sell a full box of 10 Revox for this price!!!!!
Check out Tandberg tcd 910. Better than most. Maybe it’s not mentioned much because it’s was not sold in consumer shops
dragon had 54db dynamic range, this one 50 or 51, it said in the article on wikipedia
Futuristic looking...awesome specs...true direct drive.
It needs a pressure pad lifter.
Frequency response measurements are meaningless unless the signal level is disclosed. Must companies cheated with lower signal than the IEC specified level.
And then you sell it...and not to me.
I got two is a tank cassette tape deck made in Germany not Japan oh China better than the dragon nakamichi I got two nakamichi I have to send it to fix
That sounded fantastic for a tape deck! Too bad the machine is aggressively ugly though. But these were intended to be pro-machines not consumer decks, right? I never understood why pro-gear needs to be ugly (which is often the case) by the way. "Oh, so you're gonna be looking at this thing all day five days a week? Let's make it as ugly as possible, you don't deserve to be around nice looking stuff at work."
BUT …. Its so ugly !
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
I wouldn't call it a beauty, yes. It looks like lab equipment, but it's ergonomically perfect. The black version of it looks more like pro audio.
An entire Revox tower could look ... kind of ugly, but the deck itself, together with some vintage amplifier looks fine.
Lol
Using this deck without Dolby C is utter atrocity!