During the golden decades of analog audio technology, reel-to-reel tape machines were considered the ultimate in sound quality.
From the 1950s through the early 1980s, they shaped recording studios and high-end home Hi-Fi systems alike. Before that, tape machines were strictly reserved for broadcasters and professional studios. Yet as more convenient formats emerged – first cassette, then CD, and finally streaming – they slowly faded from the market. One reason for this was the relatively complex handling that required knowledge and care: threading, rewinding, spooling, archiving, and so on. Another was the fact that high-quality tapes were never cheap. But anyone who has heard a true master tape copy knows: few other formats compare to this fidelity.
In fact, even today some music is still recorded on tape. A copy made directly from the original master bypasses several sound-degrading steps – such as creating a lacquer disc for vinyl pressings or potentially error-prone analog-to-digital conversion. This enables a listening experience that’s closer to the source than anything offered in the digital world. Moreover, this realization is spreading, and with it a growing interest in reel-to-reel tape machines. Revox, a name synonymous with Swiss engineering excellence, is currently responding with an impressive comeback.
The new Revox B77 MK III is far more than a simple rehash of the beloved MK II. The near-indestructible mechanics of the MK II remain unaltered – no improvement was necessary. However, the electronics in the MK III have been redesigned from scratch. The entire signal path has been reworked, removing all capacitors that may affect sound quality. The tape heads and pinch roller are not only brand new but also technically superior. And, for the first time ever, the tape machine features a fully balanced design. It is complete with matching XLR inputs and outputs suitable for professional studio environments.
Yet what’s truly innovative is its network connectivity: the B77 MK III can be seamlessly integrated into Revox’s in-house multiroom and multiuser system. It can be controlled through an app on a smartphone or tablet, and from anywhere in the world. This may seem contradictory. In fact it makes perfect sense: the technical excellence of the past meets the convenience of the present. There’s nothing else like it on the market today.
Visually, the new B77 honors its heritage. The classic Revox design has been carefully modernized without losing its iconic character: black surfaces, solid aluminum parts, satisfyingly tactile switches, and the legendary open-reel drive. Simply turning the machine on is an experience to savor. All the mechanical clicking and whirring grounds the machine in space. You can hear and feel what’s happening, creating a true tactile delight.
But Revox doesn’t stop there: acquiring Horch House, including master tape specialist Volker Lange, means that they’ve brought software competency to match their hardware under their roof. Master tape copies offered there sell for around €480 (approx. $520). That may sound steep, but the expense makes sense: the licensing fees alone amount to about €120 per tape, then add the cost of high-quality RTM tape stock and the labor-intensive real-time duplication process, executed with utmost care. These are no high-speed, mass-produced copies: each tape is made one at a time. The result is a level of quality that surprises even the most discerning ears.
Choosing a master tape copy is a conscious decision, which is what fundamentally sets it apart from streaming. To illustrate the difference, we can consider streaming as a buffet. Everything is available, accessible at any time, a quick bite here, a fleeting taste there. You browse, skip, and shuffle. Variety is the focus, not the individual experience. On the other hand, a master tape copy is a dinner at a fine-dining restaurant. You pay more, take your time, make a deliberate choice. In turn, you are rewarded with something thoughtfully crafted and refined. It’s not just about filling up – it’s about savoring. Not speed, but depth.
And so this mindful listening – this renewed (and yet old) appreciation of music – is the real comeback that the B77 MK III represents. It’s not a lifestyle product for background noise. Instead, it’s a tool for those who want to truly hear what’s on the tape.
The first time hearing a master tape copy on the new Revox B77 MK III will take you a moment to process. Not because something’s missing, but because nothing is missing. The music feels immediate, physical, and natural. It’s not “spectacular” in some artificial, polished way. Instead, it just sounds right. And that is the difference.
On the very first tape I played – a live studio session by Incognito – I was amazed by how organically the sound filled the room. The vocals positively reached into the room, the bass had body and precision, and the soundstage was wide, deep, and completely detached from the speakers.
Right then, my girlfriend walked into the room. She’s not particularly into Hi-Fi. She paused, listened for a few seconds, and then, genuinely surprised, said: “Wow. What’s that?” And that’s exactly the point: the Revox B77 MK III impresses not with specs or data, but with presence. The music itself becomes an experience simply through its quality.
The Revox reveals its refined side with Al Di Meola’s “And I Love Her.”. The guitar is tangible in every nuance, pluck, and subtle pause in timing. Yet it never sounds clinical or overexposed – it remains musical. The highs are silky, the mids open and natural, and the bass lean yet substantial. Nothing is artificially inflated. Rather, everything is honest and to the point.
Djabe & Steve Hackett’s “Camino Royale” offers a completely different sonic landscape: this time denser, more complex, and more dynamic. Once again, the Revox is exhibiting perfect control. Nothing is lost, no details are veiled. For all the power, the Revox maintains structure. On this track its confidence with demanding passages is clear. Transients are crystal, and dynamic swings are fully realized instead of truncated.
Next, Alice Cooper’s “I’m Alice” brings its own energy – punchy, direct, and thrilling. The bass brings authority, the vocals locked in with precision. Even at high volume, the soundstage holds firm. Nothing ever becomes shrill or falls apart. Instead, everything remains transparent and controlled.
And so all of the recordings have this in common: after a short while, you forget you’re listening to a medium. The technology completely fades away. You don’t hear the tape: you hear the music. Authentic, immediate, and moving. It’s as if the B77 MK III steps aside on purpose, even though, technically, it’s a very complex machine.
The Revox B77 MK III is much more than a technical remake: it’s a return to what really matters. It’s about sound, not features – it’s about depth, and emotion. This isn’t lifestyle décor. No, it’s a serious tool for those who want to hear music as it should be: direct, unfiltered, and analog.
Combined with Revox’s own Master Tapes – copied in real time at the Revox Klangwerk facility – you get a completely analog signal chain from the recording studio to your living room. Furthermore, it’s so consistent and high-end that it’s nearly unmatched worldwide. And yes, €480 for a master tape isn’t cheap. But those who choose such a format aren’t looking for compromise. In return, they get something that streaming can never truly offer: attention, depth, time. This music doesn’t just play in the background–it becomes the main event.
Accompanying Equipment
Turntable: VPI Prime Scout | Phono preamplifier: Van den Hul The Grail | Cassette deck: TEAC V-7010 | Streamer/Music server: Meridian Sooloos | Integrated amplifier: Krell K-300i with digital section | Loudspeakers: Wilson Audio Sabrina | Subwoofer: Velodyne DD12+ | Cables: Nordost cable family Red Dawn | Rack: Bassocontinuo Accordeon
Tape machine Revox B77 MK III
Concept: classic tape recorder with (optional) digital LAN control; test sample still without recording capability | Playback: 2-track, 19 cm/s and 38 cm/s | Playable formats: all common tape formats | Drive: Revox’s own three-motor drive mechanism | Counter: digital totalizer | Remote: controllable via Revox multiuser system and app | Special features: fully balanced construction with XLR inputs and outputs, revised signal path without capacitors, precision sound heads with extended service life, production at Revox Klangwerk, Villingen (max. 20 units/month) | Warranty period: 2 years | Price: around € 16,000
Revox Deutschland GmbH
Am Krebsgraben 15
78048 Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany
Phone +49 7721 8704-0
info@revox.com