Revox B215 (1985)

A microprocessor-controlled cassette deck with automatic calibration and Dolby noise reduction, introduced by Swiss manufacturer Revox.

Overview

The Revox B215 is a high-end cassette deck from Revox, a Swiss brand known for precision audio equipment. It came out in 1985 as the successor to the Revox B710 and was built on the B710's technical foundation. Auto-reverse and microprocessor control made it one of the most sophisticated consumer tape decks of its era.

Design

The B215 has Dolby noise reduction, auto-reverse and automatic bias calibration, all run by an onboard microprocessor. It also has a built-in calibration computer with an integrated tone generator. The generator uses three frequencies: 500 Hz for level, 10 kHz for azimuth and 20 Hz for tape contact. The deck uses Dolby HX Pro during recording and a 4-motor transport to handle the tape.

Specifications

Signal to Noise Ratio	72 dBA with Dolby C NR
Wow and Flutter	0.1%
Input Sensitivity	35 mV
Dimensions (W×H×D)	450 x 153 x 332 mm

Type	3-head, single cassette deck
Playback Frequency Response	Within +1.5, −0.5 dB from 31.5 Hz to 16 kHz (ferric) and within +1, −0.5 dB from 31.5 Hz to 16 kHz (chrome)
Separation	40 dB

Context

Revox positioned the B215 as a premium cassette deck. It followed the Revox B710 and inherited its studio-quality engineering. In the mid-1980s it combined professional-grade calibration systems with user-friendly automation.