Revox B790 (1977–82)

A quartz-locked direct drive with a tangential arm that still divides opinion. It is precision engineered, but not for the faint of heart.

Overview

The Revox B790 isn't a turntable you set up and forget. Studer Revox built it between 1977 and 1982, when high-end analog was pushing hard against the mechanical limits of vinyl playback. It wasn't a belt-drive revivalist piece or a mass-market direct-drive spin-off. It was a statement. Quartz-controlled speed regulation and a tangential-tracking tonearm promised near-perfect groove tracing, theoretically eliminating tracking error across the entire record surface.

The servo-controlled direct drive locks speeds at 33.33 and 45 rpm with stability that still impresses, though the real conversation always turns to that tonearm. Pivoting arms swing in an arc. The B790's tangential arm moves in a straight line across the record, tracking the groove geometry as intended. In theory, this eliminates distortion from angular misalignment. In practice, it demands patience. Setting up a cartridge isn't a five-minute job with a counterweight and a protractor. Users note alignment requires specific tools and a manual, and one owner flatly stated they'd "rather have my nails pulled out than install a cartridge and work to balance it on a Revox." That sentiment echoes across forums: respect for the engineering, frustration with the execution.

The B790 never became a mainstream classic. It was complex, expensive to service, and when things went wrong, they often went wrong in ways that demanded specialist knowledge. Those who've gone through a full restoration - re-capping the power supply, servicing the motor, recalibrating the control system - speak of a machine reborn. One owner noted their B790 had been "fully re-capped and serviced to last another 40-50 years."

Specifications

Manufacturer	Studer Revox
Product type	Tangential-Tracking Turntable
Driving system	servo controlled direct drive
Speeds	33.33 and 45rpm
Signal-to-noise ratio	better than 65 dB
Rumble to signal ratio	A weighting
Tonearm type	tangential

Key Features

Quartz-Controlled Direct Drive

Speed stability on the B790 comes from a quartz-locked servo system, a feature more commonly found on broadcast turntables than home units. It isn't a crystal oscillator ticking in the background. It actively corrects rotational speed in real time, minimizing wow and flutter. The motor is a direct-drive unit, so there's no belt to slip or wear. The complexity has a cost: motor servicing is a known maintenance requirement, and failures such as the platter suddenly stopping or humming turn up frequently in user reports. When it works, it's rock solid. When it doesn't, it often needs disassembly, lubrication, and recalibration by someone who knows the system inside out.

Tangential-Tracking Tonearm

The defining feature of the B790 is its linear-tracking arm, which moves in a straight line across the record, maintaining perfect tangency from lead-in groove to label. Pivoted arms introduce tracking error that increases toward the center of the record. This design keeps distortion minimal across the entire playing surface. In theory, it's ideal. In practice, it's finicky. Alignment isn't a matter of setting overhang and azimuth with a template. It requires precise manual adjustment, often with proprietary tools. Cartridge installation is notoriously difficult, and control system issues can cause the arm to drift or misbehave. One user described the experience as torture, while others who've mastered it praise the clarity and spatial accuracy it delivers when properly dialed in.

Collectibility & Value

The Revox B790 sits in a niche corner of the vintage turntable market. It is respected for its engineering, but not widely collected because of its maintenance demands. Units have appeared priced from $275 CAD for non-working examples to $499 for listed models, with some suggesting a value of $800 or more when fully restored and shipped. Failures are common enough to be predictable: platter spin issues, motor degradation, and control system glitches top the list. Full re-capping of the power supply is a frequently mentioned service, and power button repairs have been documented in enthusiast circles.