Revox B790 (1977–82)
A quartz-locked direct drive with a tangential arm that still divides opinion—precision engineered, yes, but not for the faint of heart.
Overview
The Revox B790 isn’t a turntable you casually set up and forget. Built between 1977 and 1982 by Studer Revox, it arrived during a period when high-end analog was pushing hard against the mechanical limits of vinyl playback. This 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.
Its servo-controlled direct drive system locks speeds at 33.33 and 45 rpm with stability that still impresses, though the real conversation always turns to that tonearm. Unlike pivoting arms that 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 kind of sentiment echoes across forums: respect for the engineering, frustration with the execution.
Despite its ambitions, 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. Yet, 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 proudly noted their B790 had been “fully re-capped and serviced to last another 40–50 years,” a testament to its robust build when properly cared for.
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 is handled by a quartz-locked servo system, a feature more commonly associated with broadcast turntables than home units. This isn’t just a crystal oscillator ticking in the background—it actively corrects rotational speed in real time, minimizing wow and flutter. The motor itself is a direct-drive unit, eliminating belt slippage and wear. However, this complexity comes at a cost: motor servicing is a known maintenance requirement, and failures—such as the platter suddenly stopping or humming—pop up frequently in user reports. When it works, it’s rock solid. When it doesn’t, it often requires 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. Unlike pivoted arms, which 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 occupies a niche corner of the vintage turntable market—respected for its engineering, but not widely collected due to its maintenance demands. Units have appeared on the market 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. Those who own one tend to either love it or abandon it after one too many alignment sessions.
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