Revox Plenum B MKII
At 10 inches, the bass driver commands attention—but it’s the studio pedigree and fragile foam that define this rare Swiss speaker.
Overview
The Revox Plenum B MKII isn’t a showpiece for glossy brochures or audiophile mythmaking. It’s a 3-way speaker system built with purpose, likely for professional monitoring, though the exact years of production remain undocumented. The name appears consistently across European market listings and repair suppliers as "Revox Plenum B MKII," with variant spellings like "MkII" or "B-MkII" reflecting common typographical drift rather than model differences. One known pair traces back to Deschamps Recording, lending credence to its use in professional environments, though no official documentation confirms widespread studio adoption.
Despite the lack of published specs—no frequency response, sensitivity, impedance, or cabinet dimensions—collectors note the presence of a 10-inch (25cm) bass driver, a detail pulled from replacement parts listings rather than original manufacturer data. The absence of technical documentation makes objective evaluation difficult, but the speaker’s classification as a 3-way design suggests a dedicated midrange and tweeter complement the large woofer, a configuration aimed at accurate spectral balance. There’s no mention of crossover topology, driver materials, or cabinet construction in available sources, leaving much of the engineering story untold.
What is known, however, is that time takes a toll. The foam surrounds on the bass drivers degrade—a common fate for speakers of this era—and this has become the central fact of the Plenum B MKII’s afterlife. Replacement kits are available, using polyether-based surrounds with micro bubbles for flexibility and lightness, a modern material choice meant to outlast the original formulation. One owner, after replacing the bass drivers, posted simply: “I’m very happy with them.” That quiet satisfaction, following repair, speaks volumes about the speaker’s latent potential.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Revox |
| Product type | Speaker |
| Driver configuration | 3 way |
| Bass driver size | 10" 25cm |
Historical Context
The Revox Plenum B MKII emerged in a context pointing toward professional studio use, described in listings as "studio monitors/audiophile speakers." Its association with Deschamps Recording—though anecdotal from a single owner—supports the idea that it saw service in a working studio environment. It shared naming space with other Revox models like the Forum B and Piccollo in a 1983 price list, suggesting a broader product family, but the exact relationship between these models remains unexplained. No documentation outlines its design philosophy, target market, or technological lineage.
Collectibility & Value
Listed as "RARE," the Revox Plenum B MKII occasionally surfaces in the secondhand market, such as a pair offered at 129.00 € (including VAT) in "good condition," though with noted cosmetic flaws like severe paint damage on the top panel. The original price was 179.00 €. The most consistent maintenance issue is foam surround degradation, with dedicated re-foam kits available for repair. One kit, priced at approximately £55.92, includes materials designed to improve longevity using polyether foam. Collectibility appears niche, driven by Revox’s reputation and the speaker’s studio-adjacent provenance rather than documented performance metrics.
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