Revox

Origins of Revox

Revox, a brand known for its high-quality audio equipment, including turntables, originated in 1951 when Studer registered the name “Revox” for Swiss audio equipment. Initially, Studer designed tape recorders under the brand “Dynavox.” After the first production series of Dynavox recorders, a new marketing company called ELA AG was formed in 1950. Revox was then adopted as the brand name for amateur recorders, while professional machines retained the Studer name.

Key Historical Developments

• 1948: Willi Studer establishes his company, which initially manufactures oscilloscopes.

• 1951: The Revox brand is registered, and the T26 tape recorder is introduced, gaining quick popularity in both amateur and professional markets

• 1960s: The introduction of the Revox A77, which became one of the most successful tape recorders ever produced, significantly bolstered Revox's reputation in high-fidelity audio

• 1970s: Revox expanded its product line to include turntables, notably the B790, which featured innovative designs like a tangential tonearm. This period also saw the introduction of high-quality speakers

The first Revox-branded tape recorder, the T26, was introduced in 1952, priced at 1395.00 Swiss francs. In 1954, the A36, the first 36-series recorder, became available. Notable turntable models include the B790 and B795, which were introduced in 1977 and 1979, respectively. The B795 was a cheaper version of the B790, with similar features but adapted optics and a speed control of a maximum of +/- 9.9%.

In 1990, Willi Studer sold the Studer Revox Group to the Swiss company Motor-Columbus AG. In 1991, Motor-Columbus split the group into Studer (Pro), Revox (HiFi), and a Manufacturing-division. The Revox Group was later sold to private investors.