About the Company
Bias Electronics — British Reel‑to‑Reel Tape Deck Manufacturer
Brand: Bias Electronics
Country: United Kingdom
Years Active: ~1971 – late 1970s (mid‑1970s peak)
Location: London, U.K. (572 Kingston Road / Coombs Lane)
Market: Consumer and light professional reel‑to‑reel tape recorders built in the U.K.
Technology: Solid‑state electronics, multi‑speed 2‑track machines
Target: Home hi‑fi and some broadcast / independent radio applications
Bias Electronics was a small British audio company that produced reel‑to‑reel tape decks and mechanisms during the 1970s. Its machines filled a niche between mass‑market consumer recorders and high‑end imported brands, and they were used in both home settings and modest studio or broadcast environments.
Company Origins and Focus
Founded by British audio engineers, including people who had previously worked at companies such as Leevers Rich, Bias Electronics began trading in the early 1970s (often cited as around 1971). The founders sought to build better‑performing tape decks than what smaller retailers were offering at the time.
The company focused on solid‑state tape decks when Japanese and European electronics were dominating the mid‑range consumer market, aiming at improved reliability and performance.
Bias also offered console and portable versions of its deck chassis, and in some cases could build units to special requirements for professional or broadcast use.
Known Tape Recorder Models
• Bias Electronics BE 1000 (c. 1975 – 1979)
Category: Mid/hi‑fi 2‑track reel‑to‑reel tape deck
Electronics: Solid‑state (transistor)
Speeds: 3 3/4, 7 1/2, 15 ips (3‑speed)
Heads: 3 (erase / record / playback)
Reel Size: Up to 7″
Features: Permalloy heads, switchable NAB/IEC equalization, robust aluminium construction
Performance: Provided decent frequency response and wow/flutter figures competitive with other mid‑range decks of the era (e.g., 0.05 % wow/flutter at faster speeds) — modest compared to high‑end European pro decks but solid for consumer or light studio use.
The BE 1000 is the main documented model from Bias Electronics today; it shows their ambition to build decks competitive with imported machines.
Technology and Market Position
Solid‑state Design: Unlike 1950s/1960s tube decks, Bias models were transistor‑based, following industry trends by the 1970s.
Mid‑Range Performance: They were not flagship professional machines like Studer or Revox, but they were viewed by some enthusiasts and local engineers as higher‑quality British alternatives to generic import decks.
Special Build Capability: According to contemporary reviews, Bias could customize tape transport and features for specific professional requirements — such as console or portable formats, and units used by independent local radio stations.
Legacy
Bias Electronics represents one of the small British reel‑to‑reel manufacturers of the 1970s — a period when most domestic open‑reel production had been overshadowed by international brands. Today its decks are rare collectibles, appreciated by vintage audio enthusiasts for their UK heritage and solid engineering relative to the era’s mainstream mid‑range machines.