Revox B 215MkII

General data

• Manufacturer: Revox
• Model: B 215 MkII
• Production period: second half of the 1980s.
• Country of manufacture:
• Power consumption: max. 45 W
• Power supply: 100/120/140/200/220/240V AC switchable, ±10%, 50/60 Hz
• Mains fuses: 100-140 V: T 500 mA, for 200-240 V: T 250 mA
• Operating conditions

Ambient temperature +5...+ 40 °C,

• • Air humidity according to DIN 40040, class
• Operating position: horizontal only, cassette vertical
• Dimensions: 450 x 153 x 332 mm,
• Weight: 9.15 kg
• New price, approx.: xxxx DM

Technical data

• Outputs (bez 200 nWb/m):
  • LINE OUTPUT: 0.775 V / R i = 1.5 k0hm.
  • PHONES: max. 2.8 V / Ri = 220 Ohm adjustable in 7 steps

• Drive

4-motor drive

• • DC motors controlled by microcomputer,
  • 2 individually controlled, direct-drive Capstan motors

Rewind time:

• • approx. 50 s for C-60

approx. 75 s for C-90

• tape type selection:
  • Type I = Fe2 03 (2 memory locations A1, A2).

Type II = Cr02 (3 memory locations A1, A2, A3)

• • Type IV = Metal pigment (1 memory location A1) Selection automatically via cassette coding or manually via key input
• Playback equalization:
  • Type I: 3180 + 120 ys
  • Type II: 3180 + 70 ys or 120 ys

Type IV: 3180 + 70 ys

• Output display: 200 nWb/m at 0 dB mark
• Frequency response (over band, after aut. calibration):
  • Type I: 30 Hz - 18 kHz +2/-3 dB

Type II: 30 Hz - 20 kHz +2/-3 dB Type IV: 30 Hz - 20 kHz +2/-3dB pitch variation (DIN 45507 / IEC 386): 0.1 % for C-60 and C-90

• Distortion factor (k of 315 Hz/0 dB):
  • Type I: < 0.8 %

Type II: < 1.5 Type IV: < 1.0

• Noise reduction
  • Dolby B / C switchable (both for recording and playback separately)

• Noise voltage ratio referred to 3 % distortion with Dolby C on:
  • Type I: > 70 dB(A)

Type II: > 72 dB(A) Type IV: > 72 dB(A) crosstalk attenuation: > 40 dB at 1 kHz

• Pre-magnetization and extinction frequency: 105 kHz
• Erase attenuation: > 70 dB at 1 kHz Dolby-C NR on
• Input sensitivity (for 0 dB level): 50 mV/100 kOhm; level adjustable in 60 steps, max. resolution - 1 dB
• Max. permissible input voltage: 2.5 V
• Band counter

Real-time display in min./sec. taking into account the preselected cassette playing time

• Locator functions
  • Two addresses can be freely set and deleted, possibility for loop operation, cf. remarks.

Remarks

• 2.5 kg drive:
  • Solid die-cast drive with four motors directly driving the two capstan shafts and the two tape reels.

Especially with the narrow magnetic tape of the compact cassette, precise mechanics and tape guidance are just as important a prerequisite for perfect sound as the highly developed electronics. At Revox, all the components that are important for the tape run are manufactured in-house - with the same high precision as for the professional reel-to-reel tape machines from Studer. For example, the capstan axles go through an ageing process lasting several months before they are finished - with tolerances of fractions of a thousandth of a millimetre. This ensures that the mechanics remain stable and reliable even after many years.

• • Revox assumes that no other device handles cartridges more gently than the B215. The Sendust ferrite sound heads prove Revox level by their high quality and are characterised by excellent long-term consistency.

The Revox calibration computer In the recording electronics, Revox goes its own way. The intelligence of the B215's calibration computer is unique, the computer program thorough and effective. The unit automatically measures itself for every type of tape from every manufacturer. In a complex measuring procedure with eight measurements the parameters for level, equalization and premagnetization are determined. Six memory locations are provided for the input of individual cassette data. The entire calibration process takes just under 20 seconds (see link below as a note). The characteristics of Dolby-B and -C are taken into account.

• • The calibration computer works with three frequencies: 400 Hz (level), 4 kHz (EQ) and 17 kHz (bias). Both channels are measured and adjusted separately. While the recorded measuring tone is being read by the playback head, no measuring tone recording takes place - any influence of crosstalk on the measurements is thus excluded.
  • The setting is made in very small steps (256 possible setting values) and takes into account the characteristics of the Dolby circuits.

• Ease of use
  • Technology loses much of its fascination if it remains inaccessible. Functionality, clarity and simplicity are therefore indispensable prerequisites. All conceivable variations of operation are easy to handle, and all shots can be optimally controlled automatically or manually. Smooth fade-in and fade-out is possible with the fade-in/fade-out function.
• Real-time tape counter
  • A real-time tape counter displays the played time in minutes and seconds. Two additional stored locator positions can be accessed from any mode. Furthermore endless playback between two tape positions is possible.

Is calculated from unwind & rewind difference revolutions, so cassette out - other cassette in and after (max ca 10 sec) knows !! the recorder where he is temporally!! HW

Other models of the same series:

• Revox B 215 (more idiosyncratic design),
• Revox B 215-E, Revox B 215-S in completely black housing.

Pictures

Links

• [B 215 on Revox website May 2016]
• Under reports at the Yamaha KX-670 (in this wiki), a metering time of 10 sec is mentioned for the 1993 670.