How good were Revox turntables?

[-=Rudy=-]

I know Revox had some sturdy reel tape recorders, but how were the turntables? I remember seeing a linear tracking 'table of theirs that had the cool Revox look to it. Did the linear tracking mechanism work well? I've seen one listed for $300, which is a few bucks above Blue Book (although it includes an older cartridge).

[Sckott]

Very mechanical, cool looking, vintage to todays standards (many looked like they could cut!) but the parts can be very, very hard to find and expensive. If you ask many audiophiles, linear tracking doesn't provide the magic many of those arms promise.

Revox made a killer RTR, but turntables I would pass, even if I found one cheap for above reasons. A MMF or VPI would whoop it's butt, easy.

[GabeG]

Originally posted by Sckott
If you ask many audiophiles, linear tracking doesn't provide the magic many of those arms promise.



There have been and still are some amazingly good linear tracking arms that do deliver the goods over standard arms. While the Revox is motor driven and not recommended, air bearing arms like the Eminent Technology or the Kuzma are amazing. If cost were no object, one of these arms would be the way to go.

[-=Rudy=-]

I'm more concerned about the complexity of the arm mechanicals than anything, the possibility of them going wonky after such an extended amount of time, and curious if the Revox was built as well as their tape decks. I'm more apt to go with something simpler in a pivoted tonearm anyway. Revox also had one of the coolest-looking first-generation CD players too. :D

I mean, heck, I found out the hard way that my Nakamichi OMS-7 CD player sounded great but wouldn't last for more than a few months without needing repair. :rolleyes:

[GabeG]

Originally posted by -=Rudy=-
I'm more concerned about the complexity of the arm mechanicals than anything, the possibility of them going wonky after such an extended amount of time


That would be my concern as well. A linear tracking arm driven by a motor (and an old one at that) is not a great combination. An arm with gears is bound to have alot of friction.

Although certainly complex, an air bearing arm has much less to go wrong - as long as they are kept clean and the pump is quiet and steady you can be certain the thing won't have any problems.

[Cafe Jeff]

I have one.
It's given twenty years of Stellar Service and not required any maintenance at all. I did have to disable the auto-return as it was auto-returning prematurely. Soundwise, my Garrard 301 wipes the floor with it. I don't think it's worth US$300 (though it would be nice if it was) but it is a decent enough table that requires no fiddling whatsoever--and that has to count for something. Jeff