Update: It's only been three years since this installment first appeared, but its pro-reel-to-reel enthusiasm (along with the rest of the series) has been rewarded. 2025 saw three crucial introductions take place which suggest that open-reel tape can return to viability, if only as an exclusive, high-end niche pursuit.
Most important is that Revox has joined Ballfinger, Metaxas and one or two other makers of brand-new tape decks with the return of the B77 in Mk III form at circa $16,000. I spent much time with Revox at the Warsaw Audio Video Show 2025 and confirmed that this is new machine, NOT a rebuilt, modified Mk II. While the company will refurbish any decks it has made, and is selling factory-rebuilt Mk IIs for roughly half the price of a new Mk III, the Mk III has too many features which could not be retrofitted to Mk IIs. Moreover, it sells for less than its few rivals, and offers both pro and home features, newly-designed heads and much more.
As for the other two newsworthy developments? Both Revox and Rhino Records will be offering pre-recorded 15 ips 2-track tapes by artists of whom you've actually heard. They sell for circa $400 – less than most current audiophile tapes – and include artists such as Yello, Yes, T Rex and others. All are limited editions – Rhino's are runs of 500 – and if they sell out, more will follow.
Am I expecting other record labels or tape deck manufacturers of the past to join in? I can think of one or two labels which might be encouraged, but industry insiders suggest that as most of the tape deck makers of the past were Japanese, it's unlikely we will see them restart production. According to the lore, when Japanese brands terminate models, they dismantle the production facilities and don't look back. So although Technics and others have revived their turntable lines, making an LP spinner is a whole lot simpler than producing a tape deck...
Ken Kessler assesses the increase in the reel-to-reel presence at a Tonbridge AudioJumble event.
Only five months have passed since the previous AudioJumble, (this article originally appeared in fall 2022), but cataclysmic events have taken place in that period, at least for the UK. We lost Queen Elizabeth II, the second-longest reigning monarch of all time and the longest serving British royal ever, fuel prices have skyrocketed globally – thus decimating disposable income – and Putin has continued to invade Ukraine. (That matters to the British not so much because of Russian gas, but because we are Ukraine’s strongest ally and within range of Russian nukes.) Add to that a change of Prime Minister, and a possibly catastrophic mini-budget (unless you’re already a bazillionaire) and you can understand why spirits were slightly dampened at the October event.
Attendees at the Tonbridge AudioJumble.
Despite all this, I noted a flood of intriguing gems, including a brace of Ampex tape decks, assorted vintage Luxman treasures, rare turntables, and more. This installment covers the tape-related goodies, while the next episode will look at other tasty items. As I am no longer predisposed toward acquiring more gear, as opposed to downsizing my hardware collection, I did pick up a rough Revox D36 in a swap for some vinyl. More than any previous AudioJumble, this one offered too many unusual reel-to-reel decks to contemplate.
Who can argue with a working Revox G36 for £250?
There were plenty of entry-level decks for newcomers which weren’t priced to deter, like this Tandberg 3441X with flight case for £130.
What took all of my willpower to resist were a clean Luxman preamplifier, some stunning turntables from Thorens, Fons and Pioneer, a tube tester, and ValvePower’s sublime reborn Leak tube amplifiers. But those will have to wait until Issue 174. As the images here show, cool oddities included an obscure Leak cassette deck (and, yes, the cassette revival is well underway), a Heathkit open-reel not common on these shores, and a plethora of superb Ferrograph products, including two fully-restored open-reel decks, one of which was a unique example as it had been modified to provided both 1/4-track and 1/2-track compatibility.
Most plentiful among the reel-to-reel decks were Akai D4000 models at great prices, not a few Revox G36s, a superb Revox A77, and a gorgeous Akai GX-747 dbx. But I am stopping at 10 decks…unless I get lucky, win the lottery and can find my dream Crown 800.
A pair of restored Ferrographs that caused a buzz at AudioJumble.
Another hugely desirable rarity: the Leak 2002 Cassette Unit.
Bargain of the show? An Akai 4000DS MKII for £110.
Another mystery to solve: a Heathkit STR-1 tape deck with a BSR badge on the head cover.
Certainly outside of the audiophile wheelhouse: a Fostex R8 8-track deck but at a knock-down price of £300.
A fully-serviced Revox A77 MK IV for £700 – a gift!
One vendor had two of these – Ampex 800 series portables with rebuild kits purchased by a well-known restorer for £100 for the pair!
Otari MX5050 for £1500 – at the exchange rate of the day that was under $1600!
A near-mint Akai GX-747 dbx version.
TASCAM’s 112 Mk II cassette deck for £400 – snapped up by a young enthusiast.
Here's a vast selection of new old stock cassettes at sane prices.
All images courtesy of Ken Kessler.
Header image: one vendor arrived with 400 home-recorded tapes in top condition.
This article originally appeared in Issue 173.
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