B-215d

About the B-215d

The Revox B-215d cassette deck is a professional-grade tape recorder known for its exceptional sound quality and advanced features. It has a three-head design with separate record and playback heads, allowing immediate comparison between source and recording. The deck supports Dolby B and Dolby C noise reduction systems, as well as Dolby HX Pro for headroom extension during recording. It features a sophisticated microprocessor-controlled automatic tape calibration system that optimizes bias, playback equalization, and sensitivity for different tape types (Type I, II, and IV). The deck uses a 4-motor drive system with two DC motors controlled by a microcomputer and two individually controlled direct-drive capstan motors, ensuring precise tape handling and minimal wow and flutter (0.1%). The tape speed is 4.76 cm/s. The B-215d includes a real-time tape counter, locator functions with loop operation, and a level indicator calibrated at 200 nWb/m at 0 dB. Frequency response after automatic calibration ranges from 30 Hz to 18 kHz for Type I tapes and up to 20 kHz for Type II and IV tapes, with distortion factors below 1.5% depending on tape type. The deck weighs approximately 9.15 kg and measures 450 x 153 x 332 mm (WxHxD). It was manufactured in Germany during the mid to late 1980s and is highly regarded for its build quality, reliability, and sound fidelity, often considered one of the best cassette decks ever made. The B-215d is no longer in production but remains a sought-after model among audiophiles and collectors.