The Revox B710 is the cassette deck that cassette snobs forget about. Built in Switzerland between 1980 and 1984, it was the tape counterpart to the iconic B780 receiver — part of Revox's 700 series that defined studio-grade home audio. The B710 wasn't Revox's first cassette deck, but it was their statement: that the compact cassette could be taken as seriously as reel-to-reel.
The chassis alone tells you this isn't a consumer toy. That brushed aluminum faceplate, the heavy transport buttons with that mechanical thunk — it's built like a tank. Inside, the dual-capstan closed-loop transport is the star. Two capstans, a pinch roller between them, and a pressure pad? No. Revox used a different trick: a pressure roller after the second capstan to maintain tension. This eliminated the need for the cassette's internal pressure pad entirely, reducing wow and flutter to 0.08% WRMS. That's numbers that rival some reel-to-reel machines.
But numbers don't tell the story. What makes the B710 special is its sound. The electronics are direct descendants of the Studer A80 mastering machine — discrete low-noise op-amps, tight power supply regulation, and a careful bias oscillator design. Playback is open, detailed, with a noise floor so low you can hear the tape hiss only at extreme levels. The B710 doesn't flatter bad recordings; it reveals them. But feed it a well-made cassette and you'll swear you're listening to a master tape.
The B710 was also one of the first decks with automatic bias and equalization adjustment. Press a button, and it measures the tape's characteristics and sets the bias, level, and EQ automatically. Works perfectly with Type I, II, and IV tapes. The logic-controlled transport is smooth but not quick — it's deliberate, like a Swiss train.
Here's the caveat: the B710 is a nightmare to service. The mechanism is complex, the belts are hidden behind multiple layers of circuit boards, and parts are getting scarce. The original idler wheel and pinch rollers degrade over time. If you buy one, expect to have it overhauled by someone who knows these decks. The cost can easily exceed the purchase price. But once it's right, it stays right.
The B710 has been overshadowed by the Nakamichi Dragon and the Tandberg TCD 3004, but it deserves a seat at that table. It's the deck for people who care more about engineering than branding. It sounds authoritative, detailed, and uncolored. It's a tool, not a toy.