Revox Agora B Interesting find in the used market.


I was browsing the fakebook marketplace locally and came across a chap selling his Revox Agora B active speaker system. I never heard of Revox / Studer speakers before they interested me for the looks at first as I’m into vintage gear as well.

I read up on these speakers and it was a wow moment, these larger stand mount size speakers have so much tech in them for the mid 80’s (1985 vintage). Each speaker has 3 X 100 class A/B amps in them. the two bass drivers in each are asymmetrically aligned and use feedback (i.e.servo control), the bass drivers one facing front one on top firing down into the cabinet with ports on the top and front baffle. The tweeters are titanium and open to radiate to the front, top, sides and back (180deg) like an open baffle, the midrange driver carries almost the whole pianos range.

So, I bought them, after a 30 min listen. I was shocked at how detailed and fast these speakers were. They separate instruments like no other speaker I’ve ever heard, including my Spendor D9.2’s in my main listing room. supper interesting and rare I’ll be setting these up in my office computer space. little over kill maybe. but an interesting find for a vintage speaker. these have been fully restored, recapped etc, yes, all 6 amps were done. no not going to replace the main speakers but such an interesting design i had to buy them, I paid $1000 USD basically maybe the best deal in vintage audio I’ve had in a while.

Revox Agora B on thevintageknob.org

Anyone else had Revox / Studer Speakers?

 

 

128x128glennewdick

WOW! What a great find and Congratulations. Just curious, how big is your office and what are you using for source? I wish I’d another room for a Shindo Labs Pre / amp & Field Coil Speaker system, maybe someday I get lucky :-)

@glennewdick 

Noticed a pair for sale just the other day local to me at what seemed a reasonable price and knew they'd be gone quickly. 

Are you located on the West Coast with a northern latitude?

 

 

 

Revox / Studer is Swiss. actually, the drivers are all stamped Studer.

totem395; yes, I'm in Victoria BC just north of Seattle. got them from a nice gent named Paul. 

 

lalitk: my office / bedroom area is just an offshoot if my loft that's a large L shaped, so these will be fed from my computer-DAC. I'll use them for music when working in the office and movies when watching in bed, ok maybe some gaming too. 

I'm actually rather shocked at what these can do specially for the age. they do dynamics like horns, detail like a modern hi end speaker and separate instruments like some of the best out there. They are a little lean in the mid bass area though and the top end is not quite as detailed as my Spendors. They do some interesting things with soundstage and depth that's quite impressive for the era or even modern speakers. Very detailed bass with superb instrument separation Very much a studio monitor sound. Supper rare from what I can find.  

I'll be playing with them to see what they can do with the various settings they have. they came with a book with set up instructions for various insulations and a full maintenance manual with diagrams etc. wish modern stuff came with that level of information detail. I'm still shaking my head that there is 600w of power hidden in these relatively small cabs. 16" x 16" x 28" but heavy 70lb each. 

Everything i read puts these as marketed to the audiophile and studios. 

Power bandwidth : 4Hz...42Khz (DIN 45500)
Frequency response : 30Hz...21Khz (-3dB)
THD : 0,5% max. (max., 86dP SPL)
1% (max., 96dB SPL)
SPL : 110dB (at 2m, in a 100m3 room with 0,4s reverb)
Drivers : 2x 20cm bass (2x 1,25T / 2x 612µWb)
1x 12cm mid (1,2T / 392µWb)
1x 1,9cm high (1,9T / 349µWb)
Crossover : 200Hz (14 or 17dB/octave)
3,7Khz (17 or 24dB/octave)
PC : 2W in sleep mode
200W max
Dimensions : 42 x 72,5 x 42cm
Weight : 31kg.
Inputs : 0,775V / 47kOhm (preamp in)
4V / 1,2kOhm (power amp in)
Bass control : 0 / -2 / -4 / -6dB at 45Hz
Treble control : +2 / 0 - / -2 / -4dB at 10Khz
Automatic power on : 1mV (pre amp inputs)
6mV (power amp inputs)
Automatic power off : 4 minutes (±1 minute)