ReVox PR99 MKII 2-Track 7.5/15 IPS Comprehensive Restoration Recapped Calibrated Tested

ReVox PR99 Mk II Professional 2-Track Open Reel – 7½/15 IPS NAB – Extensively Serviced & Documented

Condition

Excellent vintage condition with light age-appropriate cosmetic wear. Professionally thorough hobbyist restoration with extensive component replacement, service, testing and calibration. Fully functional. Includes the original removed components, calibration/test printouts and OEM power cord shown.

Description

Offered here is an exceptionally well-sorted ReVox PR99 MKII professional two-track reel-to-reel tape recorder, comprehensively restored, tested and calibrated by a highly skilled and meticulous longtime ReVox enthusiast.

This is emphatically not an example that has merely been cleaned, given a belt and pronounced “serviced.” The restoration extended throughout the machine, and the original removed components were retained and organized by circuit. Included are replaced components from the Output Amplifier, Oscillator, Record Amplifier, Tape Drive, Reproduce Amplifier, Locator/MCU, Input and Power Supply boards, along with the replaced relays and motor run/phase-shift capacitors. The extensive collection of removed parts shown in the photographs accompanies the machine and provides unusually tangible documentation of the work performed.

Following restoration, the PR99 was electronically aligned and extensively tested using both Maxell Gold and Maxell White Box tape at 7½ and 15 ips. The supplied frequency-response plots show remarkably flat, closely matched performance from both channels across the usable audio spectrum, with excellent high-frequency extension at both speeds. At 15 ips in particular, the response remains essentially ruler-flat through the midrange and well into the upper frequencies before the expected ultrasonic rolloff. These are measured post-restoration results from this specific machine, serial no. 027087, providing unusually strong documentation of the quality of the restoration, alignment, and overall electronic performance.

The machine presents beautifully for professional equipment of its age. The faceplate, controls, meters and transport are exceptionally clean, while the chassis shows only normal age-related cosmetic evidence. Please examine the numerous high-resolution photographs, which form an important part of the description and provide comprehensive coverage of the exterior, rear panel, tape path and heads.

This is the PR99 MKII two-track professional configuration, with 7½ and 15 ips operation, balanced XLR connections, variable-speed control and the factory electronic tape counter/locator system. The rear voltage selector provides multi-voltage operation. The machine is currently configured as shown in the photographs; buyers should select the appropriate line-voltage setting and fuse specification for their location before operation.

Included are the OEM ReVox power cord, the complete collection of retained original/replaced components, and the supplied calibration/test documentation shown in the photographs.

For a serious user or collector, the great attraction here is provenance: rather than an unknown forty-year-old PR99 with an undocumented service history, this machine comes with physical evidence of an unusually extensive restoration and measured documentation of its post-service performance.

Professional high-speed configuration

This is the desirable 2-track / half-track stereo, high-speed NAB version rather than the slower 3¾/7½ ips configuration.

Features include:

• 7½ and 15 ips electronically selected tape speeds
• 2-track stereo record and playback
• NAB equalization
• Three-motor transport with two reel motors and electronically regulated capstan motor
• Accommodates reels up to 10½ inches
• Built-in variable speed control
• Electronic real-time counter with locator/repeat functions
• Full-logic transport
• Separate channel VU meters
• Peak indicators
• Tape dump/edit facilities
• Remote-control and fader-start provisions
• Balanced professional line connections
• Front headphone monitoring
• Rack/chassis configuration

ReVox specified the varispeed system over an exceptionally broad range of approximately -33% to +50%, one of the features that made the PR99 especially useful in professional production environments.

Connectivity

The professional I/O panel provides separate Channel 1 and Channel 2 balanced line inputs and outputs, together with connections for monitor, serial control, remote control, tape-drive remote and fader start, depending upon the external equipment employed.

Unlike consumer machines designed principally around RCA connections, the PR99 was engineered to integrate directly into professional studio and broadcast installations.

Multi-voltage operation

The rear voltage selector provides settings for 100, 120, 140, 200, 220 and 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz.

The machine is presently configured for 120V operation.

The manufacturer's identification plate confirms:

ReVox PR99 Mk II
Serial No. 027087
2-Track NAB
50–60 Hz
100 W
Made in West Germany by Willi Studer GmbH

Cosmetic condition

Cosmetically, this is a very presentable example of a machine designed as professional equipment rather than furniture.

The front panel remains attractive and the lettering, controls, meters and counter display present very well. There are scattered light scratches, rubs and other signs of normal professional use on the chassis, upper and side surfaces, with some additional marks visible around the rack/chassis edges. The plated steel portions show normal age-related variation in finish.

We have deliberately photographed the machine from numerous angles, including the tape path, heads, rear panel, connections and chassis. Please examine all photographs carefully, as they are an important part of the description.

The exposed tape path is exceptionally clean in appearance. The head faces have also been photographed at very close range so that buyers familiar with professional open-reel equipment may evaluate their visible condition for themselves.

Packing, shipping & local pickup

This is a large, extremely heavy professional tape machine and will be packed accordingly.

We have extensive experience shipping valuable vintage reel-to-reel decks, receivers, amplifiers and other heavy audio equipment throughout the United States and internationally. The recorder will be very heavily protected with substantial cushioning and a suitably oversized heavy-duty carton, with particular attention paid to the controls, reel spindles, faceplate and chassis.

The shipment will be fully insured for the purchase price.

Local pickup is also welcome, and for a machine of this size and caliber we are always happy to accommodate a buyer who would prefer to collect it personally.