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At £595, this Revox B286 preamp commands a premium compared to the obvious alternative of a common B285 or entry-level vintage units, but it sits well below the only confirmed used listing of €689 (roughly £580–£600 depending on recent rates) for a similar B286, making it a fair to slightly ambitious price for a rare tuner/preamp combo. Given the B286’s 1985 launch price of 2,790–3,050 SFr (about £1,000–£1,200 in today’s money), finding one under £600 is a genuine opportunity, especially since few surface in the UK market.
The B286 is prized for its solid Studer-Revox engineering, excellent tone controls (±12 dB bass, ±10 dB treble), and integrated FM tuner with subsonic filtering, delivering a clean, detailed sound that rivals dedicated preamps from the era. Its rarity and dual-function design make it a standout if the unknown condition turns out to be clean; assuming no major faults, this is a smart buy for collectors or listeners seeking a high-performance vintage preamp with built-in tuning, not a warning but a worthwhile hunting opportunity.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Revox traces its origins to 1948 in Herisau, Switzerland, when Willi Studer founded his company as a workshop for electronic equipment, initially producing high-voltage oscilloscopes and early reel-to-reel tape machines under the Dynavox name. By 1951, Studer launched the first Revox-branded recorder, the T26, marking the brand's entry into premium consumer audio while reserving the Studer name for professional studio gear. This Swiss precision engineering heritage propelled Revox through decades of innovation, from the iconic A77 tape deck in 1977—paired with matching amplifiers, tuners, and turntables—to speaker development starting with the AX series in the 1970s, all designed to deliver studio-grade fidelity to discerning home listeners.
The brand's product focus centered on high-end analog playback, excelling in reel-to-reel tape recorders like the legendary A77 and B77, which became staples for audiophiles. Revox expanded into complete hi-fi systems, including integrated amplifiers, FM tuners, turntables sourced from partners like Thorens, and loudspeakers manufactured in their Black Forest facilities. While digital components like DACs and modern streaming gear emerged later, the core legacy remains in meticulously engineered tape machines and matched system components that prioritized sonic purity over mass-market appeal.
Today, Revox holds a revered position as a high-end vintage icon and collector's favorite, synonymous with uncompromising Swiss build quality and studio-derived performance. Though separated from Studer in 1994, the brand endures as a niche boutique force, recently reviving reel-to-reel production in 2016 with partners like Horch House, appealing to purists who value heritage engineering in an era of digital convenience.
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