Analog Gear News

As much as we continue to live and love the ongoing vinyl revolution, we’ve also been pleased — and somewhat surprised, truth be told — to see the resurgence in the audio cassette market.

To that end, a pair of tape titans — the U.S.-based National Audio Company, and the Swiss manufacturer Revox — have just announced a joint cooperation for producing music cassettes and empty cassettes for the worldwide marketplace.

In a press statement, the companies said, quote, “The goal of this alliance is to offer [the] cassette as a medium for high-quality playback and recording on the audio market. [. . .] This allows you to experience analog sound with an audio cassette at home in the way it was recorded in the studio.” (Sounds good to us!)

In order to achieve this common goal, both companies are bundling their market-leading expertise and decades of experience, combining National Audio’s cassette production and Revox’s manufacturing of audio systems and music recordings, such as master tapes.

According to Revox, collaborating with National Audio enables the company to manufacture audio cassettes in addition to their above-noted, long-respected, audiophile-grade master tapes. For this purpose, a production line for cassette tapes by National Audio is being installed at the Revox Manufacture facility in Villingen, Germany, which will result in a) the company’s ability to manufacture high-quality audio cassettes onsite, and b) essentially ensuring them to also operate one of the largest cassette production plants in Europe. (The cassette casing itself is specially manufactured for Revox in Europe.)

The range of products will consist of Revox’s own music portfolio under the brand Revox / Horch House, and the possibility to offer labels, original equipment manufacturers (i.e., OEMs), and recording artists high-quality, tape-oriented products. Revox further points out that they are the only supplier currently offering three different cassette options, including a Type II version that is compatible with Chrome tapes.

In a press statement, Revox CEO Christoph Frey (above) said, “The cooperation between National Audio and Revox allows a new diversity in music recordings, as well as a new offer music enthusiasts with an attractive and sizeable selection for their personal analog music experience.” (Through this cooperation with National Audio, Revox receive all product rights outside of North America, but Revox will continue to present their range of products in North America.)

Steve and Phil Stepp, president and vice president of National Audio, respectively (above), added in their own joint statement, “This collaboration stands for highest-quality awareness, and is another proof of market leadership in the area of high-quality music recordings for storing and playing music. The decades of experience in both companies is unique.”

We couldn’t agree more, and we here at AP look forward to both hearing and seeing the allied Revox/National Audio results, and how the marketplace at large responds to this latest cassette surge.

For more about Revox, go here.
For more about National Audio Company, go here.