Studer
A80 RC
Introduced 1970$7,000 MSRP
The Studer A80 is the Swiss-built professional master tape recorder that became the workhorse of recording studios worldwide from the 1970s through the digital transition, prized for its modular headblock design (supporting formats from 1/4-inch up to 2-inch with a change of headblock and reel adapters), butterfly heads, and reputation for extreme mechanical reliability. The A80 RC variant relocates the electronics to allow a detachable, wheeled trolley chassis, and is the version most commonly found in high-end audiophile 2-track mastering and home-cinema-grade playback setups today.
MSRP
$7,000
Used market · Good
$7,900
+13% vs MSRP
as of Sep 1, 2026MSRP to used market
From $7,000 at launch to $7,900 today.
Specifications
- Heads
- 3, Permalloy, "butterfly" stacked/inline configuration
- Motors
- 3-motor transport, including a regularly serviced capstan motor
- Weight
- 50+ kg
- Reel size
- Up to 12.5 in (31.8 cm) for metal reels/plates
- Dimensions
- H × W × D: 1120 × 700 × 600 mm per therecorderman.com; reel-reel.com cites 900 × 700 × 600 mm for the general A80
- Tape speeds
- 7.5/15 or 15/30 ips available depending on configuration
- Wow and flutter
- 0.04% at 15 ips; 0.06% at 7½ ips
- Frequency response
- 30 Hz–18 kHz at 15 ips; 30 Hz–15 kHz at 7.5 ips
- Current resale range
- Roughly $7,000–$14,000+ for restored/reference-grade 2-track RC units, per multiple 2024–2026 listings
- Dimensions rc chassis
- H × W × D: 1120 × 700 × 600 mm per therecorderman.com; reel-reel.com cites 900 × 700 × 600 mm for the general A80
- Signal to noise ratio
- 61 dB at 15 ips; 58 dB at 7½ ips
- Configuration referenced
- 2-track stereo master recorder, ¼ inch (6.35 mm), RC (remote console) chassis
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