RX Reels Studio has been designed with both professional studio engineers and home audiophiles in mind. While the Premium line reels are crafted with a focus on looks as well as on high performance, the Studio reel “is all business,” says company founder and designer Kevin Root.

RX Reels are designed to last a lifetime under the most demanding conditions. Their flanges are constructed from 12-ply, aviation-grade carbon fibre, a material stronger than steel and yet lighter than aluminium. The new Studio reel's clear satin finish reveals the material's stunning 3K 2x2 weave. The rugged 2.3mm thick flanges are scratch-resistant and will not warp or bend, so promises the brand.

Twelve screws (six per side) fix the flange firmly to the hub – three to four times the number found in most reels. Additionally, we are told that the custom-built, solid aluminium NAB hub is precision-made to tolerances below two-thousandths of an inch. Every specification is thoroughly tested and measured to ensure hub balance, which improves tape alignment and packing.

A particularly nice touch is that the cutouts, or windows, on RX Reels are large enough for three fingers so that, when threading, it's much easier to hold the tape end against the. Furthermore, the hub features a nano-machined textured surface designed to gently grip the end of the tape, making it far less prone to slipping so that threading is quick, easy and minus the risk of damage to the delicate tape.

Each 10.5-inch, ¼-inch reel is handmade in the Pacific Northwest, USA and is laser-etched with a unique serial number. A laser-etched RX Reels logo on one side can easily be replaced on request with a studio, band or client logo. Delivery includes a durable custom-made storage box with a foam insert to protect the reel for years.

The RX Studio carbon fibre 10.5-inch tape reel with a ¼-inch spool is available now, priced at US $198 per reel.

Original RX premium reels, with the same specifications and the addition of a choice of six finishes, are priced at US $239 each.