Aulos recorders - A personal appraisal by Robyn Mellor

August 2026

I have always used plastic Aulos recorders in my teaching. Yes, I have tried other brands of plastic recorders, but most have never appealed to me, and many have disappeared down the back of a filing cabinet or into a box in the garage with little regret. Most, if not all, plastic (aka resin) recorders (Yamaha, Zenon, Dolmetsch …) are adequate. However, I prefer to encourage the use of a single brand of instrument (and to recommend Aulos recorders) knowing that a consort of matched instruments will always be in tune. This review is NOT a comparison between the different makes of plastic recorders, but an appreciation of the different types of Aulos recorders that I have tried.  

My general view is that all the Aulos plastic recorders are good and reliable, and an excellent place to start your collection of instruments. All sizes are modelled on reliable prototypes: the mouthpiece is comfortable, the windway generally narrow and small providing good resistance, the fingerholes are comfortable and well-spaced, the tuning is generally very good, and the instruments are easy to play, allow for good breath pressure and nifty articulation. You should be happy with any model.

So saying, there are differences between the various models that are available.  

The model I like best—and encourage all my new students to buy—is the Haka (model 709B-E), the faux-wood-grain line. Perhaps I fell in love with the idea of a wood-grain plastic instrument when studying in Holland. I had a rather mad English lady for a student who did not like the aesthetic of plastic, and so carefully sandpapered the surface of her Aulos to create a lovely wood-grain appearance.

The result was so impressive that I did the same with my own Aulos treble, and kept the instrument for years until (like those other plastic recorders) it also disappeared somewhere, somehow, but with great regret. So I was delighted to come across my first factory-faux-wood-grained Haka, and now always have at least two or three descants and trebles in my recorder case for ensemble playing or for students to try.  

I like the Haka because of its reliability. The tuning is good and both high and low registers are stable. The voicing is excellent, providing good resistance that allows players to really blow into the instrument with a strong breath pressure. The result is a solid and yet fairly sweet tonal quality and a sound that can be moved and directed without losing pitch integrity. The Haka speaks well, responding quickly to different articulations. And it does look so impressively woody!

The Symphony is similar to the Haka but, to my ears, has a slightly more restricted sound. When blown, it provides less resistance and as a result its tone is a little less focused and difficult to direct. However, the Symphony covers the full range of recorders from Garklein to Bass (straight and bent). A full set of Symphony recorders would be fantastic for an ensemble that is looking for matching instruments at a realistic price, both in tuning and quality of sound.

In particular, the Symphony tenor is very solid, especially in the lower register, and speaks easily. On the other hand, this consort member does seem to be relatively large. I note that it is 2 ½ centimeters longer than my wooden Takeyama tenor (which I can play all day) whereas the stretch for the right hand on the Symphony tenor is taxing after only a short time.  

For those with smaller or weaker hands, I recommend the Robin (no relation). Descant, treble and tenor Robins have a distinctly curvy appearance, quite different from other Aulos lines (and other makes). The treble Robin weighs in at only 200 grams (as opposed to the 215g of its Haka and Symphony cousins), and is also a full centimeter shorter than the Haka and Symphony trebles. As a result, the holes are just a bit closer, and it looks and feels slighter, lighter and more accessible. The resulting instrument works very well. The sound is lighter and slighter than the Haka and Symphony but a lovely warm tone is easily produced.

The descant Robin has a similar design and lightness and resonance to its sound. I have not tried the tenors (both straight (AU211A) and bent neck (AU211K)). With a similar design approach to weight reduction and accessibility without loss of tonal quality or playing ability, I imagine they would also be excellent, comfortable instruments to consider. The only downside generally for all the Robins might be that their smaller sound might be lost in an ensemble of louder instruments.  

 

The Bel Canto descant and treble work very well, although they are my least favourite of the Aulos range. Both are a little lighter in weight than the Haka and Symphony models but retain their distinctive rounded profile. The Bel Canto sound is not as warm, is on the sharp side in terms of pitch (while remaining in tune) and is more difficult to direct and shape. These are small points: the sound of both descant and treble Bel Canto instruments can be shaped, and provides an excellent student instrument – although the lighter and sweeter Robin should also be considered for school settings.

In summary, you should feel confident to consider any Aulos plastic recorder, whether just starting out on your recorder journey, or if you are looking for an additional practice instrument, or a matching set of ensemble instruments (in the case of the Symphony line). The instruments are well made, have good tuning, blend well, are comfortable and easy to play. They can produce a beautiful sound and can be played musically.  

My overall preference is for the Haka recorders as reliable individual instruments, with a solid sound and a distinctive look. The Symphony line offers a full range of instruments, while the light-weight Robin is well suited for smaller hands. The Bel Canto’s might also be a good choice for their design and potential as a teaching instrument. While there is some price variety between the different models, they are all pretty affordable, and there is a good chance that you will find an Aulos recorder suitable for your needs, and that will give you pleasure whether playing for yourself or in ensemble.