About the Company
Metaxas & Sins is a Dutch high-end audio company founded by Kostas Metaxas in 1981 and based in the Netherlands. It is not a historical mass-market manufacturer like Akai or TEAC, but a contemporary boutique maker of premium analog audio equipment, including newly designed reel-to-reel tape players/recorders that combine modern engineering with artisanal craftsmanship.
Founder: Kostas Metaxas — artist, industrial designer, recording engineer
Founded: ~1981
Location: The Netherlands
Market: High-end audiophiles, studios, collectors
Approach: Limited-production, handcrafted machines that are also considered audio sculptures
Metaxas himself recorded hundreds of live concerts on analog tape using classic Swiss Stellavox decks before designing his own reel-to-reel equipment.
Production History & Philosophy
Unlike classic reel-to-reel brands that started in the 1940s–1970s, Metaxas & Sins’ involvement with reel-to-reel tape technology is a modern renaissance — aiming to re-elevate analog magnetic tape for serious music lovers and professionals in the 21st century:
1980s–2000s — Foundation and Audio Design
Throughout the 1980s, Metaxas worked in high-end audio design and developed a passion for analog, including extensive recording on vintage Stellavox machines.
Though the company made various high-end components (amplifiers, speakers, turntables), reel-to-reel machines were not part of mainstream hi-fi production anywhere at this time.
2010s — First New Analog Tape Machines
Around the late 2010s, Metaxas & Sins began creating brand-new reel-to-reel tape machines, not as retro reissues but as entirely new designs blending classic analog technology with high-precision engineering and contemporary materials.
Key Contemporary Models
Metaxas & Sins’ reel machines are limited production, handcrafted pieces — often described as “audio sculptures” — and include:
Tourbillon TR-X
A high-end portable reel-to-reel recorder/playback machine designed from scratch with precision mechanics and discrete analog electronics.
Inspired by horological engineering: the tape drive uses concepts similar to watch tourbillon mechanisms to enhance speed stability.
Designed to work with 10.5″ reels, suitable for professional and serious analog playback and recording.
Offered in both record/playback and playback-only configurations.
Papillon
A flagship reel-to-reel player/recorder introduced for the company’s anniversary.
Utilizes bespoke mechanical design for the tape path and is described as the first fully new reel-to-reel recorder built in decades.
Frames and mechanical elements are machined from aircraft-grade metals for stability, inertness, and aesthetic beauty.
Aimed at studio-level performance and audiophile playback.
These machines differ from vintage decks in design philosophy, materials, and mechanical precision — intended to surpass the performance and tactile experience of classic reel hardware.
Technology & Features
Design & Construction
Handcrafted in small batches by Kostas Metaxas and his sons.
Bodies and structures milled from solid aircraft-grade metal (aluminum, copper, titanium) for rigidity and low resonance.
Horologically inspired mechanical elements (e.g., tourbillon-like regulation on the TR-X) give exceptional tape-speed stability.
Electronics & Tape Path
Discrete, analog circuits inspired by classic designs refined over decades of live tape recording experience.
High-torque brushless motors and precision capstan drives protect signal integrity and timing.
Intended Use
Designed with both studio recording/archival and audiophile playback in mind.
Targets enthusiasts seeking the ultimate analog experience in an era when reel-to-reel is a niche but revered medium.
Market Position & Impact
Boutique High-End: These machines are not mass-market consumer products but limited-edition heirloom components for high-end audio collectors and specialists.
Revival of Analog Tape: They have been picked up by prominent high-end audio distributors, e.g., Absolute Sounds and Reel Sound Distribution, marking a formal revival of open-reel analog in the luxury hi-fi segment.
Global Recognition: Reviews and features in specialist audio press emphasize their unique combination of design, craftsmanship, and sonic ambition.
Legacy & Future
No historical mass lineup: Unlike traditional brands active in the 20th century, Metaxas & Sins does not have decades of model generations — its reel-to-reel line is new and emerging.
Collector & Audiophile Appeal: These machines are already regarded as modern classics among analog enthusiasts, elevating reel-to-reel tape to aesthetic and technical art.