About the Company
Stellavox SA is a Swiss audio electronics company, best known for producing high-quality reel-to-reel magnetic tape recorders with exceptional mechanical precision and audio performance. Their machines earned a reputation alongside Nagra units as professional portable recorders used by radio crews, TV production, documentary filmmakers, and sound engineers.
Founded: 1955 by Georges Quellet in Switzerland
Headquarters: Originally Hauterive; later Mendrisio, Switzerland
Industry: Professional audio equipment, including reel-to-reel tape recorders and mixers
Core Strength: Portable and studio recorders with outstanding build quality
Market: Broadcast, field recording, film/video location sound, and studio use
Historical Timeline
1950s: Foundation & Early Tape Machines
1955: Georges Quellet establishes Stellavox with a mission to produce exceptional audio equipment.
Late 1950s: Early models such as the SM-series (e.g., SM4, SM5) appear. These were compact portable reel recorders that already showed Swiss precision engineering and reliability.
1960s: Professional Portable Recorders
1960: Stellavox produces professional portable machines for broadcasters and journalists.
1969: Introduction of the SP7, a solid-state portable reel-to-reel tape recorder with sterling performance and modular capabilities. This unit supported multiple speeds (3¾, 7½, 15, and 30 ips) and became highly respected among professionals.
1970s – 1980s: Expansion into Studio and High-End Machines
1972: The 7 SQ — a quadraphonic version of the SP7 — is released, reflecting experimentation with multi-channel formats.
1975: The SP8 series continues portable professional lineage.
Late 1970s – 1980s: Stellavox moves further into studio quality decks with the 88 TD and later the 9 TD series — modular, high-precision machines designed for professional studio mastering and archival work.
1988 – 1990s: Market Shifts
Late 1980s: Market trends (digital recording) and the high cost of precision tape machines strained operations. The original company ceased traditional tape recorder production around 1988/1989.
After 1989: Sonosax acquired some rights and continued certain projects such as StellaDAT development for digital tape, though with limited commercial success.
2017 – Present: Revival and Legacy
2017: Stephan Schertler (audio engineer) and collaborators revive the company philosophy and begin producing new Stellavox-branded products, maintaining the traditional Swiss precision approach.
2020: New Stellavox SA is established in Mendrisio, and products like the L10 input/output modules are launched, honoring the legacy of analog engineering.
Representative Reel-to-Reel Products
Here are some landmark tape recorder models from Stellavox’s history:
SP7 (1969–1972)
Type: Portable reel-to-reel recorder
Electronics: Solid-state transistor design
Track/Formats: ½-track stereo/mono capability
Speeds: 3¾, 7½, 15, 30 ips — exceptional flexibility for field recording
Design Notes: Compact and rugged, with precision mechanics and high fidelity.
7 SQ (1972)
A quadraphonic adaptation of the SP7, intended for immersive multi-channel audio experiments.
SP8 (1975 onwards)
Further evolution of portable professional recorders with modular options and improved electronics.
88 TD and 9 TD (Late 1970s – 1980s)
Category: Studio-level reel recorders
Highlights: Fully modular, capable of supporting multiple tape widths and configurations — meant for mastering and studio applications rather than just field use.
Technological & Market Significance
Swiss Precision Engineering
Stellavox decks were hand-assembled with meticulous mechanical tolerances, leading to superb stability, low wow and flutter, and reliability — a Swiss-made alternative to the famous Nagra recorders.
Professional vs. Consumer
Unlike many reel-to-reel brands that focused on consumer hi-fi, Stellavox prioritized broadcast and professional use — portable units for field reporting and larger machines for studio recording.
Market Shift and Legacy
Digital Transition: The rise of digital recording technologies in the late 1980s reduced demand for analog tape decks.
Rarity: Because of high cost and professional focus, few Stellavox machines were produced compared with mass-market brands — making surviving units rare and sought after by collectors.
Modern Revival: Stellavox SA’s renaissance indicates continuing respect for analog craftsmanship and the brand’s enduring legacy in high-end audio.