Metaxas & Sins Papillon Reel-to-Reel Tape Player

Reel-to-reel tape players have been making quite the comeback of late, something we’re indeed excited to see for such a vaunted analog format. Relative to that, we’re even more pleased to note how the well-respected Metaxas & Sins brand name is making its new North American-distribution deal with Reel Sound Distribution known via a fine array of high-end gear, including the flagship model known as the Papillon reel-to-reel player.

To facilitate all that, Florida-based Reel Sound Distribution Inc. is now the exclusive distributor of the Metaxas & Sins audio line, following a partnership agreement with designer Kostas Metaxas. Metaxas & Sins gear that falls within this agreement’s purview includes reel-to-reel players (like the Tourbillon TR-X, shown below), turntables, and tonearms that are available exclusively in the U.S. and Canada through select Reel Sound Distribution Inc. retail partners.

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First, some background. Designer Kostas Metaxas has spent more than 40 years working in the high-end audio field, from designing and manufacturing playback systems to recording over 300 acoustic concerts on analog tape using Swiss Stellavox decks before moving on to designing his own line of reel-to-reel players/recorders and other gear. As a recording engineer, Metaxas wanted to “voice” his design-related goals for “extremely realistic” recording playback, with the intention of “easily reproducing all the nuance and emotion of a musical performance.”

To that end, Metaxas & Sims gear is machined from solid blocks of either aircraft aluminum, copper, or titanium. According to Reel Sound Distribution major domo Jeff Garshon, each and every M&S product is assembled by Metaxas or his sons, and every Metaxas & Sins case is individually built from a block of solid metal to shield and protect electronic signals.

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Now, let’s take a closer look at the company’s flagship offering, the Papillon reel-to-reel player (shown above). The product name itself, Papillon, is a reference to a shapely organic object, and it’s also French for “butterfly.” In time-related parlance, the word Papillon is used in reference to the bridge that supports delicate watch gears, pinions, the mainspring, and jewels of the chronology-device mechanism.

With all that detail in mind, the Metaxas & Sins Papillon reel-to-reel player is said to be the first model to utilize a similar concept to support the rollers and mechanics of the tape path. The Papillon is further said to accomplish this by using an arm-cortex controller that synchronizes four high-torque, low-speed Maxon Brushless DC (BLDC) motors — two reel motors, and two capstan motors — with the two linear Actuonix motors that control the dual capstan rollers on a fully retractable bar.

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The Papillon’s external electronics borrow from intensive recording work conducted over the past 35 years with the aforementioned Stellavox portable recorders that use single-ended transistor purist electronic paths developed in the 1960s (which the above-noted Tourbillon TR-X model also does).

The Papillon is operated via a six-key keyboard. Once the power is switched on at the external power supply, a welcome screen appears on the Noritake LCD display. The screen will settle in after about 10 seconds, and then the individual keypad functions can be engaged. From left to right, those basic functions are: Rewind | Fast Forward | Stop I Play | Test | Record. The Record Safety switch that’s located next to the Speed Switch is intended to prevent anyone from accidentally recording over pre-existing recordings.

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The Papillon comes pre-adjusted as standard for 15ips using 468 formula on tape. Metaxas & Sins notes that in their experience — in terms of other tapes, such as SM900 or SM911 — they can be used to record with little difference in EQ.

The flagship Papillon reel-to-reel player that comes in standard finish and offers playback only has an SRP of $88,000, while the version of the Papillon that features recording functions has an SRP of $104,000. Meanwhile, the version of the Tourbillon TR-X that comes in standard finish and offers playback only has an SRP of $49,000, while the version of the TR-X that features recording functions has an SRP of $59,000.

For more about Metaxas & Sins, go here.
To find an authorized Metaxas & Sins retailer in the U.S. and Canada via Reel Sound Distribution, go
here.

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COMMENTS
Anton D's picture

If they don't come with dust covers, that would be a travesty!

Kind of looks like an Otari copulated with a Transformer!

"Otari Prime."

JACK L's picture

Hi

"travesty" defines as "a false, absurd, or distorted representation of something."

Sooo many super-expensive brandname turntables in the marketplace come WITHOUT any dust cover!!

The USD125,000 (special demo price) Kondo Audio Note Japan turntable/base/tonearm/MC cartridge, did not come with its dust cover.

So are such TTs without dust lids all qualified to be super-travesty per Anton D ?????

JACK L

Anton D's picture

Nice you can Google a definition!

Keep up the low work.

I'd suggest you hop over to the main Stereophile site and post like you do and see how it goes!

JACK L's picture

Hi

"Stereophile site" is only a mickey mouse compared to major audio journals like Positive Feedback.com, PMA, Part-time Audiophile, High Fidility etc etc.

Check up my posts at Positive Feedback.com, PMA etc..

Get out yr "Stereophile" box to open your eyes to see the world, pal.

JACK L

Anton D's picture

"Major audio journals."

volvic's picture

The man’s a genius. All his designs are super sleek.

Tom L's picture

does it have DUBLY?

PeterPani's picture

analog Audio Only Laserdiscs

JACK L's picture

Hi

"DUBLY" only screws the music! Be my guest if you can't hear how the tape music is compromised! My ears just can't handle that music compression !

I regret my hundreds of music tapes were recorded with that then "revolutionary tape noise elimination technology" decades back.

I transferred some 10 cassette tapes from my background music CDs just last month. NOOOOO "Dubly" any more. The music comes out so open & livelike vs my old tapes "deadened" by the "Dubly B" pre-emphasis /compression !!

JACK L

Tom L's picture

It was a Spinal Tap reference. Yes, any high-quality modern reel to reel will dispense with DUBLY and even Dolby. Personally, I have a bunch of cassettes recorded using dbx noise reduction...they sound very good for cassettes, but can only be played on my old Technics dbx deck.

Anton D's picture

Trolls tend to be very literal and he is not able to grasp when you are being lighthearted or using humor....it will only trigger his auto-pedanrty.

JACK L's picture

Hi

Since when I was ever entertained by your "lighthearted or using humor" in your loyal Stereophile sites ?????

Whh needs enemy with a "friend" like YOU !

JACK L

Tom L's picture

and got all upset about it has very little knowledge of rock music and no sense of humor. Ah well, it takes all kinds.

JACK L's picture

Hi

Sorry, I only go for classical music, REAL performances, no fiction !

So enjoy your a FICTIONAL English heavy metal band.

JACK L

Tom L's picture

I've had season tickets to one of the top symphony orchestras in the USA for over 30 years, but I still appreciate Spinal Tap! One of the funniest flicks ever made.

rich d's picture

Fellas, I finally came to the conclusion that with some games, if you play you can only lose. With that in mind, I recommend you engage for your own entertainment, not to inform, illuminate or correct. Up to you, of course. I don't avoid trolls, Mandrake, but I do deny them my essence.

rich d's picture

Fellas, I finally came to the conclusion that with some games, if you play you can only lose. With that in mind, I recommend you engage for your own entertainment, not to inform, illuminate or correct. Up to you, of course. I don't avoid trolls, Mandrake, but I do deny them my essence.

rich d's picture

I really didn't mean to post twice. This website is beset by demons. And other creatures.

Tom L's picture

It's the Curse of P.D.Q. Bach, laid on the site to punish classical music snobs with no sense of humor.

JACK L's picture

Hi

What a great "humor" to label rich d "a classical snob with no sense of humor", punished by the "Curse of P.D.Q. Bach" !

HaaaaHaaaaaaa !

JACK L

Tom L's picture

who fails to recognize himself.
Anton is certainly not a classical music snob.
Someone must have struck you in the noggin with a left-handed sewer flute.

JACK L's picture

Hi

Are you bathing in a "sewer" so dark down there you could even read with your eyes wide open: I wrote clearly: rich d got the curse.

"Foolish is the man who fails to recognize himself" being so blind !!

JACK L

rich d's picture

we need a comprehensive list of the best music by fictional artists: P.D.Q. Bach, Spinal Tap, The Rutles etc. Do the Archies count? I think they do.

My top pick: Tonight We're Gonna Rock You Tonight

Mike Mettler's picture
I would also add The Wonders (originally named/spelled The Oneders) to that fictional band/artist list, and "That Thing You Do!," the ever-so-sweet title track from the 1996 Tom Hanks film of the same name, a song that is a brilliant '60s garage-pop homage penned by the late. great Adam Schelsinger (Fountains of Wayne, Tinted Windows).

Also on the expanded-theme short list of fictional characters and/or bands singing actual songs:

* "Shallow," from the 2018 film A Star Is Born, technically performed by the doomed duo of Jack Maine and Ally Maine in the film, but credited to their real-life counterparts Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga in terms of the soundtrack.

* "Aurora" and "No Words," both from the recent, better-than-you-may-think Amazon Prime 10-episode series, Daisy Jones & The Six, featuring Riley Keough (daughter of Lisa Marie Presley) as Daisy Jones and Sam Clafin as Billy Dunne doing the vocal honors.

I have more -- like Ming Tea doing "BBC" and other songs in the Austin Powers film series, and Jeff Bridges singing a litany of songs as Otis "Bad" Blake in 2009's Crazy Heart -- but these are good starter options, methinks.

Finally, as for the almighty Spinal Tap themselves, I'm still partial to "Gimme Some Money," "Stonehenge," and, of course, that song about the low-end kinda stuff, "Cups and Cakes" -- oh, I know what you were thinking there...

Anton D's picture

Sticking to the popular music idiom...

I like Sex Bob Omb.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiLjTIeosBk

-
Here's a secret pleasure...sounds like every meme at the time...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQsNkZeOGE4

Played by the real band, Quad Pi. Sounds like Sniff n' the Tears meets Gunhill Road!

-

Pretty much anything from Hedwig and the Angery Inch, but The Origin of Love might be most familiar. (Ron DeSantis' favorite film, by the way.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zU3U7E1Odc

-

I am also a sucker for that great band from the depression era....the Foggy Bottom Boys.

I, myself, am a man of constant sorrow...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08e9k-c91E8

Maybe more later, I don't wanna go too too!

rich d's picture

Mr. Mettler, you'll need to stand in the corner for five minutes. Everyone knows Gimme Some Money was performed by the Thamesmen, who later became Spinal Tap (albeit with a different drummer - long story).

Anton D's picture

I completely forgot that detail.

Kudos to you!

Mike Mettler's picture
Of course I knew that re that pre-Tap band name, but considering I'd gone off on a number of tangents in my already lengthy commentary, I decided to let it ride, with respect to stirring up any gardening accident and/or self-combustion-related flashbacks.

That said, if Bobbi Flekman had read my full comment block before it posted, she might have advised a revise... or not.

rich d's picture

Can I give it back? I shudder to think what the prize would be, and I'm pretty sure I couldn't afford the taxes. And can you imagine what would happen if I broke it? Probably nothing as there'd be no social media on which to demand my immediate resignation.

Incidentally, I understand this off-topic stuff must infuriate some people, but I love it. I don't think I could live off the grid, but I could happily exist off-topic. Happy Friday Y'all.

rich d's picture

Can I give it back? I shudder to think what the prize would be, and I'm pretty sure I couldn't afford the taxes. And can you imagine what would happen if I broke it? Probably nothing as there'd be no social media on which to demand my immediate resignation.

Incidentally, I understand this off-topic stuff must infuriate some people, but I love it. I don't think I could live off the grid, but I could happily exist off-topic. Happy Friday Y'all.

rich d's picture

gotta stop hitting "enter" with my pinkie toe

Anton D's picture

Arrrh arrh arrh.

;-D

I'm with you, the drift is the crux of the bisquit for me, as well.

JACK L's picture

Hi

Too bad ! Whoever put the Curse on you still does not let you go !
You enraged some sewer-stink spirits around here ?

JACK L

Anton D's picture

Such a Steely Dan satire: https://youtu.be/PfrHCNo2I3M

This gem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1Awbcw1-CY But, the best version is by Liz Phair...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JvB5AL59fM
So, a cover by a real artist of a fake artist?

When I first heard this, I thought it was Zappa. Nope, Cheech!

https://youtu.be/VJW67QN24SA

For it's time period, a good Dre/Snoop style song:

https://youtu.be/_Cr0nP3k_p4

dial's picture

Why not 200 000 $ ? Hope a new VHS'll come. And also an 8-track !

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