Braking is achieved through the motor rather than requiring actual mechanical brakes (which would wear out in time). “In contrast, the Maxon motors that we now use feature inbuilt digital encoders with 1052 samples per revolution, so they’re incredibly precise. And, since many of these machines saw intense service, the motors had to be ‘tractor-like’, not ‘Formula One-like’,” says Kostas.
“The R2R decks of the previous century basically developed their own motor circuits in conjunction with the motors available at the time. So imagine what they can achieve in a modern tape deck.”Īctually there’s no need to imagine, since you can now find out in practice: Metaxas combines cutting-edge Swiss motors and technology (six DC motors in each deck) with the most inert chassis design to deliver a significant improvement over vintage designs. Fast forward 40 years and now they’re vastly more refined. At the point when tape machines ceased production in the late 1980s, precision motors were still in their infancy. “Take motors for example (and this is just one example). But that doesn’t mean that the best is behind us – far from it! I’ve spent a lot of time researching state-of-the-art machines from the 1960s, 70s and 80s and, despite their obvious quality, like all things they were limited by the technology of the time.” “Of course we’re all talking about how superior analogue tape is compared with more modern audio formats. “I wanted to see how far the medium of tape could be pushed,” says Kostas who, in 2003, began an ambitious project to create his own library of reference-quality analogue recordings, which he uses in the process of designing his high-performance Metaxas audio components. So what do we know about the new Metaxas T-RX design?įor one thing, it’s been a real labour of love.
“Essentially, the latest version of the T-RX will have a detachable headblock so that the customer can select the head types, and so that the machine can accommodate up to 1/2″ heads.” “I wanted to see how far the medium of tape could be pushed” “I was hoping to show some new developments at the 2020 shows in Munich and Basel, but sadly both shows have been cancelled,” he adds. “The first machines have just been delivered to customers and I’m currently working on the next production run,” reports Kostas. The good news, however, is that designer Kostas Metaxas has remained very much on the case behind the scenes and, as a result, his new T-RX tape machine is now ‘hot off the press’. The first of the companies, Ballfinger, has since released several such machines, while the second, Metaxas & Sins, sadly seemed scuppered for a while following the sad death of a good friend and valued supplier (of key parts for the deck being created). You may remember that back in 2018, the Munich High End Show saw previews from two companies of the world’s first modern open reel tape decks, which were on their way to market after a couple of decades with no new production of tape machines.
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