Metaxas Papillon
- Thread starter Zeotrope
- Start date
I saw the Tourbouillon at AXPONA and it was impressive. It’s much better built than the TP-1000 (as it should be, it’s more expensive).
When it comes to time accuracy, you’ve got the most advanced timing mechanism available today (via the ARM Cortex CPU), which is controlling the finest motors on the best available rollers and bearings. It doesn’t get better than this.
When it comes to time accuracy, you’ve got the most advanced timing mechanism available today (via the ARM Cortex CPU), which is controlling the finest motors on the best available rollers and bearings. It doesn’t get better than this.
Thanks! I do think Metaxas hit it out of the park with the design.
How does it sound? It’s still breaking-in and I my only frame of references are the Nagra Reference TT/HD Phono and the Taiko Extreme/XDMS/Router/Switch/HD DAC X. Leaving digital aside, it’s still difficult to compare to the vinyl setup, largely due to the HD Phono, for which no equal exists on the R2R side. Nagra is actually planning to offer a tape input for the HD Phono, which should be a fantastic benefit for any tape machine.
The Papillion sounds very neutral, with delightful highs that are not rolled-off nor harsh, a natural midrange and lows that are neither lean nor overemphasized. I think this is the most neutral modern R2R machine available today. The tone is beautiful, which is probably a virtue common to all R2R. As great as the Nagra vinyl tone is, on strings and piano, tapes are just that level above in terms of realism. Soundstage is wide and deep, especially given the limitations of the built-in preamp. (With the Nagra HD Phono, I can tell which way the bow of a violin is oriented to the microphones…)
I also like how easy it is to work on, and how robust the Metaxas design is. Everything is accessible and can be easily removed, adjusted, cleaned, replaced, etc. All the components are the best available: Swiss made mil-gauss steel rollers, Swiss motors, Japanese bearings, high quality caps… this machine should last more than a lifetime.
The other thing to remember is that the price of the machine is about 4X less than the Nagra TT setup, so it’s almost an unfair comparison. I would therefore say that you get better value for your analog dollar going with a R2R setup, although media cost and assortment must be factored in as well.
How does it sound? It’s still breaking-in and I my only frame of references are the Nagra Reference TT/HD Phono and the Taiko Extreme/XDMS/Router/Switch/HD DAC X. Leaving digital aside, it’s still difficult to compare to the vinyl setup, largely due to the HD Phono, for which no equal exists on the R2R side. Nagra is actually planning to offer a tape input for the HD Phono, which should be a fantastic benefit for any tape machine.
The Papillion sounds very neutral, with delightful highs that are not rolled-off nor harsh, a natural midrange and lows that are neither lean nor overemphasized. I think this is the most neutral modern R2R machine available today. The tone is beautiful, which is probably a virtue common to all R2R. As great as the Nagra vinyl tone is, on strings and piano, tapes are just that level above in terms of realism. Soundstage is wide and deep, especially given the limitations of the built-in preamp. (With the Nagra HD Phono, I can tell which way the bow of a violin is oriented to the microphones…)
I also like how easy it is to work on, and how robust the Metaxas design is. Everything is accessible and can be easily removed, adjusted, cleaned, replaced, etc. All the components are the best available: Swiss made mil-gauss steel rollers, Swiss motors, Japanese bearings, high quality caps… this machine should last more than a lifetime.
The other thing to remember is that the price of the machine is about 4X less than the Nagra TT setup, so it’s almost an unfair comparison. I would therefore say that you get better value for your analog dollar going with a R2R setup, although media cost and assortment must be factored in as well.
HD Phono is the new Nagra phono stage: https://www.nagraaudio.com/product/hd-phono/
Quite a few unique components and design choices. There’s a good thread about it in this forum.
I have only purchased new reels, from Analog Productions, Hemiolia, Tape Project, Horch, and Chasing the Dragon.
Overall consistently best sound is from Hemiolia. I would rank them as follows:
1. Hemiolia
2. Tape Project
3. Analog Productions
4. Horch
5. Chasing the Dragon
Of course, this is based on the albums I own and may not be reflective across all titles. Some of the Tape Project are indeed very good, for example.
Quite a few unique components and design choices. There’s a good thread about it in this forum.
I have only purchased new reels, from Analog Productions, Hemiolia, Tape Project, Horch, and Chasing the Dragon.
Overall consistently best sound is from Hemiolia. I would rank them as follows:
1. Hemiolia
2. Tape Project
3. Analog Productions
4. Horch
5. Chasing the Dragon
Of course, this is based on the albums I own and may not be reflective across all titles. Some of the Tape Project are indeed very good, for example.
Yes, indeed there is some mechanical noise. Probably because of the massive Maxxon motors (can turn a 15” reel) and the exposed design.
Dust cover and/or sitting >3m away solves that.
Dust cover and/or sitting >3m away solves that.
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