Metaxas & Sins Czar: Full-Range Electrostatic Loudspeaker Review

Experience an electrostatic speaker with unparalleled resolution and natural timbre, redefining full-range sound reproduction.

A Lifelong Love-Hate Affair with Electrostatic Speakers

From the moment I first heard a pair of KLH Model Nines decades ago, my relationship with electrostatic loudspeakers has been a rollercoaster of admiration and frustration. On one hand, these speakers deliver phenomenal transient response and a purity of sound with near-zero coloration, offering an openness and inner detail that few other speaker designs can match. They produce a coherent, "single-driver" sound that’s rare in the world of multi-driver systems.

But, oh, the flaws. Electrostatics have long been notorious for their limited power and weak low bass, which dulls the body and impact of lower-pitched instruments. Their beaming treble creates a narrow listening sweet spot, making the sound either harsh on-axis or muffled off-axis. Add to that their tendency to clip hard transients and the picky amplifier compatibility, and it’s easy to see why some audiophiles approach them with caution.

Over the years, I’ve tried almost every electrostatic model you can name—KLHs, Quads, Acoustats, MartinLogans, Sound Labs—hoping to find the elusive “perfect” electrostat that balances bass extension, speed, and clarity. Yet every design seemed to force a trade-off: gain bass and lose speed, or gain transparency and lose body. That is, until the Metaxas & Sins Czar came along.

Meet the Czar: A Full-Range Electrostatic Marvel

Enter the Czar, a brainchild of Kostas Metaxas—a longtime electrostat enthusiast and renowned designer of reel-to-reel tape decks. This speaker is a towering 96-inch-tall, 16-inch-wide, and just ¾-inch-deep column composed of four 16" x 24" full-range electrostatic panels stacked vertically.

What’s unique here is that the panels arrive separately, packed in hefty, well-damped flight cases. You or your dealer must assemble each tower by fastening these panels to a heavy anodized aluminum baseplate and wiring them up to the high-voltage power supply. Think assembling a high-end audio computer—it's surprisingly straightforward with clear instructions and labeled connectors, but definitely a two-person job.

Once built, these slender towers resemble the classic Acoustat 2+2 design, but with ultra-stiff, CNC-machined anodized aluminum frames ensuring a rock-solid, resonance-free structure.

Revolutionizing Electrostatic Drivers

Unlike traditional speakers that rely on magnets, electrostatics use electrostatic forces. A thin, lightweight diaphragm coated with conductive material is sandwiched between two charged stators. The resulting push and pull produce sound waves with remarkable speed and detail.

Most electrostatics employ polyester diaphragms with metallic coatings and water-based adhesives—prone to moisture absorption and degradation. The Czar, however, uses a proprietary 6-micron-thick PET membrane sprayed with fine stainless steel particles bonded by a solvent-based adhesive that resists humidity effects. This innovation promises long-term performance stability.

The stators are crafted from 6N copper-plated epoxy composite board, not steel, chosen for its superior sonic purity and conductivity. Precision drilling and etching remove copper from hole edges, avoiding insulation buildup—a common problem in other electrostats that reduces efficiency and bass response. With over 7,000 holes bored to a 1-micron tolerance, these stators represent meticulous craftsmanship.

Finally, the copper stators are sealed with a thin polystyrene epoxy layer, and the aluminum frames are bead-blasted and anodized to your preferred color. The subtle curvature milled into the frames adds rigidity and optimizes the gap between stators and diaphragm—narrower in the middle for treble, wider at edges for bass—achieving a rare mix of detail and low-frequency extension.

High-Voltage Power and Transformer Technology

The Czar's power supply uses cutting-edge tech: a low-voltage regulator, flyback transformer, and switch-mode supply generate a 2.3kV polarizing voltage with superior components compared to typical 6kV supplies. This delivers ample headroom without dynamic compression.

Hand-wound toroidal transformers convert amplifier wattage to high voltages using low-loss copper wire with 18 winding sections designed to cancel stray inductance. The result? Dynamic speed and attack reminiscent of studio horn speakers.

Specs & Pricing at a Glance

• Sensitivity: 94dB/1W/1m — ideal for low-powered tube or solid-state amps
• Frequency Response: 80Hz – 35kHz ±3dB
• Dynamic Range: 115dB
• Step-up Transformer: 100:1 ratio, 6-ohm primary impedance
• Optional subwoofer extending down to 20Hz (90dB sensitivity)
• Price: $37,000 (standard finish), $40,000 (gloss finish)

Listening Experience: A Trip Into Sonic Wonderland

You might wonder: does the Czar live up to these lofty claims? Although I've only had them for six weeks and the diaphragms require about six months to fully break in, the early impressions are stunning.

If you’ve never experienced full-range electrostats, these speakers unlock an entirely new sonic realm—as magical as stepping from black-and-white Kansas into the colorful Land of Oz. Their resolution and clarity from upper bass through treble are among the finest I’ve encountered, surpassing even the elite MartinLogan CLX in detail retrieval.

Listening to familiar records takes on new life. The subtle spit buzz on a clarinet reed, the shimmering decay of cymbals, the snap of a double bass string, the intimate rasp of Louis Armstrong’s voice—all emerge with vivid realism. Complex compositions like Ligeti’s Three Pieces for Two Pianos reveal layered dynamics and pitches in a three-dimensional soundscape that feels alive and immersive.

"The Czars reproduce timbral, dynamic, pitch-related, and durational details with a vivid, lifelike completeness that I’ve rarely experienced with other transducers."

— Audio Reviewer

Unlike typical electrostats that sacrifice tonal body for resolution, the Czars remain neutral and natural—comparable to the supremely transparent Magico M3 or M6 speakers. The tone of Jascha Heifetz’s violin or the Kontarski pianos feels uncannily authentic, as though you’re present at the recording session.

Revealing the Inner Workings of Instruments

The Czars’ resolution is so extraordinary, you can even hear the mechanical life inside instruments. For example, the microphones on the Kontarski recording are so close to the pianos that you hear the subtle hammering of strings, soundboard resonances, and lid vibrations as tangible waves of energy—almost a tactile sensation.

It's like having a front-row seat to the creation of music itself—capturing not just notes but the entire sonic architecture behind them.

Areas Needing Patience and Room for Growth

No speaker is without its quirks, and the Czars have a few areas that might require a bit of patience or adjustment.

• Bass Response: Currently, their bass and midbass levels are slightly softer compared to upper frequencies. While they extend cleanly down to 25Hz and produce room-shaking impact on deep piano passages and orchestral glissandos, this power isn’t always fully present at normal listening volumes. The bass seems linear down to about 65Hz but needs time or optional bass panels for full extension.
• Soundstage and Imaging: Though dipolar, the Czars don’t quite blend room and speaker into an all-encompassing soundfield like the more expensive MBL 101 X-Treme MKIIs. When highly toed-in, the soundstage feels “cupped” between the speakers—a detailed yet slightly confined stage. Loosening toe-in widens the stage but slightly softens the imaging.
• Treble Beaming: Toe-in angles of 30–45 degrees introduce some upper midrange and treble harshness, but reducing toe-in to around 15–25 degrees softens this without compromising brightness or stage width.
• Dimensionality: Compared to MBL’s 3D Radialstrahlers, the Czars’ imaging is less three-dimensional but still impressive, with richer body than vintage electrostats and horn-like dynamic punch.
• Setup Sensitivity: As with all electrostats, precise speaker placement and amplifier matching are vital. The Czars pair beautifully with the ARC REF 330M tube amps and also shine with high-quality solid-state gear.

Final Thoughts: A Breakthrough in Electrostatic Sound

Despite the current mild limitations in bass loudness, the Metaxas & Sins Czar delivers mind-blowing resolution, tonality, and dynamic expression. They reveal details in music that few other speakers can, making your favorite albums feel like brand-new discoveries.

Their sound is incredibly natural and cohesive, embodying the true essence of single-driver electrostatic line sources. Should the bass fill in fully as promised, these could easily become reference-level loudspeakers. And if not, there’s always the option of adding subwoofers—though at the risk of losing some of that exquisite low-end detail.

I’m eager to revisit them after a full break-in period and share how they evolve. Meanwhile, if you have the chance, give the Czars a long audition with music close to your heart. I bet, like me, you’ll uncover layers in those old LPs, tapes, and streams that you never knew existed.

Specifications & Pricing

Midrange and Treble

• Sensitivity: 94dB/1W/1 meter
• Power Handling: 100W
• Frequency Response: 80Hz – 35kHz ±3dB
• Dynamic Range: 115dB
• Step-up Transformer: 100:1 ratio, 6-ohm primary impedance, 300-ohm secondary impedance

Subwoofer (Optional)

• Sensitivity: 90dB/1W/1 meter
• Power Handling: 100W
• Dynamic Range: 20Hz – 100Hz, 100dB

Price

• $37,000 standard finish
• $40,000 gloss finish

JV’s Reference System

A quick peek at the reference system used for auditioning the Czars reveals a world-class lineup, including MBL 101 X-Treme MKII and Magico S3 loudspeakers, JL Audio Gotham subwoofers, Soulution 727 and Vitus Audio SL-103 preamps and amps, plus a thorough collection of analog and digital sources, cables, and room treatments. This level of system synergy undoubtedly helps unlock the Czar’s full potential.

• Loudspeakers: MBL 101 X-Treme MKII, Magico S3 2023, Metaxas & Sins Czar, Magnepan LRS+, 1.7i, and 30.7
• Subwoofers: JL Audio Gotham (pair), Magico S Sub (pair)
• Linestage preamps: Soulution 727, MBL 6010 D, Siltech SAGA System C1, Vitus Audio SL-103, JMF Audio PRS 1.5
• Phonostage preamps: Soulution 757, DS Audio Grand Master EQ
• Power amplifiers: Vitus Audio SM-103 Mk.II, JMF Audio HQS 7001, Soulution 711, MBL 9008 A, Siltech SAGA System V1/P1, Odyssey Audio Stratos
• Analog source: Acoustic Signature Invictus Neo/T-10000 Neo, Clearaudio Master Innovation, TW Acustic Black Knight/TW Raven 10.5
• Tape deck: United Home Audio Ultima Apollo, Metaxas & Sins Tourbillon and Papillon, Analog Audio Design TP-1000
• Phono cartridges: DS Audio Grand Master EX, DS Audio Grand Master, DS Audio DS-W3, Clearaudio Goldfinger Statement v2.1, Air Tight Opus 1, Ortofon MC Anna, Ortofon MC A90
• Digital source: MSB Reference DAC, Soulution 760, Berkeley Alpha DAC 2, Kalista Dream Play XC
• Cable and interconnect: Synergistic Research Galileo SRX (2023), Crystal Cable Art Series da Vinci, Crystal Cable Ultimate Dream
• Power cords: Crystal Cable Art Series da Vinci, Crystal Cable Ultimate Dream, Synergistic Research Galileo SRX 2023, Crystal Cable Infinity
• Power conditioner: AudioQuest Niagara 5000 (two), Synergistic Research Galileo SX
• Support systems: Critical Mass Systems MAXXUM and QXK equipment racks and amp stands
• Room Treatments: Synergistic Research Vibratron SX, Stein Music H2 Harmonizer system, Synergistic Research UEF Acoustic Panels/Atmosphere XL4/UEF Acoustic Dot system, Shakti Hallographs (6), Zanden Acoustic panels, A/V Room Services Metu acoustic panels and traps, ASC Tube Traps
• Accessories: Audio Realignment Technologies (A.R.T.) electro-magnetic treatments, DS Audio ES-001, DS Audio ION-001, Stein Music Pi Carbon Signature record mat, Symposium Isis and Ultra equipment platforms, Symposium Rollerblocks and Fat Padz, Clearaudio Double Matrix Professional Sonic record cleaner

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