Our Story

We got the swing.

Tucked away in the eastern Netherlands near the German border lies the musically rich, historic city of Enschede. While one might imagine the kind of Dutch town where bicycles outnumber cars and windmills encircle the community, Enschede is truly noteworthy for its culture of innovation, including leading research in microelectronics and audio signal processing at the University of Twente. Combined with a generational appreciation for live music and the science of sound and acoustics, Enschede is perhaps the best place to redefine the future of high-end audio — and that’s exactly what happened. A talented group of the University of Twente’s professors and researchers, comprised of experts in high-speed, high-precision communication and audio signal processing, were passionate about sound. While many engineers like analog audio amplifiers, this early group of Axign leaders was also drawn to the digital side of audio. With digital post-filter feedback, they’d unlocked the holy grail of Class-D amplifiers that could shift the character of audio on command. It could be everything.

Warm and rich like an old vacuum-tube amp one moment. Sharp and precise the next. Tuned at the flip of a switch to the listener’s preferences. But as any engineer will tell you, a great idea on a whiteboard and a working product are two very different things. The team understood the theory — digitally controlling the feedback loop after the output filter — but achieving consistent, reliable performance was an entirely different challenge. So, they began to build. And failed. Rebuilt. Failed again. Until finally, Axign had a breakthrough.

They cracked digital post-filter feedback. A technical ambition that had lingered for years suddenly had a foundation — and high-end digital audio had a new one of its own. Around the globe, Michael Hsing, the founder and CEO of Monolithic Power Systems (MPS) (NASDAQ: MPWR) had a reputation as an inventor and a “weekend hacker” across many fields. A long-time audiophile, he once proudly produced battery-powered, 1-bit, 20W x 2 audio amplifier with 0.01% total harmonic distortion (THD). It was even small enough to fit inside an Altoids mint tin. He brought his Altoids tin, alongside a set of speakers, to MPS’s Wall Street IPO roadshow in 2004, blasting Louis Armstrong’s “It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” to pitch investors on MPWR. Twenty years later as an S&P 500, NASDAQ 100 company, more than a few of those investors have come to regret their reaction at the time, saying, “He didn’t swing well, and we didn’t get it.” When Michael Hsing met Daniel Schinkel, lead architect at Axign, real “swing” began to happen. Michael quickly moved to acquire Axign and, together with MPS, created a new gold standard of audio. With technological genius and a longstanding passion for sound, Axign is revolutionizing the audio industry, creating an effortless experience for all audiophiles — high-quality sound with low distortion across all audio frequencies and all output power levels. “We maintain low THD at 0.005%, with no gain change across the entire hearing spectrum, 20Hz to 20kHz with digital input,” Daniel said. Swing, rhythm, and melody accounted for. What else?

450W available in a 30mmx20mmx4mm package, without significant temperature increase. How? With the highest power density. Taking MPS’s proven IC and power module technology, which is currently driving AI datacenters, the Axign team engineered it for audio. Furthermore, using MPS’s battery management systems for energy storage and automotive applications, “we can sustain 20Hz, 1000W output at THD 0.005%, with a USB Type-C supply,” Michael said. This transforms the audio industry by delivering the highest quality sound in an ultra-compact package. A decade of research along with more than $40 million invested led to the introduction of our premier family of integrated amplifier modules. The most common reaction: “Are you guys crazy?” Yes, in a way. Many other semiconductor companies have exited this market to focus on steadier corporate earnings. “We’re different. We do this out of love and passion, and we know what audiophiles are missing,” Michael said.

These systems are remarkably compact and designed for modern listening environments, bringing together exceptional efficiency, extended battery performance, and cutting-edge audio quality. From pioneering Dutch research labs to a stereo-imaging circuit tucked inside an Altoids tin, two unique passions have now converged into one company to build a “class-defining family of highly compact, plug-and-play amplifier modules.” Our products are built on the belief that sophisticated audio systems can become smaller, more efficient, and effortless — all while preserving the integrity of the original sound stage. And this is only the beginning. When a verse is sung, you know the chorus is coming. Stay tuned for more.