T+A Solitaire P planar magnetostatic

[ThanatosVI]

I went with Solitaire p. It might sound like a more expensive Empyrean. I’m a bass head so that was a big decision. The Empyrean is one of my favorites. As long as my edm sounds amazing on the Solitaire p I should be happy. I’ll be comparing them to my 1266 tc.

So trigger pulled and you're just waiting on delivery now?

 

[offtherecord]

I went with Solitaire p. It might sound like a more expensive Empyrean. I’m a bass head so that was a big decision. The Empyrean is one of my favorites. As long as my edm sounds amazing on the Solitaire p I should be happy. I’ll be comparing them to my 1266 tc.

Look forward to your analysis between the Solitaire P and 1266tc

 

[Musicalhead]

Hello,
just in time for Christmas, the new SOLITAIRE P-SE actually arrived this morning!

Fresh from first production, as Mr. Amft from T+A told me by phone, so I have to play it of course a few hours before he can give his musical debut. And for sure you will find the detailed review of the SE-Version in the new year on my blog...

Many greetings
Fidelio

 

[ThanatosVI]

Hello,
just in time for Christmas, the new SOLITAIRE P-SE actually arrived this morning!

Fresh from first production, as Mr. Amft from T+A told me by phone, so I have to play it of course a few hours before he can give his musical debut. And for sure you will find the detailed review of the SE-Version in the new year on my blog...

Many greetings
Fidelio

That is a great start for christmas.

The headphone I am most interested in reviewed by my favourite Reviewer.

Can you put a direct comparison section with its big brother into the Review.
If I had any chance on more comparisons I'd like the Meze Empyrean (Same price point and both are said to have non fatiguing treble)

Anyways, looking forward to the review!

 

[DarginMahkum]

Sounds like LCD2 Classic which is a dark signature to it.

Replying to your post in another thread...

Depends on what you call with dark signature. It was also my initial impression (maybe I have written it somewhere in the forums), but initially the transition from bass to lower mids are a bit overpowered and that effects the mids clarity. Combine that with warm treble and leaner upper mids, and you have a darker signature. First one get much better with time and for the second one, as you gain more bass control and mid clarity, you realize that there is actually enough treble.

For some pieces switching from Solitaire P to D8000 Pro, you notice how harsh D8000 Pro can sound and how comfortable it is listening to Solitaire - but with a caveat:



Here you have a bass that has space and can become muffled, vocals with a distant mix (even side / back vocals are nearly as powerful) and there is a shaker right on your right ear. With Solitaire P, the shaker is in the room, not in your ear. But so is the vocal. If you are coming from something like Utopia where the vocals are standing next to your ear, it might sound still dark, and lacking energy. Then you start increasing the volume to catch a similar distance and the bass comes into picture which might overpower the rest.

Not all recordings are like this of course, but that is a possible scenario

I have been experimenting with EQ'ing recently and Solitaire P can become a D8000 Pro with a larger, less compressed space with a high shelf filter for the air frequencies and a bell for the bass to mid rage attenuation. Both 2 dB or less. But you still have a larger space and in the example above will not have the same vocal intimacy as the D8000 or Utopia.

I would recommend that you run it 100 hours before coming to a conclusion - which is what T+A recommends.

 

[offtherecord]

That is a great start for christmas.

The headphone I am most interested in reviewed by my favourite Reviewer.

Can you put a direct comparison section with its big brother into the Review.
If I had any chance on more comparisons I'd like the Meze Empyrean (Same price point and both are said to have non fatiguing treble)

Anyways, looking forward to the review!

I too would be very interested in how it directly compares to its older sibling the Solitaire P with specifically the HA200 as it will give me an idea with my own SDV 3100 HV which has Class A output upto 1650mv then into class A/B.

The SE will be easier to drive than the P, but looking for absolute SQ first over price.

Happy Christmas

 

[Bonddam]

Replying to your post in another thread...

Depends on what you call with dark signature. It was also my initial impression (maybe I have written it somewhere in the forums), but initially the transition from bass to lower mids are a bit overpowered and that effects the mids clarity. Combine that with warm treble and leaner upper mids, and you have a darker signature. First one get much better with time and for the second one, as you gain more bass control and mid clarity, you realize that there is actually enough treble.

For some pieces switching from Solitaire P to D8000 Pro, you notice how harsh D8000 Pro can sound and how comfortable it is listening to Solitaire - but with a caveat:



Here you have a bass that has space and can become muffled, vocals with a distant mix (even side / back vocals are nearly as powerful) and there is a shaker right on your right ear. With Solitaire P, the shaker is in the room, not in your ear. But so is the vocal. If you are coming from something like Utopia where the vocals are standing next to your ear, it might sound still dark, and lacking energy. Then you start increasing the volume to catch a similar distance and the bass comes into picture which might overpower the rest.

Not all recordings are like this of course, but that is a possible scenario

I have been experimenting with EQ'ing recently and Solitaire P can become a D8000 Pro with a larger, less compressed space with a high shelf filter for the air frequencies and a bell for the bass to mid rage attenuation. Both 2 dB or less. But you still have a larger space and in the example above will not have the same vocal intimacy as the D8000 or Utopia.

I would recommend that you run it 100 hours before coming to a conclusion - which is what T+A recommends.

So this sounds like the Empyrean where bass bleeds into the midrange. Good thing is Empyrean is one of my favorite headphones. I’m communicating with the dealer I got these through to purchase the other pads. From your description it sounds like I will enjoy the Solitaire p very much. Vocals are about 10% of my music it really focuses on bass and treble.

 

[DarginMahkum]

So this sounds like the Empyrean where bass bleeds into the midrange. Good thing is Empyrean is one of my favorite headphones. I’m communicating with the dealer I got these through to purchase the other pads. From your description it sounds like I will enjoy the Solitaire p very much. Vocals are about 10% of my music it really focuses on bass and treble.

So far, especially after burn in the bass / mids balance is better, but I think there is little chance that any other HP in the market can challenge the impeccable tuning of D8000 Pro, and I was mostly comparing Solitaire to it. The dip around 3kHz region is mostly hits the vocals, piano upper registers etc., so you should be on the safe side. But still, it seems to be polarizing signature. I hope you like it. Against the Empyrean: "Tonality wise, the Empyreans lean towards a smoother and slightly richer tonality with more of an emphasis on musicality. As with the T+A Solitaire P, there is some taming of upper-end frequencies with the Empyreans going just that bit further south of neutral. The Solitaire P impart a more neutral tonal character overall with better detail sensibilities and a sense of separation."

https://headfonics.com/ta-solitaire-p-review/

By the way, if you like EDM, have you ever considered the Fostex TH900?

 

[Bonddam]

So far, especially after burn in the bass / mids balance is better, but I think there is little chance that any other HP in the market can challenge the impeccable tuning of D8000 Pro, and I was mostly comparing Solitaire to it. The dip around 3kHz region is mostly hits the vocals, piano upper registers etc., so you should be on the safe side. But still, it seems to be polarizing signature. I hope you like it. Against the Empyrean: "Tonality wise, the Empyreans lean towards a smoother and slightly richer tonality with more of an emphasis on musicality. As with the T+A Solitaire P, there is some taming of upper-end frequencies with the Empyreans going just that bit further south of neutral. The Solitaire P impart a more neutral tonal character overall with better detail sensibilities and a sense of separation."

https://headfonics.com/ta-solitaire-p-review/

By the way, if you like EDM, have you ever considered the Fostex TH900?

I thought about the 900 but I like planar sound more. i own the VC as my only dynamic had the 909 and really liked them.

 

[ducanh712]

Hello,
just in time for Christmas, the new SOLITAIRE P-SE actually arrived this morning!

Fresh from first production, as Mr. Amft from T+A told me by phone, so I have to play it of course a few hours before he can give his musical debut. And for sure you will find the detailed review of the SE-Version in the new year on my blog...

Many greetings
Fidelio

i'm really impressed with your headphone reviews! and waiting to see P, P-SE on listening test together

 

[DarginMahkum]

I thought about the 900 but I like planar sound more. i own the VC as my only dynamic had the 909 and really liked them.

I had the TH900 and sold it (one of my regrets). It was fun to play games with it (I used to play Dying Light). If it is about bass and treble, I haven't heard anything better - though it is pretty bright. But now I have the D9200 which is not as V tuned as TH900 - more like U. It is not as resolving as a planar but doesn't lack anything on clarity. Tuning is great. It still is an hidden gem, looks like. I would highly recommend to test it if you are looking for a less weight closed semi-portable with very good, punchy and clean bass. I love it, but my wife says it is like the kick is punching her ears. It also doesn't leak much.

Anyway, back to Solitaire.

 

[Musicalhead]

That is a great start for christmas.

The headphone I am most interested in reviewed by my favourite Reviewer.

Can you put a direct comparison section with its big brother into the Review.
If I had any chance on more comparisons I'd like the Meze Empyrean (Same price point and both are said to have non fatiguing treble)

Anyways, looking forward to the review!

Of course I will be able to compare the SE with both its bigger brother and the similarly priced EMPYREAN on HA200...

Greetings and Merry Christmas
Fidelio

 

[Bonddam]

Is the sensitivity 100db? When I was looking at the specs they wrote distortion at 100db.

 

[DarginMahkum]

Of course I will be able to compare the SE with both its bigger brother and the similarly priced EMPYREAN on HA200...

Greetings and Merry Christmas
Fidelio

Thank you for the great reviews and looking forward to your opinions. One thing though, if you are in contact with T+A, can you please be so kind to let them know that having shorter cables in their accessory inventories would be great. All their cables are 3 meters and I never in my life needed a 3 meter cable. Something 1.5m with a pentaconn connector would be great for using with portables.

Also would be great if they could have cables with sleeves. The current cables are too cat friendly.

Have a great new year.

 

[DarginMahkum]

I tried simulating the ultra-wide earpads with EQ between 450 to 2500 Hz region and tried different well recorded music of different types.

I personally didn't like it and don't see a reason to use it, if you are not listening to something like a solo piano. It does not even work for orchestral music. If the idea is so that you turn up the volume by 2dB to reach the same mid level, effectively increasing the rest of the spectrum, for most of the crowded music out there it brings the treble to unlistenable levels - and this contradicts the reason to buy this HP, which is the upper mids / treble sensitive people. Besides this actually costs mids clarity.

So, I wouldn't recommend it. Besides it is easy to simulate with a simple EQ.