T+A Solitaire P planar magnetostatic

[MatW]

Does T+A Solitaire P need a good amplifier.
Thank you!

I agree with what @ThanatosVI said, a decent amp is sufficient but it will improve even further with a high end amplifier.

 

[Dalmonegrig]

Obviously the best for T+A Solitaire P synergy would be T+A HA 200 (increased current up to 700mA).
I've got one more question.
How good will the T+A Solitaire P be with the devices below (maybe have experience comparing with T+A HA 200):
dCS Bartok 2.0 or Esoteric N05XD or Chord Dave
(without using an additional amplifier)

Thank you.

 

[nwavesailor]

I had the P with the TT2 and the Dave and both very very nice pairings. I bought my P new and sold it for the weight and it was just not as comfortable as the sus.

 

[Ragnar-BY]

How good will the T+A Solitaire P be with the devices below (maybe have experience comparing with T+A HA 200):
dCS Bartok 2.0 or Esoteric N05XD or Chord Dave
(without using an additional amplifier)

A really good (and, unfortunately, expensive) amp will improve sound of any headphone, but SolP is the best option to use directly with these DACs. Other top planars like Sus or Ab1266 will not have enough power, other high-sensitivity headphones will not sound as good as the SolP.

 

[Frankie D]

Obviously the best for T+A Solitaire P synergy would be T+A HA 200 (increased current up to 700mA).
I've got one more question.
How good will the T+A Solitaire P be with the devices below (maybe have experience comparing with T+A HA 200):
dCS Bartok 2.0 or Esoteric N05XD or Chord Dave
(without using an additional amplifier)

Thank you.

Actually the HA200 is not the best IMHO. Top amps make it sound better.

 

[klyzon]

any suggestions for a tube amp that pairs well with the solitaire p? Bonus usage will include a ZMF Caldera too. Currently considering something not too big, wa22, ha-3a and maybe a ha-6a?

Problem is my main dac is the HA-200, not sure how I would by pass HA-200 amp

 

[ThanatosVI]

You can't Bypass the amp section of the Ha200, the front outputs are your pre amp outputs as well, there are no line outs for the DAC.

 

[klyzon]

You can't Bypass the amp section of the Ha200, the front outputs are your pre amp outputs as well, there are no line outs for the DAC.

alright, means I should look for another dac/amp combo or get a full setup if I wanna go tubes again

 

[ThanatosVI]

alright, means I should look for another dac/amp combo or get a full setup if I wanna go tubes again

Not necessarily, if you can live with the output on the front you can easily use the Ha200

 

[klyzon]

Not necessarily, if you can live with the output on the front you can easily use the Ha200

that will look awful tho lol.

might eventually get a separate stack I guess

 

[Malcyg]

that will look awful tho lol.

might eventually get a separate stack I guess

Only do that if you are really just not happy enough with the HA200 as it is a very neat all in one solution imo and you can end up on a never ending treadmill of upgraditis if not careful - but you probably already know that. I tried HA200 out a year ago and rejected it, not because it wasn’t a nice solution but a) it could not drive Susvara and b) I had 3 other DAC’s that I preferred to use and did not want to pay for a DAC that I didn’t need.

Interestingly enough, I tried SolP out at the same time and also rejected those. They were interesting, but had a weird EQ that I could not adjust to and they seemed somewhat dull and restrained. A while back, I came across a pair brand new at a very good deal and I found that they sounded totally different and I really liked them, so I bought them. I don’t know if they made changes or if there was a problem with the demo pair that I tried first time around, but I am pleased anyway because they have cost me a lot less.

In fact, SolP are getting the most use out of all my phones lately - they sound great, are very forgiving of different music, they tame down some recordings that can be a bit harsh and wearing and they are the easiest pair to match with the source gear that I have - it is hard to get a bad sound from them. I find that they sound great straight out the headphone output of my Weiss DAC 501 and also my T+A SDV 3100 HV, though I much prefer the 501 for SolP and I prefer the SDV 4.4mm balanced output with Utopia which is another great match. So a headphone amp is definitely not always necessary and I really don’t feel a real need for one with SolP or Utopia. Abyss 1266 though is much better with an amp and Susvara is only average at best without one, so horses for courses.

 

[dude120]

any suggestions for a tube amp that pairs well with the solitaire p? Bonus usage will include a ZMF Caldera too. Currently considering something not too big, wa22, ha-3a and maybe a ha-6a?

Problem is my main dac is the HA-200, not sure how I would by pass HA-200 amp

I actually really like the ZMF pendant with both.
I'll be honest though, it's the only tube amp I've tried with both and different tubes could make a bit of a difference for your end result.

 

[nwavesailor]

I used the P with a Pendant and it was very good. It was much better with the Bigger Ben and then the Envy both amos with more power and current.

 

[Newsee]

any suggestions for a tube amp that pairs well with the solitaire p? Bonus usage will include a ZMF Caldera too. Currently considering something not too big, wa22, ha-3a and maybe a ha-6a?

Problem is my main dac is the HA-200, not sure how I would by pass HA-200 amp

The McIntosh MHA200 sounds nice with the SoliP, but it is on the upper power limit to drive it.
Feliks Audio Envy is also nice, but I do not know if it falls in the 'not too big' category for you.

 

[ThanatosVI]

It also paired wonderfully with my Octave V16