[thinker]

T+A Introduce their first ever headphones, the Solitaire P planar magnetostatic.

It’s been a long time coming for another German manufacturer to produce a pair of extreme high-end headphones. Sennheiser have their HD800S and HD820 Closed back and then they jump straight up to the insane HE1.

T+A are another brand who specialise in stunning build quality and use amazing materials to make you feel proud of ownership.

Now T+A introduce their first ever set of headphones – the Solitaire® P.

Combining over 40 years of electroacoustic heritage with modern design, T+A have produced a planar-magnetostatic headphone and matching
Solitaire HA 200 headphone amplifier.

Hand-built in Germany, the corded over-ear planar-magnetostatic headphone design combines minimalist styling and the finest materials with class-leading research and development. Also hand-built in Germany, the HA 200 utilises the company’s flagship HV Series circuits in a Class-A design that operates at a high idle current, enabling it to drive even the most demanding headphones without difficulty. Class A done properly is by far one of the most engaging output modes. In no uncertain terms, T+A has created these products for those that crave a new level of headphone performance.

Like the company’s flagship Solitaire series of loudspeakers, the new Solitaire P symbolises the experience, expertise and commitment in the design and development of sound transducers that has been the hallmark of the German specialist audio company for 41 years. Developed by a team that mixes young engineers with experienced physicists, all who share a deep passion for music, the Solitaire P utilises a sophisticated planar-magnetostatic design philosophy. With its ultra-lightweight membrane, which covers the whole area of the capsule and is positioned between the planar magnetostatic drive system, each drive unit delivers excellent sonic properties, with the entire surface area of the membrane driven to deliver a spacious, airy feel that is unique even amongst other planar headphones.

All materials used in the manufacture of the Solitaire P’s are of the finest quality, featuring aircraft-grade aluminium and the softest leather.

Fitted with the proprietary T+A True 1 Bit digital/analogue converter, capable of 32 Bit/768 kHz for PCM and DSD 1024 for Bitstream, the HA 200 headphone amplifier is a newly developed device that sets new standards in terms of technology and appearance. Each of the three headphone outputs can be accurately fine-tuned to match the connected headphones. Based on the company’s HV analogue technology, which is reserved for its flagship range of high-end audio components, the HA 200 is capable of driving even the most demanding of headphones, thanks to the high-quality power supply that features two separate toroidal power transformers – one for the analogue circuits and the other for the digital circuits.

There is no shortage of inputs either, with the HA 200 featuring 8 inputs, including 2 x analogue and 6 x digital, if the optional HDMI board is utilised.

The Solitaire P will be available in the UK during March 2020 with the HA 200 following shortly after in April. We expect to have a production Solitaire P to hear towards the end of February.

 

[thinker]

 

[thinker]

Pricing: The T+A Solitaire P headphones will be available from March 2020 at a price of £4,800 / $6,400 / €4,800. The T+A HA 200 headphone amplifier will be available from April 2020 and will retail for £6,600 / $8,900 / €8,900.

 

[Thenewguy007]

The price would make it more than the Susvara.

Hifiman at least built up their headphone lineup before unveiling their most expensive one yet.

T&A just pricing one that high out the gate doesn't seem like a good business practice.

 

[erik701]

Subscribed to the thread and excited to hear first impressions.

 

[AppleheadMay]

Same here, interested.

 

[Pastwa]

The price would make it more than the Susvara.Hifiman at least built up their headphone lineup before unveiling their most expensive one yet.T&A just pricing one that high out the gate doesn't seem like a good business practice.

I believe this is supposed to be a statement product from T+A, challenging sonically HiFi Man Shangrila and Sennheiser HE-1, just at a much lower price (dough, still expensive), and most likely a higher build quality (especially comparing to HiFi Man). The good thing is it becomes available as a system with finely tunned DAC/AMP that should suit the headphones and most likely getting the best out of them. Even if you are not interested in the DAC/AMP, one can always use it as a reference point against other alternatives/already own electronics, this would definitely save people a lot of time.

 

[Benny-x]

I was a bit surprised by the $6,400 USD pricetag too, but mostly because of how headphones outside T+A are priced. I'm really looking forward to seeing how they sound, I'm already a big fan of T+A and love my DAC 8 DSD.

If you look at T+A's lineup, it's not surprising. They're an ultra highend manufacturer and I would guess that the target client for this mini-system is an existing client of T+A's that's looking to trying out that "hot headphone segment" or one that now wants to add the headphone option alongside their expensive speaker setup.

T+A's amps and DACs are $20-50,000 USD each, let alone their speakers, so you can't be too surprised about a $6,400 pair of headphones and an $8,900 USD DAC+amp.

Anyway, I'm excited the headphone field continues to expand.

 

[Rakan]

The price would make it more than the Susvara.

Hifiman at least built up their headphone lineup before unveiling their most expensive one yet.

T&A just pricing one that high out the gate doesn't seem like a good business practice.

T+A is one of the most respected High-End audio manufacturers in Germany and have a long history of 40 years. Most of their products fall into the High-end price range. Also, they have a close relationship with Sennheiser (Sennheiser used the T+A PDP 3000 HV as source component for their HE1 demonstration in Hongkong AV Show and many events in Europe). Since the way they have been doing business is producing the best equipments, it's understandable about the price-tag.

My friend has placed an order for both Solitaire P and HA200 to replace his Focal Utopia driven by T+A R1000 E. I am very eager to try them in two months.

 

[Benny-x]

I didn't know T+A had a close relationship with Sennheiser. That's cool to hear.

And lucky you. When do you think you might be able to give some feedback on how the pairing sounds? And will you be able to compare it with any existing headphones or amps, so that we could have an idea how they're playing?

 

[GU1DO]

This is planer headphone or new technology ?

 

[Rakan]

I didn't know T+A had a close relationship with Sennheiser. That's cool to hear.

And lucky you. When do you think you might be able to give some feedback on how the pairing sounds? And will you be able to compare it with any existing headphones or amps, so that we could have an idea how they're playing?

The guy that founded T+A 40 years ago studied electro-acoustics given by Professor Fritz Sennheiser, the founder of Sennheiser.
https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/siegfried-amft-founder-and-president-ta-electroakustic/

I was already out of this headphone hobby for 3 years as i purchased a speaker system. Before, i owned the STAX SR-009, Sennheiser HD800/800s, Focal Utopia and i have chances to experience many others such as AKG K1000, Focal Stellia, STAX SR-009s, Sennheiser HD820 and HE1, Audeze LCD2,3,4 and Hifiman HE1000 etc. Personally, i don't like Planar headphone such as Hifiman and Audeze. I don't know about the new planar headphones on the market though. I do hope that the Solitaire P can really change my mind because i have never heard any T+A products that sound bad before. For some companies, it's their brand that assured us customers about the quality even before we own the actual products. I will write a short impression about the T+A combo whenever i get my hands on them

This is planer headphone or new technology ?

Yes, it is planar technology but i heard there are many special things about it compared to existing planar headphones.

 

[ufospls2]

Found some other photos. I hope I can hear these at some point.

 

[Benny-x]

Fazors!

 

[phthora]

Fazors!

And a dorsal fin!