T+A Solitaire P planar magnetostatic

[krude]

Did you find TC has better imaging and clarity? I did a shootout on a dcs bartok and found that. But solitaire is still good.

Yes, but kinda. TC has some very strong traits, clarity + imaging, staging, bass dynamics, but it also sounds best when you listen relatively quiet. It's one of the best hps for quiet listening imo, because you get the big sound at low volume. TC is very detail forward and V shaped. Sol P is the opposite of that. It has the same detail but it's not pushing it. It's a matter of preference.

There's a price to pay though, TC has relatively wonky tuning that you need to combat with system pairings plus you can't get it loud, not a problem for quiet listeners, but for me this was always aggravating that it starts to audibly distort relatively early on (for me). I use headphones to listen as loud as I want, something I could never do on speakers, and that's the whole point. Otherwise I would just use speakers.

Sol P is the other end of the spectrum. Im pretty sure it was made with relatively loud listening in mind and the more you push it the better it sounds. It can feel muddy and sluggish at low volumes but it comes alive when you push it a little.

So all in all, TC has better clarity, but not to a point where it would detract from Sol Ps performance. It's all down to listening habits and preference.

 

[alvin sawdust]

I hope you are still pleased with SolP? Are the D8K to be sold? Are you taken by the SolP? Im trying to find a second third hp at the moment. Immanis will stay forever, but trying my lucky with LCD4 vrs Abyss ... maybe the best hp win and remain in the collection. I love the Abyss, but too many aspects drive me nuts... but they may still stay lol.

The D8KP will be sold, i'm quite smitten with the Sol P. The only real nit pick is the headband comfort, but after reading Dan Gheorghe's excellent review where he says it becomes less painful over time, there is hope. Failing that I will try the Nuggets.
Good luck with the 3rd headphone search. Regarding the LCD4, have you seen this? https://rhythmdevilsaudio.com/headphones/

 

[tholt]

TC is very detail forward and V shaped.

Agreed. Mids were the worst part of the TC for me. So dry, affected most by its brightness and extreme resolution without much body/fullness

There's a price to pay though, TC has relatively wonky tuning that you need to combat with system pairings plus you can't get it loud, not a problem for quiet listeners, but for me this was always aggravating that it starts to audibly distort relatively early on (for me).

I could get it loud, but it did distort with low bass at certain levels. It all depended on how far the cups were from my ears.

Sol P is the other end of the spectrum. Im pretty sure it was made with relatively loud listening in mind and the more you push it the better it sounds.

Sol P sounds good at med - loud levels, never distorts. It's been unflappable IME. I love this thing!

 

[ChJL]

Sol P is very difficult to beat, sounding particularly excellent with electronica.

have to agree!

Sol P from the speaker taps sounds very powerful and very resolving.

how/with what do you make that connection?

 

[krude]

have to agree!

how/with what do you make that connection?

Adapter cables banana plugs to 4 pin female.

 

[ChJL]

Adapter cables banana plugs to 4 pin female.

aha, easy to buy? who made them?

also with your AN amp?

 

[krude]

aha, easy to buy? who made them?

also with your AN amp?

Yeah any speaker amp. Easiest to solder them yourself but a friend made me a nicely put together one. I bet any boutique cable maker will be able to make one as well.

 

[ChJL]

Yeah any speaker amp. Easiest to solder them yourself but a friend made me a nicely put together one. I bet any boutique cable maker will be able to make one as well.

of course... Zynsonix make some... but wasn´t sure if you us an adapter box or else.

so a very modest price considering how expensive certain totl amps have become (yiykes!) ...

some day I´ll get a new/different (tube) amp and maybe go for such a solution as well...
but I guess your AN (they don´t show prices, right?) is also in the "yiykes!" category?

 

[krude]

of course... Zynsonix make some... but wasn´t sure if you us an adapter box or else.

some day I´ll get a new/different (tube) amp and maybe go for such a solution as well...
but I guess your AN (they don´t show prices, right?) is also in the "yiykes!" category?

9k new, so a bit of yiykes but not tragic as far as totl speaker amps go. I might be selling it this year tho, Accuphase rocked my world

 

[ChJL]

9k new, so a bit of yiykes but not tragic as far as totl speaker amps go. I might be selling it this year tho, Accuphase rocked my world

so Wandla for volume control?

 

[krude]

so Wandla for volume control?

Yep.

 

[HA-1]

T+A Solitaire T now in Cognac White color. No technical changes to the headphone.

Available from February 2025 - TA-HiFi.de .

 

[Droffen]

I was just travelling 7 hours in one train.
Used the SolPSE all the time.
So comfortable and „sweatfree“ due to the open construction.
Cannot be happier, good move that I exchanged my SolT with the SolPSE

 

[ChJL]

@krude

sorry, but again...

do you use your SolP with that Vindicator and is it powerful enough supplying 3.5 W into 4 or 8 Ohm?

 

[krude]

@krude

sorry, but again...

do you use your SolP with that Vindicator and is it powerful enough supplying 3.5 W into 4 or 8 Ohm?

Using only 4 Ohm, its also powerful enough for the TC for that matter, unless you want to listen very loud, at which point TC drivers start to distort anyway.