T+A Solitaire T Wireless Headphone

[C_Lindbergh]

It's worth mentioning the other quality of life improvements that this firmware update brings:

1. Switching to and from transparency mode no longer has a voice prompt. This makes it switch much faster and is more useful for when someone is trying to talk to you.
2. Being connected to two devices and being on a call no longer results in "Connected" being played in your ear every 30-60 seconds. I can actually feel a physical stress while on calls knowing that may occur until I disable bluetooth on one of my devices. That seems to be gone now.
3. I don't know if this was changed or not, but, for the first time in a long time, I was able to double-tap to enable transparency mode "permanently". That input has been very hard to do for me, so maybe they improved it?

Those first two things, especially the "Connected" thing were some of my chief complaints when using the ST in bluetooth mode. It's fantastic that they've been addressed.


I reached out to Oratory1990 at one point. He said no one had sent him a Solitaire T for profiling. I started to try to coordinate a demo unit being sent to him, but he stopped responding to me on Reddit, unfortunately. I'm sure he's swamped.

Seems like they have solid foundation to launch a successor, even tho I dont expect in any time soon. T+A really don't seem to be working like most other OEMs in this field when it comes to new phones.

I really loved this headphone, easily the best sound I've heard out of any headphones, especially that mid-range. Sadly it had too many non-sound related drawbacks.

 

[aaronjensen]

Being connected to two devices and being on a call no longer results in "Connected" being played in your ear every 30-60 seconds. I can actually feel a physical stress while on calls knowing that may occur until I disable bluetooth on one of my devices. That seems to be gone now.

Unfortunately, I spoke too soon. This is still happening and is beyond frustrating.

 

[TheOneInYellow]

Spoiler

Edit: as you cannot reply after your own previous comment on Head-Fi, I'm editing this comment with an update regarding the new firmware and settings. See the end of this comment for that update.
However, please UPDATE your headphones ASAP, play a song, then go into the Sound tab, and select EQ Custom Settings without adjusting the toggles, as there is a new bonus feature* I've discovered in testing!

---

Yep, just noticed the update on the Google Play Store (v1.4.0+120) but will be playing around with it later today!

---

So, got the update and installed the firmware.

This is what you see in the app's Sound Tab and under the Custom Settings drop-down box. Note: you MUST have music playing, otherwise the below new feature cannot be seen/used:


(Note: I have Tidal app temporarily running as a pop-up on my Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5. Phone is in unfolded mode).

Unfortunately, this is not full parametric EQ, with only five pre-determined bands, no Q Factor, and no dB graduation for fine adjustment

*HOWEVER, to everyone using their Solitaire T, immediately update your headphones and companion app, and set the Sound EQ to Custom Settings.
Without any toggle adjustments, you will have a moderately significant bump (increase) in overall volume.
This was tested in Bluetooth, ANC, and Bluetooth HQ modes (USB-C mode not tested).
Might as well get your bonus free volume for wireless playback!
This bonus is incredible for dynamics, slam, soundstage, and air (to me!).
This also means I'm lowering my volume listening by a decent factor, but more on that momentarily.

For my initial tests, I used the song Vermis from the album Empor by MEUTE (hyperlinks ought to give you options to stream in your favourite platform). This is an electronic techno marching band who use real instruments live with some synthesised elements for their production albums, though their live performances are extremely powerful exhibitions of live instrument play and lungs.
This track is extremely taxing on audio gear, simply due to the huge dynamic range, expanse of instruments and play, as well as the versatility of the brass and percussion instruments. The bass is very deep (especially mid-bass thump!), whilst the highs, especially on the xylophone, are mellifluous with uncanny decay- again, real instruments.

Back to wireless volume operation, on my Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 and in the default Flat EQ mode, I regularly listen between 145 to max 150 (latter usually only in ANC and when I'm doing DIY or lawnmower'ing the garden) in any Bluetooth mode, but predominantly Bluetooth HQ or ANC.
I notice that 149 is where the overall dynamics of the headphones really shine, and replicate much of my balanced passive playback.
With Custom Settings EQ selected with the additional bonus increase to volume, I can now listen between 140 - 145 and retain the dynamics that previous Flat EQ @ 149 volume exhibited, in all five steps. This is an entirety new experience, and simply a major bonus feature.

Now, as for testing the Custom Settings EQ feature further, I wanted to add a bit more warmth to both subbass and bass, leave the midrange as is, and add a small touch to the mid-high frequency, to my overall music playback.

In the new Custom EQ without adjustment and with increase in volume, it's the standard Solitaire T tuning just with more oomph. Nice.
With my settings below, the volume needs to be readjusted lower to avoid clipping or driver instability; at volume 128 - 130 (especially 130), I get the dynamics of Flat EQ @ 149 volume or Custom Setting @ 140 - 145 volume.
Unfortunately, 130 is where the drivers start to distort or clip, so Custom Setting EQ @ 129 volume is my new preference and max. This is brilliant, lower volume and all the dynamics I crave! Well, it's probably not lower volume as the decibels are likely similar to my previous wireless playback, but still, it's nice! I'm sure on quieter recordings that the extra dynamics and headroom (to further adjust volume) is a win for those who were already pushing max volume with the Solitaire T.

In terms of sound quality changes with my new settings, the bass simply hits harder with more textural information whilst simultaneously expanding the width of the soundstage, the midrange continues to be the highlight with exceptional smoothness and body, and my tweaks to the mid-high and high frequency just add a tad more body and sparkle.
This, for me on my initial experimentation, this is closer to my ideal of a sound profile, reminding me much of the DCA E3 headphones' frequency response (I still crave for this headphone!).


I'll continue to dabble with the toggles, but even if I set this to no toggle adjustments, Custom Setting EQ is absolutely the best way to experience Solitaire T in wireless Bluetooth modes.
It is, to me, essential.

Or, to be frank, I do not know why the global volume increase is not default, and instead squirreled away under a feature tab

Either way, this has changed my listening experience immediately, and brings the headphones closer to my passive balanced playback setup, something I did not have on my bingo card today!

Enjoy this initial review of the new settings, and hope it gives you good listening too!

Update:

After much testing, I've changed my EQ controls in Custom Settings, as this is better at replicating my passive balanced setup, and doesn't overtly change the areas of what makes the Solitaire T addictive in sonics.

One of my album tests was From Zero (Deluxe Edition) by Linkin Park, selected for crunch, drive, heavy stylised nu-metal musical flair. Also, I have loved Linkin Park since Hybrid Theory
I also tested Portishead, Sneaker Pimps, and Rage Against the Machine.
(Hyperlinks will give you options for your preferred streaming platform, or YouTube).
All testing was done with T+A Solitaire T (white) headphones set to Bluetooth HQ mode, paired to Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 (Android 15, One UI 7.0). Apps used were Tidal and USB Audio Player.

The change from my previous post is mostly in the treble region; instead of raising 3.6kHz up one notch, reversed this back to default, and increased 11kHz instead.
The change was that 3.6kHz was affecting negatively the vocals of any artist, especially female, such as Emily Strong (Linkin Park) and Beth Gibbons (Portishead). It gave a more nasal performance and caused unwanted peaking as well.

That means that my new preference and changes, for my tastes, are the following:

• 65Hz: two notches up
• 250Hz: one notch up
• 980Hz: no change
• 3600Hz: no change
• 11000Hz: one notch up

For me, this adds some more bass response that I crave whilst still maintaining the overall quality and depth textures that the Solitaire T is capable off (especially when compared to passive balanced mode), and adds more sparkle and soundstage expansion in the treble region without going sibilant.

For wireless/portable/travel playback, this is now my current reference setup with Custom Settings EQ as above, especially in Bluetooth HQ mode.

 

[aaronjensen]

Unfortunately, I spoke too soon. This is still happening and is beyond frustrating.

I believe this only happened once. It seems to actually be fixed, so that's great. Sorry about the false report.

 

[rammstoon]

So have folks played around with the custom EQ and do they have a preferred setting. I'd be interested in seeing what people like.

For now mine are:
+2
+1
0
+1 (or 0 still figuring this out)
+2

Its pretty much V shaped. @TheOneInYellow was kind enough to share his settings. I did reproduce his settings, and he did explain his setup, but to my perception it was a little too bass forward.

As an aside, @aaronjensen, the "connected" prompt does occur for me, actually much more so since the last update. If I'm on a call on my work laptop, and if I'm browing reddit on my phone (dont report me), I almost constantly get a "connected" prompt, and videos etc are muted by defaullt. The obvious and easily solution is to not do other things while actively using the headphones with the laptop.

Edit: to say that the character of the headphones have opened up so much more with the custom EQ, its really appreciated that T+A finally made this update. I was really happy with the stock tuning all this time, until I realized what was possible since this update, not that this hasn't been talked about and requested.

 

[aaronjensen]

As an aside, @aaronjensen, the "connected" prompt does occur for me, actually much more so since the last update. If I'm on a call on my work laptop, and if I'm browing reddit on my phone (dont report me), I almost constantly get a "connected" prompt, and videos etc are muted by defaullt. The obvious and easily solution is to not do other things while actively using the headphones with the laptop.

Interesting. Can you report it to app@ta-hifi.com so they know it's not just me that it's happened to?

 

[rammstoon]

Yes, I shall do that, but as a rant/vent, I feel like T+A doesnt care about such issues. Understandably the headphones excel as a wireless/high-end device, but they undersold/didnt advertise them as a proper multi-use headphones (ala many brands we are familiar with), and the quality of life/maintenance updates reflect that.

 

[TheOneInYellow]

So have folks played around with the custom EQ and do they have a preferred setting. I'd be interested in seeing what people like.

For now mine are:
+2
+1
0
+1 (or 0 still figuring this out)
+2

Its pretty much V shaped. @TheOneInYellow was kind enough to share his settings. I did reproduce his settings, and he did explain his setup, but to my perception it was a little too bass forward.

Edit: to say that the character of the headphones have opened up so much more with the custom EQ, its really appreciated that T+A finally made this update. I was really happy with the stock tuning all this time, until I realized what was possible since this update, not that this hasn't been talked about and requested.

Interesting, I may test your tuning out!
I'm glad at least someone else is trying this feature, and thank you for sharing your tuning

I'd like to have a discourse regarding your tuning and compare and contrast that to mine (still in flux).
Firstly, perhaps my tuning is a tad bass forward, but I was trying to replicate my passive balanced desktop system in a wireless environment, and to help cut through noisier environments (especially if I require ANC). Truthfully, my desktop setup is more neutral and natural versus my now EQ'd wireless setup, but the latter is power limited for obvious reasons. My desktop setup has more headroom for the subbass and mid-bass via watts and current from my DC powered FiiO M17, and the only thing that gave me closer to the SPL and texture in wireless was my bass changes as my previous post described.

With that said, I read your tuning changes as bass to treble (for example, your first +2 is 65Hz, and next +1 is 250Hz); is this correct? If so, then your first two changes match mine.
Thus, is my tuning to you more bass forward to you because I was more polite in my mid-treble and treble changes (versus your tuning)?

One area of my tuning that I am unwilling to change 3600Hz (3.6KHz), as that adds a nasaly presentation to (mostly) female vocals.
Do you perceive different, as indicating by your tuning, or did this balance out the bass changes you added?

I find this fascinating, and how perception differs between people!
It's a part of our audio journey we don't often get to share without having a base, but this EQ update gives us Solitaire T users that ground to explore and discuss!

Edit: cheers @angelom for spotting my error; corrected

 

[rammstoon]

Interesting, I may test your tuning out!
I'm glad at least someone else is trying this feature, and thank you for sharing your tuning

I'd like to have a discourse regarding your tuning and compare and contrast that to mine (still in flux).
Firstly, perhaps my tuning is a tad bass forward, but I was trying to replicate my passive balanced desktop system in a wireless environment, and to help cut through noisier environments (especially if I require ANC). Truthfully, my desktop setup is more neutral and natural versus my now EQ'd wireless setup, but the latter is power limited for obvious reasons. My desktop setup has more headroom for the subbass and mid-bass via watts and current from my DC powered FiiO M17, and the only thing that gave me closer to the SPL and texture in wireless was my bass changes as my previous post described.

With that said, I read your tuning changes as bass to treble (for example, your first +2 is 65Hz, and next +1 is 250Hz); is this correct? If so, then your first two changes match mine.
Thus, is my tuning to you more bass forward to you because I was more polite in my mid-treble and treble changes (versus your tuning)?

One area of my tuning that I am unwilling to change 36000Hz (36KHz), as that adds a nasaly presentation to (mostly) female vocals.
Do you perceive different, as indicating by your tuning, or did this balance out the bass changes you added?

I find this fascinating, and how perception differs between people!
It's a part of our audio journey we don't often get to share without having a base, but this EQ update gives us Solitaire T users that ground to explore and discuss!

Firrst off, I'm a total novice to custom EQs, and I'm sure you took no offense, but I'm just being sure for good measure . Also, I basically use my T+A wirelessly so that will likely have a pertinent impact.

And yes, you are right about my tuning, and I tested out your tuning in a wireless setting. You did raise a really good point about vocals. Ive been playing with songs and genres with male vocals. So I did test it with female vocals, the most obvious choice I could think of in the moment, Florence and the Machine, and the 36000Hz band resonated with me most at +1 in my wireless setting at 36000Hz (I tried it at 0 and -1).

Edit: to add the main song from Florence + the machine I was listening to was Dream Girl Evil from her latest album, and to my ears it sounded most appropriate/impactful on+1 at 36000Hz. Her voice just has the right depth and punch at that frequency. And I've heard this song on the stock T+A tuning WAY too many times. I love everything about this song, the instrumentation, the composition, and even on my current setup the bass frequency tuning was a little too forward, although I like its overalll current flavour/setup.

 

[angelom]

36000Hz (36KHz)

36000Hz

That part of the spectrum is actually 3600Hz or 3.6kHz not 36000Hz or 36kHz.

 

[rammstoon]

Yes, thank you for the correction!

And I've been trying out many more songs based on my tuning, and on @TheOneInYellow has, and Words Darker Than Their Wings by Alter Bridge (Live at the Royal Albert Hall) sounds just right based on the EQ settings @TheOneInYellow shared. This craft is truly complicated and subjective. There is an exceptional high note in that song at the end that sounds just right, following his settings, and not mine.

Appreciate yall attention to my madness, and happy listening to all!!

 

[TheOneInYellow]

That part of the spectrum is actually 3600Hz or 3.6kHz not 36000Hz or 36kHz.

Did I stutter?

Apologise, and corrected my post; thank you @angelom

Firrst off, I'm a total novice to custom EQs, and I'm sure you took no offense, but I'm just being sure for good measure . Also, I basically use my T+A wirelessly so that will likely have a pertinent impact.

And yes, you are right about my tuning, and I tested out your tuning in a wireless setting. You did raise a really good point about vocals. Ive been playing with songs and genres with male vocals. So I did test it with female vocals, the most obvious choice I could think of in the moment, Florence and the Machine, and the 36000Hz band resonated with me most at +1 in my wireless setting at 36000Hz (I tried it at 0 and -1).

Edit: to add the main song from Florence + the machine I was listening to was Dream Girl Evil from her latest album, and to my ears it sounded most appropriate/impactful on+1 at 36000Hz. Her voice just has the right depth and punch at that frequency. And I've heard this song on the stock T+A tuning WAY too many times. I love everything about this song, the instrumentation, the composition, and even on my current setup the bass frequency tuning was a little too forward, although I like its overalll current flavour/setup.

That's really awesome, and shows how we can differ in this!
I took no offence either, more I'm exctied to share experiences and knowledge!

If extra push in the 3.6KHz band works for you, I'm really glad, because it's your enjoyment in the end!

And as @angelom pointed out, I got my numbers wrong in one area ha ha lol

Yes, thank you [@angelom] for the correction!

And I've been trying out many more songs based on my tuning, and on @TheOneInYellow has, and Words Darker Than Their Wings by Alter Bridge (Live at the Royal Albert Hall) sounds just right based on the EQ settings @TheOneInYellow shared. This craft is truly complicated and subjective. There is an exceptional high note in that song at the end that sounds just right, following his settings, and not mine.

Appreciate yall attention to my madness, and happy listening to all!!

I think that's at least one thing that's actually cool about the new update; we can adjust our tastes on the fly by opening up the T+A Solitaire Companion App, something none of us users did after the last app update months ago!

I'm glad my tuning worked for Alter Bridge, but I did enjoy your tuning for some music (such as Portishead), except for the 3600Hz band for me.
Based on our discussions and your input, going forward I'm going to experiment with different sound changes per album or genre whenever I choose my music, choosing mild changes in the bands, and see how I feel each time.

 

[Marcus 12]

Somehow I can't get used to the equalizer, even with all settings neutral. It's sort of restless.
What's wrong with me????

 

[TheOneInYellow]

Somehow I can't get used to the equalizer, even with all settings neutral. It's sort of restless.
What's wrong with me????

Unfortunately, this is not nearly enough information to diagnose your issues.

Can you post screenshots of what you are doing, and what platform you're using T+A Solitaire Companion App on?

 

[Marcus 12]

What I meant was that listening to music feels restless, when setting the equalizer to custom, even without changing any of the frequency sliders. Leaving the setting on flat gives me an easier to listen and more balanced sound.