[avkauppi]

That’s unacceptable, really. I wonder if the pops could be fixed with firmware or if it’s a hardware issue. Almost every bt headset I’ve tried has near showstopper issues for me. The only one I haven’t tried yet is the ML. I don’t really want to try that one… ugh.

I agree. No pops or cracks please. I listen ST mostly in passive mode. No pops or cracks there. Sometimes in BT-modes I can hear them. Thought it was related to BT-connection somehow, but maybe it is a software issue.

 

[avkauppi]

Yeah that's a fair perspective, I cut them some slack because they excel at their primary function. I think the overall offering is more competitive than the 5909, even if marginally, and the 5909 aren't without their share of issues as evidenced by posts on its thread. The bluetooth headphone space is just an imperfect beast regardless of the brand name, price point, etc.

I do imagine it's fixable via firmware, but who knows about the resources available the Sol T team as well as the prevalence of this issue across users/devices.

I have now listened ST wireless in different modes and realised that in my case it might be a bluetooth connection problem with my Android 11 device ibasso dx320 and ST. With iphone 13pro there are no pops or cracks at all. The problem is not with ibasso, because the connection with my xelento wireless works fine.

 

[aaronjensen]

I have now listened ST wireless in different modes and realised that in my case it might be a bluetooth connection problem with my Android 11 device ibasso dx320 and ST. With iphone 13pro there are no pops or cracks at all. The problem is not with ibasso, because the connection with my xelento wireless works fine.

I get them in hq mode with iPhone 13 Pro, MacBook Pro usb or Bluetooth, and bt-w5 Bluetooth. I even get occasional ones during songs. That’s rare, but it happens.

Maybe/hopefully I have a defective one.

 

[aaronjensen]

An update on my amp journey. I was going to get a Chord Mojo 2, until I realized what I really want is an audio interface so that I can get direct monitoring for all the calls I'm on during the day. So then I ordered an Motu M4, but it doesn't have the strongest amp. I'm actually curious what folks think in terms of how well it will drive the ST.

Then, I came across the RME Babyface Pro FS, which also has an ESS DAC like the Mojo 2, but measures better and has a much more powerful amp.

So... My question is, am I going to be disappointed with Sabre DACs? I've heard all kinds of things about them, and maybe it'll just come down to preference, but I'm curious what thoughts are. Also, anyone have experience w/ the Babyface Pro? It's way above my price range, but I started considering Mojo 2 -> Motu M4 -> Some decent amp, and that gets be pretty close to the Babyface, which would be AIO. Thoughts?

 

[TheOneInYellow]

An update on my amp journey. I was going to get a Chord Mojo 2, until I realized what I really want is an audio interface so that I can get direct monitoring for all the calls I'm on during the day. So then I ordered an Motu M4, but it doesn't have the strongest amp. I'm actually curious what folks think in terms of how well it will drive the ST.

Then, I came across the RME Babyface Pro FS, which also has an ESS DAC like the Mojo 2, but measures better and has a much more powerful amp.

So... My question is, am I going to be disappointed with Sabre DACs? I've heard all kinds of things about them, and maybe it'll just come down to preference, but I'm curious what thoughts are. Also, anyone have experience w/ the Babyface Pro? It's way above my price range, but I started considering Mojo 2 -> Motu M4 -> Some decent amp, and that gets be pretty close to the Babyface, which would be AIO. Thoughts?

This is an age old question regarding DAC's and sonics.

Yes, DAC's can have a sonic profile, but this is usually down to how the DAC performs its duties and noise shapes a digital signal into an analogue one (not going into detailed specfics as that's a gargantuan topic too much to talk about here).
However, how a DAC is implemented is fundamentally more important and vital for the final say in sonic signature. This is the most important element, and it's the implementation that contributes to sonic quality.

Chord Audio, alongside brands such as dCS, MSB, and Playback Designs, use FPGA (field-programmable gate arrays), specialised chips that, using hardware device language, can be powerful to write instructions to enact the entire decoding of a digital signal using hardware-based logic gates. This is one of the top engineering solutions for digital-to-analogue conversation.
R2R (resistor-to-resistor) is the other, using very closely matched resistor values, and many of them, to convert digital to audio. This is similar to FPGA, but uses physical resistors versus user-changeable resistor logic gates.
Most brands prefer to use off-the shelf DAC chips, which use integrated circuits to do conversions. These chips these are mostly cost effective and can be exceedingly well designed. The top four players are: ESS Sabre, AKM, RoHM, and now NOS or vintage Burr-Brown. Each have their own filters, noise shaping implementation, and both how loud they can produce music and how low they can lower noise issues.

I strongly suggest to read up about DAC implementations and quality before making a decision on what gear you would like, as this may help better inform you on what may work for you.
Some articles here to get you started!

Types of DAC: Basics on Digital to Analog Converter ICS
Computer Audio Basics: DAC Types

 

[Daniel Johnston]

An update on my amp journey. I was going to get a Chord Mojo 2, until I realized what I really want is an audio interface so that I can get direct monitoring for all the calls I'm on during the day. So then I ordered an Motu M4, but it doesn't have the strongest amp. I'm actually curious what folks think in terms of how well it will drive the ST.

Then, I came across the RME Babyface Pro FS, which also has an ESS DAC like the Mojo 2, but measures better and has a much more powerful amp.

So... My question is, am I going to be disappointed with Sabre DACs? I've heard all kinds of things about them, and maybe it'll just come down to preference, but I'm curious what thoughts are. Also, anyone have experience w/ the Babyface Pro? It's way above my price range, but I started considering Mojo 2 -> Motu M4 -> Some decent amp, and that gets be pretty close to the Babyface, which would be AIO. Thoughts?

I was a big believer in "DAC sound" However, DAC implementation is the key factor for sound. I never liked ESS DACs due to them being generally bright and digital sounding. Mojo2 uses a custom FGPA chip not ESS DAC. It sounds spectacular. The Woo WA8 and tube mini use ESS and sound great. Shanling EC Mini has the most un-ESS sounding ESS implementation I've ever heard.

TLDR;
It is impossible to tell if you are going to like something based solely on DAC chip alone. I can wholeheartedly recommend the Mojo2 as an incredible DAC/amp.

 

[aaronjensen]

I was a big believer in "DAC sound" However, DAC implementation is the key factor for sound. I never liked ESS DACs due to them being generally bright and digital sounding. Mojo2 uses a custom FGPA chip not ESS DAC. It sounds spectacular. The Woo WA8 and tube mini use ESS and sound great. Shanling EC Mini has the most un-ESS sounding ESS implementation I've ever heard.

TLDR;
It is impossible to tell if you are going to like something based solely on DAC chip alone. I can wholeheartedly recommend the Mojo2 as an incredible DAC/amp.

Thanks. Yea, I'd love to do the Mojo 2 if I could figure out how to get direct monitoring w/ it. It seems like technically I could put an MA400 after it, but I don't know what double amping really does.

 

[Daniel Johnston]

Thanks. Yea, I'd love to do the Mojo 2 if I could figure out how to get direct monitoring w/ it. It seems like technically I could put an MA400 after it, but I don't know what double amping really does.

Good news. Double amping is not an issue with Mojo2 as it doesn't have an amp section per se. Set the Mojo2 output to the 2-3v output and connect to the MA400. I use the Mojo2 as a DAC only frequently.

 

[aaronjensen]

Good news. Double amping is not an issue with Mojo2 as it doesn't have an amp section per se. Set the Mojo2 output to the 2-3v output and connect to the MA400. I use the Mojo2 as a DAC only frequently.

Do I get the power from the mojo2 or would I be entirely reliant on the MA400? In other words, would I need to add another amp after that?

Also, how would volume control from the OS work? Does that sync w/ the Mojo2 and I'd have to avoid using it?

 

[Daniel Johnston]

Do I get the power from the mojo2 or would I be entirely reliant on the MA400? In other words, would I need to add another amp after that?

Also, how would volume control from the OS work? Does that sync w/ the Mojo2 and I'd have to avoid using it?

You'd plug the Mojo2 into the line in and use the MA400 to control the power to your headphones. Mojo2 cannot be controlled by the computer. So USB to Mojo2 to line in MA400. You'd have to run your calls through the mic ports on the MA400.

TBH, not sure if this is all worth the hassle if the RME or Motu does what you want AIO. The ST don't need significant power to shine.

 

[aaronjensen]

You'd plug the Mojo2 into the line in and use the MA400 to control the power to your headphones. Mojo2 cannot be controlled by the computer. So USB to Mojo2 to line in MA400. You'd have to run your calls through the mic ports on the MA400.

TBH, not sure if this is all worth the hassle if the RME or Motu does what you want AIO. The ST don't need significant power to shine.

Thanks, I'll try the RME and see how it is. I also noticed that HQ mode in the ST uses an ESS chip...

 

[TheOneInYellow]

Thanks, I'll try the RME and see how it is. I also noticed that HQ mode in the ST uses an ESS chip...

Yep, you can backtrack in the thread or check reviews, but there are three wireless pathways for playback, plus an additional two via a cable (USB-C DAC mode, or passive analogue SE or Balanced).

Here's one of the early posts discussing the different wireless modes:

@WDitters is correct as the Solitaire T has multiple decoders:

• Bluetooth mode: Qualcomm QCC5141
  Internal DAC and ADC
  (No diagram picture)
  
  
• ANC Mode: Qualcomm BT decoder to Sony CXD (ANC) chip
  CXD SoC DAC and Class A/B amp
  
  
  
• HQ Mode: Qualcomm BT decoder to Esstech ES9218 chip
  ESS DAC and Class A amp
  

For completeness, here is the diagram for passive mode:

• Passive pathway
  

Unlike most wireless BT headphones that implement a version of one the first two options, the latter is unique to the Solitaire T.

 

[altoas]

Hello, after a short trip with the Dali Io 12 (subbass winner) and the H95, it is clear to me that my companion is the S.T..

The Dali offers a little more stage (inflated for me) and, like the H95, a better service. But everything about music, sound and also space I sink into the sound sky with the S.T.. Mahler's No.1 (BrSo) and the new album of Ulysses Owens Jr. (a new Beat) big cinema.

 

[Daniel Johnston]

9 hours of flying and the ST didn't disappoint. I only wish I could turn off the voice telling me when I'm in transparency mode.

 

[aaronjensen]

I only wish I could turn off the voice telling me when I'm in transparency mode.

Same, for a feature that's meant to help you hear things, it's pretty obvious that taking a few seconds to tell you it's turning on isn't the right design.