T+A Solitaire T Wireless Headphone

[nole]

If I kind of enjoy a fun, V-shaped sound but want high-quality headphones, should I get the T+A Solitaire T or something like the Noble Audio FoKus Apollo? Is the “Vitalize” EQ preset a good match in my case, or should I consider a different model or tuning?

 

[winstonliu]

If I kind of enjoy a fun, V-shaped sound but want high-quality headphones, should I get the T+A Solitaire T or something like the Noble Audio FoKus Apollo? Is the “Vitalize” EQ preset a good match in my case, or should I consider a different model or tuning?

I would not categorize the Solitaire as V-shaped. In fact I will say it has a very neutral sound, with slight emphasis on the high and mid frequencies. And some people will find it a touch lean on the bass frequencies. Hence my preference to use it with Bass Boost on the EQ. Overall it is more a reference sounding headphone as opposed to a warm sounding headphone.

I have not heard the Apollo, so don't know how they compare.

 

[DrSeven]

I can only tell what I hear.

My setup here is also the simplest and most direct. Music player direct to the headphones by Analog Input cable.

There is a marked difference in sound between having the Power on vs. with the Power off.

I would classify the sound as follows -

1. Wired with headphone Power on, the sound is outstanding, a rich and full body presentation.

2. Wired with headphone Power off, the sound is decisively inferior, lacks body, and exhibits very recessed bass.

3. Wireless using Bluetooth, the sound is very lean and vastly inferior to my B&W Px8 but better than my Bose Ultra Comfort.

I pulled the trigger last year black Friday and I really love these headphones. BUT I have to agree that I was disappointed by the wired power off sound because it did sound weird (sibilant, artificial,..). Wired and wireless with power on are both very very good and I love the punch they have but still they are very resolving and clean sounding. I'd classify them as on the analytical side but I'm always having fun listening to them - so far from boring. With bad source material they can get sibilant but that's ok. All in all I'd recommend them without any hesitation. Maybe I'll have to give the wired mode with power off another try these days. But it's curious that I had almost the same experience as you @winstonliu

 

[winstonliu]

I pulled the trigger last year black Friday and I really love these headphones. BUT I have to agree that I was disappointed by the wired power off sound because it did sound weird (sibilant, artificial,..). Wired and wireless with power on are both very very good and I love the punch they have but still they are very resolving and clean sounding. I'd classify them as on the analytical side but I'm always having fun listening to them - so far from boring. With bad source material they can get sibilant but that's ok. All in all I'd recommend them without any hesitation. Maybe I'll have to give the wired mode with power off another try these days. But it's curious that I had almost the same experience as you @winstonliu

Thank you, you used the best word to describe their sound signature!

The Solitaire has an 'analytical', as opposed to a 'warm' type of sound.

Overall, I would rank it as a benchmark for reference among wireless headphones, for transparency, neutrality, and resolution of musical details.

 

[DrSeven]

Thank you, you used the best word to describe their sound signature!

The Solitaire has an 'analytical', as opposed to a 'warm' type of sound.

Overall, I would rank it as a benchmark for reference among wireless headphones, for transparency, neutrality, and resolution of musical details.

100%! When I first tried them I was so freaking impressed how good a wireless headphone can sound it put a big smile on my face.

 

[KindofBluer]

Thanks for your comments.

Yes, you are probably right here. My music player built-in power amp is probably not up to task. Hence without the headphone Power on, there's not enough power to drive the headphones in passive mode in a proper manner.
In a wired mode with the headphone Power on, the Solitaire T outclass both Px8 and Bathy's in my opinion.

Switching between wired and wireless for me is a night and day difference. The sound via Bluetooth is just vastly inferior. But I do not have this problem with my other headphones. Could be something wrong with the Bluetooth on my Solitaire ?

As for wireless mode via Bluetooth, using the same music player but just switching between 3 headphones, the results are crystal clear : -
The Px8 easily comes out on top, being equal or better in almost every facet of sound reproduction. The Solitaire T comes in a very distant second, and the Bose Ultra Quietcomfort not that far behind in third place.
Even my wife who listens a lot but is not as picky as me said the very same m

Thanks for your comments.

Yes, you are probably right here. My music player built-in power amp is probably not up to task. Hence without the headphone Power on, there's not enough power to drive the headphones in passive mode in a proper manner.
In a wired mode with the headphone Power on, the Solitaire T outclass both Px8 and Bathy's in my opinion.

Switching between wired and wireless for me is a night and day difference. The sound via Bluetooth is just vastly inferior. But I do not have this problem with my other headphones. Could be something wrong with the Bluetooth on my Solitaire ?

As for wireless mode via Bluetooth, using the same music player but just switching between 3 headphones, the results are crystal clear : -
The Px8 easily comes out on top, being equal or better in almost every facet of sound reproduction. The Solitaire T comes in a very distant second, and the Bose Ultra Quietcomfort not that far behind in third place.
Even my wife who listens a lot but is not as picky as me said the very same thing!

I second what @aaronjensen said. I was expecting great things from the PX8 but I found the bass was so emphasized the sound was muddy. The Solitaire T, on the other hand, especially in passive wired mode, to my ears is perfectly balanced.

 

[WDitters]

Goodbye everyone, having let go of my beloved T+A Solitaire T ... (custom cables up for grabs in the classifieds) ... I will keep an eye on this thread however to keep an eye on what happens in here but no longer on my 1st priorities list ...

 

[angelom]

Goodbye everyone, having let go of my beloved T+A Solitaire T ... (custom cables up for grabs in the classifieds) ... I will keep an eye on this thread however to keep an eye on what happens in here but no longer on my 1st priorities list ...

"Beloved" is a good word, too, for my experience with the excellent ST, a headphone that I buying 3 times (!)...and I subscribe still to this thread because is still one of few threads in head-fi with very little pollution.

But after saying that, I don't have any regret at all selling my last pair of ST, and at present owning for 8 months the (now unfortunately 200 EUR more expensive than before) B&O H100.

EDIT: By the way, I'm one of very few people that in last few days I buying and testing for one week the 'new' 50% more expensive Bathys MG (original Bathys cost 800€, new MG version cost 1200€). In my opinion this is clearly an abusive sell from Focal who trying selling a headphone that is in majority of respects identical to the original Bathys. From the first 20 minutes I know easily that I prefer the H100, ST and Dali iO-12. I try and try for several days testing objectively the Bathys MG, but my opinion isn't changing at all after one week. I returning few days ago.

 

[Daniel Johnston]

The Sol T will be my last serious BT ANC full size headphone. They have excellent ANC for flying, super comfortable for long sessions/flights, and sound great. They also are amazingly compact for travel. Once you figure out the slightly silly transparency mode, all is good.

I'm not playing the "how much are you willing to spend" game with Focal, B&O, or even T+A. At the heart of it is basically the same source (BT chip) with different drivers/DACs/amplification. The brand tuning will be the most obvious difference. I highly doubt the Focal Mg bathys is going to sound hugely different over BT than the cheaper sibling. You can argue the amplification isn't much different between companies as it is all op amp based. There aren't many ways to package op amps in such small packages. Until UWB or Wifi becomes more standard, BT will always be the choke point for even the most well designed HP like the Sol T.

I have several wired HP I use over the Sol T. I will say the Sol T wired is competitive to my closed back DD HP at twice the price. I don't miss much traveling when using them as my main wired HP with the AKSP3000T.

TLDR;
I'm done chasing wireless HP until more sources and HP support lossless non BT streams. I'd suggest to anyone the Sol T is an incredible BT ANC HP and likely a relative bargain in today's race to the most expensive.

I did get a pair of Dyson Zone HP with air purifier from Woot for cheap. But those are too ridiculous to pass up. They sound quite good, but you clearly hear the fan running.

 

[angelom]

The Sol T will be my last serious BT ANC full size headphone. They have excellent ANC for flying, super comfortable for long sessions/flights, and sound great. They also are amazingly compact for travel. Once you figure out the slightly silly transparency mode, all is good.

I'm not playing the "how much are you willing to spend" game with Focal, B&O, or even T+A. At the heart of it is basically the same source (BT chip) with different drivers/DACs/amplification. The brand tuning will be the most obvious difference. I highly doubt the Focal Mg bathys is going to sound hugely different over BT than the cheaper sibling. You can argue the amplification isn't much different between companies as it is all op amp based. There aren't many ways to package op amps in such small packages. Until UWB or Wifi becomes more standard, BT will always be the choke point for even the most well designed HP like the Sol T.

I have several wired HP I use over the Sol T. I will say the Sol T wired is competitive to my closed back DD HP at twice the price. I don't miss much traveling when using them as my main wired HP with the AKSP3000T.

TLDR;
I'm done chasing wireless HP until more sources and HP support lossless non BT streams. I'd suggest to anyone the Sol T is an incredible BT ANC HP and likely a relative bargain in today's race to the most expensive.

I did get a pair of Dyson Zone HP with air purifier from Woot for cheap. But those are too ridiculous to pass up. They sound quite good, but you clearly hear the fan running.

For me, personally, the decision of choosing the H100 than the ST (independently of 'price wars') is this:

1. Sound quality -- I can't honestly saying that I prefer the sound of the ST than the H100. Is actually possible that I maybe preferring the H100 just a little more after 8 months of experience.

2. The user experience -- Here the H100 is winning by a very large margin in my personal circumstances where precise AND quick volume control is extremely important. Play/pause and, even more, quick access to next/previous track are also VERY important (but not so much like volume control), this 2 aspects clearly better in the H100.

This 2 aspects making my listening experience very more enjoyable than I have before with the ST. And, after 8 months, I must (secretly admitting) that in MY VERY personal circumstances is possible that I even pay the new 1700 EUR price (before is 1500 EUR) of the H100 -- this is how different my user experience with the H100 is. And I'm not even speaking about the better ANC (and transparency mode) quality (instantly accessible), better design (for me) and construction quality of the H100.

But, one thing is 100% clear for me: the Focal Bathys MG is a rip-off.

 

[ryanmatic]

The Sol T will be my last serious BT ANC full size headphone. They have excellent ANC for flying, super comfortable for long sessions/flights, and sound great. They also are amazingly compact for travel. Once you figure out the slightly silly transparency mode, all is good.

I'm not playing the "how much are you willing to spend" game with Focal, B&O, or even T+A.

Hard agree. The SolT does pretty much everything I want it to do, and does it very well. I think with previous headsets I would always have enough of a qualified feeling of satisfaction that would feed the itch to eventually try something new/“better”. Can’t say I’ve felt that at all with this pair.

Frankly even when higher bandwidth wireless options are available, I can still get absolutely stellar performance out of my SolT and iFi Go Bar.

So yeah, well put. Nice to step off of the treadmill, frankly.

 

[extenso]

[...]Hard agree. The SolT does pretty much everything I want it to do, and does it very well.[...]

My sentiments exactly. When first receiving them, I thought the sound was occasionally anemic and piercing. Then my brain got accustomed to the carefully balanced sound, not least the distinct reproduction of bass. So now most other headphones sound a bit off, at least those belonging in the sane price brackets.

 

[ryanmatic]

Totally. I think I initially mistook its clarity for leanness, but now I find myself really appreciating how it differentiates sub bass from mid bass. It’s portrayal of former is especially impactful but never lingers, and feels like such a nice balance between analytical and fun.