T+A Solitaire P-SE

T+A Solitaire P-SE

Launched final 12 months, T+A’s Solitaire P headphone weighs in at a hefty £5,000. As properly as being exceptionally good, it does imply even ‘trickle-down’ fashions have the scope to be fairly high-end in their very own proper. The Solitaire P-SE is the second mannequin to affix the vary and is intently associated. It is an open-back, planar magnetic that very intently matches the design of the unique. To make the numerous saving over the P, the largest distinction is the motive force itself. The TPM2500 unit is similar dimension as that used within the flagship, however solely has magnets on one aspect and the fabric used for the diaphragm and the method by which a conductive floor is utilized has been barely revised. The ‘Draught management system’ (successfully the air administration across the driver) has thus been altered to mirror these modifications.

There have additionally been some modifications to the chassis and headband. The beautiful however extraordinarily costly aluminium sections of the P are actually plastic. Impressively, it nonetheless feels stable and effortlessly engineered in a approach that many different headphones – even when made out of steel – can not simply match.

The Solitaire P-SE is equipped with two removable cables, each 3m lengthy. The first is fitted with a standard 6.35mm jack, whereas the opposite has a 4.4mm Pentaconn balanced connector – as supported by T+A’s headphone merchandise (XLR fitment can be accessible). My solely slight grievance is that the storage is big and somewhat fussy.

Sound high quality
I’ve examined the unique Solitaire P up to now and it’s notable how lots of the similar observations apply to each fashions. T+A’s implementation of a planar magnetic driver is the closest I’ve seen to attaining the beliefs of the know-how. Listening to the beautiful 24-bit/96kHz Qobuz stream of Paris Jackson’s Dead Sea reveals the entire velocity and fluidity of an electrostatic, however there’s a heft to the underpinning bass fairly in contrast to any electrostatic – and certainly most planar magnetic headphones – I’ve ever used. The T+A creates an area and scale that’s really extraordinary for a headphone.

With every thing afforded plausible dimensions, the tonal realism and immediacy ensures it readily achieves the suspension of disbelief that may elude some rivals. The capacity of the T+A to essentially push info in entrance of you and to increase the soundstage past the confines of the enclosures is constantly efficient and never tied to the dimensions of the music being performed. The stripped-back and intimate Mokou Mokou by Amadou and Mariam is as a lot of a beneficiary because the extra boisterous stay Shibuya 357 by Brand New Heavies. The latter recording does recommend that the Solitaire P-SE doesn’t have fairly the urgency of some dynamic driver rivals, however it by no means sounds sluggish or confused.

The most spectacular attribute is one shared with its larger sibling. This is a headphone that by no means struggles to realize close to forensic ranges of element and with high-quality recordings it might probably ship a degree of efficiency that you would need to spend many instances extra on typical field audio system to get anyplace close to. It does all this whereas delivering poor recordings in an impressively forgiving approach. It can be usefully delicate judged by the requirements of planar magnetic designs. My resident Chord Electronics Hugo TT2 (HFC 468) does a unbelievable job, however the outcomes on the tip of an Astell&Kern KANN Alpha (HFC 473) – geared up with a 4.4mm headphone socket – are additionally extraordinarily spectacular.

Conclusion
T+A has someway shaved as a lot as 40 % off the value of the flagship P whereas retaining greater than 60 % of its functionality. It’s nonetheless unquestionably an costly headphone, however the sheer ranges of efficiency on provide and the standard of the construct and design means it ranks as one of many very best headphones anyplace close to the value.. ES    

DETAILS
Product: T+A Solitaire P-SE
Type: Open again, over-ear planar magnetic headphone

FEATURES
● 110 x 80mm planar magnetic driver
● 3m removable cables with 6.35mm and 4.4mm connections (XLR non-obligatory)

Read the complete assessment in  Issue 477

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May 14, 2024 at 10:27AM