T+A Solitaire P Planar-magneto static headphones

Our first headphones represent a new and groundbreaking development that pushes the magnetostatic principle to the point of perfection. We designed these open headphones without any compromise and without regard to cost, because we had only one goal in mind: musical reproduction to the very highest standard of perfection.

The headphone transducer systems are of sophisticated construction, and all components and subassemblies are manufactured with precision tools to the smallest tolerances. Where possible and sensible, the headphones use aluminium components machined from solid metal. The ingenious construction of the diaphragms, drive magnets and sound guides linearises the sound field and dispersion characteristics. Music is reproduced without distortion: the Solitaire P adds nothing and takes nothing away. Completely natural reproduction is the first commandment for all T+A devices.

Many planar magnetic headphones show considerable inherent drawbacks, including low efficiency, high weight and – very often – very low impedance. From the start, we designed our headphones to avoid these problems. Crucial here was the adoption of a new approach to the problems. We put a lot of energy into the design and insisted on the use of the best materials. The headphones contain several close-tolerance subassemblies that fit together perfectly; they can only be manufactured with precision tools. Depending on their function, these parts consist of very strong plastics or carbon and are made to tolerances of a few hundredths of a millimetre to guarantee a perfect fit.

Solitaire P headphones and HA 200 headphone amplifier. After spending a few months with the Solitaire P and HA 200, I think T+A has beaten the odds: their first headphone products played with the best in the world, at the uppermost point of the gold-tipped asteroid. Bravo T+A!
- Review Stereophile

The high-quality neodymium magnets are made with a precisely calculated segment shape and are matched exactly in length to the oval circumference of the diaphragm; this ensures that the magnetic field lines generated follow a homogeneous path and that no air turbulence occurs; the airflow remains laminar at all times. The precise design of the retaining rings and magnet mounting keeps the diaphragm accurately positioned in the linear part of the magnetic field, allowing it to generate high sound pressures without distortion and with an enormous dynamic range, virtually without inertia. This design also eliminates the need for additional opposing magnets, keeping the weight of the headphones low. The diaphragm can oscillate freely towards the ear pads, as there is no acoustic obstruction between the transducer diaphragm and the ear. The diaphragm itself consists of a special ultra-thin – and therefore ultra-light – film, coated with a precisely routed and calculated conductor array with an impedance of about 80 ohms. The open construction of the Solitaire P avoids the resonance problems of closed systems and lets the diaphragm vibrate unhindered.

All subassemblies are attached to solid aluminium cups machined from solid using a precision 5-axis milling machine. Machining a single cup takes more than an hour, starting from a 35 mm thick solid aluminium plate. The yokes and yoke connections are also machined from solid. Although these subassemblies are very complex and difficult to produce, we decided to use aluminium for them, as it has no ageing problems and always retains its shape and strength.

The ear and head pads are made by hand and manufactured for us by a specialist company here in Germany. They consist of allergen-free synthetic leather and Alcantara. For this reason they are very pleasant in contact with the skin, even when the headphones are worn for long periods.

Of particular importance to us is the sound quality of the connecting cables. Ours are symmetrical in construction, with very low inductance and capacitance, and designed with the optimal impedance. They consist of ultra-pure copper (OFC) conductors with a carefully defined silver layer. The four signal conductors are embedded in cotton threads and permanently wrapped in a silver-plated woven shield. This construction isolates electromagnetic influences and damps mechanical resonances. The connectors are of the highest quality. Professional military-grade two-pole connectors are used in the headphones. The complete cable harness, including connectors and splitters, is sheathed and encapsulated in a single production process, resulting in an extremely robust, durable cable that remains very flexible. The cable insulators consist of high-quality Hytrel® and TPE; these elastomers are free of PVC and latex and are manufactured without the addition of toxic plasticisers. Two cable sets are supplied with the headphones: one with a 6.3 mm barrel connector and the second with a symmetrical 4.4 mm Pentaconn connector that offers optimal transfer resistance for the best possible sound quality. As you would expect, all contacts are gold-plated.

• Solitaire P headphones
• Transducer principle planar magnetostatic
• Impedance 80 ohms
• Frequency response 5 Hz - 54 kHz
• Distortion <0.015% @ 100 dB
• Maximum sound pressure level > 130 dB
• Transducer size elliptical 110 x 80 mm
• Type of construction open, over-ear
• Connectivity wired transmission (3 m)
• Version 1: unbalanced cable with 6.3 mm connector and balanced cable with 4.4 mm Pentaconn connector
• Version 2: unbalanced cable with 6.3 mm connector and balanced cable with 4-pin XLR connector
• Material aluminium, steel, allergen-free synthetic leather, Alcantara
• Weight 530 grams excl. cable
• Subject to technical changes

Would you like to hear this first? In our two listening rooms on Hoenderstraat in Maastricht, each with its own acoustics, we will set up the system for you. Make an appointment or call 043-7370028 — we are happy to help you find the right choice and the right placement.