T+A Solitaire T Review: Most Expensive Wireless Headphone In The World

[@leonn1619]

I feel like this guy could be the next dank pods

[@SpykerSpeed]

Amazing it took manufacturers this long to finally figure out how to squeeze some detail out of wireless closed-backed headphones. Good review!

[@judgetk3309]

Just a correction: both the headband and ear-pads are not made of genuine leather but artificial (vegan) leather. Also, as for the price, in Europe the Solitaire T retails for 1,300 euros ($1,370 at today's exchange rate, only a few weeks ago it was the equivalent of $1,300). Otherwise, a very good review.

[@MajorHiFi]

At the time of this review, and currently, the price is $1600 in the US

[@judgetk3309]

@@MajorHiFi I know that. My point is that in Europe the price is not so outrageous, if you like, and it is in fact closer to what you were suggesting the price should be. Remember that your videos are watched all over the world, so pricing in other markets is worth taking into account.

[@TheOneInYellow]

Yes been waiting on more vid reviews; nicely done! Torn between the white silver and black variation, however can't wait to obtain one!

[@TheOneInYellow]

Sooooooo....placed an order for the white/silver version! 🙃 Can't wait to receive it and, essentially, replace most of my (desktop) headphone gear as an all-in-one, for multiple purposes! Yes, there are significant shortcomings*, but the overall experience that these are truly tuned audiophile high-end closed back cans that can be used wirelessly (single-ended or balanced**) or wireless, gives them a significant edge for my usage cases: home, travel/commute, office. In wireless mode, I can also take calls too! *Shortcomings: - No app, yet - LDAC deal between T+A and Sony is yet to be finalised - Volume limit via USB-C - Potential obsolescence regarding Bluetooth codecs- no AptX Adaptive for example - No multipoint (big disadvantage for me for office use; can't both listen and take work calls or meetings from two devices 😔) **T+A have their own balanced pin layout (connections from the tip on 4.4mm balanced cable): L+, R+, R-, L- Source: Head-Fi post from a user, via an email from Jan-C. Wehmeyer, T + A elektroakustik GmbH & Co. KG

[@giovalleyk]

How about the ANC ?

[@halimj7]

The best MajorHiFi reviewer of all time imo. Too bad he didn’t stay long 😢

[@yogiwp_]

Regarding the highs, would it be fatiguing for 8+ hours of daily usage?

[@deanmcpherson]

How does it compare to the ML No. 5909...which by all accounts is better SQ than the Bathy's?

[@eswarprasad5689]

Music Quality of this headphone is top notch

[@Daniel-tt8ni]

Do you know if there a burn-in period for this headphone?

[@Drn10n]

quick question, does these have a passive mode for when the battery finally dies out in a few years? because i would hate to buy these and then throw them away when that happens. and are the cushions replaceable? that's the main reason i don't feel like getting the bathys or the mark levinson 5909 (which have a passive mode but only when using their proprietary cable that who if they will be selling in 10 years)

[@MajorHiFi]

This is a detail I regret not emphasizing in this video but ended up talking about in our Best Of The Year video - they are indeed passive! Ill get back to you on the cushions, I'm inclined to say they are replaceable as T+A has replacement pads available for the solitaire p and p-se, but I'll try to find out for certain.

[@MrJ.31]

The Bathys don't offer a true passive wired mode and unfortunately always need some kind of battery in order to work but the ML5909 actually can be used completely passively as long as you're using either a usb-c to usb-c or usb-c to 3.5mm cable. Doesn't necessarily have to be ML cables as I've used other cables and they work just fine

[@Drn10n]

@@MrJ.31 thanks, but I already went with the focal radiance with btr7. They sound much better than the bathys and I assume the ML ones.

[@MrJ.31]

Hey Chris how would you compare the T+A sound quality to the ML5909? That one has been really hard to beat in my testing

[@MajorHiFi]

Hey there, I have a nice, long answer for you here haha: majorhifi.com/ta-solitaire-t-vs-mark-levinson-no-5909-comparison-review/

[@anncleverley4721]

Excellent and informative review just what I was looking for. I have the Bathys and like them but they just feel quite cheap to me. I was looking to get the Levinson’s 5909 or the T&A Solitaire which would you go for. The price in the UK is £1200 and I may sell my Bathys.

[@MajorHiFi]

Oh nice, if I'm not mistaken the ML 5909 goes for 999 in the UK? If that's the case, Solitaire T would be my personal choice - passive power, high-res mode, up to 70 hrs battery etc for just 200 more I think is well worth it. Here in the US the price difference is a little more vast so it's a tougher choice. But just for your consideration around your subjective preferences: the ML 5909 was tuned to the Harman Curve and has a very straightforward tuning, the Solitaire T has a more colorful tuning. Maybe the one feature that the ML 5909 has over the Solitaire T is its ANC - Solitaire T still has pretty good ANC, but the 5909 might have the best ANC on the market currently. Hope that helps! Feel free to ask anything else.

[@anncleverley4721]

@@MajorHiFi Thank you so much for this. The Levinsons have been reduced to £840. I have to say that i do not like the look of the Solitaires they remind me of Bowers and Wilkins. They just dont scream luxury like the Levinsons. So it may be the Levinsons. Do you like the Levinsons? Thanks again

[@MajorHiFi]

@@anncleverley4721 For sure I'm into the Levinson's, super clean sound that actually has realistic high-frequency detail, and I believe they have some passive battery capabilities as well via USB. I put the 5909 and the T in the same distinct class of over-ear wireless that are a step ahead of just about everything else currently on the wireless market.

[@chungang7037]

Chris, where did you go? I hope you keep reviewing~

[@AudiolandCH]

I tried it, Love it! So flexible and the mids and highs are in a different league against px8, Bathys.

[@MajorHiFi]

Definitely a different league! Mark Levinson No. 5909 is its closest competition

[@Viewer13128]

@@MajorHiFi How close (or far) are the Levinson No 5909? Any hissing/humming from the 5909 like some reported?

[@gwapster13]

@@MajorHiFi The 5909 doesn't exactly set the bar too high, though.

[@mahmoudm9107]

what about noise cancellation please?

[@levinste2750]

I know it's not a fair comparison because they are different types of headphones. Does anyone own both, the T+A solitaire T and the Denon D9200? I own the D9200 + Gryphon xDSD. I love it. Using it with the USB cable from the mobile phone to Gryphon. The sound quality is absolutely amazing for my taste. I do listen rock, pop, heavy metal, country... no hip hop, rap... I'd like to have some Bluetooth headphones " close" to this sound quality. As I said, they are different types of headphones and it's impossible to get the same sound quality through the Bluetooth Any advices are welcome, thank you in advance.

[@MajorHiFi]

Love the D9200! I find its treble extension to be a defining part of its sound signature - no bluetooth headphone that I'm aware reaches as far into its highs. However, the Solitaire T has much more treble than most Bluetooth sound signatures - but it's mostly low and mid-treble. T+A released an app since I made this review, and I imagine you can use it to dial in some extra extension (and subtract some bass if you're trying to replicate your Denon's). I do think that if a trebly, Denon-like signature is what you're after, the Solitaire T will probably get you closer to it than any other wireless headphone

[@levinste2750]

@@MajorHiFi I just ordered it. Is there a difference between the USB cable and 3.5mm jack, for the sound quality ?!

[@MajorHiFi]

@@levinste2750 I mentioned in this vid that I had some issues sufficiently driving it with the USBC cable. That said, I do think the USBC connection offered a little bit of enhancement in the soundstage, so I encourage using it if you have the right equipment! The difference was subtle though.

[@rdeh1678]

I wil just stick with my mark Levinson 5909's

[@seanjoe1704]

how sol T compare to beoplay h95 in terms of sound quality.. ? don't judge by the price. thanks ps : your voice reminds me of giorgio moroder

[@MajorHiFi]

Hmmm you're not the first person to ask me about the H95, unfortunately I haven't been able to get my hands on one for a review but bookmarking this comment in case I end up with it. Also, lol, I don't know his voice but we certainly share the 'stache

[@evilvirtuoso9408]

These flagship wireless headphones set the bar too high on price, but the performance, not so much.

[@susieroberts8175]

The compression you're using has too hard a knee. Just my thought.

[@x32i77]

Soundstage isnt anything , I own the Sennheiser H800s and sometimes the soundstage is very annoying

[@iamtesting3824]

Audio technical wb2022 might be better than t+a :)

[@soulfunkjazz]

This must be a very average headphone if its major advantage is the well balanced frequency response. Lol. Not a single word about the things that really matter: immediacy, speed, dynamics, rythmic cohesion. And if the battery can not be replaced by the user, this headphone will have poor resale value. Sad, really sad.

[@faiosung]

i guess at this level all those would be given as top notch?

[@evilvirtuoso9408]

you mean the usual audiophile BS? 😂

[@soulfunkjazz]

@@evilvirtuoso9408 I mean the important stuff that is left out with usual influencer BS. Its easy to EQ. Immediacy, speed, dynamics, rythmic cohesion is what makes or breaks a great audio experience. If you dont recognise it - then good for you. You can buy gear with the assurance of great marketing 😂. Enjoy the music.

[@denislemieux7294]

What about use with my iPhone? I have to assume it’s good?

[@denislemieux7294]

Grado GW100 X….. can you give it a review? $275.00 open back wireless. A lot of positive comments on Amazon. Some calling it the best they’ve ever heard. Would appreciate your more realistic opinion. Thanks.