T+A Solitaire T Headphones

[teddybear]

Currently looking for some top-quality closed back headphones and stumbled across the T+A Solitaire T headphones which purportedly were originally designed as wired headphones that they decided to add bluetooth connectivity. Having recently tested out the Focal Bathys which I didn't like, I wondered if anyone has these T+A 'phones?



Also a bit concerned about the WiiM Ultra codec, AAC isn't going to allow lossless or bit perfect listening. I'm trying the headphones out this coming week with the WiiM Ultra and also hoping to test them wired using a Graham Slee Novo headphone amp that I have owned for some while. Also, the following review indicates that bit perfect loss perfect output can be achieved by using the USB-C input in the headphones connect to USB.

So questions:

1. Can I connect (via adapter) to the Ultra's USB output to drive the Solitaire T?
2. Can I connect (via adapter) to the Ultra's USB output whilst also using as an input for my SSD music library and if so what do I use as a hub to do so?
3. Can I connect the Solitaire T using USB-C to the optical output of the Ultra via appropriate cabling?

Thanks in advance

 

[Burnside]

Re 2. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CQRN5CB9

 

[Burnside]

Re 3. This might do the trick https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cubilux-Adapter-Optical-Receiver-Interface/dp/B0BQR2YZPT

 

[Burnside]

And re 1. something like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Charger-INIU-Charging-Braided-Samsung-1-Pcs/dp/B09P8KM9Z6/

 

[jfbuk]

Re 3. This might do the trick https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cubilux-Adapter-Optical-Receiver-Interface/dp/B0BQR2YZPT

This probably won't work. The adaptor draws power from the USB connection and I doubt the headphones provide that

 

[Burnside]

This probably won't work. The adaptor draws power from the USB connection and I doubt the headphones provide that

Thanks, didn’t consider that. From memory I think there is a powered version.

 

[Zap Rekowski]

I wouldn't buy BT headphones these days that don't support the LDAC codec. Just food for thought...

 

[teddybear]

so............. I've been trialling the Solitaire T's this past week and the sound is very good via BT with HQ enabled, better than I had expected. I've yet to try the wired connection via the Ultra headphone jack or connect my headphone amp (via my MF DAC) as I was most interested in the bit perfect connection from Ultra wired into the USB-C connection on the Solitaire T (the headphones have their own DAC and amp for this purpose).

I am either connected via a USB C to USB A cable or C to C cable with one end into a C to A connector and into the Ultra USB. I have also tried the C to C cable plugged into a USB hub which is plugged in the Ultra.

When it all works fine, the sound is fantastic; wide soundstage, good instrument/vocal separation, great open midrange and tight focussed bass. Much better that bluetooth

However, I am also having a number of intermittent issues (irrespective of how I connect) as follows:

1. The headphone volume is sometimes OK but sometimes very low and requires a manual increase via RH earpiece
2. This 'increased' volume sometimes persists when I listen to an album or playlist track to track however....
3. sometimes when a subsequent track starts to play, the volume has reset low and has to be increased - this happens every track
4. Sometimes moving from 1 album to another resets the volume, sometimes it's fine and I can listen to multiple albums without issue
5. Sometimes whatever album I select the volume is too low and then all of a sudden an album that was too low is then fine
6. Sometimes there is no sound at all
7. Sometimes there is some kind of interference or poor connection on a track or a whole album, sometimes several albums and then its all fine everywhere!
8. The one constant is that anytime I listen (via USBC headphone connection) to my USB library, the sound is always very very quiet and requires adjustment every track.

None of this makes any sense to me. I think there must be some issue with the USB connection or compatibility but it's variable and inconsistent which makes no sense because when all is well the sound is stable, consistent and absolutely amazing.

I don't know if I have explained this very well. I reached out to T+A support who weren't at all helpful. Before I try WiiM support I thought I'd ask here.

Any help appreciated.

 

[Zap Rekowski]

To narrow down the problem, I would test the headphones via USB on the PC and see if these problems also occur.

 

[hgo58]

so............. I've been trialling the Solitaire T's this past week and the sound is very good via BT with HQ enabled, better than I had expected. I've yet to try the wired connection via the Ultra headphone jack or connect my headphone amp (via my MF DAC) as I was most interested in the bit perfect connection from Ultra wired into the USB-C connection on the Solitaire T (the headphones have their own DAC and amp for this purpose).

I am either connected via a USB C to USB A cable or C to C cable with one end into a C to A connector and into the Ultra USB. I have also tried the C to C cable plugged into a USB hub which is plugged in the Ultra.

When it all works fine, the sound is fantastic; wide soundstage, good instrument/vocal separation, great open midrange and tight focussed bass. Much better that bluetooth

However, I am also having a number of intermittent issues (irrespective of how I connect) as follows:

1. The headphone volume is sometimes OK but sometimes very low and requires a manual increase via RH earpiece
2. This 'increased' volume sometimes persists when I listen to an album or playlist track to track however....
3. sometimes when a subsequent track starts to play, the volume has reset low and has to be increased - this happens every track
4. Sometimes moving from 1 album to another resets the volume, sometimes it's fine and I can listen to multiple albums without issue
5. Sometimes whatever album I select the volume is too low and then all of a sudden an album that was too low is then fine
6. Sometimes there is no sound at all
7. Sometimes there is some kind of interference or poor connection on a track or a whole album, sometimes several albums and then its all fine everywhere!
8. The one constant is that anytime I listen (via USBC headphone connection) to my USB library, the sound is always very very quiet and requires adjustment every track.

None of this makes any sense to me. I think there must be some issue with the USB connection or compatibility but it's variable and inconsistent which makes no sense because when all is well the sound is stable, consistent and absolutely amazing.

I don't know if I have explained this very well. I reached out to T+A support who weren't at all helpful. Before I try WiiM support I thought I'd ask here.

Any help appreciated.

Where do you regulate the volume? On the he Ultra or the headphones?

If on the Ultra the output on the USB will not be "bit prefect".

If Ultra is set to fixed 100% volume, the issues you see are on the headphones.

 

[teddybear]

Where do you regulate the volume? On the he Ultra or the headphones?

If on the Ultra the output on the USB will not be "bit prefect".

If Ultra is set to fixed 100% volume, the issues you see are on the headphones.

I've tried fixed volume output and not fixed volume output but the intermittent issues persisted. The USB-C connection from iPad to Solitaire T works fine and without issues, so just into the Ultra so I am leaning in that direction. Why would not using fixed volume output on the Ultra affect 'bit perfect'?

 

[hgo58]

Why would not using fixed volume output on the Ultra affect 'bit perfect'?

Because the volume control is digital and therefore changes the binary data.

It doesn't really matter but it will no longer be bit prefect.

At 100% the Ultra will not change the data and therefore not have any influence on the volume.

The USB audio protocol allow for volume information as part of the control data but that is not used by the WiiM. Maybe the headphones are somehow misinterpreting this information?