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It is not a coincidence that T+A’s first headphones bear the name Solitaire P. Back in 1983 their founder developed T+A’s first planar-electrostatic transducer: the mid-high range unit for the Solitaire OEC active loudspeaker, which remains a legend to this day. Since that time T+A have continued to exploit this principle for our High-End speakers. The current T+A Solitaire CWT range employs a planar-electrostatic mid-range / treble unit whose frequency range extends up to and beyond 50,000 Hz, and which is capable of generating sound pressure levels above 120 dB. The diaphragm of these transducers consists of a special ultra-thin film, driven by a powerful electrical field.

This principle was the obvious choice for T+A’s first headphones, the T+A Solitaire P, based on the exceptional qualities of this type of planar transducer and their thirty-five years of experience in the development and manufacture of film transducers. Planar-magnetic transducers are very similar to electrostatic devices, as their diaphragm also consists of a thin film driven by a strong magnetic field. For that reason it was therefore natural to develop an open planar system for T+A’s first headphones, and build them here in Herford. The decision to start by developing a planar-magnetostat, and only then an electrostatic device, was based on the realisation that a magnetostat has a wider field of application, since it does not require a power supply voltage – as is the case with an electrostatic device. Both fundamental designs are ideally suited to High-End headphones, and are inherently superior to dynamic alternatives.

In every transducer – regardless of whether a loudspeaker or headphones – the diaphragm needs to be driven as evenly as possible. To a limited extent dynamic systems based on voice coils are partially successful in this, but planar systems – such as electrostatic or magnetostatic devices – are much more effective in this regard, since the driving force in both these processes is distributed over the whole of the diaphragm, rather than being localised at the coil position. In principle the actual transducer of T+A’s magnetostat consists of rod-shaped high-performance neodymium magnets of varying length, with an innovative pole geometry. These magnets are held in a precise, accurately manufactured mount which guarantees the positioning of the magnetic poles to an accuracy of a few hundredths of a millimetre. This design generates a totally linear magnetic field, in which the special ultra-lightweight diaphragm moves. The diaphragm itself is only a few µm thick, and consists of a structurally stable High-Tech polymer material; it also bears an array of very light conductors – also only µm thick – which are applied in a sophisticated, highly precise photo-chemical process. This unique technology ensures that the entire surface of the diaphragm is driven absolutely evenly, thereby eliminating the partial oscillations which are unavoidable with localised drive systems. The net result is a type of transducer with an enormously wide dynamic range, high peak sound pressures and extremely impressive linearity and freedom from distortion.

Technical Specification

Transducer principle: Planar-magnetostatic
Impedance: 80 Ohms
Frequency response: 5 Hz – 54 kHz:
Distortion: < 0,015 % @ 100 dB
Maximum sound pressure level:: > 130 dB
Sensitivity: 101 dB @ 1 kHz, 1V
Transducer size: elliptic 110 x 80 mm
Type of construction: Open, over ear
Connectivity: Wired transmission (3m)
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:Aluminum, steel, allergen-free synthetic leather, Alcantara
Weight: 530 g excl. cable

Brand

Finish

Black & Silver Aluminium

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