Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- Cylindrical wave technology reduces sound interaction with the room due to narrow horizontal and vertical dispersion
- Magnetostatic planar-magnetic tweeter provides high resolution, transient speed, and lifelike presence
- Sound like a full-range planar, creating a seamless blend between the tweeter and mid-range drivers
Product Considerations
- A lively tonal balance, emphasizing resolution and detail over warmth
- Best experienced sitting in front of it, because of the narrow radiation pattern
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The S 540 is a monopole, directing sound forward, unlike the open-baffle planar
- Mimics planar loudspeakers sound quality, but with more bass and dynamics
Takeaway: The Solitaire S540 offers a unique listening experience by minimizing room reflections and delivering precise soundstaging. It is a good pick for audiophiles seeking high resolution and detail in their music.
All
Solitaire S 540
reviews

Manufacturer details
- Principle: Floor-standing 3-way closed
- Power rating: Nominal load 240 Watts, Music power 300 Watts
- Impedance: 4 Ohms
- Frequency range: 20 - 45000 Hz
- Sensitivity: 88 dB (1 Watt / 1 m)
- Drive units: Bass drive unit 4 x 220 mm, Midrange unit 7 x 90/60 mm, High-frequency drive 1 x 850 mm magnetostat
- Crossover frequencies: 180 / 1800 Hz
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 148 x 32 x 52 cm
- Weight: 80 kg
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- T+A leverages a high-voltage (HV) power supply to achieve a tube-like response from solid-state components, increasing the voltage rail to 100 volts compared to the typical +/-16 to 24 volts.
- They employ a proprietary "True 1-bit" DSD converter, processing DSD data in its native bitstream form, rather than converting it to PCM, in select DACs and players.
- T+A incorporates in-house designed switching power supplies over off-the-shelf components, maximizing current delivery and improving sonic payoff.
Select products
CALA Series:
- Positioning: Designed for music enthusiasts who value compactness and simplicity without compromising on sound quality.
- Description: Offers a sleek design with a purist front panel. Features a DSP-controlled sound management system, which is not found in the more traditional E-Series, providing enhanced sound customization options.
Caruso Series:
- Positioning: A compact all-in-one music system that combines modern functionality with high-quality sound.
- Description: Stands out with its integrated 7-inch HD touchscreen and NavigatorOS, offering intuitive control and a modern user interface, unlike the more traditional controls of the E-Series. It handles streaming, CD playback, and radio in a single device.
E-Series:
- Positioning: A classic stereo system that integrates modern digital capabilities with traditional high-fidelity sound.
- Description: Combines the sound quality of an audiophile amplifier with digital streaming capabilities, offering a balance between traditional and modern audio needs. Unlike the more compact Caruso, provides higher power output and more connectivity options.
R-Series:
- Positioning: T+A's oldest and most important product group, known for its high-end performance and classic design.
- Description: Uses high-voltage technology for superior linearity and transient response, setting it apart from the more compact Series 200. Designed for users who prioritize high power output and detailed sound reproduction.
HV-Series:
- Positioning: T+A's flagship line, representing the pinnacle of high-end audio technology and performance.
- Description: Uses high-voltage technology to achieve exceptional sound quality, with separate high-performance converters for PCM and DSD. Offers the highest level of performance and build quality compared to other series.
Our take on the brand
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Used
T+A
What if you spend more?
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Unique design where form follows function, resulting in a contemporary and sleek aesthetic
- Incredibly tight, impactful, articulate, and controlled bass response with impressive dynamic power and clarity
- Seamless integration of midrange and tweeter via the M-Array, creating a virtual point source for maximum imaging and soundstage
- Exceptional clarity, transparency, and detail retrieval across the entire frequency spectrum
- Soundstage is incredibly wide, deep, accurate, and immersive with instruments placed precisely in a three-dimensional field
Product Considerations
- Significant power from amplifiers is required to perform optimally, with recommendations ranging from 200 to 1600 watts RMS
- The Hyphn is a large and heavy speaker, needing a decent-sized room and strong flooring
- Sensitivity is rated at 86 dB, which is considered low and necessitates high-power amplification
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Sonus Faber: Hyphn has a far more forward-sounding presentation compared to the more relaxed and recessed soundstage of Sonus Faber
- Vs JBL Everest DD67000: Hyphn's bass is not as 'huge' as some monster high-end speakers like JBL's Everest, but it is tighter and more tuneful
Takeaway: Monitor Audio's Hyphn is a state-of-the-art loudspeaker with a unique design, delivering exceptional clarity, deep bass, and a wide soundstage. If unrestrained performance and a forward-looking aesthetic are desired, the Hyphn is worth considering for an immersive listening experience.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Product Strengths
- Impressive midbass solidity
- Remarkable fidelity at lower volumes due to the alacrity of its drivers
- Comprehensive and dynamic sound signature with plenty of detail and clarity
- The newly developed tweeter allows for faster response and a frequency range that easily extends to 28,000Hz
- Features a modular design, offering flexibility with passive, iTron active, and all-in-one wireless streaming versions
Product Considerations
- Integrating the Spacehorn subwoofers requires careful alignment
- High-quality source components are needed to match its performance level
- Some reviewers found that the iTron amplification did not produce the requisite bloom and musicality for classical and jazz music
Takeaway: The Avantgarde Trio G3 speaker is a top-tier audio system known for its exceptional sound reproduction and flexibility with different configurations. If you appreciate high-quality audio performance and aesthetics and want a sound system that sounds exciting and sophisticated, it is an excellent option.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Product Strengths
- An all-encompassing sound keeps listeners rooted to their seats
- A unique 360° sound wave design creates a natural balance of direct and reflected sounds
- A truly huge, yet meticulously crafted, soundscape is created
- Not physically evident in the aural landscape, offering a sound that seems to have no origin
- Integration of the woofer's and melon's outputs was far smoother than previous models
Product Considerations
- High-powered amplifiers capable of delivering ample amounts of current are required due to its insensitivity (around 80dB)
- Placement can be tricky, needing more space away from room boundaries than some rooms can provide
- The biggest problem has always been the audible lack of seamless integration between the bass box and the stack of omnis atop it
- A 'chesty, compressed, almost grainy midbass coloration' can be exhibited if placement and other factors are not optimized
Takeaway: The MBL Radialstrahler 101 E MkII loudspeaker offers a distinctive and immersive listening experience thanks to its unique omnidirectional design. It can fill the room with a natural and balanced sound, creating a captivating musical soundscape for the listener.
Video review
Our take on the brand
IT'S ALL IN THE TIMING. The Model Seven XTRM continues a tradition of pushing time-and-phase correct audio reproduction to the ultimate extreme. With new pistonic side-firing drivers matched to the patented mid-range and tweeter, the XTRM brings further clarity and harmonic accuracy in a way that surprised the designers and the expert listening board. Give yourself a treat and take a listen soon. Full XTRM updates are available to the original owner within the USA, and the cost is $30,051 to $45,633, depending on the vintage of your Model Seven.
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Upgradable from older Model 7 versions, representing long-term value for owners
- Features a 'CounterForce Bass' system with opposing woofers to minimize cabinet movement and improve clarity
- Offers extensive bass adjustments for room integration, including 11 trim pots for precise frequency adjustments
- Time-and-phase coherent design ensures that all drivers move in unison
- Provides a relaxed ease and warmth that fosters musical engagement
Product Considerations
- Sensitivity is relatively low at 85dB, requiring a powerful amplifier to achieve its full potential
- Requires careful rake angle adjustment for optimal performance
- Bi-wire capable, the mandatory HP-7 filter costs extra
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs KEF KC-62 subwoofer: Both use counter-opposing force woofers to stop cabinet movement
Takeaway: The Model Seven XTRM is a technologically innovative speaker designed for music lovers. It offers powerful bass, harmonic beauty, and exceptional tonal realism, making it a worthwhile investment for those seeking a high-fidelity audio experience.
Video review
Our take on the brand
What competes at this price?
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Creates a realistic and coherent musical experience
- Offers a well-defined and rock-solid soundstage
- Displays clarity across the entire audio band
- Produces minuscule distortion levels and can play extraordinarily loud without distortion
- The design yields a more planar dispersion pattern with a minimal vertical component that focuses sound on the optimal listening position
Product Considerations
- The S 530s are more directional than traditional dynamic speakers
- Standing above the tweeter and midrange arrays causes a significant drop in mid- and high-frequency levels, making it unsuitable for casual listening while standing
- Because the loudspeaker focuses the sound mostly to the front and within a limited vertical window, higher frequencies drop off drastically when ears get above or below the driver(s)
- The soundstage is coherent but not as airy as expected
Takeaway: The Solitaire S 530 delivers a focused, detailed, and realistic sound, making music listening an immersive experience. If seeking speakers for dedicated listening sessions, the S 530 is worth checking out.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Each detail of the Signature has been carefully crafted and sees numerous updates over the standard 801, including crossover upgrades and a modified cabinet with a refined downward firing port
- The bass presentation on the 801 Signature was better across the board, it was tighter, a little more pronounced and forward, and definitely more defined
- Bass goes beyond just hitting the low notes, the woofers showcase some of the clearest, most audible detail and texture
- Vocalists and actors have better inflection, greater scale, and detail playing at low volumes
- When properly set up, the Signature is one of the most holographic windows to music experienced
- Speakers need power, the Arcam was impressive and even got the 801s to play loud, but the Macintosh MC312 made the Signature sound flow-like water
Product Considerations
- The Signature's impedance fluctuates wildly, ranging from a nominal 8 ohms and dipping lower than 3, so you need an amplifier that does more than just work
- Placement matters: if placed too close to the wall, the bass response became too pronounced and even boomy at times
- The Signature can come off as bright, and in extreme cases, it might be fatiguing to some
- Poor recordings won't get a free pass, there's bound to be a track or two that's going to leave your playlist rotation
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to the Klipsch La Scala, both speakers excel at the recreation of space in true-to-life dynamics
- Compared to the Wharfedale Elysian 4, the Elysian doesn't play as deep, is richer in the mid-range, and nowhere near as extended up top, so it's not the Signature's equal
- Compared to the Wilson Audio Want Puppy, the two speakers are similar in size, driver complement, build and finish quality, price, and target market
- Compared to the SVS Titan, the Titans sound two-dimensional and fat, compared to the Signature's far more realistic and natural-sounding bass
- Compared to the KEF R11 Meta, the Signature's beefy presence makes for a far grander statement
Takeaway: The 801 Signature is a speaker that elevates the listening experience to another level because it is designed with incredible attention to detail. It will be an emotional and immersive experience to own these speakers.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Powerful and deep bass with fast transient attack and rich tonal shades
- Sweeter-sounding tweeter that integrates more fluidly with the midrange without sacrificing detail
- Balanced and coherent presentation across the frequency range
- Sounds are reproduced with clarity, detail, and dynamic contrasts
- Impressive soundstage imaging with accurately-sized images, providing a wide, tall, and deep soundstage
Product Considerations
- High-quality amplification with plenty of power is required, designed for use with amplifiers of up to 1000W
- Due to its size and the power it requires, it needs to be placed in a large room
- The weight of over 100 kg per speaker can make placement difficult—requiring assistance for lifting and maneuvering, especially on non-smooth surfaces
- The grilles can be a tricky fit
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs 800 D3: Faster and tighter bass register with a sweeter-sounding tweeter and improved decoupling
- Vs 802 D4: More bass, the 802 D4 had better blend
Takeaway:
The 801 D4 is a high-performance speaker known for its powerful and nuanced sound, exceptional imaging, and refined design, and it is capable of delivering a captivating listening experience. It is worth the investment for audiophiles who want detail and high-quality sound.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Alexia V brings many of the qualities of the Chronosonic XVX to a smaller and more affordable loudspeaker
- Spectacular bass performance delivers powerful weight and muscularity without sounding thick or overblown
- Midrange shares harmonic beauty and warmth with the XVX, offering smoothness and ease
- The Alexia V presents real life to the listener in a way that previous versions cannot match
- Every detail of the design and build exudes the highest level of quality and craftsmanship
Product Considerations
- Premium-priced, putting it out of reach for many music lovers
- Alexia V sounds a bit more forward, incisive, and "extraverted" compared to the XVX
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Alexia V shares many sonic characteristics with the Chronosonic XVX, but sounds a bit more forward, incisive, and 'extraverted', the XVX is more subtle, refined, darker in tonal balance, and 'bigger' sounding
- Alexia V is unequivocally superior to the Series 2 in every way
Takeaway: The Alexia V brings many of the best qualities from Wilson Audio's top-of-the-line speakers into a more manageable size and price point. The sound is both powerful and refined, making listening to music an engaging experience.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Exceptional transparency and is capable of reproducing quiet details with precision
- Accessible and easy sound that draws the listener in
- The EVO-K Hybrid Tweeter is superb, providing silky highs beyond belief, regardless of volume
- Massive, subtly rounded, full-bodied bass which is remarkably deep, and delivers incredibly clear and defined punch
Product Considerations
- A large speaker that will dominate a room, requiring a large listening space to truly sing
- Bass can be somewhat elevated, depending on the room size
- Not exactly modest in its choice of amplifier
Takeaway: The Epikore 11 is a high-end speaker that combines power and refinement to deliver a transparent, detailed and engaging listening experience. It is also well-built with premium materials and is beautifully styled.
Video review
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