We transform young lives through music to help them reach their full potential
Charity Registration No. 1106979
Story
At Custom Cans, we believe that music is very important.
We wanted to host a very special giveaway, for a pair of custom HiFiMan Sundaras, painted by Ed of Swarez Art.
We are raising funds to support local charity The Music Works.
” The Music Works is a Gloucestershire based charity whose mission is to transform young lives through music. They work with over 3,000 young people a year from ages 8-30, in schools and community rehearsal spaces in Gloucester, Stroud, and the Forest of Dean, doing everything from helping young people get started in music, to supporting emerging artists and running festivals and events.”
Each £2 donation is 1 entry into our raffle, for the chance to win these very special headphones.
We are a Gloucestershire based charity whose mission is to transform young people’s lives through music. We’re specialists in working with young people in challenging circumstances to help them reach their full potential in music, learning and in life. https://youtu.be/EVwBQQuea2s
Periodic Audio Drops IEM Prices Raising Value Bar Through the Roof…
November 7, 2022: Periodic Audio announces a price reduction for its line of V3 in-ear monitors launched earlier this year. The company will move to a direct model and as a result will pass distribution cost-savings to its loyal customers.
“We feel so strongly that our line of IEMs represents significant value for the consumer,” said Dan Wiggins, co-founder of Periodic Audio. “We’ve spent years researching materials, acoustic geometries, mechanical architectures, and the relationships between them culminating to the new generation of products. After working hard to refine our manufacturing and material processes, our next logical step to reach a wider audience to eliminate additional operational overhead costs resulting in a direct sale model for North America.”
The V3 IEMs retain Periodic Audio’s critically acclaimed proprietary sound engines, all developed in-house. Their ultra-wideband, high-efficiency, low-distortion, dynamic speaker elements are designed to perform with maximum reliability.
The material of an In-Ear Monitor’s body plays a critical role in its sound quality, comfort, and reliability. Periodic Audio partnered with Eastman Chemical in what became a three-year project researching the optimal material for an In-Ear Monitor. The Periodic team found that Tritan—a new-generation copolyester used in many medical devices—provided the best measurable and audible improvements in sound, in terms of transient distortion and harmonic distortion, of any material the Periodic team has measured.
The failure point in wired headphones is almost always the wires themselves. The Periodic Audio team channeled lessons from the past to improve the future. Tip-ring-sleeve (TRS) and tip-sleeve (TS) connectors, invented in the 1800s, are still widely used today for their exceptional reliability. However, because no such connector is small enough to fit inside an In-Ear monitor, Periodic has designed the IDEEL connector. Measuring just 3.6mm wide, with a mounting depth of 9.5mm, the IDEEL connector fits a standard 2.5mm TS plug. Nearly indestructible, the IDEEL is strong enough to endure the rigors of daily attachment and detachment of cables. And if something does go wrong, your In-Ear Monitor investment is safe—you can simply replace the cables.
Periodic Audio also designs its own eartips, made from medical-grade materials. The eartips provided with each of Periodic’s IEM models are scientifically proven to fit more than 95% of human ear canals. Additional accessories include gold-plated ¼″ and airplane adapters, a 1.2-meter-long cable with single 3.5mm TRS to dual 2.5mm TS jack, and metal shells, all housed in a protective carry case.
Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Pricing
Mgv3 (was $199 now $99)—Transducer material: 96% pure magnesium (more details here)
Tiv3 (was $299 now $129)—Transducer material: Pure titanium (more details here)
Bev3 (was $399 now $249)—Transducer material: Beryllium (specs here)
All designed, engineered, and tooled in-house—Made in USA
All use a single 10mm dynamic transducer – all designed in-house
Custom-jacketed, reinforced, detachable cables
All IEM bodies are made of Tritan copolyester composite for superior strength, light weight, and minimal resonance
Proprietary medical-grade silicone eartips made in-house in three sizes
Five-year warranty against manufacturing defects
About Periodic Audio
Founded in 2016, Periodic Audio is obsessed with producing highly portable products that do not compromise on performance. The company is led by the seasoned team of Daniel Wiggins, Mike Kim, Zeke Burgess, and Ben Webster, who collectively have more than 140 years of consumer-electronics experience in electronic, mechanical, firmware, acoustic, and industrial design for a wide variety of brands, including Apple, Blue Microphones, Dolby, Event Electronics, Flextronics, Harman International, Mackie, Microsoft, and Sonos. For more information, please visit www.periodicaudio.com.
Review gear & software: Periodic Audio Carbon V3 IEM. Astell & Kern AK70. Audioquest Dragonfly Black V1.5. iPad Pro. iPhone XS Max. Qobuz Studio Premier. Apple Music. MixCloud.
Advertisements
Music: A plethora of Hi-Res music on Qobuz and Apple Music. Mainly FLAC files on the AK70.
What’s in the box: 1.2 meter long cable single 3.5mm TRS to dual 2.5mm TS jack and metal shells. Single Flange Tips – Small, Medium, Large. Dual Flange Tips – Small, Medium, Large. Memory Foam Tips – Small, Medium, Large. Protective Travel Case. Gold Plated ¼” TRS Adapter Jack. Gold Plated Dual Mono Airplane Adapter.
I love these little tins that Periodic Audio ship their IEM’s in! They’re just the right size, robust and store away easily.
Spec: Frequency Response 12 Hz to 38 kHz. Impedance 32 Ohms nominal. Sensitivity 98 dB SPL at 1mW in ear. Power Handling 200 mW continuous. Peak SPL 121 dB. THD Less than 0.2% THD at 1mW. Cable length 1.2m.
Build & finish: The first thing I noticed was the cable. Periodic Audio have listened to their customers and reviewers it would seem and given the cable a substantial upgrade. They have made the cable to be more robust with a neat and hard wearing sleeve, and they’ve also made the cable detachable, allowing for greater flexibility for end users, using either an upgrade cable from Periodic themselves or maybe opting for a custom made cable. The IEM’s themselves are built to the highest standard & like previous models, are both tough & lightweight. Massive points then to Periodic Audio before I even get down to listening to them!
Comfort: I find the Carbon V3 very comfortable. I was able to wear them for a prolonged period of time with no discomfort or fatigue. However, and this is due to my ear shape more than anything… I do find these kind of IEM’s difficult to wear as they tilt downward and tend to come out easily. I do have this issue with other brands as well so this isn’t a problem on Periodic Audio’s side. The point I’m driving towards is I would love to see the team design an IEM with all of the Periodic Audio greatness, with an over ear wire. I believe they could produce a truly outstanding IEM! ( Not that these aren’t outstanding. )
Advertisements
Sound: I haven’t had the opportunity to listen to the original Carbon IEM’s, however I have spent a lot of time with the Beryllium & the Titanium. Both of which are stellar IEM’s and received positive reviews when I wrote them.
In comparison the Carbon V3 have a far tighter & refined tonality.
The bass is accurate, punchy, digs deep and is all together quite lively.
Mids are really smooth with neutrality and an organic airiness.
And the highs are fast and precise. Just the right amount of sparkle and crystal clarity.
NOTE: Periodic Audio also shipped a second cable along with the Carbon V3’s. A silver cable, the “Ag”. Using the Ag cable, adds more definition and volume to the top end with crisper highs. This was my favoured cable of the two, but please bear in mind that each person prefers differing sound signatures.
Summary: At $499 the Carbon V3 are more expensive than the Be & Ti that I previously reviewed, so I would expect some improvements in sound and possibly build. As far as build goes, Periodic Audio make fantastic products and I’ve seen the highest finish and craftsmanship across all of the products I’ve been lucky enough to review from differing ends of the price spectrum, so from that aspect at least, there really isn’t any difference. However I have to consider the new cable design, which is a vast improvement over the Be & Ti IEM’s with a far more robust build and they’re now detachable, which to me at least, is a massive plus as I can use all kinds of cables now, including the balanced kind! As for sound, the Carbon V3’s take an already fabulous sound & take it to a totally new level. In comparison to my Meze Audio Rai-Solo & RHA T20 ( roughly in the same ball park price wise. ) they perform admirably and certainly give them a run for the money.
Do I recommend them? Yes. Aside from the improvements mentioned above, they’re a brilliant pair of IEM’s in their own right and worth every dollar!
NOTE: Please be aware that Periodic Audio have reviewed the price and brought it down to $299.
Thanks: As always, thank you to all of my readers, please don’t forget to like, follow, share etc. And a massive thanks to my sponsors, partners and contributors for keeping these review samples flowing. Without any of you, there would be no blog!
All my thanks, Paul.
Support the blog: If you would like to support the blog, I would really appreciate any donations, big or small. Whatever comes my way is used to upgrade camera and lighting gear, and on occasion, audio products that are essential to keeping my reviews current, unbiased and interesting. Currently I’m trying to raise funds to purchase an up to date portable audio player that provides 2.5mm and 4.4mm balanced outputs, as well as running the latest software.
The Audiophile Cafe 
You must be logged in to post a comment.