Bringing out a new brand to the oversaturated market of personal audio, it is vitally important to stand out against the background of competitors (of course, this is in addition to high-quality sound). The company Periodic Audio is well understood and decided to go to the creation of their headphones with the most scientific position.
"Periodic" immediately bribes the external image: laboratory gowns and bulb-beakers at exhibitions, a minimalistic website with a lot of scientific information (which only stands the TTX headphones indicating the melting point of the material of the diaphragm and the corresponding Young's module). But on the outside of the matter the matter does not end, this company underlined the utilitarian approach and transferred it to its models. Three debut models were named "Magnesium", "Titan" and "Beryllium", simply because the diaphragms of their radiators are made of these metals (except for Mg, there is not pure magnesium, and an alloy containing 98% of the metal).
The cases are made of polycarbonate, as this material, according to the developers, is strong and light in weight. In general, the website of the company describes every detail included in the design of headphones, and the details of these are many, and over each of them, the developers thought. The prices were very simple, three models cost 100, 200 and 300 dollars respectively, it is easy to remember.
Specifications
- Emitter: dynamic
- Impedance: 32Ω
- Frequency range: 20 Hz - 30 kHz (Mg); 16 Hz to 30 kHz (Ti); 12 Hz - 45 kHz (Be)
- Sensitivity: 101 dB / mW (Mg); 96 dB / mW (Ti); 100 dB / mW (Be)
- Total Harmonic Distortion: <1%
- Cable: 1.2 m
- Plug: 3.5 mm
Packing and delivery kit
The box is just as simple as everything else - white cardboard with minimalistic polygraphy. No supershells, sealing in plastic or there chests lined with leather. The box itself contains headphones and a tin can with a screw cap. Of the accessories, the kit includes adapters (6.3 mm and double 3.5 mm) and nozzles - three pairs of foams, three pairs of single-flange silicone and three pairs of two-flange. That is exactly what you need to use headphones for the intended purpose.
Design and comfortable wearing
The appearance of the headphones is as simple as possible. Polycarbonate housings are made in the form of cylinders, the outer side is made of metal, with the logo Periodic Audio. The hue of this cover determines the model, since all three variants are similar to each other as twin brothers. It's very unusual in Periodic Audio to mark the left and right channels, their main difference is the color of the protective grid of the sound guide, at the right earpiece it is dark red. However, I can not call this method of marking especially convenient.
Thanks to the intelligent shape of the case, the headphones easily fit into any ears, providing normal wearing comfort. Sound insulation - typical for this form factor, if you use two-flange nozzles or "foam", it will be above average.
The wires at the headphones are not replaceable, outwardly they are the simplest, apparently, the developers decided to follow the principle of "reasonable minimalism" here. Inside, however, all is well - high-quality copper litzendrat reinforced with polyethylene with ultra-high molecular weight (Dyneema) in TPE-insulation. Of course, for older models I would like something more "stylish", but the main thing is not the appearance, but the essence. The headphones are covered by a 5-year warranty from the manufacturer, so if there are any problems with the cable, they will be solved. The wire itself is soft, it does not get tangled much, it does not harden in the frost, the microphone effect is very moderately expressed.
Sound
The following equipment was used for listening.
- NuPrime DAC-10H and Resonessence Labs Concero HP as DAC and Amplifier
- Apple MacBook Pro Retina 2016 as a source
- Fidelia as a player
- Lotoo PAW Gold, theBit OPUS # 2 and iBasso DX200 and others as portable players
- High Definition Records in Lossless-formats (Dr. Chesky The Ultimate Headphone Demonstration Disc and others)
Before listening to the headphones were warmed for 72 hours.
Magnesium
A light model with an emphasis on the upper half of the middle frequencies and the lower high frequencies. The bass is served dryly, it is very dosed, so as not to draw attention to itself, but at the same low frequencies are high-speed. Headphones do not add anything from themselves, so they will suit those who like monitor feed and listen to quality recordings (the drawbacks of the tracks "magnesium" very accentuates). The imaginary scene is more than average and in depth and in width, headphones tend to carry instruments wider than their "placed" recording engineers. HF is good for attacks, damping is just smeared, detail is good for its price. In general, the model for those who prefer monitor feed and is looking for it in the budget segment.
If you select analogs from other manufacturers, Mg reminds a bit Fiio EX1-II and a little bit less Meze 11 Neo (with less bass).
Titanium
The exact opposite of the previous model, headphones with a pronounced V-shaped frequency response. By the way, despite the name, do not have anything to do with the Dunu Titan line (well, maybe, except 5 models). The bass is accented, it has a good speed, but because of the amount on the bass-saturated music it is able to drown out the MF if the source does not control the "bottom" well enough, however - otherwise it can not be anyway. Despite this, the middle is quite detailed and not colored, the resolution allows you to hear everything that is embedded in the record. The imaginary scene is slightly smaller than the average, traditionally for the accented model headphones offer a more intimate presentation. HF also have a slight emphasis to compensate for the bass, and they do it well. The HF resolution is not bad, but those who do not like the "top" may remain unhappy. However, purely for my taste, HF here does not go that side, behind which they become "too much."
From similar models you can recall the Dunu Titan 5 and FX series JVC.
Beryllium
One of the lightest and most durable materials known to man made it possible to make the membrane both light and strong, so the headphones offer a balanced sound with a slight bias in the heat, playing with a pitch, which is usually called "musical." LFs are a little accentuated, but very moderately, this is a good example of a quality dynamic bass: massive, elastic, textured, but not dry and not excessively biting. Due to the good transfer of textures, the bass does not hum and does not smear. Middle frequencies are transmitted emotionally, without care in micro-detail and sharpness, a slight smoothening of the mid-range gives a very seamless and involving feed. The HF range is also generally good, although the fans of the clamping in this area will not be able to use the headphones, "Beryllium" plays out the RF in detail and fairly straightforwardly. You can blame a little for too sharp damping, but this problem is very small.
If we talk about analogs - here one can not help recalling Campfire Audio Vega, in some way Be like them, but they have less emphasis on LF and MFs are not so spaced in depth.
Compatibility
In general, Periodic Audio developed headphones "with an eye" for use even with smartphones. Hence the good sensitivity, and the "optimal" impedance of 32Ω, so even with the majority of "captive telephones" sound the line of the company will be decent. Although, it is obvious that a more top-end source such as an average player, it will be quite to the court. If I had to pick up the players to enhance the "basic features" of the headphones, then I would probably have made such pairs. To "Magnesium" - neutral, slightly light-colored Cayin N5. To "Titan" - a little dark and fused Fiio X5-3. For "Beryllia" - detailed and technical iBasso DX200, maximally revealing the sound of the headphones themselves. Naturally, these pairs are not a panacea, and dozens of other combinations are possible, which are likely to please you.
Headphones differ quite a different feed, so genre preferences everyone will determine for themselves, based on their tastes. To the quality of the record, all three models are quite critical, but not prohibitively.
Traditionally, several tracks in the role of example
Camel - It's a boy Life . Classics of art-rock, forever inscribed in the history of the genre. A complex, fragile, like a snowflake, the music is full of interesting transitions and filled with instruments and effects. It is on such things that the neutral character of Mg shows itself best.
Amber Rubarth - Tundra . Through the efforts of David Ceska, this folk singer became a regular at various audiophile collections and releases. The Tundra composition is an excellent example of how a live bass should sound. In combination with the accent attached to this part of the Ti range, it turns out effectively and stylishly.
Barb Jungr - Hard Rain . We take the song of Dylan, we give it for recycling to the famous performer, who has a beautiful emotional voice, we record it qualitatively. The output produces an amazing intricacy track, pleasing both form and content. It remains to add headphones like Be, able to emphasize all the nuances of the track, and enjoy a spectacular and powerful filing.
conclusions
The unusual, pseudo-scientific and underscored minimalist approach of Periodic Audio gave interesting results. Their line of headphones, of course, does not surprise with elaborate design or complex accessories in the delivery package, but for connoisseurs of the main (well, yes, sound) there is something to listen to.
The article is based on materials .
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