Periodic Audio Titanium and Beryllium – Musical Brothers
We reviewed the Magnesium IEM from Periodic Audio, and now it is time to also review the Titanium and Beryllium from the same lovely company, trying to figure if they have their place in this really rich and varied audio world.
Introduction
Periodic Audio has became well-known since the last review we wrote on their products, and we couldn’t be more happy, as their products are a statement to research and development in the audio world. We have only good words to tell about their customer support and interaction, and we’ve seen customers happy with the solutions periodic audio had whenever there was need for a service process. The company has an interesting idea behind their products, where their first three products were made to look and be built pretty much the same, with the biggest difference in the drivers, which resulted in differences in the sonics of each of those IEMs. We’re going to be comparing Ti and Be variants of their IEMs, as well as comparing them with other IEMs in similar price brackets.
It should be noted that I have absolutely no affiliation with Periodic Audio, I am not receiving any incentive for this review or to sweeten things out. This review is not sponsored nor has been paid for by Periodic Audio or anyone else. I’d like to thank Periodic Audio for providing the sample for this review. The sample was provided along with Periodic Audio’s request for an honest and unbiased review. This review will be as objective as it is humanly possible, and it reflects my personal experience with Periodic Audio Be and Ti. Every opinion expressed is mine and I stand by it, the purpose of this review is to help those interested in Periodic Audio Be and Ti find their next music companion.
Product Link
You can purchase the Periodic Audio Titanium from www.amazon.com here: https://www.amazon.com/Periodic-Audio-Ti-Titanium/dp/B073TVFPQR/
You can purcahse the Periodic Audio Be from www.amazon.com here: https://www.amazon.com/Periodic-Audio-Be-Audiophile-headphones/dp/B073TVZRV4/
Packaging
First things first, let’s get the packaging out of the way:
The package for Be and Ti is the same as it was with the Mg we reviewed before, and as we said before, we like the concept, and we like the fact that Periodic Audio includes a lot of technical data with their IEMs, including technical data about the materials used for the drivers.
We are fans of the golden carrying case included with both, as it is a thick metal case, which should offer a good amount of protection to both IEMs, and we are fans of the number of tips and accessories included with the IEMs.
Once opened, the boxes are not sealable anymore, so you should keep this in mind if you plan on having them exposed on a shelf.
All in all, the packaging is great, nothing too fancy, but not lacking in any way.
Technical Specifications
Build Quality/Aesthetics/Fit/Comfort
The build quality, aesthetics, fit, comfort, and isolation are exactly the same as those found on Periodic Audio Mg, which we reviewed before:
https://audiophile-heaven.com/2018/08/periodic-audio-magnesium-warm-delight.html
To freshen up a bit, we should mention that the IEMs are barrel-type, they have a silicone tip with one of the most usual types of locking mechanism, they are well made, and you shouldn’t have any issues wearing them portably. They isolate fairly well, and they do well with comfort.
The cable is not detachable, but it is of a good quality.
The L and R markings on the IEMs are very different from other IEMs, Periodic Audio using red and blue wax grilles to determine which is the right and the left IEM.
There is a difference in the color of the cap at the back of the IEM body, but that’s pretty much the only difference we could find between different Periodic Audio IEMs, aesthetics and build quality wise.
All Periodic Audio IEMs are vented, so there’s no driver flex.
All in all, the Aesthetics, Build Quality and Comfort are also great, and we couldn’t find any faults with Periodic Audio IEMs, except for the fact that the cables are not detachable, but since they’ve been released, there’ve been no reports of the cables breaking, so we feel Periodic Audio has done a great job with the included cables.
Sound Quality
Ti
Starting with the Ti, it has a thick and bassy sound, with a really nice instrument separation, good soundstage, a sweet presentation of the female vocals, and with a rather great treble extension, but with a smoother presentation of the upper treble. The ADSR/PRaT is on the smoother side all-around, so textures are not overly enhanced, and the sound is overly smooth, musical, fun and laid-back.
The bass of Ti is really deep and impressive, drums in metal are timed properly, and although their PRaT is on the smoother side, Ti can still keep up with metal and even death metal. Reach of the bass is as low as you could desire, although we’d like to note that it does thicken the midrange, and it is pretty warm all-around. The word “tactile” describes the bass very well.
The midrange is sweet and smooth, a musicality euphoria status, where you’re always surrounded by a melody of love and pleasure, and although this may sound like they are fuzzy, the instrument separation is actually quite good, and although the midrange is pushed back compared to the bass, it doesn’t feel underpowered, being rather as most music lovers like it.
The treble is actually something of an acquired taste, a smooth, relaxing and fun presentation, although well extended one. You’re going to hear the higher octaves, but they won’t be rough nor harsh, rather, they’ll be relaxing and smooth, further enhancing the thicc bass and midrange. Treble is presented in line with the midrange, with the bass being the most forward element of the whole sound.
A few things that impressed us with Ti, are that they keep being utterly clear even at crazy-loud volumes. Also, the value of Ti, compared to other IEMs we heard, makes them as detailed / clear as most ~350 USD IEMs, while their price tag is roughly 200 USD, so we’re quite happy that Periodic Audio is pushing the Audio Industry to better prices.
Be
Now, about Be, this is the flagship of Periodic Audio’s lineup, at the moment of writing this review. It is the best sounding of their offerings as well, a rather energetic and upbeat performer, with a V-shaped sound, with a good amount of warmth and thiccness, a more relaxed and musical midrange, and with a sparkly and fun-sounding treble.
The bass of Be is deep and powerful, although the focus is more centered around 100 Hz, rather than in the sub-bass, making be warm and emotional, working really well with rock, acoustic music, and with older music, rather than electronic. The bass can be a bit over enhanced on an overall level, but not because it distorts, as it is clear as the clearest day we’ve seen, but rather because it crosses a bit in the basshead territory, giving music a truly warm and friendly sound.
The midrange is sweet and juicy, Be presenting music musically and fun, with a spot-on tone for both male and female vocals. There’s a slight tilt towards a musical presentation, with a bit of a more happy tone to things than absolutely neutral, so music tends to sound a bit happier on Be than on a more neutrally-tuned IEM. The warmth of the bass also tilts the midrange a bit, giving some of that analogue-taste to the midrange as well.
The treble of Be is incredibly well extended, with a good amount of sparkle, but without a lot of grain, being smooth and enjoyable to listen to for long periods of time. The extended treble gives them a really airy overall sound, with a really good instrument separation, and with a good amount of soundstage in both width and depth.
All in all, the Be sounds like a great value for its 300 USD Price, they are the flagship of Periodic Audio’s lineup, and just like Ti, they can go really loud without distortion, and they can be named one of the most organic-sounding IEMs we tested to date.
Soundstage
All Periodic Audio IEMs have a good amount of soundstage, but we could say that Be has a much larger soundstage in both width and depth, compared to Ti, and they are the biggest-sounding of all Periodic Audio’s IEMs. The soundstage of Be becaiscally extends as good as you can wish for it to do for a IEM in this price range, it has a happy and fun presentation, while the soundstage of Ti is good, but it doesn’t have the width that Be has.
The instrument separation is quite great on both, and we couldn’t complain about either, Be being slightly better in this aspect than Ti, but both having great instrument separation.
ADSR / PRaT
The ADSR and PRaT (Texturization) is slow to natural with Ti, and quicker on Be. This means that with Ti, most textured instruments will be smoot, making most music musical, without an analytical edge, while Be has a more natural overall PRaT, meaning that they are more textury, but again, their presentation is not overly analytical either, leading to a sound that is clear, organic and natural.
Portable Usage
The portable usage is excellent for both IEMs, neither doesn’t require any special care for picking their source, as they are easily driveable from a smartphone, and both are pretty resistant to hiss, and neither doesn’t have any hiss from something like Hiby R6.
It is possible to walk and jog while wearing both Be and Ti, and it is possible to enjoy a long walk wearing both, but we surely would recommend taking care when inserting the IEMs, because they have small vent holes at the top, and if those vents are covered, it could lead to some driver flex.
On this page, Periodic Audio IEMs have no driver flex, and they are all a pleasure to sue for long periods of time.
The cables on both are similar, they are supple and flexible, but the cable aren’t quite that interesting-looking on either, making them a great IEM to wear if you don’t want to get too much attention, like say, while walking in a not-too-friendly place.
Noise isolation is quite good, and you can walk on a busy street while wearing them, without minding the noise too much, and they don’t leak very much, but they are not very isolating in either way, being fit for isolation in most environments, but not being a library dead-silent IEM, nor sealing you away from noise quite like an Etymotic IEM.
Due to their easy-to-drive nature, and their fun sound with most sources, good isolation, and no driver flex, we consider that both reach our golden standards for portability and portable usage.
Comparisons
We’ll try comparing both Be and Ti with a few IEMs close in terms of price and performance.
Periodic Audio Ti vs Dunu Falcon-C – This comparison is interesting because Falcon-C is priced almost the same as Periodic Audio Ti, but it has quite a different sound. Starting with the package, Falcon-C has a great package, just like Ti, but Falcon-C has detachable cables, based on the MMCX standard, while Ti has no detachable cables. Going forward to the comfort, Falcon-C can only be worn over-the-ear, while Ti can be worn both straight-down and over-the-ear. Falcon-C is a bit more open than Ti, so it leaks more and isolates a bit less than Ti. The sound is much more V-shaped on Falcon-C, with more treble emphasis, less bass emphasis, a less tactile bass, and a more balanced overall presentation. In this sense, Falcon-C works better for metal music, and for electronic music, although Ti’s tactile bass makes them quite a good fit for electronic music as well. Now, Ti has a much thiccer bass, a much warmer and smoother sound, and if you want the sweetest midrange, but with a thicc bass, then Ti will surely give that to you, along with the option of wearing them straight-down as well if you desire to.
Periodic Audio Be vs Oriveti New Primacy – This is a great example of even pricing between items, although here, ONP and Be are a little clsoer to each other than Ti and Falcon-C were. ONP is a natural and even-sounding IEM, with a nice amount of texture. Starting with the package, ONP has a similarly great package, but it has a detachable cable, compared to Be, which does not. ONP can mainly be worn over-the-ear, while Be can be worn both over-the-ear and straight-down. The comfort is not better with ONP, as they suffer a bit from Driver Flex, while Be does not. In terms of sound, Be is much warmer, with a much more sparkly treble, and a more impressive overall sound, although if you’re looking for a flatter, more honest presentation of music, ONP surely achieves that well. If you’re looking to be impressed by a thicc, warm, sparkly, and fun sound, Be is a safe bet, while if you’re looking for a more even, more natural presentation, ONP is still a great choice, provided you don’t mind a bit of driver flex.
Periodic Audio Be vs FiiO FH5 – This is an elephant in the room we couldn’t ignore, FiiO FH5 is priced close enough to Be, or rather even lower than Be, so we need to do this comparison most of you asked us to do. Starting with the package, FiiO clearly has an advantage in terms of tips, and FH5 comes with a much more solid-looking cable, they are made of metal, while the shells of Be is made of plastic, and FH5 is an over-the-ear only IEM, while Be is both over-the-ear and straight-down. Now, the comfort isn’t necessarily better with FH5, as they have a somewhat shallow insertion depth, so it is easier to lose seal with them, especially considering that Be makes a great seal, but we’d say that both are fairly great in terms of comfort. The sound is quite different actually, with FH5 being similarly thicc as Be is, but with more emphasis and focus on the midrange, with Be having the midrange pulled back, and its treble enhanced. This means that if you prefer a more thicc, but mid-forward presentation, the FH5 makes one heck of a choice, while if you prefer a more V-shaped presentation, with a nice treble sparkle, then Be makes a great choice. The soundstage is also much more airy and wider on Be, while on FH5, it is more intimate, making this a matter of taste.
Recommended Pairings
Both be and Ti are fairly easy to drive and both scale a little with a better source.
Periodic Audio Be + Shanling M0 – Shanling M0 is a really inexpensive Ultraportable that will drive Be close to its maximum potential, and should provide a really amazing overall price/performance ratio. They can get M0 incredibly loud, and still clear, textured, and with their original signature, as M0 doesn’t have much of a tuning of its own, making it an ideal player for those on-the-go, looking for a nice, inexpensive DAP.
Periodic Audio Be + HIDIZS AP80 – HIDIZS AP80 is another great option for those looking for an ultra-portable that is inexpensive, but which provides a great performance. It has a similar overall sound when compared to M0, but while it doesn’t have the same great volume wheel, and while it has more corners, its screen is a little better suited for touch usage, and it has forward / backward buttons, making it a great overall portable DAP as well.
Periodic Audio Be + iBasso DX120 – iBasso DX200 is a great little DAP, with a lot going on for it, including the price, which is very acceptable for a device of its power. It has two microSD slots, it has a lot of power, and even a balanced output, making it a pretty future-proof option, and pairing it with Be results in an even better overall texture when compared to ultraportables pairings, DX120 also has a larger display, making it more suited for those with large hands, and for managing large music libraries.
Value and Conclusion
We’ve been writing about two IEMs from different price brackets, but we enjoyed writing about them together either way, as they are built to look, feel, and wear the same, but they sound quite a little different from each other. We find amazing what Periodic Audio has shown to us, by using exactly the same housing with their IEMs, basically highlighting how much of a difference the driver alone can make for a IEM.
From the overly smooth and bassy sound of Ti, to the textury V-shaped, organic and natural sound of Be, we feel that both IEMs are quite exceptional in terms of sonic performance and clarity.
Starting with the package, it is similar for both IEMs, and it is a rather basic package in its nature, but Periodic Audio have been nice enough to include a lot of useful data with their IEMs, for example technical data about the exotic material embedded in their driver. There is a good number of tips and accessories, and all Periodic Audio IEMs come with a beautiful metallic carrying case.
Starting with the build quality and aesthetics, both IEMs are well built and they feel solid in hand, they have a basic-looking but effective cable, which is not microphonic at all, and although we wish they had a removable cable, we’re happy that they included a high-quality cable for their IEMs. The exceptional customer service of Periodic Audio is a good part in purchasing their products, and a good reason why you can trust their build quality and non-detachable cable.
The wearing comfort is great, as is the isolation and the ease of pairing them with anything you already have, making both great portable IEMs.
If you’re looking for a smooth, thicc, musical and laid-back sound with a tactile bass, a great instrument separation and with a really sweet and juicy midrange, then Periodic Audio Ti should be at the top of your searching list, especially if you want something that does much more than its price point would indicate. For 200 USD, Ti is one deal you don’t want to miss, especially if you plan on using both straight-down and over-the-ear wearing styles and if you don’t mind being a little careful about the cable, as it is not detachable.
If you want to hear the best Periodic Audio has to offer, then Be is your best choice, and they are indeed one amazing IEM. Their sound is in line with other Be based headphones and IEMs, with a really nice warm bass, with a juicy and fun midrange, and with a good amount of sparkle in the treble. The soundstage tends to extend quite a lot, in both the width and the depth, with an airy, and well separated sound. Periodic Audio Be should totally be in your list if you’re looking for a warm, thicc, moderately V-shaped, airy, and organic-natural sounding IEM.
Product Link
You can purchase the Periodic Audio Titanium from www.amazon.com here: https://www.amazon.com/Periodic-Audio-Ti-Titanium/dp/B073TVFPQR/
You can purcahse the Periodic Audio Be from www.amazon.com here: https://www.amazon.com/Periodic-Audio-Be-Audiophile-headphones/dp/B073TVZRV4/
--- Please remember to stay safe, and always have fun while listening to music!---
- If you have a dime to spare, please donate, and help us! It would make the day brighter for me and my wife-
Full Playlist used for this review
We listened to more songs than those named in this playlist, but those are excellent for identifying a sonic signature. I recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you’re searching for new music! The playlists are different for Spotify, Tidal and Youtube, and based on the songs I enjoy and are available on each!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_cjBXGmwSHSdGcwuc_bKbBDGHL4QvYBu
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5J3oloz8Riy9LxEGenOjQ0?si=979ba4f082414be7
https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/330fd544-8e5b-4839-bd35-676b2edbb3d5
--- Contact Us ---
