Made from Lab-grown Diamonds
Periodic Audio just released their flagship IEM (in-ear monitor) earphones for $399. These audiophile-grade wired in-ear headphones are uniquely crafted from lab-grown diamonds which claim to offer incredibly low distortion—below that of any other IEM on the market today.
The new Carbon (C) IEMs use an 8-micron-thick (8 millionths of a meter) layer of lab-grown diamond on Periodic Audio’s proprietary high-temperature polymer substrate. All components inside this IEM are designed and tooled 100% in-house, to result in an entirely unique product.
“Carbon sets a new bar for low distortion in a headphone/in-ear product with less than 0.1% total harmonic distortion (THD), even at sound-pressure levels (SPLs) at or above 100dB,” said Dan Wiggins, cofounder of Periodic Audio. “Specs aside, the clarity and resolution of this IEM let you hear things you’ve never heard before. It adds nothing to the sound while revealing everything. With a frequency response between our Be and Ti IEMs, C results in a fun, dynamic, highly resolving listening experience.”
The sonic signature of the C IEM is an interesting mix of the signatures of the Ti and Be IEMs, with the enhanced bass response of Ti but the high-end extension of Be. Carbon is well suited to electronic music, or anything with fast transients and extremely wide frequency response. By a fairly wide margin, C has the lowest THD of any IEM Periodic Audio has produced.
The Carbon’s sleek, all-black construction creates a low-key, stealthy look that delivers micro- and macro-dynamics for an unrivaled listening experience. Like all Periodic Audio in-ear headphones, C features a polycarbonate body for high strength and zero resonance, custom front-and-rear tuned volumes, MIM logo caps, butyl-rubber strain reliefs, and N48H-grade magnets.
Finally, to ensure a proper fit while preserving the highest sound quality, Periodic Audio has design its own eartips*, creating three shapes that together cover 95% of all ear canals. For all other accessory needs, a gold-plated, ¼” jack and airplane adapters are included, along with a stylish carrying tin. Like all Periodic Audio IEMs, Carbon is covered by the company’s industry-leading five-year warranty, and is proudly conceived, engineered, and assembled in the USA.
Fun Fact:
It takes about 30 hours in the chamber to grow the diamond. Periodic Audio grows 10,000 diaphragms at a time, with about a 60% pass rate. They will discard over 21 carats of diamond waste with each run!
Specifications
| 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 |
Price & Availability
Period Audio Carbon (C IEM) wired earphones are available now for $399.
* Custom eartips are available as a separate accessory, called Hydrogen, an 8-pack package of replacement tips for existing owners and those seeking the most comfortable and secure tip available for their favorite IEM.
