Periodic Audio is back in the house and this time, they came in empty-handed yet loaded. With a mentality of providing only the essentials as their main credentials in this constantly and sometimes exaggeratedly designed audiophile products which sometimes come off as a fashion piece rather than as an actual electronic device.

Their straightforward approach takes on a much more aggressive turn this time around and if you think their previous Magnesium, Titanium and Beryllium IEMs were was simple as a white shirt you can get to have, wait until we check out their dedicated amplifier. What we will be realviewing now is the Periodic Audio Nickel which was sent in exchange for an honest review with no monetary factors involved, you can check the official Periodic Audio website for their full audiophile lineup.

The Periodic Audio Nickel is priced at $299 and for a dedicated portable amplifier, it is already a steep asking price. Let’s break down the Nickel into its simplest form, from its build quality, accessory set and sound and see if it is worthy of being considered in your audiophile journey.

Specifications and Packaging

Periodic Audio Nickel Specifications:

• Power Source: 280mAh built-in Li-Polymer rechargeable battery
• Frequency response: 8Hz-80Khz
• THD+N: <0.005%, 20Hz to 20kHz
• Damping Factor: >100 @ 32Ohms
• Charging time: <30 minutes from full discharge
• Output power: 250mW(32Ω load)
• SNR: 95dB
• Inter-channel cross-talk: -91dB
• Max. output voltage: 3V RMS
• Max. output current: 140mA continuous
• Gain: 6.5dB
• Playback time: ≥8 hours
• Size: 50*30*18mm
• Weight: 20g

The signature Periodic Audio packaging is once again used in the Nickel which is their white cardboard flap box which is 100% recyclable. The box itself acts a product manual and most of the products specifications are listed in its different sides. Opening up the box reveals another white cardboard box with cutouts for the Nickel amplifier itself and 3 accessory items which are as follows:

• 7 inch 3.5mm to 3.5mm interconnect cable
• 7 inch USB charging cable
• 1 page product manual

Build quality

Arguments between true portable devices and those that claim to be portable is a very hot topic nowadays and as usual, it usually boils down to lifestyle preferences. The Periodic Audio Nickel amplifier is as portable as it can be without having to sacrifice the word, amplifier, you know, to provide POWER. Its body is made of polycarbonate and the choice of making it paint-free (except for the Periodic Audio logo) is a great choice to avoid chipping off and making it look aesthetically unpleasant as amplifiers by virtue of functionality is bound to be placed in rather unexpected orientations that one has planned the amplifier to be in and the Nickel is no exception.

Its small size can be mistaken for a Sony Alpha series battery which I coincidentally use for my realviews and that made it easier to fit into other like-sized compartments. The ports that it has are well-reinforced and doesn’t rattle or shake when used since such scenarios are likely to happen when going for a smaller case. Turning on and off the device is handled by its “SmartSwitch” feature which initiates power when both ports are plugged in with their respective input plugs and turns off when either one is removed, volume control is also left for the source and it overall makes for a convenient and no-nonsense approach. It is all in all a sturdy and easy to use and carry device which sometimes even makes you forget it’s there.

Battery life and Sound

Packing 280mAh of power and a 30-minute charging time for a marketed 8-hour use makes the Nickel amplifier a lifesaver of sorts for music lovers, it doesn’t consume your music players precious battery which in turn allows you to casually go on with your usual battery consumption routine. I mainly used it paired with my Samsung S10 5G with its 3.5mm which is where the somewhat downside of the Nickel appears as most mobile phones are ditching the 3.5mm port and that leaves most with the dilemma of using a $299 amplifier into a lesser priced music player which is where most power-related issues are present. My usage with the Nickel though with the S10 5G when outputting a mix of 16/44 and 24//96 FLAC files reached around 8 hours and 20 minutes of intermittent usage at a fixed 54/100 volume step.

With one dedicated function to do, the Nickel amplifier is expected to this exceptionally and into testing this, I used the Periodic Audio Beryllium IEM and the ATH-AD900x headphones off the S10 5G. While the S10 5G was enough to drive both products, it was definitely lacking in terms of pumping both into its optimum performance, there is where the Nickel’s outrageous power output comes into play, it made using the Beryllium much more enjoyable with its deeper and fuller bodied low-end impact and thump while still giving an articulate mid-range and not overdoing the already sufficient high frequency provided by the Beryllium. The ATH-AD900x however didn’t benefit as much on the low-end and mid-range resolution but made for a much more dynamic and energetic sound experience, clarity has taken a notch higher and gave the ATH-AD900xs’ already great soundstage even more definition. That is all off the S10 5G, well done.

Conclusion

Portable? Very. Sturdy? Pretty much. Ease of use? 1-2-3, bang. The Periodic Audio Nickel amplifier does its intended function at a high level and is able to provide the output power that its asking price suggests. It would be an easy cop and recommendation for those that possess power-hungry headphones and IEMs that scales well with power and want it used on the go, but for those that doesn’t, you better save some more nickels and get something else.