Disclaimer
Hello everyone! Today I’ve got with me the Myer Audio SLIIVO SL41 IEM. This IEM was provided to me directly by Myer Audio for a review. As always, all opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are my own and have not been influenced by the manufacturer. I must also note that personal preferences in audio gear can vary and this review might reflect my own subjective view of the product.
I want to thank Myer Audio for providing me with this review sample, and I want to thank you, the reader, for your trust in me and for taking your time to read this review.
Introduction
The Myer Audio SLIIVO SL41 IEM is like the older sibling of the D41, taking everything that was great about it but changing the tuning a bit. Priced at $166, this set of in ear monitors looks as good as it sounds! The blue wooden faceplate has a stunning design that reminds me of a Van Gogh painting, and the comfort is great for long listening sessions.
With a single dynamic driver and four balanced armatures, the SL41 gives a sound that is detailed and balanced. It’s smooth, detailed and I would say that it is actually capable of competing with IEMs in a much higher price range. If you loved the D41, the SL41 offers a smoother, more detailed experience, especially with vocals and micro details.
Unboxing
The Myer Audio SLIIVO SL41 comes packaged in a very sleek white box with the SLIIVO name displayed on it. Inside, you’ll find a well organized and high quality set of accessories. The unboxing experience feels premium, with everything neatly arranged in thick foam to protect everything inside and designed to make a great first impression! The included items, such as 7 sets of different ear tips:
- 3 pairs, S,M,L of regular white eartips
- 3 sets of S,M,L sized with red base, and this one is similar to the Spinfit tips, with tilting head, which I absolutely love!
- And 1 set of red foam tips
The impressive stock cable and the soft lined pleather zipper case. All of this makes the entire package feel really high quality and shows the attention to detail.
Technical specifications
Specs:
- Configuration: 1DD + 4BA
- Unit: 10MM customised DD unit *1 + Knowles BA unit *2 + customised BA unit *2
- Impedance: 43Ω
- Sensitivity: 108dB
- Cable: monocrystalline copper silver-plated wire detachable upgrade cable 4 strands diameter 7MM
- Length: 1.25M
- Plug: optional straight 3.5MM/4.4MM support double recessed pin 0.78MM
- Plug material: 3u gold-plated plugs
- Eartips: 6 pairs of silicone + 1 pair foam
- Leather headphone bag: 1pc
- Instruction manual: 1 book
Drivers:
The SL41 is a a hybrid IEM with a total of five drivers per ear. It includes one dynamic driver (DD) for the deep and textured bass, and with four balanced armature (BA) drivers. Two of these custom Knowles BAs for the mids, which are giving rich and detailed midrange performance, while the other two focus on the highs.
Crossover:
The SL41 uses a 3 way crossover network to make sure that everything works in harmony. I would say that this crossover is done very smoothly and gives a great transaction between bass, mids, and highs.
Cable:
The included cable is of high quality, and very similar to the one that comes with the d41, but this time recessed 2 pin connectors . It’s a sturdy, this and well built cable, which allows for secure and reliable connection. The cable also feels great in hand, adding to the premium experience right out of the box.
Sound performance
Bass
The bass on the SL41 is very deep and textured, with a strong presence that adds weight to the music, but never sounds muddy.
Sub Bass:
The sub bass reaches very low, which gives a deep rumble that you can feel without it being too overpowering. It’s there to provide that solid kick without entering the lower mids. It is fast when it need to be fast and makes long lasting decay when needed.
Mid Bass:
The mid bass is punchy and well controlled, adding just the right amount of impact. It delivers a good thump, making the bass feel full and lively, but it doesn’t muddy up the mids and not sounding too warm. But because of that, male vocals may sound a bit thin…
Mids
The mids are where the SL41 really shines!
Lower Mids:
The lower mids are slightly boosted, and it gives instruments like guitars and pianos a forward tone. This helps vocals stand out, which makes them sound full, natural, forward and engaging. Although I must note that low male vocals mat sound a bit thin and lacking the warmth from the mid bass…
Upper Mids:
The upper mids have great energy, bringing even more detail and presence to the music. This adds clarity and makes the midrange feel very lively, pulling you right into the heart of the music and pushing everything forward to you.
Highs
The highs on the SL41 are clear and well defined, but can become a bit harsh…
Lower Treble:
The lower treble adds a nice touch of brightness and clarity without being too harsh. This brings out the fine details in vocals and instruments, and makes everything sound crisp and clean. Here everything is very detailed and not offensive.
Upper Treble:
The upper treble adds air and sparkle, that helps create a sense of space and openness in the sound. However, I noticed that it can be a bit sharp on certain tracks, especially with cymbals or higher pitched sounds… But overall, it complements the slightly W shaped tuning, and it adds a lot of details to the sound.
Technicalities
The SL41 also excels in technical performance, and in my opinions standing out well above its price range, thanks to the quality drivers used and great tuning.
Soundstage:
The soundstage is quite big, with a wide and open feel that gives your music room to breathe. It can feel almost holographic at times, with sounds seeming to swirl around you and even sometimes come from far away, especially on complex tracks with lots of elements placed in different places.
Imaging:
Imaging on the SL41 is absolutely spot on! I can easily pinpoint where each instrument or sound is coming from. This placement helps to create a more realistic soundscape. This makes it very easy to follow different elements within the mix and where each instrument is placed.
Layering:
Layering is another strong point of the SL41. Each layer of sound is very well defined, with absolutely no muddiness or congestion of different elements, and even in more complex tracks, I still feel that everything is very well separated.
Details:
The SL41 gives an incredible amount of detail, with micro details that pop out effortlessly! I can hear tiny nuances in tracks that I may easily have missed with some other earphones. This high level of detail adds to the overall clarity and makes them also a great choice for critical listening.
Bottom line:
So all in all, the sound performance of the Myer Audio SLIIVO SL41 is very impressive for me, especially for the price. The sound is natural overall, but there’s a bit of a twist with the bass, mids, and treble… The sub bass has a little extra punch, which gives it a more rumbly feel yet without muddying the rest of the sound. The mids are slightly boosted, and it makes instruments and vocals come forward with better energy and clarity. The treble is also a bit elevated and it adds a bit of air and detail. But I noticed that it can become sibilant on certain tracks… But overall, the SL41 brings a smooth and slightly W shaped sound that feels well balanced and engaging.
Myer Audio SL41 vs D41
Sound Signature:
The SL41 has a slightly W shaped sound signature with a natural overall tone with a subtle sub bass boost, slightly boosted mids, and a touch of treble sparkle. In contrast, the D41 has a bit more pronounced V shaped sound, but not exactly… It is still very natural sounding but a bit more energetic (its definitely not as V as you may expect! but compared to the SL41 it is more V shaped) . It’s livelier but can come across as more aggressive compared to the SL41.
Bass:
The SL41 has a deep and textured bass, with a more pronounced sub bass than the mid bass. It brings a strong and accurate low end without entering the mids. The D41 also gives a solid bass but with a punchier and more forward mid bass, which makes it more energetic but slightly less clear than the SL41.
Mids:
On the SL41, the midrange is pretty forward. This results in rich, detailed instrument and vocal reproduction that takes center stage. The D41 has slightly recessed mids, giving it a tiny bit of V shaped sound. While still very detailed, the mids on the D41 don’t have the same forward presence as those on the SL41.
Treble:
The treble on the SL41 is very well defined and airy. It has a good balance between lower and upper treble. It’s smooth and detailed, though it can be a bit sibilant with very high pitched sounds. The D41 has also pretty bright treble, which adds to its energetic feel but may be harsh for some listeners, especially at higher volumes. So I would say that the treble performance is almost the same, but the SL41 gives more details because of the more controlled bass.
Technicalities:
Both IEMs offer a similar soundstage, which is wide and spacious. However, the SL41 can feel more holographic. Imaging and layering on the SL41 is slightly more precise, with better placement and separation of instruments and sounds within the soundstage, and its probably because of the less bassy background. In terms of details, the SL41 provides a clearer and more detailed sound. While the D41 is very detailed, it doesn’t match the SL41’s level of micro detail, as the D41 aims to be more immersive rather then analytical.
Conclusion
So to sum things up, I would say that the Myer Audio SL41 stands out as a remarkable IEM, especially for its price. Its natural sound signature with a slight W shape gives a well balanced sound, with deep and textured bass, detailed mids and airy treble. The SL41 also has very good technical performance, with impressive soundstage, precise imaging and excellent layering that make it feel more premium than its $166 price tag suggests.
In comparison, the D41 presents a more energetic and vibrant sound with its V shaped profile. While it delivers punchy bass and lively treble, it lacks the refinement and detail of the SL41. The SL41’s superior clarity and detailed presentation make it a better choice for those who appreciate a more balanced and detailed sound, while the D41 is more suited for those who want a dynamic and exciting experience.
So overall, the SL41 offers a great value and performance for its price, which makes it a good option for anyone looking for high quality IEMs without breaking the bank. Its combination of natural sound, great technicalities and great build quality make it a great choice in its price range, and in my opinion, it could even rival IEMs costing significantly more.
Pros
- Excellent price to performance
- Great and beautiful build quality
- Premium cable with the option to buy with 3.5mm or 4.4mm
- Great sound quality
- Good technicalities
Cons
- Treble can sometimes be sharp
- Male vocals sound to me a bit thin
