Disclaimer
Hello everyone! Before we start things off, I want to, as always, be as clear as possible and say that Myer Audio sent me the SLIIVO SL224 so I could give it a listen and share my thoughts. I’m not being paid for this, and Myer Audio hasn’t tried to control what I say, look at my drafts, or set any deadlines.
Everything you’ll read here is based on my own time spent with the SL224. I do my best to keep things as fair and objective as possible, but at the end of the day it’s still just one listener’s perspective. We all value things differently, and each person’s chase for lifelike sound is what keeps this hobby so exciting.
Huge thanks to Myer Audio for trusting me with the SL224, and an even bigger thanks to you for taking the time to read my review. Your support truly means a lot!
Introduction
Ever since I reviewed Myer Audio’s D41 and SL41 MKII, the brand has been on my radar. Each follow up. The D62, SLA3, and CK2V which all managed to surprise me in one way or another, so when news of the SL224 hit, I couldn’t help but get excited.
On paper the SL224 is probably their most ambitious hybrid yet, with two dynamic drivers (10 mm + 6 mm) for the sub bass and bass, two balanced armatures for the mids, and four micro-planar drivers handling the highs with a total of eight drivers per side. Even with that driver buffet, the launch price sits at about $269 USD, which feels pretty reasonable for this kind of layout. But of course, the number of drivers doesn’t tell the story, but it’s rather how it’s tuned and work together.
Let’s see if it can live up to Myer’s building reputation, and if its exciting and competitive like their previous releases.
Unboxing
Opening the SL224 was like having a deja vu for me, as it’s similar to all of their IEMs, just with a nice art on it with a big SLIIVO 224 logo on the front and a photo of the IEMs. It’s a bit louder than the plain boxes they used before, and of course there is a frequency response graph printed on the side, like they always do. I love it.
Inside, the layout hasn’t changed. The earpieces sit snug in foam, and right underneath is the familiar Myer’s hard case, which is stitched nicely and has that soft, velvety fabric inside. It’s still on the small side, so there is enough room for the earphones, but not quite enough to squeeze in a dongle DAC.
Inside are the usual accessories, which are:
- Three tip sets
- Regular white silicones
- White and turquoise silicones with the SpinFit style rotating system
- Memory foam tips
- Modular cable with screw-down plugs for 3.5mm, 4.4mm, and a Type C one.
The cable itself is a looker. It has light grey jacket, nice braid, and just enough weight to feel premium without yanking the IEMs out of my ears. Everything feels very good.
Carrying case
As with every IEM from Myer, they all come with a similar hard carrying case. I wish that it was a little bigger, because it can’t fit the IEMs with all of their accessories inside… But other than that, it’s a very good case.
All in all, the SL224 unboxing feels familiar (in a good way), just polished where it needed it.
Technical Specifications
Specs
- Drivers (8 per side): 10 mm bio-diaphragm DD + 6 mm titanium-plated DD, 2 custom balanced armatures, 4 micro-planar tweeters
- Impedance: 36 Ω
- Sensitivity: 108 dB @ 1 kHz
- Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Connector: 0.78 mm 2-pin
- Stock plugs in the box: 3.5 mm single-ended, 4.4 mm balanced, USB-C (AB136D, DAC16 bit, 48Khz)
- Launch price: about $269 USD
Drivers
Myer, as always, loves to experiment with different configurations of drivers, and this one is another unique one. It has a 10 mm driver for sub bass, a 6 mm driver for the bass, a pair of balanced armatures for the mids, and four micro planars for the treble. On paper that should mean clean separation without anyone muddying the range of the others. But it depends on the implementation and on the tuning itself, which on paper looks good and balanced.
Additionally, I think that all of those drivers are custom and not branded like Knowles or Sonion.
Build and finish
The shells are lightweight resin, but the shape is a bit different and closer to the D41, which means that it’s larger but more ergonomically shaped. For me, personally, I find this kind of shell to be less comfortable than what they have done with the SLA3 and CK2V, for example, but it’s still fine. The faceplates are real seashells that catch the light and look pearlescent, and I like this design a lot. All in all, they look and feel pricier than they are.
Cable & accessories
Myer, as always, gives a premium feeling, braided, silver-plated copper cable with swappable 3.5 mm, 4.4 mm, and USB-C plugs (which is the first IEM from Myer to ship with a type C connector, and although it can drive them somehow, I highly suggest a better DAC). It’s very handy whether I’m on a DAP, desktop rig, or straight off my phone. As usual with Myer sets, there’s a hard carrying case in the box, plus two styles of silicone tips (one of them being similar to Spinfit tips, with a rotating mechanism) and a pair of foams. It’s pretty much everything that you need, and most people won’t need to buy any extras.
Sound Performance
Bass
Myer’s twin dynamic setup here is the best I’ve heard so far. The 10 mm driver digs very deep. I always test it with “ENTROPYYY” by Lorn or the earth shaking deep bass in “Consumed” by The Haxan Cloak. I also love how it does it without ever getting loose or too boomy and bloated. The 6 mm driver is doing the quicker stuff, like the opening double kicks in “The Stage” by Avenged Sevenfold. They hit hard, precise, and quick. Together they feel like a very well rounded bass, as when the song needs speed, it gives it, and when the song needs super deep and rumbly notes, it does it amazingly and never muddies the mids. I like this 2DD implementation far more than what I have heard in the D62 or the Performer 5+2. Great job, Myer!
Mids
The mids come through clean and full of details. Upper mids are a bit forward, so female vocals receive a nice spotlight. Sarah Àlainn’s voice in “Nandemonaiya” sounds emotional and airy and very distinct, and the piano and guitar behind her stay clear and textured. No hint of that bloated and too forward effect you get when vocals drown everything else. Even when she climbs into her higher notes, the SL224 keeps things smooth and well extended, and thanks to that upper mids boost, it hits so nicely and sometimes even gives me goosebumps.
Treble
Treble is crisp and nicely stretched out and extended. High pitched details in “BFG Division” by Mick Gordon. Actually, everything in this track sounds very distinct and in its place, and nothing gets congested. But let’s talk about the treble here, as those glassy synth stabs and cymbal hits pop right up with great detail, speed, and texture, like I would have expected from the 4 micro planars there. Same thing with vocals like Dimash’s or high pitched instruments. They reach very high, hang there for a moment with a natural decay, and never feel harsh or sizzly to me.
Technicalities
Detail retrieval punches well above the price, probably thanks to those fast microplanars. On “Retreat and Reveille” by Hans Zimmer, I can pick out every drum, every string, and even the tiny finger flicks on the goblet drum. Imaging is also very good. Instruments can be heard from all around, and closing my eyes feels like sitting at a live performance. I can easily tell from where each element comes. The stage, for me, spreads wide enough to keep layers separated and easy to track.
Overall, the SL224 is a very nicely done and tuned IEM.
Quick Comparisons
AFUL Performer 5+2
When I go from the SL224 to the P5+2, the first thing I notice is speed. The AFUL’s bass feels a touch quicker, but it doesn’t quite feel like it pushes as much air, so the sub bass feels lighter and doesn’t reach as deep. That extra air movement that the 10mm driver gives on the SL224 makes the sub bass drops more full body and rumbly, and at the same time, female vocals are a bit more forward thanks to the SL224’s more pronounced upper mids. With the P5+2, the upper mids sit a bit farther back, so it sounds more relaxed but not quite engaging for female vocals.
Astral
The Astral hits harder in the bass. Kicks, bass guitars, and electronic sounds are heftier and more dynamic than on the SL224. But on the other side, the SL224’s bass is quicker, so fast double kick drums feel a bit cleaner. Up in the upper mids and treble, the SL224 is a touch brighter, but the difference isn’t huge, and both sets feel nicely balanced overall. I’d call these two the most “all rounder” of the trio here, with the Astral having a bit more impact and the SL224 a bit more speed and clarity.
CK2V
The CK2V feels to me like it has the strongest bass out of these three. It digs deep and gives the strongest slam of them. It’s also the most comfortable for me, as the shells are very small, and it just feels like they disappear after a few minutes, and I can sit with them for hours and hours. Where the CK2V loses a bit is in the treble. Although the treble is very detailed and full of sparkle it is noticeably more forward and can sometimes be too sharp, whereas the SL224 stays smoother all round. If comfort and bass weight are top priority, the CK2V is a winner, but if you want a more balanced, less spiky presentation, the SL224 feels safer.
Conclusion
Ok, so let’s sum it up. I have spent a good time with the SL224, and this thing sounds right. It sounds amazing and looks no less. The dual dynamic bass setup is the best that I have heard out of all the 2DD bass I have tested, and it hits that sweet spot between speed and sheer power. The SL224 also has very lively mids and airy treble, and you have basically got a tuning that feels very balanced but never boring.
Build wise, it still feels like classic Myer. It’s lightweight, has swappable cable plugs, including a Type C one, and a good quality hard case (even if I still wish it were a bit bigger). At a sub $300 price tag, it is hard not to see the value here.
Is it perfect? Nah. Folks who are super treble sensitive or sensitive to the pinna gain region might find it a bit too energetic. But for me, the SL224 pretty much nails the “do it all” for me (except that they are a bit too large for me) more than any of Myer’s previous releases, and it’s amazing to see how Myer is improving with each release.
So all in all, if you want a fun, well rounded tribrid set at a sub 300$ that sounds very balanced and at the same time dynamic, and don’t mind the bigger shell size, the SL224 is an easy recommendation from me.
Pros
- The bass is rumbly and deep and at the same time quick.
- Forward upper mids make female vocals stand out very nicely.
- Airy treble gives detail and sparkle and is never fatiguing or sharp.
- Very beautiful design (with the seashell faceplate)
- Swappable cable plugs (3.5 mm, 4.4 mm, USB‑C).
- awesome accessories, top quality cable, and good quality eartips.
Cons
- The hard case is very nice, but for me it’s a bit small, and I always want to fit in a dongle as well, and I can’t here.
- The shell shape is ergonomic but a bit too big for me, and it starts to hurt my ears after some time.
Where to buy:(Non-affiliated! None of my reviews use affiliated links!)
