The Slivo SL224 IEM provides bass-centric audio and comes from the growing Chinese outfit Myer-Audio, who have been progressing in the hybrid world since the D41. The Slivo SL224 becomes their first proper tribrid IEM, using the following drivers: the bass, filled with dynamic drivers that come in the form of a 10mm bio-composite unit and a 6mm titanium-coated unit, the mid-ranges and lower notes handled by custom BAs, and the trebles, tended by micro-planar units that constitute four pieces. The burning question here, of course, is whether they'll mix together like fine single malt and whether they'll pour like a bad karaoke performance!
Myer-Audio SLIVO SL224 Review
I listened to everything from Elvis Presley to Coldplay over the course of an entire month. The SL224s slotted seamlessly into my lifestyle, like they had always been there. Listening to coffee and classic rock in the mornings? Sure. Listening to metal riffs on the evening commute? They handled that without issue. The highs were just bright enough to put a grin on my face, and they had a big, thunderous bass note in my chest. But nothing was perfect, and after a couple of hours, my ears began complaining about the dimensions of the shells, and I could’ve used a tad more midwarmth on the chill tracks. Nevertheless, out of all the IEMs I’ve tried this year, these quickly became my first choice.
DISCLAIMER
Myer-Audio was kind enough to send me the Myer-Audio SLIVO SL224 to review. I am not affiliated with Myer-Audio, and of course, I was not asked for any copy-checking before publishing. All opinions shared in this ‘Myer-Audio SLIVO SL224 review’ are my subjective thoughts.
One thing more: The review is based on my personal experience and what I hear using different sources. Your experience may vary because of personal preference and physical differences like the shape and depth of the ear canal.
For your personal purchase, checkout Myer-Audio for their fantastic products and promotions (non-affiliated link).
GEAR USED
● DAP: Cowon Planue R2, Cayin N3 Ultra, Hiby RS2, Hiby R4, Snowsky Echo Mini, F.Audio M20.
● DAC/AMP: xDuoo MT-604, Fosi Audio GR40, Hiby FD5, KAEI Design TAP2, ifi Hip DAC 2, xDuoo XD-05 Plus (with BB OPA 2604), Cayin RU6, Cayin RU7, iBasso DC04 Pro, Dunu DTC 480, Fosi Audio DS-1, Celest CD-10, Celest CD-20, Hiby FC05, Hiby FD03, Hidizs SD8 Pro Robin, Moondrop Dawn Pro.
● Smart Device: Poco X3, Xiaomi MiPad 5.
● Files: Tidal, Spotify, local Hi-Res FLAC & DSD files.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
● Driver: 2DD+2BA+4 Micro-Planar Driver
● Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz
● Impedance: 36Ω
● Sensitivity: 108 dB
● Cable: High-quality monocrystalline copper silver-plated wire cores
● Pin Type: 2pin, 0.78mm
● Cable Length: 1.2m
● Plug Type: 3.5mm/ 4.4mm/ Type-C (interchangeable)
WHAT’S IN THE BOX
● SLIVO SL224 IEMs
● Hand braided OFC Cable
● 3.5mm, 4.4mm & Type-C plug
● 3 pairs of silicon tips (S/M/L) & 3 pairs xxx tips
● PU Leather carrying case
● Cleaning cloth & Brush
● User Manual
UNBOXING EXPERIENCE
It’s premium like all other IEMs from Myer-Audio. Come in a hard cardboard box that will give you confidence of security about the products inside. By opening it, you will be greeted by the IEMs with the modular stock cable attached and the carrying case; all are nested very well in foam cutouts. At first glance, they feel very good in quality. Inside the carrying pouch, you will find the ear tips, extra audio plugs for the modular cable, and other accessories. In a nutshell, the experience is fantastic.
BUILD & DESIGN
The shells of Myer-Audio SLIVO SL224 are made of resin and feel so sturdy in hand. The faceplates are made of real shellfish shell materials, and they reflect different colors based on the refractive angle of the light. For that reason, each shell looks unique. The carrying pouch is round-shaped and made out of PU leather with a velvet cover inside, which feels so premium. The stock cable is a high-quality monocrystalline copper silver-plated wire core, and it’s a modular one. You will find 3.5 mm, 4.4 mm, and C-type connectors with it. The stock ear tips are made of medical-grade soft silicone, which is very comfortable for the ears.
FIT & COMFORT
The IEMs are bulkier in size; I mean, they are not the regular shape and size of a single, dual, or tribrid set. As it accommodates eight drivers on each side, within which two are 10mm & 6mm DD, which is huge. Due to a good design, the IEMs sink well inside the ears, but are they comfortable? Yes, they are, but for some hours. Especially when I try to listen to them for a longer period of time, I feel a bit of an uncomfortable feeling in my ears. The fit feels perfect due to the soft silicon material of the ear tips. This is a plus point. And the stock cable also plays a good part in comfort. They made little to no microphonic, and it’s almost tangle-free.
SOUND IMPRESSIONS
The SL224 is targeting a balanced and neutral sound with a bass boost. It is neither a V-shaped bass cannon thing, a clinical monitoring sound, nor both. It’s in a middle ground, providing a “W-shaped” sensation where everything will have a moment to shine—and a sound is always right but always full of energy.
Here is the frequency graph:
Let’s dive deep…
SUB-BASS
This is where the two dynamic drivers get into play. The bass is presented in a deep and authoritative sound with an extension well into the lower regions of the frequency spectrum. This is something you can literally ‘feel’ rather than simply hear, especially in the tracks where such a sensation is required. There is control here in a performance, with an emphasis on quality rather than trying to produce a sound so tremendous in strength that it just overpowers everything else. But for crazy bassheads, it is quite ‘sufficient’ rather than ‘earth-shattering.’
MID-BASS
The Slivo SL224 provides a strong bass impact with a strong sense of pace and a very physical sensation of attack and decay. When you hear a kick drum come in, you hear a strong ‘thud’ sensation with energy centered well down in the frequencies, with none of it spreading up into the mids. Its strong, precise performance is what drives the music forward with such a strong rhythmic push. Sometimes, because the response is so strong and so precise, it can lack a bit of that lingering, warm decay that makes older rock tracks feel thick and groovy.
VOCALS
The strategy of using two balanced armature drivers for the mid-range is centered on ensuring a priority of vocal clarity in the music reproduction possibilities.
MALE
The male voicals in SL224 is heard clearly with good articulation. You can hear the texture in the throat, and it’s not a situation where the voice is recessed or distant. They can lack a tiny bit of “chestiness” or weight. Deep baritones might sound slightly lighter than they would on a warmer, dynamic-driver-focused set.
FEMALE
There is a strong emphasis on the Female vocals here. It is very energetic and clearly projected forward in the mix. There is plenty of space being given, so sopranos sound very lifelike in terms of energy and performance. On poorly recorded tracks, the upper-mid energy can border on being a little shouty or intense at higher volumes.
INSTRUMENTS SEPARATION
This is one of the things that makes the SL224 so impressive for a party-like setup. With eight drivers, each designed to handle a given frequency range, the degree of separation here is simply astonishing. Even in a crowded mix, with lots of different instruments competing for your attention, you can pick out what’s happening with ease. Sometimes, the separation can feel almost too distinct, losing a bit of that organic “glue” that makes a band sound like they are playing in the same room.
TREBLE
The micro-planar drivers handle the high frequency areas and, in the process, impart a special sound to the audio being produced. The high frequency area is characterized by an extension and an airy effect, spreading out with a sense of openness. There is a special crispness in cymbals and hi-hats, adding up to a special high resolution audio effect. But you may encounter slight “Planar Timbre” or metallic quality in the topmost frequencies. Some listeners may find it fatiguing if listened to for a long period of time.
SOUNDSTAGE
The stage offered by these IEMs is considerably impressive, with a wide, expansive stage that appears to extend soundstage space beyond the ears of the listener. There is a certain airiness with regard to the soundstage, which works well in preventing congestion in the soundstage area. Even if the soundstage appears broad and wide, the sense of profundity is not offered in similar measure; rather, it lacks a bit of width. With regard to soundstage cues, the soundstage is towards a left-to-right panorama rather than a strong front-to-back sense of verticality.
TECHNICALITIES
Dynamics: It handles dynamic level changes with confidence, producing strong and noticeable crescendo points. The bass effect adds strong macro-dynamics, giving the overall sound weight and strength. As a performer in terms of micro-dynamics, handling nuances of transitions from softer to louder within quiet sections, it is good and expressive, although sometimes the strong tuning energy may obscure these transitions somewhat.
Speed: The series is remarkably rapid in terms of sound reproduction. The combination of balanced armature drivers and planar components provides excellent transients with a strong reaction to rapid music sections. It follows the rapid drumming sections and metal music without any problem. The decay is extremely rapid, sometimes giving a slightly dry impression in some situations.
Analytics (Detail Retrieval): It’s a detail specialist for its price. When a record has a slightest background ‘hiss’ present in the background, it will make you fully aware of it. This much candor is a mixed blessing because it will brutally lay bare any mastering disaster or bad source feed.
SOURCES
The Myer-Audio Slivo SL224 matches and scales up very well with different sources. If you are a bright sound lover, just pair it with a bright source, or for warm heads like me, you can easily enjoy its warmth with a warm or neutral source. Its type-c connector can provide a good sound directly from your smartphone, but it’s not the ‘real tune’ you’ll hear. Just pair it with a decent DAC dongle or your preferred headphone amp, and you’ll hear what it’s capable of!
CABLE & TIP ROLLING
The modular stock cable and soft silicon stock ear tips are the perfect things for you to enjoy the Slivo SL224. No need to pay a single penny for aftermarket ones!
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Myer Audio Sliivo SL224 is a pair of IEMs for those who appreciate every level of detail- the rumble of the bass, the strength of the singer’s breath, and the glint of the cymbal crash. It provides a clear, wide, wide-band sound with resolution capabilities exceeding what its specs convey. It’s perfect for those who crave clarity, separation, and pace with the awesome touch of warmth as a pinch of salt. The bass quality matched very well with detailed midrange and shiny treble. Kudos to Myer-Audio for bringing up such a versatile IEM like this Slivo SL224.
WHATEVER YOU’RE THINKIN’ OF BUYING—DAC, DAP, IEM, HEADPHONE, AMP, WHATEVER—JUST MAKE SURE YOU GIVE IT A DEMO RUN FIRST. TRY IT OUT, LISTEN TO IT WITH YOUR OWN TRACKS. SERIOUSLY, ONE QUICK AUDITION CAN SAVE YOU A BUNCH OF MONEY AND REGRET LATER ON.
AUDIO TESTING PREFERENCES
I desperately love the music from the 60s to 90s era. Music was alive then. The genre I love most is ROCK ‘N ROLL. Though Jazz, Blues, Metal, Disco, Pop is also my favorite genres. I have a collection of albums with high dynamic recording. Most of the time I teste audio gears with those albums to understand sonic capability of the specific gear. If you have tidal subscription, you may click here to get the playlist.
You are welcome to read other reviews by SONIC MANTRA.
