MYER-AUDIO SLIIVO SLT6 VS ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII

The MYER-AUDIO SLIIVO SLT6 is a pure 6BA design using branded Sonion and Knowles armatures, with two dip-switches that enable four tuning combinations. Published specs list 50–65 Ω impedance and 113–116 dB sensitivity, and the list price sits around $450 (commonly discounted via retailers).

Community impressions describe a neutral baseline with an optional bass lift via the switches, which primarily increase low-end gain while keeping mids relatively clean. Reports consistently highlight a wide soundstage, clean separation, and solid imaging performance for the price tier.

As an all-BA set, macro-dynamics and bass texture don’t match the physicality of strong dynamic-driver hybrids; however, the SLT6 trades that for fast transients, high detail retrieval, and well-defined imaging—traits that several reviewers point out, alongside notably resolving treble. Build and ergonomics are solid (stabilized-wood faceplates, resin shells), and the switch system adds genuine flexibility, though listeners seeking DD-like slam may find the low end more controlled than visceral.

The ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII is a $399 hybrid in-ear monitor built around a 2DD + 4BA array, using dual 8 mm dynamic drivers for low frequencies and four Knowles balanced armatures for the mids and treble within a 4-way crossover network. Its CNC-processed aluminum shells and a modular 7N ultra-OFC copper and silver-litz cable, supplied with both 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm terminations, emphasize build robustness and system flexibility over cosmetic experimentation.

From a tuning standpoint, the Hype 4 MKII targets the intersection of studio-neutral and musical, with the Gen 2 IMPACT2 dual-dynamic module delivering roughly a 9 dB sub-bass lift that rolls off sharply around 150 Hz so that most of the extra energy sits below the mid-bass region. ThieAudio also describes a mild 400 Hz emphasis in the midrange and a treble region tuned with slower decay, aiming for natural vocal weight and sustained high-frequency detail without pronounced sharpness. Taken together, this suggests a neutral-with-sub-bass-boost presentation that prioritizes controlled low-end impact and a slightly warm midrange over an ultra-lean, clinical reference tonality.

On the technical side, the dual 8 mm woofers, 4-way crossover, and discrete Knowles drivers for ultra-high, high, and mid bands are engineered to enhance imaging precision, separation, and depth, with retailer and product literature consistently pointing to improvements in clarity and spatial presentation over the original Hype 4. With a rated impedance of 18 Ω and sensitivity of 101 dB @ 1 kHz, it should be straightforward to drive from portable sources, though cleaner amplification will likely better expose its microdetail and dynamic swings. Considering its mid-range price and the dense competition around $400, the Hype 4 MKII reads as a technically ambitious and carefully tuned option, offering strong value without fundamentally disrupting the hierarchy of higher-end models.

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