[Cinder]

  wasn't the case for me, but I have definitely seen a few complaints about that.

Yeah, I got a pair from Massdrop a year or so ago which didn't have the issue. I got spare filters around the house, but its still a little alarming that this does happen.

 

[Cinder]

I just finished up my review:

​

http://www.head-fi.org/products/macaw-gt100s-hifi-with-mic-in-ear-earphone-silver/reviews/17359​

 

[InAndOut]

I purchased these off Massdrop almost a year ago and really tried to like them but ended up sticking them in some corner. 
 
I recently went on an IEM hunt, looking for a replacement for my Ostry KCO6A, which I love, but didn't want to spend over $200. I started with the Shure SE215 and wasn't impressed. I started looking at the Westone W20's and other Shure offerings but before committing at those prices I pulled out the Macaws to try them out again.
 
I'm not sure what changed, maybe it was a combination of my growth of understanding what I was looking for and what TO look for in a pair of headphones, or burn in. But I was almost immediately impressed. These are very unforgiving and maybe that's what upset me initially. If you've got a bad recording these will make it worse, I find I can only listen to modern, well recorded music. 
 
So with that better understanding onto the sound, which is nothing short of amazing for $50. Compared to every other IEM I have or have tried these have a wider sound stage, clearer presentation with amazing separation and micro-detail retrieval. The bass is well controlled, never muddy or over bearing, with great extension and real impact. But bass doesn't make me cry like mids or highs and again these headphones impress. The highs have moments of sparkle, again very source picky, with lower mids well defined with a little recess going up the frequency before coming back. Not at all what I would consider a V shaped signature mostly because of the tamed tight bass, but also because the highs are also controlled. Laid back could be a description, but I think more articulate, dry, analytical, cold.
 
The only comfort issues I've had are the aforementioned weight and the fact the cord won't stay put behind my ear. I took the ear hooks from my Ostry and use them with these perfectly. Check these out: https://www.amazon.com/DigiHero-Headphone-Hangers-Compatible-Earbuds/dp/B00VHR7HYC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1481555372&sr=8-2&keywords=ear+hooks+for+headphones
 
Now I can save a couple hundred bucks and am looking at a balanced amp. It sucks when you love the hardware, software AND sound 

(not necessarily in that order).
 
They're $40-$45 bucks on Amazon. I will be buying them again because I know the cord on these will eventually go. That is the one con. Put a detachable cord on and I'd be throwing stupid money at these.
 
My collection: Schiit Modi/Magni2 stack, APPJ 1502A, HD700, PM-3, Ostry KCO6A, Klipsch S4, Macaw GT100s. 

 

[fjrabon]

Hmmm, might have to try these again. I also threw them in some corner. I've really been into the HiFiMan RE00 for cheap universals.

 

[Cinder]

  I purchased these off Massdrop almost a year ago and really tried to like them but ended up sticking them in some corner. 
 
I recently went on an IEM hunt, looking for a replacement for my Ostry KCO6A, which I love, but didn't want to spend over $200. I started with the Shure SE215 and wasn't impressed. I started looking at the Westone W20's and other Shure offerings but before committing at those prices I pulled out the Macaws to try them out again.
 
I'm not sure what changed, maybe it was a combination of my growth of understanding what I was looking for and what TO look for in a pair of headphones, or burn in. But I was almost immediately impressed. These are very unforgiving and maybe that's what upset me initially. If you've got a bad recording these will make it worse, I find I can only listen to modern, well recorded music. 
 
So with that better understanding onto the sound, which is nothing short of amazing for $50. Compared to every other IEM I have or have tried these have a wider sound stage, clearer presentation with amazing separation and micro-detail retrieval. The bass is well controlled, never muddy or over bearing, with great extension and real impact. But bass doesn't make me cry like mids or highs and again these headphones impress. The highs have moments of sparkle, again very source picky, with lower mids well defined with a little recess going up the frequency before coming back. Not at all what I would consider a V shaped signature mostly because of the tamed tight bass, but also because the highs are also controlled. Laid back could be a description, but I think more articulate, dry, analytical, cold.
 
The only comfort issues I've had are the aforementioned weight and the fact the cord won't stay put behind my ear. I took the ear hooks from my Ostry and use them with these perfectly. Check these out: https://www.amazon.com/DigiHero-Headphone-Hangers-Compatible-Earbuds/dp/B00VHR7HYC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1481555372&sr=8-2&keywords=ear+hooks+for+headphones
 
Now I can save a couple hundred bucks and am looking at a balanced amp. It sucks when you love the hardware, software AND sound 

(not necessarily in that order).
 
They're $40-$45 bucks on Amazon. I will be buying them again because I know the cord on these will eventually go. That is the one con. Put a detachable cord on and I'd be throwing stupid money at these.
 
My collection: Schiit Modi/Magni2 stack, APPJ 1502A, HD700, PM-3, Ostry KCO6A, Klipsch S4, Macaw GT100s. 

I'm glad that something changed your mind, as I love these IEMs as well, but things don't just "burn in" in a corner, they must be plugged in and have noise running through them (assuming burn-in is real at all).

 

[InAndOut]

  I'm glad that something changed your mind, as I love these IEMs as well, but things don't just "burn in" in a corner, they must be plugged in and have noise running through them (assuming burn-in is real at all).

You're absolutely right and I cut the part where I left them on my desk over two days playing music at moderately-high levels as my post was already wordy enough and went through a revision or two that might have cut a point of logic. Plus they'd already had use when I first got them and I've been critical of my recent purchases while looking for the next IEM, perhaps increasing my sensitivity to key aspects of their sound that I didn't have a year ago during their initial audition.

 

[Cinder]

  You're absolutely right and I cut the part where I left them on my desk over two days playing music at moderately-high levels as my post was already wordy enough and went through a revision or two that might have cut a point of logic. Plus they'd already had use when I first got them and I've been critical of my recent purchases while looking for the next IEM, perhaps increasing my sensitivity to key aspects of their sound that I didn't have a year ago during their initial audition.

Haha, I see, no worries. Good to hear that you found a new favorite IEM.

 

[Cinder]

  You're absolutely right and I cut the part where I left them on my desk over two days playing music at moderately-high levels as my post was already wordy enough and went through a revision or two that might have cut a point of logic. Plus they'd already had use when I first got them and I've been critical of my recent purchases while looking for the next IEM, perhaps increasing my sensitivity to key aspects of their sound that I didn't have a year ago during their initial audition.

Haha, I see, no worries. Good to hear that you found a new favorite IEM.

 

[buonassi]

Drop ending on the updated version of the gt100s iems tonight. Anyone familiar with the gt600s shown here on massdrop?

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/macaw-gt600s-iem

 

[Cinder]

Drop ending on the updated version of the gt100s iems tonight. Anyone familiar with the gt600s shown here on massdrop?

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/macaw-gt600s-iem

Yeah, my review is pending. My early impression is that you should just buy the GT100s and save the money if you have a powerful enough portable rig to use them with.