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.