I've been listening to these coved cups more, and they are almost perfect. a little fuller which should happen tomorrow with the extra length and i think that will be the end of this......looking back, about the only thing i got right was the wood choice. I messed up the finish, the wall thickness, the way the gimbal attaches.........but all that matters is that we made it.......and i am almost certain, all we want for a finish is a very light non invasive violin type finish and these will be reference quaility...even what i'm listening to now in raw wood is damn near perfect. It's natural, even, instuments are true, bass is articulate and weighty, upper end is smooth midrange is not strident in the least, there is a ton of nuance and dynamics, totally fatigue free, the mids have just the right amount of air but still have some umph to them......I can't believe it......thanks to everyone who has helped me organize these things and guide the search. I really feel these are reference quality $1000 headphones at this point. I would not trade them for top of the line grado with those end caps that's for sure.