wje
Unmodified = Not worth listening to.
I'd still suspect that there is some change in the sound from allowing the new driver a chance to "loosen up" a bit. You have voice coils, windings, etc. and these are all brand new, but probably only went through a 10 second QC test to ensure the driver was functional. Also, Rhydon probably performed a few additional tests in regards to getting the drivers matched. However, these tests are hardly enough to get the driver loosened up a bit in regards to ease and efficiency. I still suspect it takes time to do that. The first pair of v.4 drivers that I received, I ran them through nearly 100 hours of break in before putting them together and wearing them for a test lesson. This latest pair only had 8 or so hours before they were on my ears. Which reminds me, I forget to set up my system this morning to continue the burn-in process while I was at work.