I also like the smaller toe guard, but wide toe box. And we were constantly picking them up (before we knew what they were) and getting them away from our animals since they want to eat these grippies! Jadore ces bouchons ! No noticeable change in sound. I stopped several times and tried to adjust. I ordered one set, loved them, and ordered a second set from the exact same listing. I knew the quality was no where near the same as the first pair i had. These are stylish & good for you! My daughter is very fond of handwork these days. These headphones are a masterpiece for any true audiophile.