Originally Posted by rowuk

No, it wouldn't be fair or true. The bend does not change the way that sound waves or your air travels through the horn.

The BRACING on the tuning slide does change the resonance of the horn and that modifies the sound radiated through the tubes and from the OUTSIDE of the bell. Most players would be surprised to know that the different shaped tuning slide CAN change what the PLAYER hears (thus the claim of freer blowing, etc.), but it does NOT change much of what the audience gets.

The sound of the trumpet that reaches the ears of the player has little to do with what the audience gets. We are standing on the safe side of the trumpet when performing. Many tweaks only change what reaches the player!