[LakewoodM32Fan]

My personal experience is that I don't hear too much difference in various phosphor bronze strings with the same cores (i.e. hex for hex, round for round). There's a pretty audible difference to my ears, and tangible to my fingers, when you compare hex vs. round cores. So if I'm staying PB hex cores, I'm likely just staying with EJ16s because I'm familiar with them, but I'm not going to turn away the Martin, Ernie Ball or DR equivalents.

I find the most tonal and feel differences for me outside of hex vs. round core are 1) when something is low tension (so Straight Up Strings, SCGC Parabolics, and Newtone Heritages), and also various coated/treated strings. While I'm relatively non-choosy about standard PB hex cores, if we're talking low tension, or treated/coated I definitely have my go-to brands and my stay-away from brands.