The sound you hear may be interfered by strange noise or dull. This is not so simple to describe since there are a lot of originators and requires an experienced tuner to analize. The reeds you see when opening the instruments are only the closing reeds. Seldom a vendor will allow you to examine the opening reeds since you have to dismount the plates. Changes in relative humidity curl the leathers.
New leathers take a while to be flexible enough to produce a good sound.
When opening the instrument have a look to the wooden mounting base. This plate often is broken. But since the sound is not coming out from the wooden parts this means only extra air consumption and may be glued in the last case. Many players think it is of great importance the wood used for the housing. Therefore it has no influence on the final sound.