Masterworks are great drums, but I wouldn't consider the the "ultimate in drum making". Check out
http://www.globaldrumco.net/ . I had the opportunity to hear one of their snares, and let me tell you, they have left Pearl (as well as DW, Pork Pie, a bunch of others) in the stoneage. The purity and amount of resonance from the segmented shells is amazing, and the projection blows away all the ply-shell drums I've ever heard. Not to mention that making the shells this way allows for hundreds of times more customization in the woods used and thickness of the shell than ply construction. (Can you tell that I'm sold?
)