Back in the day, I first used the blunt end of a crochet hook. It was narrow (3mm) and short, but it was a start. One thing I noticed was that chilling it prior to use improved the sensation. But I quickly "graduated" to wanting greater reach and width.
After playing with a human glass thermometer **outcries of horror due to its being glass**, I went to a veterinary version **more outcries** which was wider and longer.
http://www.horse.com/zoom_img/BCA31.jpg C&P if needed
Bear in mind that these are tempered glass and routinely used on animals, I did not have a fear that it would suddenly disintegrate inside for no reason. Although still too short for best effect, it was considerably wider, being probably 7mm at each of the three rounded flat sides or about 5mm cross section. Its good points were cleanliness, ease of insertion due to its composition and metal tip and the invigorating effect I experienced by rotating it while inserted. The ring at the opposite end permitted tying a chord to it and precluded accidental loss.
Then I tried a Rosebud of suitable size,
http://www.sexytoywarehouse.com/images/04/VF306w.jpg
thinking that the shape of the tip was perfect to stimulating the outer sphincter (much pleasure seems to originate there) and the prostate cavity itself. The problem was the much narrower shaft which was particularly painful at the urethral opening and when I rounded the curve. It was not successful and I discarded it.
Then I tried a Sims sound
https://www.kinkymedical.net/images/SIMCUR4.JPG
...which I straightened (they are plated brass). This one was a bit narrow for the curve and the spherical tip was too blunt for easy insertion. Somehow, I injured myself internally with this and had a serious bleed that could have sent me to the hospital had it not stopped, but apparently left no permanent damage. Anyone who uses an insertible should use extreme patience and a gentle hand, which I did not on that occasion, looking for that elusive high, with endorphins at first blocking the pain
Most recently, I have used a straight Dittel..
http://www.surgicaltools.com/images/products/MDC51.60.13.jpg
with satisfactory results. The perfect shape for me would be a 5mm Dittel with a 7mm Rosebud end because it would be comfortable in the curve and at the opening and provide more movement at the "sweet spot" (prostate and outer sphincter).
But to my point, no sound will have the perfect shape because you have to conform to it, not the other way around. If I were an engineer, I would design an insertible like my imagined rosebud/Dittel combination, but flexible enough to follow the curve. That way, and with adequate synthetic and natural lube, I could concentrate on in/out motion at the sweet spot and not be so concerned with injury masked by endorphins.
Elsewhere here I've seen some rubber and plastic items, but they appear more as novelties than "real" flexible sounds, leaving catheters. So a question here is which of those on the market would have the best tip for the most smooth insertion and be composed of a rubber or plastic with the best combination of flexibility to follow the curve but rigidity to slide in without folding on itself ar attempting to double over inside? And what about the holes? I do not intend to ejaculate through it so I would want the design where the holes are least obtrusive.