I was gonna say the same thing. I don’t think I’d personally go with the first couple, but the Westerns were great. Even preferable to some of the more expensive models further on
These least to most expensive cymbal and drum comparisons are great, especially the Head-to-Head portion! They really show that just because an instrument is the most expensive, it doesn't mean that it will appeal to you the most. From a sound standpoint, I preferred the Paiste 2002's and Zildjian New Beats that were about in the middle in terms of cost over the more expensive ones. Perhaps if I were playing them my opinions would change? Brillant video series concept guys!
A perfect example is the video on 3 Tama snare drums at different price points. The look and inflections on Shane’s face after playing the SLP Spotted Gum sums up this sentiment 100%.
Totally agree with you. I can tell you from my own humble experience, that the main difference between cheap, mid-priced and expensive cymbals is not only how they sound but how soft or "buttery" they feel to the touch.
@@loko306 The feel of a cymbal or drum when you play it is so important. For example, the Ludwig Supraphonic, not only sounds great but feels so good when you strike it. There are snare drums that are better built and more expensive, but they just don't sound or feel as good as that drum. I like your term "buttery" cymbal feel.
Not surprisingly, the two that appeal to my old-school drummer ears the most are 2002 SE, and New Beats, two of the gold standards for hi-hat cymbals for decades.
My favorite hi hats that I owned, EVER, were vintage 14" Zildjian Avedis (paper thin)... Man did they sound 👌 Paid $300 for them (used ofc). I let my friend borrow them for a gig once, and I got them back with a 6-7" crack in them... 😭 I can't drum much anymore thanks to a drunk driver wrecking my knee, but I would've LOVED to give them to my kid.
@@billymanilli i wanna sound like carly barrett, and no matter how hard i try my hi hat is way too harsh. and all the other hi hats i hear are way too harsh. i come to find out its because he used a 14" zildjian hollow label avedis, and put a piece of tape on the spot where he hits.
There alot of good cymbals in the 200 to 400 dollar range they didn't put on this list, shop around. Most companies have samples on their websites so you dont have to pray your local store has one to test. Paiste's is stellar.👍
The 50$ Wuhan hats are great! I play them regular and am impressed how pleasing it is to play them for cheap brass cymbals. Definitely a great starts cymbal.
I think the consensus is that the Paiste 2002’s and the Zildjian New Beats are the gold standard of Hi Hats, and this comparison perfectly demonstrates why. Once you get above the $400 mark, there’s really no justifiable difference in the quality, clarity or cut of the sound, just a different tone or texture, which is hard to justify spending so much more just to achieve. The 2002’s and New Beats are a perfect balance of everything you want in a hi hat, just a preference of whether you prefer the tone of the B8 or B20 bronze.
Thank you for putting the Zildjian New Beat Hats in there for reference! Everytime I hear Wuhan cymbals I'm shocked at how nice they sound for their price. Easily the best bang for your buck cymbals. The $150-250 has some nice options and I'd love to see them blindfold compared to the high end hats as I can't hear a 3-4x difference when relating to the price of each.
It seems it’s a matter of taste after around $280. I can definitely hear a difference from those below that price. I like the Xist, New Beat and the high bell. Did not like the $900 hats at all. Great video as usual!
I would agree I really did not like the sound of the $900 hats at all. As soon as they were hit I’m like no way, I would rather have the new beats or 2002s
Awesome video. Can’t imagine not wanting the 2002 Sound Edge after hearing this. Love my New Beats, but for $400 the 2002 Sound Edge is well priced in that range for the amazing sound. Used to have a pair of 2002 black label Sound Edge 14 and so sad I sold them.
IMO, the meinls sounded best to me, as well as the Xist. I honestly favored the HCS bronze (unpopular opinion to most) Just because of the tone consistency, the closed hat, sounded identical to it being sticked and the open hat sizzle sustain was impressive to me. Just goes to show; price does always mean better. 💯🙌
Great segment, I'm planning to buy new hi-hats this year at some stage, so this was very helpful. I loved your comparisons on snares recently, too. I'd love to see some information on hi-hat stands, like the DW machined direct drive, as opposed to the Tama direct drive, etc. Thank you, with so many choices out there, these posts are really helpful. Keep up the good work.
My all time fave pair is my paiste formula 602 med hats. They are so buttery and smooth. I also have a pair of 602 sound edge which are harsher due to the increased weight. I love how paistes do not stain or fingerprint like other brands. Sold my new beats since they did not compare to the 602s IMO. Nice video to see what else is on the market. Great job fellas.
The non-marking nature of Paistes is a simple wax coating, I believe. A simple coat of Pledge on any brand of cymbals will basically give you the same results after a polish. Try it!
The difference in price is absurd and obscene. The market of cymbals has always been abusive but this exemplifies it beautifully! Thank you and take good note buyers!
For me the best kind of cheap hi hats are ones which aren’t made of standard B8 and are really thin. They usually never have a stamp on them. Either way I can appreciate those western wuhans. And those Istanbul 30th anniversary’s are gorgeous.
One set that they didn't have in this shoot-out that I think bridges a gap between multiple genres better than many, are the Zildjian K Sweets. I have 4 sets of high end hats and they each have their sweet spot for a particular genre... the 15" K sweets are one of my favorites for versatility and feel. 15" hi-hats feel amazing under stick. Great feedback.
From people complaining about why their favorite Hi-Hat isn't listed. Hmm🤔, The title say's "Cheapest to most expensive" not "Worst to Best" 🤪. I liked all the Hi-hats from the 2:53 to 7:57 & the Sabian Artisan at 8:52. I thought the Koide did an outstanding job keeping up with Meinl's HCS. Me thinks Paul Francis or Timothy Roberts probably could do a mod on the Koide, so it can compete with the Wuhan Westerns. From a blind test, I kept coming back to the 4:43 & 5:11 . Sounded a lot like the Hi-hat's I used tp listen to on Albums 😍. Luv your uploads DCP. You guys are the best !
The Koide pair seems a bit higher priced than it should be for the sound. I think the higher end of Paiste, Zildjian and Sabian sounded much better overall for the money, especially the K Cons and Artisans. Thanks for the vid guys!
Personally, I liked the Sabian Artisan hats the best of all, but... I know from experience that I could make any one of these pairs work for me with no complaints if I had to.
This is exactly why I play used or 'mid-range' cymbals. You can find a used set of New Beats usually for around $175-$200, and Paiste PST 7 are only $169 new. I also just picked up a pair of vintage Paiste 2000 Colorsounds for $90! Paiste and Meinl both make killer mid-range cymbals that sound just as good if not better than some of these super pricey ones. There's TONS of vintage Zildjian As out there for great prices too.
Good demo. It’s so hard to pick what works for you. IMO, after you start pushing past 400 bucks or really depends on what you want for a sound. Btw I live in NH you guys have the best drum store on the planet. If your a drummer and you happen to be visiting Boston area take the ride.
Another fantastic video from y’all!! It’s always great to hear gear side by side. I know this vid was about the Hi-Hat Cymbals, but that snare drum was killin’!! I also saw the Sonor kit, but was that snare Tony’s new Keplinger Black Iron? Back to the cymbals, my favorite here were the Istanbul 30th Anniversary. They really sounded different to me than the many sets I own and what I heard in this vid. Again, great stuff and well done!! ❤
My favourite hats are the 15" Paiste 900 series heavy. I bought them after checking out about 10 different hats that were set up in a row for instant comparison. They weren't that expensive (about $500AUD) but they sound better than some that were several hundred dollars more expensive. Liked the A Customs here, and the AAX.
Nice test. Really like it. I just have a little wish that you would limit the range a bit. Like "only below 1000g top cymbal", "for heavy hitters of rock" or something like that. Also would be nice thing to line up all steel snares the same way. I think that would be quite epic pile of snares.
The Istanbul Xist line to me is the overall best sounding mid priced cymbals out there. My next set of hats will be Meinl Byzance 16” Medium Thin Extra Dry Hats. They’re expensive AF but the sound……ohhh so musical and perfect to my ears.
Nice video as always 😁 the sounds I liked the most were the Xists, the 2002s and the Artisans - for the life of me, I can't understand why that last pair costs $900, it sounds absolutely awful.
Great video (again!) Sweet spot is the Agop Xist and the Byzance Brilliant - you can hear instantly where the money is going. Notable shout out to the 602s but although it’s a very subjective thing, when you want that extra smoosh from the real pricey stuff it can’t be replicated by the lower end cymbals. Agop 30th, Sabian Artisan (or whichever the pricey Sabian was, can’t check back while typing in the box) and the Koide stand out here. The Koide really have something unique about them. Would love to have heard Meinl Foundry Reserve hats going up against the pricey options here. Be interesting to see how they stacked up. (I have the 16’s - they’re amazing but only at some things)
A customs sounded the best! You totally can hear each 50$ raising the quality, with some exceptions that just don't match my taste, no matter the price. Great Video, thx! Please make a comparison for the 3 PurpleCores!! 🙏😊
Those Koides ain't cheap. Not sure that the hi-hats are worth $900, but it's hard to get a complete opinion from a video. But thank you guys for trying. I also love the intentional "edits" you do. Keep on keeping on.
My 2 cents- 1985 15” Zildjian new beats have survived 38 years of punk, thrash, power pop,speed & nu metal, reggae, ska, etc., jazz,blues, funk, etc., not even hairline crack, or chip. I need 13” hats. Getting Zildjians again.
I’ve always had the option of entry level hi hats that when you put the bottom hat on top, and the top on bottom you get a 100% difference in the quality and crispness of the sound. Try and listen for yourself.
The Wuhan Westerns sound pretty good for that price point. Of the rest, I prefer the Turkish Cappadocia (I think), and definitely the A Customs (have those on the kit right now). The super expensive ones I just really can't discern that much difference. Oh, and the Sound Edge are nice, too. I love these comparison videos. It's so hard to find a decent selection of cymbals in a brick and mortar store these days.
Here I liked Zildjian A New Beat and Paiste 2002 Sound Edge. Istanbul Agop 30th Anniversary could be interesting as the secondary set of hihats for more dark and dry sound
For the money, I think I like the Paiste 2002 Sound Edge's the best, but I've always has a sweet spot for them since I first bought a pair in 1974. Wish I still had them. They were wonderful.
Yep, we can get at least a dozen sounds out of each cymbal, whether hi hat, crash or ride. Different brushes, sticks, volumes and even the direction of the strokes. You can caress a cymbal to get her do anything you want. They don't like to be spanked all the time. @@drumcenternh
Once again.. wuhan for the win. 😂 I mean... VERY subtle changes in pitch but... unless you are a famous drummer and put your name behind a brand.. how you play it.. sounds good. 👍 awesome video!
I listened to the Head to Head, blind. The most expensive sets of hats sounded more and more like first act toy hi-hats. The middle range shines, and a couple budget options punch way above their weight class. Over all Turkish Meta were my favorite sounding on the blind test. I wish there had been more Sabian options overall. The only high $ option I liked were the Sabians.
Hard to justify the really expensive ones in my view. Paiste 2002 SEs (which I have in 15") sounded good and the Istanbul 30th Anniversary pair was very nice too. I have a pair of 16" Agop Traditionals that I like a lot but they the 30th Anniversary set sounds different. Honestly they all sounded good it's really personal taste and music style I believe
The Koide 703 is a stand alone series by Koide. 703 series can have a lot of variation in sound between similar size and weight, if a different set was used, the outcome might be judged differently. It’s a “buy this exact cymbal” type series. The othe Koide series are much less expensive, around $590 - 14” 10-J series being the closest to 703 series.
I preferred the Sabians and Zildjians as a group, and my fave was the Sabian Artisan. I didn't think I was a musical snob, but I admit I liked the more expensive symbals better.
In my most sincere opinion, none of these hi-hats sounded awful to my ears. I have been playing drums for nearly 30 years. My preferred brand is Sabian above the rest. And that is not a knock against any of the other brands out there. My current set are 14” Meinl sand hats. My favourite pick from these featured in the video are the Sabian high bell hats. From the budget price point I prefer the Turkish Xist pair.
I love some Luxury gear as much as the next person but am I alone I’m not hearing a distinct difference in quality once you get out of budget beginner territory? Difference yes, but subtle difference that is more a matter of taste rather than raw quality of tone. Don’t think I’ll ever see fit to drop 900…hell even 300 on a set of hats. That’s just me. Really loved the Istanbul 30th anniversary though. Awesome video. This Chanel is the best.
xist hats were great as were the turkish cappadocias, but my favorite were the K cons and sabian artisans. My HHX Complex 15" are my fave tho! Perfect wash and dark enough to groove for days, but not trashy
I think the Koide price not necessarily justifies how it sounds. They've got their own foundry if I'm not mistaken. They produce their blanks in-house and they have their own proprietary cymbal alloys and is operated by less than 5 men. Personally I didn't like the Koide 703 hi hat. It sounds stiff. However, the 609 series cymbals are awesome!
Wuhan Western. I was also impressed by their $110 crash in the previous comparison video. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a UK retailer unless they sell here under a different brand name.
I really should put my headphones on!! 😂 Nice video. Entertaining! I got some super cheap ones and ground them down. They sound pretty good even as crash cymbals. Free! I wouldn't dare hit those silly expensive ones.
this was fascinating. Mostly because I realized my main impressions of the cymbals were colored by how in the pocket and how grooving the particular sound example was. Some of them felt like better takes than others. Most of the hihats really sounded the same. That’s strange, because when I play hats they all sound different to me
The best sonic value: Hands-down the Wuhan Western hats. Favorites: Zildjian K-Constantinoples. Least favorites: Any of the Paiste models. Biggest disappointment: The Koide 703s, which didn't cut through well at all in the mix and didn't otherwise distinguish themselves from the pack. Suggestion: A video demoing hi-hats should emphasize the hi-hats more in the mix. The snare drum here was much louder than it needed to be.
DCP is the gold standard of percussion retail. An argument against that statement simply doesn’t exist. MAD LOVE! 💯 🥁
If you have gold to spend, then you are right.
@@chrisferguson1911
Tons of it buddy 💯
@@chrisferguson1911
really impressed with the Wuhan Western
I'm with you on that !
Indeed! I wonder how durable they are.
These are the ones I have been using since last year. Gigging with those, recording in studio...they really perform well.
I was gonna say the same thing. I don’t think I’d personally go with the first couple, but the Westerns were great. Even preferable to some of the more expensive models further on
I thought there and upwards, all were usable. But for $200, the sounded almost as good as twice their price.
The Turkish Cappadocia sounded like the best value to me!
These least to most expensive cymbal and drum comparisons are great, especially the Head-to-Head portion! They really show that just because an instrument is the most expensive, it doesn't mean that it will appeal to you the most. From a sound standpoint, I preferred the Paiste 2002's and Zildjian New Beats that were about in the middle in terms of cost over the more expensive ones. Perhaps if I were playing them my opinions would change? Brillant video series concept guys!
A perfect example is the video on 3 Tama snare drums at different price points. The look and inflections on Shane’s face after playing the SLP Spotted Gum sums up this sentiment 100%.
Totally agree with you. I can tell you from my own humble experience, that the main difference between cheap, mid-priced and expensive cymbals is not only how they sound but how soft or "buttery" they feel to the touch.
@@loko306 The feel of a cymbal or drum when you play it is so important. For example, the Ludwig Supraphonic, not only sounds great but feels so good when you strike it. There are snare drums that are better built and more expensive, but they just don't sound or feel as good as that drum. I like your term "buttery" cymbal feel.
I agree
I’ve had new beats for 40 years they sound better than these
Those Wuhan Westerns were impressive.
I also thought the Istanbul Agop XIST sounded pretty good for an affordable set.
Not surprisingly, the two that appeal to my old-school drummer ears the most are 2002 SE, and New Beats, two of the gold standards for hi-hat cymbals for decades.
Exactly
My favorite hi hats that I owned, EVER, were vintage 14" Zildjian Avedis (paper thin)... Man did they sound 👌
Paid $300 for them (used ofc). I let my friend borrow them for a gig once, and I got them back with a 6-7" crack in them... 😭
I can't drum much anymore thanks to a drunk driver wrecking my knee, but I would've LOVED to give them to my kid.
I totally agree brother
@@billymanilli i wanna sound like carly barrett, and no matter how hard i try my hi hat is way too harsh. and all the other hi hats i hear are way too harsh. i come to find out its because he used a 14" zildjian hollow label avedis, and put a piece of tape on the spot where he hits.
@@patrickderp1044 - after playing 15's for the last year or so I now also find most 14in hats very harsh
I'm really impressed with the hats in the $200 range! They sound just as good as anything more expensive.
There alot of good cymbals in the 200 to 400 dollar range they didn't put on this list, shop around. Most companies have samples on their websites so you dont have to pray your local store has one to test. Paiste's is stellar.👍
Right? Those were where I really said "woah!" Out loud.
That Turkish Meta sounded really nice for 250. Plus, never heard of them. Grt comparison as always Adam. Thank u. 🍻
I agree. So smooth. Liked them a lot.
Também achei eles impressionantes❤❤❤
The 50$ Wuhan hats are great! I play them regular and am impressed how pleasing it is to play them for cheap brass cymbals. Definitely a great starts cymbal.
I think the consensus is that the Paiste 2002’s and the Zildjian New Beats are the gold standard of Hi Hats, and this comparison perfectly demonstrates why.
Once you get above the $400 mark, there’s really no justifiable difference in the quality, clarity or cut of the sound, just a different tone or texture, which is hard to justify spending so much more just to achieve.
The 2002’s and New Beats are a perfect balance of everything you want in a hi hat, just a preference of whether you prefer the tone of the B8 or B20 bronze.
Thank you for putting the Zildjian New Beat Hats in there for reference!
Everytime I hear Wuhan cymbals I'm shocked at how nice they sound for their price. Easily the best bang for your buck cymbals. The $150-250 has some nice options and I'd love to see them blindfold compared to the high end hats as I can't hear a 3-4x difference when relating to the price of each.
It seems it’s a matter of taste after around $280. I can definitely hear a difference from those below that price. I like the Xist, New Beat and the high bell. Did not like the $900 hats at all. Great video as usual!
I feel the same. The main thing I want Hi-Hats to do is speak clearly.
I would agree with this
Yep, those Koide sounds hideous to my ears
I feel the same about spendy handmade boutique ride cymbals. A lot of them sound like trash can lids. Sorry, I mean they have "complex" sound lol.
I would agree I really did not like the sound of the $900 hats at all. As soon as they were hit I’m like no way, I would rather have the new beats or 2002s
finally i was hoping one of these would come out! thanks
Thank you for all of your videos, they are very much appreciated!
Thanks for watching 🙏
Awesome video. Can’t imagine not wanting the 2002 Sound Edge after hearing this. Love my New Beats, but for $400 the 2002 Sound Edge is well priced in that range for the amazing sound. Used to have a pair of 2002 black label Sound Edge 14 and so sad I sold them.
IMO, the meinls sounded best to me, as well as the Xist.
I honestly favored the HCS bronze (unpopular opinion to most)
Just because of the tone consistency, the closed hat, sounded identical to it being sticked and the open hat sizzle sustain was impressive to me. Just goes to show; price does always mean better. 💯🙌
Paiste guy here, but my favorite is the Sabian Artisan! Very nice indeed.
Same here, I liked the F602 SEs but the Artisans just blew me away.
@@carlosdrummer4915 yes, most of my cymbals are 602 modern essentials and a few dark Energies. The 602 ME 15” hi-hat is amazing.
Great segment, I'm planning to buy new hi-hats this year at some stage, so this was very helpful. I loved your comparisons on snares recently, too. I'd love to see some information on hi-hat stands, like the DW machined direct drive, as opposed to the Tama direct drive, etc. Thank you, with so many choices out there, these posts are really helpful. Keep up the good work.
My all time fave pair is my paiste formula 602 med hats. They are so buttery and smooth. I also have a pair of 602 sound edge which are harsher due to the increased weight. I love how paistes do not stain or fingerprint like other brands. Sold my new beats since they did not compare to the 602s IMO. Nice video to see what else is on the market. Great job fellas.
The non-marking nature of Paistes is a simple wax coating, I believe. A simple coat of Pledge on any brand of cymbals will basically give you the same results after a polish. Try it!
The difference in price is absurd and obscene. The market of cymbals has always been abusive but this exemplifies it beautifully! Thank you and take good note buyers!
I have used New Beats for 30 plus years, but I was very impressed with the Wuhan Western.
For me the best kind of cheap hi hats are ones which aren’t made of standard B8 and are really thin. They usually never have a stamp on them. Either way I can appreciate those western wuhans. And those Istanbul 30th anniversary’s are gorgeous.
Love it! I really like the Zildjian New Beats.
One set that they didn't have in this shoot-out that I think bridges a gap between multiple genres better than many, are the Zildjian K Sweets. I have 4 sets of high end hats and they each have their sweet spot for a particular genre... the 15" K sweets are one of my favorites for versatility and feel. 15" hi-hats feel amazing under stick. Great feedback.
From people complaining about why their favorite Hi-Hat isn't listed. Hmm🤔, The title say's "Cheapest to most expensive" not "Worst to Best" 🤪. I liked all the Hi-hats from the 2:53 to 7:57 & the Sabian Artisan at 8:52. I thought the Koide did an outstanding job keeping up with Meinl's HCS. Me thinks Paul Francis or Timothy Roberts probably could do a mod on the Koide, so it can compete with the Wuhan Westerns. From a blind test, I kept coming back to the 4:43 & 5:11 . Sounded a lot like the Hi-hat's I used tp listen to on Albums 😍. Luv your uploads DCP. You guys are the best !
Thanks, Dilan! We appreciate you.
Def. K Constaninople for me. Thanks guys for yet again a great comparison!
I have a soft spot for the Zildjian New Beats, but the Zildjian K Constantinoples and the Paiste 602s both sounded pretty nice.
I had a pair of 13” quick beats from zildjian. Those were crisp.
The Koide pair seems a bit higher priced than it should be for the sound. I think the higher end of Paiste, Zildjian and Sabian sounded much better overall for the money, especially the K Cons and Artisans. Thanks for the vid guys!
For $50 the Wuhan sounds pretty good
Wuhan’s western series b20 a great bang for price
Personally, I liked the Sabian Artisan hats the best of all, but... I know from experience that I could make any one of these pairs work for me with no complaints if I had to.
The Artisans sound so good, always blown away by them.
Another vote for the Artisan, the crispness, definition and mellowness are incredible, well worth the price.
Love my vintage pre-AA Regulars, but those Artisans could pull me away.
Thanks a lot for the great demo. Istanbul 30th and Sabian Anthology Hi Bell are my favourites from this bunch.
This is exactly why I play used or 'mid-range' cymbals. You can find a used set of New Beats usually for around $175-$200, and Paiste PST 7 are only $169 new. I also just picked up a pair of vintage Paiste 2000 Colorsounds for $90! Paiste and Meinl both make killer mid-range cymbals that sound just as good if not better than some of these super pricey ones. There's TONS of vintage Zildjian As out there for great prices too.
My favorite is Paiste 2002.
I gotta say, for my ears the regular ol New Beats and the 602's kinda cover all the bases for me. Great video!! Thanks so much!!
Out of these, the Sabian Anthology are what caught my ear the most, all around.
And I agree on the Wuhan Western - they surprised me.
Can we all agree that the price of cymbals today are rather high
I'm not partial to any one particular brand of cymbals and in fact play four different brands in my set but I've always loved New Beats.
Good demo. It’s so hard to pick what works for you. IMO, after you start pushing past 400 bucks or really depends on what you want for a sound. Btw I live in NH you guys have the best drum store on the planet. If your a drummer and you happen to be visiting Boston area take the ride.
Another fantastic video from y’all!! It’s always great to hear gear side by side.
I know this vid was about the Hi-Hat Cymbals, but that snare drum was killin’!! I also saw the Sonor kit, but was that snare Tony’s new Keplinger Black Iron?
Back to the cymbals, my favorite here were the Istanbul 30th Anniversary. They really sounded different to me than the many sets I own and what I heard in this vid.
Again, great stuff and well done!! ❤
That is my Black Iron! I couldn’t help but play it on this!
@@tinterlande Excellent!! It was blurred quite a bit but that sound was unmistakable!
The cheap hats definitely sound cheap; while the $900 ones were way overpriced. Great demo; thanks for doing it guys!
New beats always sound crispy
cool video! Love hi hats. Tomorrow I’ll play a gig with some Planet Z hats! And yes I own a pair of K, too.
I tour with a major brand because they are provided to me and they do sound great! However, my practice cymbals are Meinls HCS and I love them!
I noticed that with the Wuhan HH at 210 the sound quality definitely took a big jump from the lesser expensive HH’s.
the jump from b8 bronze to b20 is definitely noticable :)
My favourite hats are the 15" Paiste 900 series heavy. I bought them after checking out about 10 different hats that were set up in a row for instant comparison. They weren't that expensive (about $500AUD) but they sound better than some that were several hundred dollars more expensive.
Liked the A Customs here, and the AAX.
Nice test. Really like it. I just have a little wish that you would limit the range a bit. Like "only below 1000g top cymbal", "for heavy hitters of rock" or something like that.
Also would be nice thing to line up all steel snares the same way. I think that would be quite epic pile of snares.
Those Istanbul 30th anniversary sound great.
The Istanbul Xist line to me is the overall best sounding mid priced cymbals out there. My next set of hats will be Meinl Byzance 16” Medium Thin Extra Dry Hats. They’re expensive AF but the sound……ohhh so musical and perfect to my ears.
It’s the level of silver in the mix. The right amount and they are wonderful.
I have the Zildjian New Beat's but they are probably 20 years old now, still sound good to me.
I bought my New Beats in 85' ! It still sounds great.
Most recorded hi hats of all time. I have 15's and they're amazing.
Nice video as always 😁 the sounds I liked the most were the Xists, the 2002s and the Artisans - for the life of me, I can't understand why that last pair costs $900, it sounds absolutely awful.
Totally sound terrible. I can not imagine they sell many, if any… lol
Really liked the Istanbul 30th Anniversary hats. Should have thrown in a Bosphorous too. 😎
they were my favorites too, was wondering why hardly anyone singled them out
probably cause they are 750@@philippeerville6181
Great video (again!) Sweet spot is the Agop Xist and the Byzance Brilliant - you can hear instantly where the money is going.
Notable shout out to the 602s but although it’s a very subjective thing, when you want that extra smoosh from the real pricey stuff it can’t be replicated by the lower end cymbals. Agop 30th, Sabian Artisan (or whichever the pricey Sabian was, can’t check back while typing in the box) and the Koide stand out here.
The Koide really have something unique about them.
Would love to have heard Meinl Foundry Reserve hats going up against the pricey options here. Be interesting to see how they stacked up. (I have the 16’s - they’re amazing but only at some things)
Love my Koide Cymbals! I'm a huge fan of the B23 alloy Brilliant series. Glad to see they've finally arrived!
A customs sounded the best! You totally can hear each 50$ raising the quality, with some exceptions that just don't match my taste, no matter the price. Great Video, thx! Please make a comparison for the 3 PurpleCores!! 🙏😊
Big fan of the A Customs myself.
I really liked the Istanbul Agop 30!
Those Cappadocia ones are interesting. Never heard of them before. Don’t see the justification to spend the $900 for those Kodie ones.
My thoughts exactly on both points.
Closed sound of the Sabian Artisans and the open sound of the Koides were my two favorites.
Really liked the Istanbul Xist.
The Wuhan Western was an impressive low cost option too.
Those Koides ain't cheap. Not sure that the hi-hats are worth $900, but it's hard to get a complete opinion from a video. But thank you guys for trying. I also love the intentional "edits" you do. Keep on keeping on.
The Istanbul Xist sound pretty good for the money.
I had no idea you were a drummer too. Cameras and drums…it’s who I be. 👊🏻
+1 for this.
The sweet spot to me is the $300-$500 price point.
My 2 cents- 1985 15” Zildjian new beats have survived 38 years of punk, thrash, power pop,speed & nu metal, reggae, ska, etc., jazz,blues, funk, etc., not even hairline crack, or chip. I need 13” hats. Getting Zildjians again.
Doing a great job on the affordable cymbals these days.
210-500$ is the most interesting range of price imo. Zildjian New Beat is my favorite
Most of the cheaper stuff sounds just as good & sometimes better than the expensive stuff.
Anything sub 300$ sounds like absolute shit
I’ve always had the option of entry level hi hats that when you put the bottom hat on top, and the top on bottom you get a 100% difference in the quality and crispness of the sound. Try and listen for yourself.
Pretty awesome Video. I prefer price midrange PAiSTe 2002 SE ❤
The Instanbul xist sound sweet! Nice groove too!
The Wuhan Westerns sound pretty good for that price point. Of the rest, I prefer the Turkish Cappadocia (I think), and definitely the A Customs (have those on the kit right now). The super expensive ones I just really can't discern that much difference. Oh, and the Sound Edge are nice, too. I love these comparison videos. It's so hard to find a decent selection of cymbals in a brick and mortar store these days.
Here I liked Zildjian A New Beat and Paiste 2002 Sound Edge. Istanbul Agop 30th Anniversary could be interesting as the secondary set of hihats for more dark and dry sound
For the money, I think I like the Paiste 2002 Sound Edge's the best, but I've always has a sweet spot for them since I first bought a pair in 1974. Wish I still had them. They were wonderful.
I don’t remember any recording , by any band, at any time where I said to myself, I love those hat. Lol
Great Video though ! Thanks!
Great comparison. I would suggest dampening the snare a tad next time, as the overtones are pretty loud when trying to focus on the hi hat sound.
I would also liked to have seen/heard them with light jazz playing with wood-tip sticks. Good video for rock players, but I needed more.
jazz players always do
Yep, we can get at least a dozen sounds out of each cymbal, whether hi hat, crash or ride. Different brushes, sticks, volumes and even the direction of the strokes. You can caress a cymbal to get her do anything you want. They don't like to be spanked all the time. @@drumcenternh
Once again.. wuhan for the win. 😂 I mean... VERY subtle changes in pitch but... unless you are a famous drummer and put your name behind a brand.. how you play it.. sounds good. 👍 awesome video!
I listened to the Head to Head, blind. The most expensive sets of hats sounded more and more like first act toy hi-hats. The middle range shines, and a couple budget options punch way above their weight class. Over all Turkish Meta were my favorite sounding on the blind test. I wish there had been more Sabian options overall. The only high $ option I liked were the Sabians.
And as always, Paiste makes the best inexpensive cymbals. They really know how to make great sounding instruments using any alloy.
Hard to justify the really expensive ones in my view. Paiste 2002 SEs (which I have in 15") sounded good and the Istanbul 30th Anniversary pair was very nice too. I have a pair of 16" Agop Traditionals that I like a lot but they the 30th Anniversary set sounds different. Honestly they all sounded good it's really personal taste and music style I believe
Once again new beats win! Although I do love the sound of those Cappadocia Turkish
The Koide 703 is a stand alone series by Koide. 703 series can have a lot of variation in sound between similar size and weight, if a different set was used, the outcome might be judged differently. It’s a “buy this exact cymbal” type series. The othe Koide series are much less expensive, around $590 - 14” 10-J series being the closest to 703 series.
I preferred the Sabians and Zildjians as a group, and my fave was the Sabian Artisan. I didn't think I was a musical snob, but I admit I liked the more expensive symbals better.
Uh oh, but we don’t know how to spell cymbal 😂
@@WardenOnDrums whaddya expect from a reformed musician?
A customs still just have the closest to what I like in this video. The Sabian Artisan is my close #2. Very close #3 being the 602s
love the paiste sound edge 602 wow
The Turkish Meta 14» sounds AMAZING
In my most sincere opinion, none of these hi-hats sounded awful to my ears. I have been playing drums for nearly 30 years. My preferred brand is Sabian above the rest. And that is not a knock against any of the other brands out there. My current set are 14” Meinl sand hats. My favourite pick from these featured in the video are the Sabian high bell hats. From the budget price point I prefer the Turkish Xist pair.
Vídeo maravilhoso. Obrigado!!!🥁💥✨
Paiste 2002 Sound Edge @ $400 sounded the best to me. Very crisp sounding 👌🏻
I love some Luxury gear as much as the next person but am I alone I’m not hearing a distinct difference in quality once you get out of budget beginner territory? Difference yes, but subtle difference that is more a matter of taste rather than raw quality of tone. Don’t think I’ll ever see fit to drop 900…hell even 300 on a set of hats. That’s just me. Really loved the Istanbul 30th anniversary though. Awesome video. This Chanel is the best.
xist hats were great as were the turkish cappadocias, but my favorite were the K cons and sabian artisans. My HHX Complex 15" are my fave tho! Perfect wash and dark enough to groove for days, but not trashy
I think the Koide price not necessarily justifies how it sounds. They've got their own foundry if I'm not mistaken. They produce their blanks in-house and they have their own proprietary cymbal alloys and is operated by less than 5 men. Personally I didn't like the Koide 703 hi hat. It sounds stiff. However, the 609 series cymbals are awesome!
There’s one 70 year old man who makes the 703 series! I just learned this 😬
My favorites were Zildjian new beats. Sabian AAX, and Zildjian A customs.
Tell you the truth they all sound pretty good 👍
Cymbals...like cymbals to be,BUT snaredrum realy rocks!!!
Wuhan Western. I was also impressed by their $110 crash in the previous comparison video. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a UK retailer unless they sell here under a different brand name.
I really should put my headphones on!! 😂 Nice video. Entertaining! I got some super cheap ones and ground them down. They sound pretty good even as crash cymbals. Free! I wouldn't dare hit those silly expensive ones.
I've said this before, but I'll say it again. The 14" Paiste 2002 Sound Edge is THE HOLY GRAIL of hi-hats, PERIOD!!
No one gives a fuck what you think
this was fascinating. Mostly because I realized my main impressions of the cymbals were colored by how in the pocket and how grooving the particular sound example was. Some of them felt like better takes than others. Most of the hihats really sounded the same. That’s strange, because when I play hats they all sound different to me
The best sonic value: Hands-down the Wuhan Western hats. Favorites: Zildjian K-Constantinoples. Least favorites: Any of the Paiste models. Biggest disappointment: The Koide 703s, which didn't cut through well at all in the mix and didn't otherwise distinguish themselves from the pack. Suggestion: A video demoing hi-hats should emphasize the hi-hats more in the mix. The snare drum here was much louder than it needed to be.