The *Istanbul Agop Traditional Paper Thin 18"* was a pleasant surprise. It has a beautiful wash with a nice spread of high frequencies. No irritating "clang" and no overbearing low fundamental frequency dominating the sustain. It sounds natural and beautiful even at a light touch. I've never played Istanbuls, but that one was probably *my favorite* in this shoot-out.
Istanbul Agop Signature 18" 1:09 Istanbul Agop Traditional Paper Thin 18" 1:31 Sabian AA Thin 18" 1:56 Sabian HHX Legacy Brilliant 18" 2:20 Meinl Pure Alloy Medium 18" 2:42 Meinl Byzance Vintage Sand Medium 18" 3:08 Paiste 602 Modern Essentials 18" 3:32 Paiste Signature Full 18" 3:57 Zildjian K Custom Dark 18" 4:24 Zildjian A Thin 18" 4:50
I appreciate that you play the same thing for each cymbal. They all sound fantastic, just different. I don't think you could go wrong with any of them.
Tara Drott some paiste and Sabian and a Meinl too bright. Wish they would have done Meinl byzance.. A little bright but nicer than zildjian A and Byzance really good for rock and pop...
@@lindamagee3307 .. They did play a Byzance. 6th cymbal. It sounded really nice. As far as A series goes... in my opinion... a 16" thin A series rules the 16" realm. love those things. I've been through 3 in 37 years and logged 10,000 plus ours on them. The best 18" I've ever played is a K Dark Medium Thin. They never mention the weight in this video, but this one sounds brighter than mine.
I have bought 2 and kept the one i liked better. It was the lighter one. Till today it amazes me, how wide spectrum of sounds it has. Not just dry, but depends on how and how hard you hit it. Is also rather quiter..
I agree. When I think crash, my mind's ear looks for what the Paiste Signature delivers. I have a 16" and it's my workhorse. I also have the Zildjian K Custom Dark 18" and that is a perfect lower-pitched counterpoint dark crash sound.
Hi. I'm a Zildjian lover. I loved the K Custom Dark crash, as my favourite, But I also liked and was pleasantly surprised by the Meinl Vintage Sand. Lovely dark sound.
The Pure Alloy and the Paiste Signature were my favorites. They’re the perfect balance between bright and dark, and they really open up, especially that Paiste. Thanks for the comparison!
Hands down you do the best comparisons of any drum channel. I'm a huge Zildjian player. To be fair, I did this test with my eyes closed. Then with my eyes open and boy was I surprised. My two fav's are the Meinl AA pure alloy then the Paiste signature full. The ear wants what the ear wants, however my heart is now broken.
Thank you DCP. We are lucky to have such diversity of selection and sound these days, but it’s certainly not easy to compare the range in person. You guys do a great job with your videos and represent all the companies so well. They should be delighted with your efforts.
Wish ya'll had included an 18" 2002 Paiste Red Label Medium, the cornerstone of all Paiste crashes. I've had one for years, and you can do almost anything with it. So versatile. Crashes beautifully, loves mallet crescendos, a great timbale crash, and a nice light ride when played with lighter sticks. Great video. Thank you.
Your vídeos are simply brilliant. The intro is short and to the point (just the right amount of talk: the playing does the talking). The camera angles, the video resolution, the editing, the font size and type - everything is top notch. You have set the standard by which every music instrument demo should be measured against. You have indeed set the bar high. Credit whee credit is due. Keep it up guys.
I dont normally like Paiste, but that Signature Full was really nice! Bright and full like the name implies. Kinda fills the gap in my set's sound I'm looking for. That Meinl Pure Alloy was nice too. But the Zildjian Thin still decays nice and quick, which is kind of what I want for a punk-rock crash. Tough choices!
Best crash cymbal demo video I've seen in years. Simple, concise and to the point. Excellent job! (Call me old school, but the plain ol Sabian AA and the Zildjian A's were my faves.)
Yeah man it's hard to beat those. My kit has all Zildjian A's and they all sound great together as a set. 14" Mastersound hats 14" Thin Crash 16" Thin Crash 18" Thin Crash 22" Ping Ride 18" China
aaaaaaaand I’ll take every one of these cymbals! Lol Seriously can’t go wrong, these are the best of the best from these manufacturers and each fits its own style perfectly! Great vid!
Exactly.. they all sound pretty damn good to me. I listen to so many different bands/ drummers .how could you NOT want as many sound options as possible
The Formula 602 and Vintage Sand are my personal favorites from here! Though the Masters series is perhaps my favorite cymbal line up of all time! Loving the comparisons, guys! Great work!
I love comparison videos! Nice job. For me, I really liked the Istanbuls and the tonal characteristics of the Meinls. I love the sound of those two together in a setup!
zildijan and agop (istanbul cymbals) was borther back then as i remembered. when their father died both decided to go own ways. think about that if they stayed together and crate cymbas ? İstanbul and Zildijan mixed sounds ? omg !!!!
Interesting to hear. It was actually my last favorite, together with the meinl alloy one. Just goes to show how different tastes are. My favorites were the Istanbul agop signature and the meinl sand. I reckon for people who dig bright(ish) crashes, the paiste signature full crash is tough to beat.
Or any other Turkish-made cymbals... There are so many great Turkish companies, and the best thing is that they're much more affordable (at least here in Europe) than Zildjian/Sabian/Paiste/Meinl, but they are on the same level in terms of quality. Another good thing is that they don't make entry level crap, but only professional handmade cymbals made of B20 alloy. Istanbul Mehmet, Diril, Impression, Bosphorus, Istanbul Agop, Anatolian, Symrna... There are so many great options!
@@markomarkovic5729 Indeed. My favorite Turkish cymbal brand is Amedia...Their Old School series has insane stick definition and immaculate overtones/wash.
@@MyRsHaCKSdUNWORK I've never had the chance to try Amedia cymbals, but I guess they're great. I am currently delighted with some series of Diril cymbals (Silk and Special), and I can't wait to get my hands on them.
I’ve owned Zildjian K, A, Istanbul, but never Paiste- which sounded amazing here. Your comparison videos are the best on the internet. Thanks and keep it uP!!
They ALL sound great to me. But there's always been something about the Zildjian A series that have been my go to for most applications. They always seem to be the cheaper of the bunch too. I recently picked up a flawless used Medium Thin for $80 at my local pawn shop.
Istanbul Agop Traditional Paper Thin, Meinl Byzance Vintage Sand Medium, Paiste 602 Modern Essentials, Paiste Signature Full were my winners. Great video!
I don't know what's the situation in the USA, but Turkish-made cymbals are also much more affordable than Zildjian/Sabian/Paiste/Meinl here in Europe. There are so many great Turkish companies, you just have to choose the cymbal you like.
@@markomarkovic5729 Yes, the major rule is that many Turkish cymbals are a bit cheaper here in Europe. But the Agops are at the same price level with Zildjian, Meinl and Sabian, at least here in Finland. Some of their Anniversary cymbals cost nearly 700 euros. Boshorus is a bit cheaper and then there comes the rest. And Paiste - it has a cloud high price policy as always...
@@seppoinnanen5577 I didn't know that. They are a lot cheaper than the Big 4 here in Serbia, and cost for about 20% less than in EU countries, because there are a lot of people who import cymbals directly from Turkey and then sell them online. Btw, for some reason, here's much bigger selection of Istanbul Mehmet than Agop, and Tony Williams tribute are the most expensive - HH is 500€, and 22" ride is about 400, which is still less than K custom or Paiste Signature. On the other hand, Zildjian/Paiste/Sabian/Meinl cost for about 20-30% more than in other EU countries.
@Kaan B Mehmet and Agop are about 20-30% cheaper here in Serbia than on Thomann. You probably know better than me that entire Byzance series are hand hammered in Turkey, I think in Diril factory and several Diril series are modeled on Byzance and I would say they sound fantastic. The next cymbals I will buy will surely be Diril Silk or Shehrazad. The only thing that Turkish manufacturers could fix is the logo and the inscription, which quickly fades. Everything else is of exceptional quality. Greetings from Belgrade😀
Great video (as always)! The test pattern combining wash-riding, single hits and choke allows the cymbals to really show their potential. I also like the choice of cymbals! This is the second cymbal comparison I "watched" blindly, coming to the conclusion that my favorites are the Paiste 602 and the Zildjian K Dark. My Agop Xists sound quite similar, albeit a tiny bit less refined. They have the moderate brilliance of the 602s and the smokey timbre and bite of the Ks and cost about 3/5 of the big brands' respective models.
Paiste Full, and Zildjian K were my favorites. I also didn't hate the Sabian HHX. But to be honest, I didn't hear a single cymbal that I thought sounded bad, they were all really good.
@@ivanbajovic3476 Ivane, nećeš pogrešiti šta god da uzmeš. Imaš gomilu turskih proizvođača, i svi rokaju ručno kovane činele od B20 legure bronze. Imaš i Istanbul Mehmet, Diril, Murat Diril, Impression, Symrna, Bosphorus, Turkish, Masterwork... U principu ti je svaka činela jedinstvena, čak i iz iste serije, baš zato što su ručno rađene. Ne znam odakle si, ali ovde u Srbiji imaš baš ogroman izbor na kupujemprodajem, jer je dosta ljudi krenulo da uvozi direktno iz Turske, i čini mi se da su jeftinije i u odnosu na Hrvatsku i Sloveniju, a čak i tamo su poprilično povoljnije od ova 4 velika proizvođača (Zidljian, Sabian, Paiste, Meinl). Najbolje ti je da lično isprobaš sve činele koje ti zvuče zanimljivo, jer kao što rekoh, ne postoje dve identične. Nadam se da sam ti malkice pomogao.😃 Pozdrav druže
I was looking at something else while listening to this vid, when the Paiste Signature Full crash came on it sounded so good I had to quickly look at the vid to see what it was. Amazing sound!
Meinl Pure Alloy sounds SWEET, also liked Zildjian Custom K ... I’m very biased towards Zildjians, I mostly use Zildjians Custom & Zildjians A series (can’t beat old school).... . Very nice collection you picked out , lotta different nuances in sounds, keep up the great work... Love the videos!!! Keep em’ coming!!! Kevin McM...
I was really surprised to like 2 brands I’ve never owned before. I liked the Instanbul paper thin & the Meinl vintage sand medium. They were both super warm singing with nice wash
My ears loved the Paiste Signature Full, and liked the Meinl Sand. I actually use a 17" Paiste Full (main crash to my left), and an 18" Signature Mellow (to my right), I love the way they sound together. The Mellow is sort of like a "dark full" crash.
The Paiste 602 is my favourite out of these. Nice wash and a very rich tone. I have an 18" Zildjian K Dark Crash and to me they sound pretty much the same
I have to say, I think you did a great job of picking cymbals which are indicative of the capabilities of these brands. They are all fabulous - damn those zildjians are just too good to be true. Paiste 602 thin crashes and masters dark crashes are also just blindingly sensitive and gorgeous. I'd love to see a 20" video with some similar models - please include that 602 thin crash, it is perfection.
I will select my top 3 of my favorite cymbals from the list based on its sound that i liked: 1. Sabian AA Thin 18" 2. Zildjian A Thin 18" 3. Paiste 602 Modern Essentials 18" These 3 perfectly fits for Rock, Metal, Heavy Metal and Prog Music. Thanks Drum Center of Portsmouth !!!
Paiste sig, Hhx Legacy and Zildjian A is my top 3. I'm a Sabian guy but I can't deny the Signature series. Probably one of the best line of cymbals made in my opinion.
It's so interesting that people love the sigs so much - I've never been a fan. It's such a personal thing - I can't get enough of that 18" 602 ME crash
Fantastic video! A really balanced and controlled test. For me the Zildjian A cut through and sounded fantastic. The Paiste Signature also sounded mega. I was also surprised how good the second Istanbul sounded. My money would go to Zildjian though.
One thing I feel with Paiste is that they are a tad brighter & higher pitched vs what you’d expect from Zildjian & Sabian. (B20 vs B8) Which is neither a pro or a con. Just a matter of personal taste. If you like that Paiste shimmer just keep that in mind as you may want to size up. If your used to 16” & 18” B20s You may want to consider going 18” & 20” with a B8 Paiste to get the pitch your expecting? Probably explains why There are more BIG Paiste cymbals floating around. (both vintage & new) Big cymbals are “trending” now. But there seams to have always been plenty more 15” hats of 20” crashes & 22”/24” rides out there sporting Paiste logos. Or am I imagining the whole thing? 😉
Hi, my choice will go to the Sabian AA thin. I am doing a lot of live gigs! I always need something who cut throught the mix! That thin crash is versatile! I have one and I am very happy to know that DCP put one on this awesome video! Thanks!
Yeah which is weird as Sabian actually has a really nice array of sounds; trashy, dark, punchy etc but the AAs have never quite been music to my ears (pun intended!)
Gotta say as a Sabian guy a lot of their newer cymbals sound quite dull compared to their old stock, I've got a few sabians from the early 90's and mid 2000's which decay nicer. The AAX series and the HH and HHX series always seem to cut better than the AA's no matter time period though.
@@Plangentry the new Aax thin crashes sound good to me... I think Sabian is copying the A Customs with the deeper machine hammering marks and smaller bell..
I used to order gear for the shop where I used to teach, back from 97 to 07. Just about every AA, traditional or brilliant finish crash sounded like wet leather.
The Signature Fast 18 is my all-time fave, but I have had a Full 18 as well and it sounded great too. And I agree, it was head and shoulders above the rest here. The 602 sounded surprisingly good too...isn't 602 one of Paiste's value lines?
I own Paiste Signatures - they are amazing cymbals - I also have a set of Masters that are nice. Bottom line - all the cymbals in this video are great top end cymbals - it just comes down to personal preferences and maybe the setting in which you're playing in. Cool video.
@rj zander ... Artists will play whatever company gives them the best endorsement deal. Don't ever base your cymbal purchase on what the band you love plays ;-) use your ears and select accordingly. Rock on!
You basically stole my comment. I agree totally, though the Istanbul is a bit “jazzy” for my taste, the crash has more of a tail than I would like. The Meinl really surprised me because I have never been into their products. It would probably be my personal choice. But it’s hard to pick based on on little drum riff, although most of these sounded great. I think the Sabian were my least favorite, although I expected them to be one of he best. Oh well...
@@nickcharles6530 Meinl is pretty much the child of Paiste and Istanbul. Their mid range and lower high end stuff has the brightness and cut of Paiste, and their super high end stuff has the darker, earthier tones of Istanbul. Unfortunately, most music stores only have Zildjian in stock, and sometimes some Sabian cymbals, so it's relatively hard to try a Meinl cymbal out. But trust me, I've had the pleasure of trying a few out, and they blow almost every cymbal company out of the water.
Really great video guys -- both of the Meinl's are by far my favorite (love the Vintage Sand) with the Istanbul Agop right up there and the Zildjian K and Paiste 602 rounding out my top 5.
My faves were the 18 Paiste Signature Full, the 18 Zildjian A and the 18 Zildjian K Dark (I own those 2 Zildjians and bought at DCP after a sound test!)
Wow the instanbuls and meinls surprised me I’m a zildjian guy but really liked those two companies a lot. Some of my favs are 18 k custom dark thin 18 k custom hybrid 18 kerope. Great video and byyyyyyyyyyyyyye!!! 🥁
To my ears the Paiste Signature took the grand prize by a mile. Shimmery and sparkling. My second favorite - to my great surprise - was the first Meinl, followed by the A Zildjian and the Paiste 602.
Really surprised how good they all sounded. I could be happy with any of them, and I guess it goes to show that spending a little more on cymbals (none of these are especially cheap) gets you better results
The Paiste Signature Full Crash is my favorite. It sounds so much cleaner and clearer than all the others. I guess that's why I have an 18", and also a 20" that's just incredible. Think Rockenfield's Della Brown outro, wherein twice he does a quad-crash lick and really nails a big 20" last for that smooth shimmering sustain.
Im a Zildjian guy but I totally love Paiste signature series, really want a Signature ride and hats but they are sooo expensive:( But I love my A Sweet ride as well!
My personal Top 10 choices out of this DPC selection: 1. Istanbul Agop Signature 2. Istanbul Traditional Paper Thin 3. Sabian HHX Legacy Brilliant 4. Meinl Byzance Vintage Medium Sand 5. Meinl Pure Alloy Medium 6. Paiste 602 Modern Essentials 7. Zildjian K Custom Dark 8. Paiste Signature Full 9. Zildjian A Thin Crash 10. Sabian AA Thin Crash
The Zildjian A and the Sabian AA sounds exactly the same to my ears. So does the Paiste 602 and the Zildjian K Custom. Thanks for the video! Awesome as usual.
The PAISTE Signature Full Crash is a superb cymbal, but I thought that here it was marginally outshone by the Formula 602 Modern Essentials, which is a big surprise. The Meinl Pure Alloy gets an honorable mention, but I wouldn't let any of the other ones near my kit.
Some heavy crashes are only able to open up properly when they reach 18", but if you want a powerful 16" crash that doesn't sound like a gong, try a PAISTE Signature Power Crash.
@David Calderon Actually - amazingly - I have one of those, but it is just a little bit too thin (with a low undertone) to have above my hi-hat. I was thinking of moving it over to the right of my ride cymbal, and having a 16 Power (with a high undertone, but a nice spread for a 16) on the left, as a high crash. Bear in mind, this is for a small set-up, with my very best Twenty Series Full Ride and Hi-hats. I have great respect for the Signature Full range, and I think they stand up against anything the other manufacturers can produce, but they're really expensive, and I'm afraid of breaking them, because I am a bit of a neanderthal. However, my regular set-up has a PAISTE 2002 (black label) Heavy Rock Bottom (!) Hi-hat on top of a Sound Edge Rude Bottom, an 18" Rude Crash/Ride on the left; a 20" Signature Full Ride and an Alpha 18" Rock Crash on the right. It works for me in most situations, apart from jazz-prog, and I would have a completely different set-up for that anyway - more toms and cymbals, bells, splashes and chinas etc. I've even come up with a stack, but it's pretentious bullshit IMHO. I know what you're saying though, the 16" Signature Power Crash does sound a bit like a Rude, though, in my opinion at least, it does have more depth, complexity and musicality than any of the B8s. Thanks for the up.
The *Istanbul Agop Traditional Paper Thin 18"* was a pleasant surprise. It has a beautiful wash with a nice spread of high frequencies. No irritating "clang" and no overbearing low fundamental frequency dominating the sustain. It sounds natural and beautiful even at a light touch. I've never played Istanbuls, but that one was probably *my favorite* in this shoot-out.
Istanbul Agop Signature 18" 1:09
Istanbul Agop Traditional Paper Thin 18" 1:31
Sabian AA Thin 18" 1:56
Sabian HHX Legacy Brilliant 18" 2:20
Meinl Pure Alloy Medium 18" 2:42
Meinl Byzance Vintage Sand Medium 18" 3:08
Paiste 602 Modern Essentials 18" 3:32
Paiste Signature Full 18" 3:57
Zildjian K Custom Dark 18" 4:24
Zildjian A Thin 18" 4:50
Thank you
Thank you!!
Best comment ever!
Thank you!
thanks!
I appreciate that you play the same thing for each cymbal.
They all sound fantastic, just different. I don't think you could go wrong with any of them.
Most def not
Tara Drott some paiste and Sabian and a Meinl too bright. Wish they would have done Meinl byzance.. A little bright but nicer than zildjian A and Byzance really good for rock and pop...
Agreed. However... I've never liked any of the Istanbuls that I've played. A bit too harsh for me.
@@lindamagee3307 .. They did play a Byzance. 6th cymbal. It sounded really nice. As far as A series goes... in my opinion... a 16" thin A series rules the 16" realm. love those things. I've been through 3 in 37 years and logged 10,000 plus ours on them. The best 18" I've ever played is a K Dark Medium Thin. They never mention the weight in this video, but this one sounds brighter than mine.
paiste 2002, crafted better than any for a bright vibrant sound, so many other are just gimmicks.
i love how everyone has a different favourite cymbal it’s so cool to see everyone’s personal tastes
The Instanbul Agop Signature 18 is the reason to watch this video again and again...and thank you for the fantastic comparison!!!
Agreed. 100%. 😛
They stand out
quite amazing sound
I have bought 2 and kept the one i liked better. It was the lighter one. Till today it amazes me, how wide spectrum of sounds it has. Not just dry, but depends on how and how hard you hit it. Is also rather quiter..
Ditto!
That Paiste Signature full crash is the class of the video, but damn that Sabian HHX Legacy sounds spectacular as well.
I agree. When I think crash, my mind's ear looks for what the Paiste Signature delivers. I have a 16" and it's my workhorse. I also have the Zildjian K Custom Dark 18" and that is a perfect lower-pitched counterpoint dark crash sound.
Hi. I'm a Zildjian lover. I loved the K Custom Dark crash, as my favourite, But I also liked and was pleasantly surprised by the Meinl Vintage Sand. Lovely dark sound.
I closed my eyes and only opened them if I really like it and it was those two as well. Those were the only ones I opened my eyes for
K Custom and Meinl Sand sounded the most natural and balanced to me as well.👍
Signature did it for me. You guys keep killing it! thanks!
The Pure Alloy and the Paiste Signature were my favorites. They’re the perfect balance between bright and dark, and they really open up, especially that Paiste. Thanks for the comparison!
Hands down you do the best comparisons of any drum channel. I'm a huge Zildjian player. To be fair, I did this test with my eyes closed. Then with my eyes open and boy was I surprised. My two fav's are the Meinl AA pure alloy then the Paiste signature full. The ear wants what the ear wants, however my heart is now broken.
exactly my two favorites !! did a blind test, as well ;)
Same! I used to be a huge Zildjian fan until I found Paiste and Sabian. I was like broooo🤣
me too
Thank you DCP. We are lucky to have such diversity of selection and sound these days, but it’s certainly not easy to compare the range in person. You guys do a great job with your videos and represent all the companies so well. They should be delighted with your efforts.
Thank you for the kind words, and I am glad you are enjoying them!
Wish ya'll had included an 18" 2002 Paiste Red Label Medium, the cornerstone of all Paiste crashes. I've had one for years, and you can do almost anything with it. So versatile. Crashes beautifully, loves mallet crescendos, a great timbale crash, and a nice light ride when played with lighter sticks. Great video. Thank you.
Your vídeos are simply brilliant.
The intro is short and to the point (just the right amount of talk: the playing does the talking).
The camera angles, the video resolution, the editing, the font size and type - everything is top notch.
You have set the standard by which every music instrument demo should be measured against. You have indeed set the bar high.
Credit whee credit is due. Keep it up guys.
You can't see it, but we're blushing. Thanks, Andy!
Your videos are just the best! Head to Head - my blind test results:
1. Paiste Signature Full
2. Meinl Pure Alloy
3. Meinl Byzance Vintage Sand
totally agree with your list.
I dont normally like Paiste, but that Signature Full was really nice! Bright and full like the name implies. Kinda fills the gap in my set's sound I'm looking for. That Meinl Pure Alloy was nice too. But the Zildjian Thin still decays nice and quick, which is kind of what I want for a punk-rock crash. Tough choices!
same for Paiste
Loved the Paiste signature, lovely bright wet sound
Best crash cymbal demo video I've seen in years. Simple, concise and to the point. Excellent job! (Call me old school, but the plain ol Sabian AA and the Zildjian A's were my faves.)
Yeah man it's hard to beat those. My kit has all Zildjian A's and they all sound great together as a set.
14" Mastersound hats
14" Thin Crash
16" Thin Crash
18" Thin Crash
22" Ping Ride
18" China
aaaaaaaand I’ll take every one of these cymbals! Lol
Seriously can’t go wrong, these are the best of the best from these manufacturers and each fits its own style perfectly! Great vid!
Exactly.. they all sound pretty damn good to me. I listen to so many different bands/ drummers .how could you NOT want as many sound options as possible
Facts
unrelated, but that snare drum punched my soul
beech drums are the best sounding out there
i knowwwww it sounded fucking awesome
*hole
Agreed! that kit sounded good!
The Formula 602 and Vintage Sand are my personal favorites from here! Though the Masters series is perhaps my favorite cymbal line up of all time! Loving the comparisons, guys! Great work!
I love comparison videos! Nice job. For me, I really liked the Istanbuls and the tonal characteristics of the Meinls. I love the sound of those two together in a setup!
Best drummers and Paiste Signatures have one thing in common - they’re both instantly recognizable.
Zildjian A is still a classic. Sounds great.
I prefer the A Custom cymbals myself.
zildijan and agop (istanbul cymbals) was borther back then as i remembered. when their father died both decided to go own ways. think about that if they stayed together and crate cymbas ? İstanbul and Zildijan mixed sounds ? omg !!!!
Personally I like the pure alloys but Zildjian is sweeeeeeeeeeeeet
Also K
Had a 17 in. thin A crash about 40 years ago-I can still hear it in my head. It just sounded like the “perfect” crash.👍
I’m a Sabian guy, but that Paiste Signature sounds the best, IMO
I agree!
I'm a Paiste guy and I just bought some Sabian AAs.
I was looking on another screen and turned my head when I heard the Paiste's, sooo good.
I agree 100%. Runner-up Zildjian A Thin. Something about the Meinls that make me go WTF are they trying to do?
I love my 18inch Paiste 2002 but that Signature sounds pretty sweet. The Meinl pure and Sabian HHX sounded good too.
Sabian HHX Legacy Brilliant 18'' ... in this case, my favorite
Interesting to hear. It was actually my last favorite, together with the meinl alloy one. Just goes to show how different tastes are. My favorites were the Istanbul agop signature and the meinl sand. I reckon for people who dig bright(ish) crashes, the paiste signature full crash is tough to beat.
Its so buttery, definitly the best one here
Agree
mee too
I didn't know that the Legacy cymbals have brilliant finish... or is this a special series?
Nothing beats the musicality of the istanbuls.
Or any other Turkish-made cymbals... There are so many great Turkish companies, and the best thing is that they're much more affordable (at least here in Europe) than Zildjian/Sabian/Paiste/Meinl, but they are on the same level in terms of quality. Another good thing is that they don't make entry level crap, but only professional handmade cymbals made of B20 alloy. Istanbul Mehmet, Diril, Impression, Bosphorus, Istanbul Agop, Anatolian, Symrna... There are so many great options!
Istanbul’s ALL DAY ✊🏾
@@markomarkovic5729 Indeed. My favorite Turkish cymbal brand is Amedia...Their Old School series has insane stick definition and immaculate overtones/wash.
Agop or Mehmet? I like Mehmet stuff more.
@@MyRsHaCKSdUNWORK I've never had the chance to try Amedia cymbals, but I guess they're great. I am currently delighted with some series of Diril cymbals (Silk and Special), and I can't wait to get my hands on them.
I’ve owned Zildjian K, A, Istanbul, but never Paiste- which sounded amazing here. Your comparison videos are the best on the internet. Thanks and keep it uP!!
They ALL sound great to me. But there's always been something about the Zildjian A series that have been my go to for most applications. They always seem to be the cheaper of the bunch too. I recently picked up a flawless used Medium Thin for $80 at my local pawn shop.
The drummer playing truly brought out the sound of the cymbals
Istanbul Agop Traditional Paper Thin, Meinl Byzance Vintage Sand Medium, Paiste 602 Modern Essentials, Paiste Signature Full were my winners. Great video!
I liked:
Istanbul Agop Traditional
Sabian HHX Legacy
Meinl Sand
Paiste Signature
Zildjian K Custom
Nice on of each!
Who are you... me???? Lol. 👍🙏😛
I agree 100%
Man, those Agop sounds absolutely great!
I don't know what's the situation in the USA, but Turkish-made cymbals are also much more affordable than Zildjian/Sabian/Paiste/Meinl here in Europe. There are so many great Turkish companies, you just have to choose the cymbal you like.
@@markomarkovic5729 Yes, the major rule is that many Turkish cymbals are a bit cheaper here in Europe. But the Agops are at the same price level with Zildjian, Meinl and Sabian, at least here in Finland. Some of their Anniversary cymbals cost nearly 700 euros. Boshorus is a bit cheaper and then there comes the rest. And Paiste - it has a cloud high price policy as always...
@@seppoinnanen5577 I didn't know that. They are a lot cheaper than the Big 4 here in Serbia, and cost for about 20% less than in EU countries, because there are a lot of people who import cymbals directly from Turkey and then sell them online. Btw, for some reason, here's much bigger selection of Istanbul Mehmet than Agop, and Tony Williams tribute are the most expensive - HH is 500€, and 22" ride is about 400, which is still less than K custom or Paiste Signature. On the other hand, Zildjian/Paiste/Sabian/Meinl cost for about 20-30% more than in other EU countries.
Istanbul the best to me
@Kaan B Mehmet and Agop are about 20-30% cheaper here in Serbia than on Thomann. You probably know better than me that entire Byzance series are hand hammered in Turkey, I think in Diril factory and several Diril series are modeled on Byzance and I would say they sound fantastic. The next cymbals I will buy will surely be Diril Silk or Shehrazad. The only thing that Turkish manufacturers could fix is the logo and the inscription, which quickly fades. Everything else is of exceptional quality. Greetings from Belgrade😀
Great video (as always)! The test pattern combining wash-riding, single hits and choke allows the cymbals to really show their potential. I also like the choice of cymbals!
This is the second cymbal comparison I "watched" blindly, coming to the conclusion that my favorites are the Paiste 602 and the Zildjian K Dark. My Agop Xists sound quite similar, albeit a tiny bit less refined. They have the moderate brilliance of the 602s and the smokey timbre and bite of the Ks and cost about 3/5 of the big brands' respective models.
Paiste Full, and Zildjian K were my favorites. I also didn't hate the Sabian HHX. But to be honest, I didn't hear a single cymbal that I thought sounded bad, they were all really good.
Sabian HHX Legacy and Meinl Byzance Sand! Hear how the Sand crash volume decays at the end...so good. These two were the best in my opinion.
As a Turkish man i can say we're making the best cymbals in the world.. İstanbul Agop Series kill the all others :)
Which is better Istanbul Agop or Anatolian cymbals
@@ivanbajovic3476 Ivane, nećeš pogrešiti šta god da uzmeš. Imaš gomilu turskih proizvođača, i svi rokaju ručno kovane činele od B20 legure bronze. Imaš i Istanbul Mehmet, Diril, Murat Diril, Impression, Symrna, Bosphorus, Turkish, Masterwork... U principu ti je svaka činela jedinstvena, čak i iz iste serije, baš zato što su ručno rađene. Ne znam odakle si, ali ovde u Srbiji imaš baš ogroman izbor na kupujemprodajem, jer je dosta ljudi krenulo da uvozi direktno iz Turske, i čini mi se da su jeftinije i u odnosu na Hrvatsku i Sloveniju, a čak i tamo su poprilično povoljnije od ova 4 velika proizvođača (Zidljian, Sabian, Paiste, Meinl). Najbolje ti je da lično isprobaš sve činele koje ti zvuče zanimljivo, jer kao što rekoh, ne postoje dve identične. Nadam se da sam ti malkice pomogao.😃 Pozdrav druže
@@ivanbajovic3476 agop series. Specially i recommend to you agop xist series.
Best cymbals in the world by far come from Turkey.
Have to agree. The sustain of the paper thin is out of this world.
I was looking at something else while listening to this vid, when the Paiste Signature Full crash came on it sounded so good I had to quickly look at the vid to see what it was. Amazing sound!
The most interesting thing I got from this video is how similar these different cymbals sound. All of them could work in most musical situations.
Great comparison to have in one video, especially the end, single crashes!! Thank you!!
Very interesting! I didn’t expect to like some of these as much as I did. Y
Thanks, guys.
Meinl Pure Alloy sounds SWEET, also liked Zildjian Custom K ... I’m very biased towards Zildjians, I mostly use Zildjians Custom & Zildjians A series (can’t beat old school).... . Very nice collection you picked out , lotta different nuances in sounds, keep up the great work... Love the videos!!! Keep em’ coming!!! Kevin McM...
Thanks Kevin!
I was really surprised to like 2 brands I’ve never owned before. I liked the Instanbul paper thin & the Meinl vintage sand medium. They were both super warm singing with nice wash
Lots of great sounding cymbals - thanks for putting this together!
My ears loved the Paiste Signature Full, and liked the Meinl Sand.
I actually use a 17" Paiste Full (main crash to my left), and an 18" Signature Mellow (to my right), I love the way they sound together.
The Mellow is sort of like a "dark full" crash.
I love the sound of paiste signature crashes .
Zildjian K Dark - Paiste Signature Full. Those are my guys! Love em!
The Paiste 602 is my favourite out of these. Nice wash and a very rich tone. I have an 18" Zildjian K Dark Crash and to me they sound pretty much the same
Agreed
I have to say, I think you did a great job of picking cymbals which are indicative of the capabilities of these brands. They are all fabulous - damn those zildjians are just too good to be true. Paiste 602 thin crashes and masters dark crashes are also just blindingly sensitive and gorgeous. I'd love to see a 20" video with some similar models - please include that 602 thin crash, it is perfection.
Great idea, Simon. Thanks for the feedback and for watching!
I will select my top 3 of my favorite cymbals from the list based on its sound that i liked:
1. Sabian AA Thin 18"
2. Zildjian A Thin 18"
3. Paiste 602 Modern Essentials 18"
These 3 perfectly fits for Rock, Metal, Heavy Metal and Prog Music.
Thanks Drum Center of Portsmouth !!!
And now on cymbals...Paiste Signature Full 18" no doubt about that
The Paiste signature, all the istanbul crashes, K custom dark sounded the best
Paiste sig, Hhx Legacy and Zildjian A is my top 3. I'm a Sabian guy but I can't deny the Signature series. Probably one of the best line of cymbals made in my opinion.
It's so interesting that people love the sigs so much - I've never been a fan. It's such a personal thing - I can't get enough of that 18" 602 ME crash
Fantastic video! A really balanced and controlled test. For me the Zildjian A cut through and sounded fantastic. The Paiste Signature also sounded mega. I was also surprised how good the second Istanbul sounded. My money would go to Zildjian though.
For rock Paiste Signature Full crash is my choice!
Alberto Cubito hands down. Rock, pop, funk, top 40. Makes a nice low volume ride too
I thought the Signature sounded best too
Exactly.
One thing I feel with Paiste is that they are a tad brighter & higher pitched vs what you’d expect from Zildjian & Sabian. (B20 vs B8)
Which is neither a pro or a con.
Just a matter of personal taste.
If you like that Paiste shimmer just keep that in mind as you may want to size up.
If your used to 16” & 18” B20s You may want to consider going 18” & 20” with a B8 Paiste to get the pitch your expecting?
Probably explains why There are more BIG Paiste cymbals floating around. (both vintage & new)
Big cymbals are “trending” now.
But there seams to have always been plenty more 15” hats of 20” crashes & 22”/24” rides out there sporting Paiste logos.
Or am I imagining the whole thing? 😉
@@Groovedump Signatures are the B15 "Signature Alloy"
Wow it is the first time I actually heard the Paiste Signature! Sounds great. A good partner for my As to Signature.
Paiste Signature Full 18" FOR THE WIN!
It sounds great. My cymbals are all Zildjan, but that crash sounds really nice. It's so bright.
I have to agree with you on that comment.
Hands down
Im getting this w my Mapex 1 up 2 down crossover kit. The hats are nice in this vid too..
Using one for 4 years , it's just awesome every time
Paiste signature full
Zildjian K custom dark
Zildjian A thin
In no particular order but those had my attention!
Thank you gentlemen! It was great...Glad I have my Zildjian As
This was great. Thank you for demoing these. The Meinl Byzance Vintage Sand Medium and the Zildjian K Custom Dark were my favorites.
PAISTE Signature 18" The best there is! Higher pitches and sounds like glass. That's all I ever use!
Gotta be with you man!!
Paiste cymbals must be good if drummers like David Silveria (Korn) & Rob Bourdon (Linkin Park) use them!!!
Frank Pisano All day, everyday!
The sound of Tool!
The Meinl and Istanbul are really impressive to me. The K's are also very nice.
Meinl pure alloy has really soothing tonal quality... And very useful video abt crash comparisons. 👍
Hi, my choice will go to the Sabian AA thin. I am doing a lot of live gigs! I always need something who cut throught the mix! That thin crash is versatile! I have one and I am very happy to know that DCP put one on this awesome video! Thanks!
Paiste Full is like glass shattering. I love that cymbal!
That AA sounded like there was a huge piece of duct tape on it
Yeah I noticed Sabian AA sounded taped up too. Zildjian A thin sounded similar, but sustained nicely compared to Sabian AA thin.
Yeah which is weird as Sabian actually has a really nice array of sounds; trashy, dark, punchy etc but the AAs have never quite been music to my ears (pun intended!)
Gotta say as a Sabian guy a lot of their newer cymbals sound quite dull compared to their old stock, I've got a few sabians from the early 90's and mid 2000's which decay nicer. The AAX series and the HH and HHX series always seem to cut better than the AA's no matter time period though.
@@Plangentry the new Aax thin crashes sound good to me... I think Sabian is copying the A Customs with the deeper machine hammering marks and smaller bell..
I used to order gear for the shop where I used to teach, back from 97 to 07.
Just about every AA, traditional or brilliant finish crash sounded like wet leather.
I listened to the demo with eyes closed. My fav was the HHX legacy brilliant. Just glorious. Dark undertones with a bright, clear attack
Paiste Signature just destroys all competition at the first hit. IMHO the most sophisticated sounds available, zero EQ needed.
Well, it's my favorite too, but I like Sabian Legacy too and Zildjian A isn't too bad as well.
Easily Paiste Signature
interesting how different taste can be.. i liked almost every other cymbal in this video more than the Paiste Signature
The Signature Fast 18 is my all-time fave, but I have had a Full 18 as well and it sounded great too. And I agree, it was head and shoulders above the rest here. The 602 sounded surprisingly good too...isn't 602 one of Paiste's value lines?
@@christiansmyth1466 602 isn't a value line. It is a professional cymbal line.
love my 18" paiste signature. one of the first cymbals i ever got and will never let it go
I own Paiste Signatures - they are amazing cymbals - I also have a set of Masters that are nice. Bottom line - all the cymbals in this video are great top end cymbals - it just comes down to personal preferences and maybe the setting in which you're playing in. Cool video.
Those Zildjian sound amazing and Istanbul!
Swiss Alps. Swiss watches. Swiss chocolate. Swiss bank account. Swiss perfection = PAISTE
Guys, yet again, another great comparison video !
Viagra is Swiss too ;)
@rj zander ... Artists will play whatever company gives them the best endorsement deal. Don't ever base your cymbal purchase on what the band you love plays ;-) use your ears and select accordingly. Rock on!
@rj zander Peart played Zildjian then switched to Sabian when they created his own line.
Probably one of the better filmed and edited cymbal comparison videos out there 👌👌
Zildjian all the way but I will say the Paiste full was impressive. Good comparison format. Thanks!
i just loved watching them all flex and bend in the light reflections
Istanbul and Meinl impressed me the most. More of a full sound with those cymbals
You basically stole my comment. I agree totally, though the Istanbul is a bit “jazzy” for my taste, the crash has more of a tail than I would like. The Meinl really surprised me because I have never been into their products. It would probably be my personal choice. But it’s hard to pick based on on little drum riff, although most of these sounded great. I think the Sabian were my least favorite, although I expected them to be one of he best. Oh well...
@@nickcharles6530 Meinl is pretty much the child of Paiste and Istanbul. Their mid range and lower high end stuff has the brightness and cut of Paiste, and their super high end stuff has the darker, earthier tones of Istanbul. Unfortunately, most music stores only have Zildjian in stock, and sometimes some Sabian cymbals, so it's relatively hard to try a Meinl cymbal out. But trust me, I've had the pleasure of trying a few out, and they blow almost every cymbal company out of the water.
@@nickcharles6530 meinl should be made for you, because (as a mostly meinl - player) i have all the same opinions like you here
those Sabian hi hats here sound great however on a sabian note.
My go to crash has always been the K dark, but I was also very pleased with the meinl pure alloy in this video.
To my ears, nothing sounds better than Paiste Signature Bronze. Just outstanding.
Really great video guys -- both of the Meinl's are by far my favorite (love the Vintage Sand) with the Istanbul Agop right up there and the Zildjian K and Paiste 602 rounding out my top 5.
Thanks, Billy.
My faves were the 18 Paiste Signature Full, the 18 Zildjian A and the 18 Zildjian K Dark (I own those 2 Zildjians and bought at DCP after a sound test!)
this is an excellent comparison video, i keep coming back to it. well done lads.
Paiste all the way down!! Incredible sound, amazing finish and durability!
Rick Delair cool man! Thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts! And yeah, we can’t go wrong choosing Paiste!!
Istanbul Agop Traditional Paper thin 18 is da best..
I agree sir .
Totally agree!!!! 💯
Did you not hear the byzance?
@@thatguysson8241 a little to dark for me.
Best?
Paiste Signature Full 18" the best here, definitely
It's not even that close. I'm going to have to buy some to compliment my 2002's
I agree with you. They're rather expensive but damn do they sound nice.
Yes they've got some guts.....
Yes they sound rich & crisp..
Istanbul Agop paper thin IMO.
The agopop signature and Meinl vintage sand are amazing
Wow the instanbuls and meinls surprised me I’m a zildjian guy but really liked those two companies a lot. Some of my favs are 18 k custom dark thin 18 k custom hybrid 18 kerope. Great video and byyyyyyyyyyyyyye!!! 🥁
Really enjoying the videos you’ll are putting out.
Thanks, Buck. We're glad you enjoy them!
We get to a point that it's all about your preferences. I liked a lot the 2 Meinl and Paiste Signature, but would be very happy with any of them.
Paiste Signature Full 18" is the best for me
Agree 100%
Agree❤
man! that snare drum sound is absolutely awesome!
Those Paiste Signatures are something else aren't they
They are some finely crafted instruments, no doubt! Thanks for watching, John!
Imo anything not made of B20 gives off a "starter box" sound.
To my ears the Paiste Signature took the grand prize by a mile. Shimmery and sparkling. My second favorite - to my great surprise - was the first Meinl, followed by the A Zildjian and the Paiste 602.
Really surprised how good they all sounded. I could be happy with any of them, and I guess it goes to show that spending a little more on cymbals (none of these are especially cheap) gets you better results
The Paiste Signature Full Crash is my favorite. It sounds so much cleaner and clearer than all the others. I guess that's why I have an 18", and also a 20" that's just incredible. Think Rockenfield's Della Brown outro, wherein twice he does a quad-crash lick and really nails a big 20" last for that smooth shimmering sustain.
Im a Zildjian guy but I totally love Paiste signature series, really want a Signature ride and hats but they are sooo expensive:( But I love my A Sweet ride as well!
Paiste signature are worth the money. Five to Ten years down the line you will be happy you got them. Paiste are GREAT!!
👍🏼 EXCELLENT demonstration video! I'm diggin' the Zildjian K myself, and the Paiste 602 as well. NICE stuff!
My personal Top 10 choices out of this DPC selection:
1. Istanbul Agop Signature
2. Istanbul Traditional Paper Thin
3. Sabian HHX Legacy Brilliant
4. Meinl Byzance Vintage Medium Sand
5. Meinl Pure Alloy Medium
6. Paiste 602 Modern Essentials
7. Zildjian K Custom Dark
8. Paiste Signature Full
9. Zildjian A Thin Crash
10. Sabian AA Thin Crash
The Zildjian A and the Sabian AA sounds exactly the same to my ears. So does the Paiste 602 and the Zildjian K Custom. Thanks for the video! Awesome as usual.
The PAISTE Signature Full Crash is a superb cymbal, but I thought that here it was marginally outshone by the Formula 602 Modern Essentials, which is a big surprise. The Meinl Pure Alloy gets an honorable mention, but I wouldn't let any of the other ones near my kit.
Awesome comparison, thanks! Lots of great choices there, but the winners for me are the Istanbul Agop!
I don't like 18" cymbals but the Paiste Signature Full and the Zildjian A Thin were the best for me.
@David Calderon Some people just don't like standard sizes...relax. For example I don't like most standard sizes for rock, jazz etc.
OMG I didn't know there were other people like me who didn't like 18 inch cymbals!
@David Calderon Some people plays Latin or some sorts of Folk music and use smaller cymbals
Some heavy crashes are only able to open up properly when they reach 18", but if you want a powerful 16" crash that doesn't sound like a gong, try a PAISTE Signature Power Crash.
@David Calderon Actually - amazingly - I have one of those, but it is just a little bit too thin (with a low undertone) to have above my hi-hat. I was thinking of moving it over to the right of my ride cymbal, and having a 16 Power (with a high undertone, but a nice spread for a 16) on the left, as a high crash. Bear in mind, this is for a small set-up, with my very best Twenty Series Full Ride and Hi-hats. I have great respect for the Signature Full range, and I think they stand up against anything the other manufacturers can produce, but they're really expensive, and I'm afraid of breaking them, because I am a bit of a neanderthal. However, my regular set-up has a PAISTE 2002 (black label) Heavy Rock Bottom (!) Hi-hat on top of a Sound Edge Rude Bottom, an 18" Rude Crash/Ride on the left; a 20" Signature Full Ride and an Alpha 18" Rock Crash on the right. It works for me in most situations, apart from jazz-prog, and I would have a completely different set-up for that anyway - more toms and cymbals, bells, splashes and chinas etc. I've even come up with a stack, but it's pretentious bullshit IMHO. I know what you're saying though, the 16" Signature Power Crash does sound a bit like a Rude, though, in my opinion at least, it does have more depth, complexity and musicality than any of the B8s. Thanks for the up.
I have a paiste signature 18 full crash in my kit. Awesome cymbal!!
thank God! A cymbal review whilst actually playing the f*ing drums!!! Thankx, much help
Thanks for watching, we appreciate you!
The Meinl Pure Alloy, The Paiste Sig and the regular Zil A were my faves.