I Don't Like Sabian (But These Sound Great) // Sabian HHX Complex Review
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- Опубліковано 27 чер 2021
- Although I love all cymbals, I'm usually not a Sabian guy. Today I'm playing and reviewing what are probably my favorite cymbals from Sabian in a long time - the HHX Complex series.
Not only that, but we're pitting them head to head against some of my favorite hand-picked Meinls to see how they stack up.
Let me know what you think, and thanks for watching!
Sabian demo: 4:20
Meinl demo: 6:20
Back to back: 7:37
Gear used:
DW Collector's Series Santa Monica Drums
George Way Aristocrat Snare
Sabians:
HHX Complex
15" medium hats
18" thin crash
19" thin crash
22" medium ride
Meinls:
Byzance
16" hi hats (Traditional medium thin crash over Extra Dry thin crash)
19" Traditional medium thin crash
20" Brilliant medium crash
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HHX Complex are amazing. I would encourage everyone to check them out, and always keep in mind that hand-hammered cymbals differ from cymbal to cymbal. Try a bunch out until you find the set that speaks to you. Legacy is also a really cool line, as is the new HHX.
Spot on!
These go well with the legacy
My current setup is Sabian:
15” HHX Legacy Hats (very buttery smooth hats)
22” HHX Complex thin crash
22” Artisan Light ride
20” HHX Complex crash
I find that this setup works with just about anything but leans a little towards Meinl’s Byzance Traditional line of cymbals. Great demo dude!
Legacy’s and Artisans are definitely up there for me. I didn’t even realize they did a 22” Complex Crash - I’ll bet that one’s insane!
David, can you record quick demo with these lovely cymbals?
Solid set up man! I agree the 15” Legacy hats are “buttery” lol
I use the 23” HHX Complex medium ride as my main ride. Need to invest in some Artisans!
How do the 15s compare to the 15 K light hats? I want to get rid of my lights for the complex, but I really want to know for sure that the complex's aren't too dark and warm
Thank you for making this comparison video. My tastes are very similar to yours regarding the dislike of harsh tones…. The soft, dark washy sounds of these are awesome. Great job!
I really like how both sets of cymbals hang together as a sonic unit. I think the HHX Complexes are probably closer to my preference, and the ride was especially nice and buttery. Nice job, I enjoyed your review and your playing!
I also recently re-discovered Sabian after never being a big fan. I found a 22 hhx complex thin crash that is wonderful and a used set of artisan light 15 hi hats in a brilliant finish that are the best hats ever. We are so lucky there are so many great products out there today.
You nailed it and these complex are awesome they are what Zaidjian Ks should a been .Zildjian has Fallen from grace with me.I checked out every high end K ride and sent everyone back .Problem is Zildjian screwd around with their formulas thru the years where they no longer can make a good cymbal .Mienl are very adventurous on how they approach new lines .Now Sabian has made giant strides and the HHX especially the Atrisan rides are the best I have ever heard .good video dude
I'm a Sabian Artisan guy from way back, but I am going to look into these HHX Complex pies. Your George Way Aristocrat sounds good and tasty too!!
I’m ‘ride or die’ Sabian and I LOVE the Complex line, but, that 20” Byzance Crash makes my eyes wander.
I'm a big Sabian fan for their sound but I agree that these are the nicest sounding Sabian cymbals on the market. I will have to pick up some of these, especially that thin 18 inch crash.
I've been a fan of the legacy line,and theses surprised me.Very clean sounding.
Great Demo! I play almost all Sabian with some Istanbul rides and hats that I interchange for quieter gigs. Paiste is actually my least favorite as their cymbals sound much too glassy for my ears. The Formula 602 Modern Essentials are wonderful however. Love the Meinl Foundry Reserve line too as they're a little warmer and trashier than the HHXs. Current Set up:
14" Artisan Hats Brilliant or 15" HHX Groove Hats
18" HHX Evolution Crash
18" HHX Xplosion Crash
20" HHX Xplosion Crash
22" HHX Shimmering 75 ride (#72)
18" HH China or 19" AAX Holy China
8" Paragon Splash
10" HHX Splash
I did upgrade my entire kit with these (ride, crash x2, splash, Hi-hat). They sound amazing! Proudly Canadian! 👍🏻
Sweet!
This line brought me back to Sabian… was the only full set in stock and gave me a try and I love them.
Will still get my Zildjian configuration I like but for now, these Sabina’s are more then sufficient
I got the Complex promo pack through my workplace. They really hit it out of the park with them. I would love to see them make a raw set. I bet a side-by-side of your ride and a raw version on the 22 Complex would be surprising.
I gotta say the Sabians are doing it for me here. Great sound and great playing as always
Thanks Jim! Can't fault you - those are probably the more versatile setup for sure.
Love both! I prefer your hats over the sabians just cause they sound beefier, a bit darker and have some more body to them. All around tho they all sound fantastic I really really like the 22” Sabian medium ride. Good stuff all around
Dude I have always been exactly the same way. Big Meinl guy, but I just picked up a 20” HHX Complex Thin Crash. I am blown away!
Nice!
I recently tried out a 22" hhx complex dry ride in person, and wow... It's basically perfect. Very balanced sound, and I agree with your statement that sabians in general can be a bit harsh in the midrange, definitely not the case with the hhx complex line.
these are my dream goal cymbals!! sounds very great
I use several sabian cymbals. The HH, HHX Artisan, AAX. But nothing came close to this.
The 18 and 19 " would fit perfectly with the Xtreme crashes.
I play Prog Rock music. I bet this cymbals have such an explosion that will even cut trough. Fantastic Demo. Thank you so much
HH Xcelerator hats 14
HH Customshop O Zone Splash 10
HH O Zone Crash 18
Paragon China 19
HH China 18
Mike Portnoy Stack 10
Artisan Crash 19
HHX Xtreme Crash 17/ 18
HH Raw Bell Dry Ride 21
I used to play Zildjian but after a 20 break , i dont like them anymore. It tooks two years to find the right cymbals.
All cymbal brands are fantastic, make great cymbals. But Sabian Cymbals sounds good in my ears. I like the roughness, the oriental and raw sound.
Love the comparison.. i really like a lot of sabian AND meinls lol. Sooo many to pick from. I know the setup is a lite different but Pete Ray biggins tam tam set up of sabian may be my favorite sounding . They sound sooooo fn good lol
The Sabian HHX Complex cymbals sound more musical to my ears. Thanks for the comparison!
Thanks Tom!
Sticks and how you play cymbals can also change the sound a bit I believe. Would be cool to be able to test out a bunch and pick what your ears fall in love with
Honestly I’m a paiste guy but for the past couple of years sabian has been coming up ! I need to check these out
All the cymbals... There nothing like this out there. Awesome, perfect!
Sabian guy here. I love big thin cymbals and typically the thinner the better as long as they don’t get too dry. One thing I always thought Sabian got wrong was their cymbals seemed to have more tension in them. Even when the weight was comparable to similar cymbals of the other brands they just didn’t seem to flex and wobble as much as other cymbals. Its almost like eating something that has a fantastic flavor but the texture just doesn’t jive. I’m sure that plays into that sonic signature. When Sabian released the Evolution and Legacy lines they went in the right direction, and the Complex line really gets it right.
Although I don’t think I will ever part with my Artisan 22” Light ride. That thing is butter.
The winner here are your 16" meinl hi hats! Smoooth
I do not desire anything more on earth than an HHX Complex 22" medium ride
if I get that before I die I will die happy
such great work on this vid!
Thanks Justin!
My thoughts about sabian exactly. I like the people, the history and the innovative approach, but somehow I always found most of the cymbals a little too harsh and gongy and hard to get going, and always preferred cymbals from other companies, but this complex range is something different, they are not what I would call typical sabian, they are mellow and responsive, they don't seem to have this midrange boost that you mentioned. Good job!
I just bought a byzance 19 inch brilliant med-thin crash on a whim. Pairing it with a zildjan a 16 and sabian xsr 17inch crash. Lol. Curious to see if the contrast will work well.
I preferred the meinl Crashes but the Sabian Hi Hats and Ride. Being a Sabian fan, I actually wasn’t overly excited by the hhx complex release.
It’s interesting learning about other peoples sound preferences and how that relates to what cymbals/cymbal companies they gravitate towards. For me it helps to understand my own likes and dislikes better.
I’ve noticed that certain types of “sonic signatures” from companies sound better in different musical mixes than others. It seems like it’s more than just cymbal weight or projection.
Hey there buddy, hope you’re doing great in Alaska. Nice video. Funny, I’m the complete opposite, lol . I do not care for Meinel Cymbals, just not the sound for me, but I love Meinel hi hats, lol. I absolutely love Sabian HHX Cymbals. Take care Cole.
Great to hear from you Jimmy, hope all is well! I'm actually in WA now - come say hey if you're ever in the area!
Cymbals are sauces, they should be served in dishes, not alone. Lets hear them with music, they will tone down and might get dull. Whereas rough and dirty Zildjians always result delicious in the final mix.
Came here since I was researching the Complex's after hearing the 22" ride at a store. But to play along, the cymbal brand I seem to care the least for is Paiste. Never really understood them. They always sounded so insanely bright and much too piercing to me. But I think I've found that I liked the Paiste 900's the most. At least out of the ones I've heard
Great video Cole.. been playing Sabian for over 20 years; they are a remarkable company! Like some others that posted, the HHX Complex are amazing. I was wondering what took so long for Sabian to come out with them! My current Sabian setup for my cover band blends some of their best! All Traditional finish:
15" HHX Groove Hats
19" HHX Legacy Crash
20" Artisan Traditional Suspended Crash
22" HHX Complex Thin Crash
22" HHX Complex Medium Ride
10" HHX Evolution Splash
That's a killer setup!
Not a Zildjian fan but like the Sweet K line, actually using the ride along with a 19 HHX complex thin, a 17" artesian and a HHX Evo 18" Ozone with Paiste Masters Hats
K Sweets are great too!
I went from Sabian (and some Zildjian K's) over to Meinl (all Byzance) and then I ended up keeping a set of Sabian HHX (Med Crash, Groove hats & Artisan Med Ride & 21" Crash). One thing Sabian has that Meinl does NOT, a ride with a proper BELL! I went thru 10x Meinl rides and if not for the Prototype I landed on, would have gone back entirely to Sabian...all cus Meinl can't seem to make a good bell!
Tell me about that prototype!
I've been on the fence for so long about the Complex series. I love and use Sabian, but those Meinl sound great as well.
I'd recommend going and listening in person if you can. While I ultimately prefer the Meinls, I will say that I spent a long time waiting and choosing them very carefully. The Sabians are probably a little more consistent, for better or for worse.
The HHX complex series is my favorite Sabian cymbals and I’m a Meinl guy too.
My least favorite cymbals are Zildjians, and have been for quite a while. I got a terrible 21" Sweet Ride around 2006, which Craigie Zildjian graciously allowed me to return for another. Although I appreciated her gesture and took her up on it, the truth is, Zildjian cymbals just don't speak to me anymore. When I was in Quincy, I did the factory tour, and was somewhat turned off at the way Zildjian spits out their cymbals very quickly, probably due to production requirements. Then, I went up to Meductic and did the Sabian factory tour, and left thinking Sabian was the greatest cymbal company in the world. Their attention to detail and superior quality was evident everywhere we went. I'm a Sabian endorser today, and it was the best choice for me in terms of the sheer variety of cymbal sounds I have available for any musical need I may have. They treat me very well. I'm quite partial to the AAX and HHX lines. I'm glad you found Sabians you like.
These are the best Sabian range to date. Bar none.
Agreed!
Have you tried the Sabina AAX explosions. I have a 17 inch and an 18 inch crash and in my opinion they are the absolute best sounding cymbals out there. You should check them out I think you'll be impressed.
I have - definitely nice cymbals but not my vibe. Great for a rock context and cutting through a mix, but I tend to go for something that blends a little more. Different strokes!
Wow! That’s my sound! Could I use either set of cymbals played here and still cut through loud guitars n bass??? Thx. Hoping yes! These sound super musical.
Totally!
These sound like the best Sabians I ever heard, I just need someone to buy them for me!
the only thing Meinl still don’t know how to do is BELL at the plate, SabIan ve succeeded far in front !
I bought an HHX complex pack after going to the shop and testing out the Byzances I thought I wanted. And all the byzances save the trad equilibrium hats and polyphonic ride sounded terrible to me. The sabians blew me away. AAX HHX both were beautiful.
To be Honest..they both sound beautiful in there own similar way..😊
I like the sound of the meinl cymbals to my ears they sound warmer and more crisp. I am a sabían fan but the meinl cymbals are a much smoother sound over all. But I could be mistaken.
I had the same impressions. To be fair the Meinl crashes were both a little larger, but even with the same sizes I tend to find Meinls a little warmer on average and Sabians a little brighter.
@@ColeParamore Sabians generally has brighter cymbals because of their methods. Some people like it or hate it.💁♂
This is the Meinl Tradition Jazz ride, not tradition ride, correct?
Nope, just the Byzance Tradition Ride.
Underrated channel
Wow! Thanks so much for the kind words.
@@ColeParamore No prob. Appreciate the quality content and surprised I haven’t come across your channel before!
Your videos on mixing, mics, charting, “why I have…” are all great concepts and I found you did a great job explaining.
Any more videos on how you pick (a cymbal/drum head/accessory) for a given situation would be great. Also, mic placement and the process of gigging (etiquette/what makes a good sit in drummer/etc) would be awesome.
@@ADDG880 Good recommendations! One of those ideas I believe I've covered. I'm a bit embarrassed to share something 4 years old but you might find this useful: ua-cam.com/video/jDGpzZ3pRsI/v-deo.html
With my very first drum kit I had this really abrasive sounding crash from Zildjian, so I immediately developed a dislike for that company. I should mention that the kit and cymbals were a gift for Christmas, given to me by people who weren’t musicians at all. I was just grateful to have a way to express myself at the time.
Fast forward a few decades and today I love Zildjian, especially the K Constantinople ride and hi-hats.
My current setup is:
14” Meinl Byzance sand hats
16” Sabian Evolution crash
18” Sabian HHX O-Zone crash
18” Sabian Complex crash
20” Sabian HHX High bell ride (Jo-Jo Mayer)
did you get all these cymbals in the same pack or only hihat crash ride just with an added crash?
No packs, all individual orders. Not mine, btw, all came from West Coast Drum Shop.
@@ColeParamore well they sound smooth. would you recommend this in church setting that doesnt have much soundproofing , like are they loud over taking drums for mixing? im looking for a pack and famcy these but dont want them to be too loud haha
@@lukeshirtliff7861 Cymbal volume will depend 95% on the drummer playing them. ;) These will be similar tonally to Ks or any other very standard-issue cymbal. Hope that helps!
THE SABIANS ARE CRISPY 🔥🔥🔥🔥
I think Minel is the best Maker, but I like HHX series too.
Would 19" and 17" go well together? Or do 19" and 18" go well together?
Hhx complex!
I'd grab three samples from Memphis Drum Shop, a 17" 18" and 19" and play them back to back. Go with what you hear in your head. Hope that helps!
Did you ever try the artisans?
Artisans I do enjoy most of the time.
Why not pick from all the cymbals and brands the one that you like the most? I understand if you`re endorsing a particular brand but apart from that i can`t have just Meinl or just Sabian. Currently i have Meinl 12 stack and 18 trash crash , Paiste 18 Signature crash and 21 Dark Energy ride, Wuhan 18 china and Zultan 14 raw hats. No one else has this particular combination and everyone should be unique and have their particular palette.
Sounds like a good setup!
Sabians all the way.
Sabian win, more deep and consistent 😊 people who listen I mean the audience will be touch more with Sabian pens down .
personally, I love Meinl.
Yet another great video my friend! 👍🏼
You should try my new signature model!! Just came out.. DMA Studios Signature Series by Soultone Cymbals 😜👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼
Better sell those Meinl cymbals, too harsh...Sabians butter smooth.
Sabians for sure sound a whole lot better than the Menials no comparison in my opinion.
So to simply everything you just said, you prefer washy cymbals.
Not quite. Washy and dark are often related, but two very different properties.
To me the HHX sound superior
Sabian rules
Complexes win.
Meinl messed up your ears lol
In a good way in a good way
@@Juniscrazy 😂 you were about to stir up the Meinl horde lol.
Meinls all the way.
I mean you lost everyone at Meinl
The company with 4x the subs of Sabian?
@@ColeParamore I mean if you're trying to say quality over quantity, this is where the conversation ends.
@@mirusso Based on what metric?