The big cat is walnut/ maple, and the snare that came with the kit is 6.5 and walnut/ poplar with birch rings. The most notable difference would be the 8x14 just sounds more full and gives you just a stronger crack IMO. It took me a while to tune it, i tried a bunch of combinations to find what i liked. I ended up tuning it actually pretty high on both heads, which i didnt plan on doing. It still has a lot of low end even with it cranked up pretty high, that may be the walnut though? Either way its a great drum. I dont even have to buy a new snare stand either, i was worried it wouldnt go low enough but its perfect... I am 6'1 tho