Without a doubt they sound better than most B8s, although this set of Sabian B8 hi hats in the house kit at a local joint isn’t bad. The ZBT crash is garbage though. Was curious about the XS line because I thought they were B20 and the lathing looks kind of like my AAs.Sabian doesn't really explain all the differences (give away the voodoo) between the XS20 and AA line ...... but certainly less labor would result in "more affordable", so yeah, amount of hammering and lathing would probably be the ticket. Certainly sound waaay better that most B8 cymbals. Paiste being the B8 exception. The Sabian XSR line also has some nice cymbals in it.
Well I’m pretty impressed by the ones my friend has. I’ve noticed that some of them look like they get SR2 lathing but others look closer to AAs. His look like AAs except they don’t look hammered much.The XS20 series was intended to be a cheaper B20 alloy line, filling the price gap between B8 Pro and AA. They have since morphed into the XSR series, but the idea is still the same. Like any other cymbal line I'm sure the lower price comes from there being less hand work done to the cymbals.
We do blues, swing and rockabilly.XS20 and XSR are just lathed. Not hammering at all. That keeps their price down. They aren’t bad at all. Had a set for 10 years. They are pretty one dimensional so not a lot of options to pull different sounds out. For a straight up rock band, no one would ever notice their shortcomings.
I agree. The old XS20s were definitely more AA-like, and the newer XSR redesign takes much more (per Sabian) from the AAX and HHX Evolutions. It's true though, they really do have a more AAX-like response.To me, XSR's are more similar to AAX than the AA Line.
Having played the XSR and owning a set of XS20, and now HHX Evolutions, if that’s what Sabian or as their logo now reads “Sabiano” is saying, I’ll have to say that’s a real stretch. Walk up to a set of XSR and smack them with one finger like a stick, then do the same with the AAX and then the Evolution. The differences will speak volumes….literally.I agree. The old XS20s were definitely more AA-like, and the newer XSR redesign takes much more (per Sabian) from the AAX and HHX Evolutions. It's true though, they really do have a more AAX-like response.
I don’t think anyone would expect them to sound just like the top lines, otherwise why have the top lines?Having played the XSR and owning a set of XS20, and now HHX Evolutions, if that’s what Sabian or as their logo now reads “Sabiano” is saying, I’ll have to say that’s a real stretch. Walk up to a set of XSR and smack them with one finger like a stick, then do the same with the AAX and then the Evolution. The differences will speak volumes….literally.
I wasn’t saying they were bad at all. I got along with them fine for a decade. So far as a more entry level price point is concerned, I really can’t think of any that sound like real cymbals.I don’t think anyone would expect them to sound just like the top lines, otherwise why have the top lines?
Yep. That's the trick. I have the 14" XSR Monarch hats and 18" XSR Monarch crash ..... and they work great when paired my 22" AA Apollo ride and 18" HH King Crash. Play well with my 18" AA Sick Hats ..... and my HHX Xtreme crashes and Vanguards also work well in combinations........ but I am learning that some are pretty good as long as you pick them carefully.
I never said XSRs sounded as good as AAX or HHX Evos, but they do take some of the design philosophies, as far as the cymbal profile, weights and resulting response from those two factors go. Obviously, without all the extra cold work that goes into make AAX or HHX Evolutions cost more in labor to make. No one is expecting them to sound as good as AAX or HHXs.Having played the XSR and owning a set of XS20, and now HHX Evolutions, if that’s what Sabian or as their logo now reads “Sabiano” is saying, I’ll have to say that’s a real stretch. Walk up to a set of XSR and smack them with one finger like a stick, then do the same with the AAX and then the Evolution. The differences will speak volumes….literally.
Yup, already said the same above. Also more a reference to what Sabiano may be marketing than your statement.I never said XSRs sounded as good as AAX or HHX Evos, but they do take some of the design philosophies, as far as the cymbal profile, weights and resulting response from those two factors go. Obviously, without all the extra cold work that goes into make AAX or HHX Evolutions cost more in labor to make. No one is expecting them to sound as good as AAX or HHXs.