Sabian AAX FREQ Cymbals Part II - Drummer's Review

Here's our review of a selection of Sabian AAX FREQ cymbals. Filmed at Cube Studios, May 2020.

00:33 - Introduction
01:57 - Playing Demo 01 - Groove Context
02:34 - Playing Demo 02 - Cymbals Only
03:00 - 14" Hats - Isolated
03:26 - 17" Crash - Isolated
03:44 - 16" Crash - Isolated
04:02 - 21" Ride - Isolated
04:34 - Thoughts & Conclusion

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[trenthogan]

I think they sound even better than they look and they look amazing. I love the quick attack and quick fade, that's exactly what I want.

[richardjhgraham]

I like these, they sound good to me. i think people are being critical just because these are a bit different. They are quieter sounding and less brash, with a faster decay than most cymbals... If you want volume, cut, and sustain they are not for you. If you want something more subtle and delicate, these are great.

[fraserfishfraserfish]

I bought the hats today. They are delicious. And not at all clangy when open like some Sabian’s can be. The hats sound much better in the flesh than on this and some other vids I have seen.
These won hands done over HHX click (obvs) and Zildjian new beats and mastersound today in the shoot out with my ears.
They look superb too but you gotta hear them with yer own ears.
If you can try them. They are delicious

[jeremysdrumming]

This video is badass, you guys are phenomenal !

[deejaaywalker]

I think the other AAX options work for jamming and live in louder music genres, whereas these are ideally suited for recording and performing in moderate volume settings where their articulation shines beautifully.

[julesplace]

I came to listen to the hi hats. The rest of the line is not for me, but I really think the Hats are what I am looking for.

[wyrlismike]

i love aax hats, im using some recording my album, i also have 15" paiste extra heavy 2002s and zildjian 15" mastersound but use the aax the most, im using zildjian crashes and ride though. dont get why people hate sabian so much

[jameskirkbydrums]

not too bad :) the 16" one is bordering on splashy sounding to me, BUT thats just me, they sound decent for what they are :)

[cpu]

I own a set.
The crashes and HH come off feeling medium heavy and require a bit of oomph to open up fully.
Not a low volume jazz type cymbal.

[junkawakami]

Shame Nolly can't come due to the fact that he remained indoors

[footlongrat]

Nick (the drummer) looks slightly angry when playing

[EmanueleMoriero]

imho these are not worth the selling price... For the same price you can get much nicer sounding cymbals (Istanbul Mehmet, Bosphorus, at least seeing the prices of where I live). I get what they are trying to do with the two different lathings but to me it just sounds like they slapped 3 moongels on them. They fade too quickly for me.
Great review as always though!

[johnbertasius]

If only the cymbals were as good as the drumming.

[willrockdesigns]

I'm a Sabian fan and these cymbals sound muted compared to normal AAX cymbals. I speak from experience not from what I hear on the video. If you play loud music these are not for you. I returned them for some AAX options.

[owenbooth]

It feels like Sabian are trying to merge the tone of a bright cymbal with the response and sustain of a dark, dry one... and it didn't work.

[dmitryshkolnik]

thanks fot the effort you put, but these symbals are among the worst I've heard, just your typical dull/dead sabian sound, a great example of why I personally hate most of them (except for some evolution and complex models, which they managed to do nice all of a sudden) ..I can't but wonder just how after all these years of experience, having such a tremendous background, they keep mass producing cymbals that are this bad . If anything - sorry, I just tell how I feel