If you want a set of high-end cymbals to take on any situation, look no further than Sabian’s HHX line. It’s the top line of cymbals from the brand, and there are dozens of incredible options within it.
In this review, we’re going to look at the Sabian HHX Evolution Performance Set. This pack has a few expertly selected cymbals from the HHX line, and they’re combined together to create a setup that will fit perfectly into modern music.
We’re going to give a rundown on each cymbal in the set, and then we’ll discuss which drummers this pack will be good for.
All the cymbals in this pack are from the Evolution line of Sabian’s HHX Series. These Evolution cymbals were designed with the help of Dave Weckl, and they’re intended to have tones that fit perfectly in modern music settings.
They work well for rock, pop, metal, and even a lot of jazz. They’re versatile cymbals, making this a highly versatile cymbal set.
The set includes a pair of 14-inch Evolution hi-hats, a 16-inch Evolution crash, an 18-inch Evolution O-Zone crash, and a 20-inch Evolution ride.
All the cymbals have dark tones, but each cymbal also has its own tonal characteristics that benefit the set as a whole.
Each cymbal in this pack has amazing tonal qualities. They all fit together very cohesively to create an overall sound that is modern and musical, and that’s arguably the biggest selling point of this set.
The hi-hats are very crisp, especially when you play them on the edge. They cut through mixes with ease, which is a unique quality of hi-hats with dark tones.
The 16-inch crash cymbal is highly explosive. It oozes with heavy tone when you crash it, and it rings musically for a good amount of time afterward. 16-inch crashes aren’t always the most musical cymbals, but this one tends to break that trend. The 18-inch O-zone crash is a unique addition to the set. It’s also dark, but it has a trashy character. This makes it sound aggressive and explosive, but it has a very short decay. It’s a good cymbal to play when you don’t want something to ring for too long.
The ride cymbal is the star of the show. It has very clear stick definition, and the bell sounds huge when you play it. It’s the kind of bell you want when playing heavy grooves with busy bell patterns. You can also crash on the ride if you need to.
The cymbals are made from B20 bronze, meaning their makeup is 80% copper and 20% tin. Cymbals with this makeup are always very musical, and that’s exactly what you get with the HHX Evolution Performance Set.
The cymbals are relatively thin, and that’s what gives them their dark and musical tones. This may give the impression that they’ll break easily, but they’ll last decades if you strike them properly.
The overall construction of each cymbal is very good, and the holes of the O-zone crash are a highly unique addition.
This is a set that you can purchase once, and then you won’t need to get another set of cymbals for ten years if you don’t want to.
Each cymbal has very unique tonal qualities, and the combination of those is what makes this set feel so good to play. The overall quality is that they’re dark but very vibrant and explosive, though.
With the cymbals being so musical, you can feel just how much they interact with how you hit them. You can strike the ride in various places to get unique tones, and the hi-hats will sound very articulate, even when you strike them softly.
These are top-tier cymbals, and they’re some of the best you can get within Sabian’s HHX line.
The set is even called the Performance Set, and that just tells you that these cymbals were made to be played within band setups.
The Sabian HHX Evolution Performance Set has amazing value for how much you pay for it. If you were to buy each cymbal in the set on its own, you’d be spending a lot more money. So, getting the set is the best idea if you’re looking to get the HHX Evolution cymbals.
However, the set is still very expensive compared to a lot of other cymbal sets out there. You’ll be paying a top-tier price for top-tier cymbals.
If you find it to be too expensive, there are other good options available. If you’re happy to pay the price, you’ll feel like you’re getting plenty of value.
Dark cymbals are always good options for studio recording. It’s no different with these, and their versatility makes them fantastic to use for most styles.
They’ll work quite well for a metal album, and they’ll work equally as well for a jazz album.
These cymbals are also great for live gigs, as their explosiveness gives them a bit of an edge over other dark cymbals. Dark cymbals usually blend deeply into a mix, but these exhibit a bit of cut as well, making them more easily heard.
Dave Weckl is one of the best drummers in the world, and he meant business when he developed these cymbals with Sabian. If you play any sort of modern music, these will be a good fit for you.
They’re some of the most versatile cymbals in Sabian’s HHX line, making them a great pick for most drummers. The big downside is that the pack is quite expensive, so you’ll need to have a high budget to get it.
Drum Teacher
Brett Clur has a Drum Performance Diploma from Trinity College London has been playing drums for over 20 years. He is passionate about advanced concepts and uses his years of experience to teach his students about them. While he is a full-time drum teacher, he is also working on growing a YouTube channel where shares his insights. You can see him playing there, or on Instagram where he posts daily videos.
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