If you need a quieter drum set for sound limitation reasons, getting a set of low volume cymbals is one of the best choices to make. While playing on drum pads is useful, they don’t give you the same response as real drums and cymbals do.
This is where the Sabian Quiet Tone Practice cymbals come in. These things are intended to be set up the same way as regular cymbals, they just have a much lower volume. In this review, we’re going to see how good these things are and discuss how they compare to the other popular low volume cymbals on the market.
The cymbals are made from a durable perforated alloy which is what makes their sound quieter than regular cymbals. This alloy also gives them extended durability, so they typically last a very long time.
You get different pack options when buying the cymbals, and each pack has different numbers and sizes. Here are the options broken down:
Pack 1
14” hi-hats
16” crash
18” crash
20” ride
Pack 2
13” hi-hats
14” crash
18” crash/ride
Pack 3
13” hi-hats
18” crash/ride
Pack 4
14” hi-hats
16” crash
20” ride
The cymbals sound slightly different according to their sizes, so that’s the biggest thing to think about when choosing a different cymbal pack.
One of the best things about these cymbals is the sound quality that they produce. While some of the other low volume cymbals on the market sound fairly muffled, the Sabian Quiet Tone cymbals produce melodic sounds that are pleasant to listen to.
The tone quality is similar to real cymbals in that you get distinctly different sounds when playing the bow, edge, and bells of each cymbal. The cymbals also have a fair amount of wash.
The high-quality tones of the Sabian cymbals are what may sway you to buy these instead of the popular low volume cymbals from Zildjian.
Something that you need to be aware of is that these cymbals are fairly loud. They’re quieter than regular cymbals, but they’re not a quiet as the Zildjian L80 cymbals. So, if you’re not worried about volume too much, these are arguably the better cymbals due to their superior tone quality.
However, the Sabian cymbals will still ring throughout a house when you’re playing. This may potentially bother some people, and the quieter Zildjian L80 cymbals would be the better option.
Their overall performance is excellent, though. It feels amazing to play these, especially since they have the same sizes as regular cymbals.
It may seem a bit strange to have silver cymbals around your kit at first. The futuristic aesthetic may not suit everyone. But we think it looks quite unique and provides a good change of pace from regular metal cymbals.
The cymbals are highly durable. You can hit them as hard as any regular cymbal and they’ll easily take the force. They’ll also transfer it back to you with powerful tones.
The way these cymbals are constructed allows you to play the same way you’d play normal cymbals, encouraging proper cymbal technique.
The Zildjian L80s have smaller dimensions, so we appreciate how you can get 14” hi-hats and a 20” ride with the Sabian Quiet Tones.
If you get the largest Sabian Quiet Tone pack, you’ll be paying the highest price for any pack of low volume cymbals on the market. The smaller packs are more competitive with the competing brands.
We think the price-to-value ratio of these cymbals is fairly good, especially considering the high-quality sound that they offer.
However, you can get a package that comes with the Zildjian L80 cymbals along with Remo Silentstroke heads. We think that is still the best deal available at the moment.
These cymbals are designed specifically for home practice. They’re excellent practice tools, and they allow you to play all the same things that you would on regular cymbals.
However, there are some scenarios where they’ll be a bit too loud. If you have them in a bedroom and play with the door closed, other people in the house will still hear a fair number of high-frequency tones coming from the cymbals. This isn’t ideal if you live in an apartment setting. A good way to counter this is to put some tape underneath all the cymbals.
We wouldn’t advise using these cymbals for gigging, but they can be very valuable when setting up and preparing for gigs. Drummers always get the short end of the stick when it comes to soundchecks. If you practice and warm up on the kit, you’re going to bother everyone around you on stage.
So, it can be very useful to set the Sabian Quiet Tone cymbals up along with a few drum pads. You can then play around on stage without bothering anyone. This will also work wonderfully if you’re sitting in a green room and needing to warm up.
The Sabian Quiet Tone Practice cymbals are arguably the best-sounding low volume cymbals on the market. The depth of tone they produce is much better than what you get with the popular Zildjian L80s.
The big downside is that they’re fairly loud compared to your other options. So, we’d only suggest getting them if you’re not going to have any noise issues in the close vicinity. If you are, then we’d suggest going with the Zildjians.
Whichever brand you choose, know that low volume cymbals are an excellent tool to have for any drummer.
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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