Sabian B8X and XSR O-Zone Cymbals

89
WWW.MUSICRADAR.COM/RHYTHM AUGUST 2018 |
PRICES
B8X 16" crash: £87;
B8X 18" crash: £103;
XSR 16" crash: £160;
XSR 18" crash: £178.50
ALLOYS USED
B8X: B8 bronze;
XSR: B20 bronze
WEIGHT
B8X: Medium thin;
XSR: Thin
FINISH
Natural, lathed
COUNTRY OF
MANUFACTURE
Canada
MODELS
AVAILABLE
16" and 18"
effects/crashes
SUITABLE FOR
All styles and levels
CONTACT
Westside Distribution
0844 326 2000
www.sabian.com
Essential spec
VERDICT: Sabian’s O-Zone effects
cymbals have been a big success.
Offering 16" and 18" versions in the
budget B8X and middle market XSR
lines is surely welcome news for
drummers everywhere.
BUILD QUALITY
PLAYABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
RATING
HOLES APLENTY
The B8X and XSR models are
designed with a double-ring of
response-enhancing 45mm holes
COLOUR OF BRONZE
While the B8X 16" and 18" O-Zones
are the orange of cheaper B8 bronze, the
B20 bronze XSR O-Zones are paler
CRASH OR RIDE?
O-Zones are versatile cymbals that
can be used for special effects, for
harsh crashes or for colourful riding
it packs a pretty violent, raw and assertive
punch. Whereas chinas have a full bodied
splang, O-Zones have considerable mass
removed by the plentiful holes, so they tend
more to the fast crash area with razor sharp,
sizzling splashiness.
The XSR pair are darker and smoother, but
if anything edgier – feeling a little thinner and
faster; you could say more slippery. The tone
is rather more silver-tongued, with a bigger
dollop of China-style trashiness. But they take
up less of the sonic spectrum than an 18"
China. There is more of an electronic white
noise type of body with a little more sustain.
With their musical B20 bronze depth and
class, the XRS O-Zones can be seen as effects
cymbals but can also double as regular
crashes, adding spice and a fast, slicing
quality to your regular crashes, which can
sound a touch safe and samey once you add
an O-Zone.
As suggested above, the fact the XSR series
is fi ner and more expensive cuts no ice when
it comes to O-Zones. If you want dynamic and
nasty the B8Xs are fun, if you want a little
more depth and hiss, the XSRs are worth
considering. Whether used as colourful
interjections or as climactic blast-thrash
onslaughts, these cymbals are all about
adding zest and zip to your beats.
RHY283.gear_sabian.indd 89 19/06/2018 10:36