AQUARIAN

AQUARIAN

Drum Head Innovation Since 1980

Aquarian has been innovating drum head technology since 1980, when co-founders Roy Burns - a professional jazz drummer whose career included the Woody Herman and Benny Goodman big bands - and Ron Marquez, a systems analyst and manufacturing engineer, combined genuine drumming expertise with engineering rigour to develop heads that addressed real performance problems rather than incremental variations on existing designs. The result is a range of proprietary technologies unique to Aquarian: the Floating Muffling System used in the industry-leading Super-Kick bass drum series, the Vacuum Process eliminating air bubbles between plies in two-ply heads, the Safe-T-Loc collar locking heads to hoops without detuning, and the Power Dot reinforcement applied to batter surfaces. Aquarian's range spans single-ply open-sounding tom and snare heads including the Classic Clear and Texture Coated, controlled-ring options in the Focus-X and Studio-X, versatile two-ply heads in the Response 2 and Performance II, high-impact snare heads in the Hi-Energy and Hi-Velocity, and the comprehensive Super-Kick and Regulator bass drum system. At Angkor Music Melbourne, our drum repair workshop installs drum heads regularly across every type of kit - giving our workshop staff hands-on knowledge of how Aquarian heads install, seat, and perform compared to alternatives. Our professional performing drummers use Aquarian heads in live and studio contexts and our drum school instructors work with students on head selection as part of kit development. We stock comprehensive Aquarian including all major tom, snare, and bass drum series. Located 4-6 Drake Boulevard, Altona VIC 3018. Call (03) 8360 7799 for advice from staff with genuine installation and performance experience across the Aquarian range.

1980
Founded in USA
Drummer expertise meets engineering
★
Professional Drummers
Aquarian users in live and studio
♪
Drum School
Head selection taught at every level
⚙
Repair Workshop
Installing Aquarian heads daily

Why Our Aquarian Advice Matters - Workshop, Stage and Teaching Experience

Drum head advice requires knowing how heads actually behave once installed and played - not just what the specifications say about ply count and coating. Our workshop staff install heads across the full Aquarian range, our professional drummers use them in real performance contexts, and our drum school instructors understand them in teaching applications. That combined perspective enables specific guidance rather than generic descriptions.

Workshop Head Installation Experience

Our drum repair workshop installs drum heads on a regular basis across all drum types - beginner kits through to professional custom instruments. We install Aquarian heads across the full range and understand from this hands-on experience how the Safe-T-Loc collar seats on bearing edges, how the Floating Muffling System in Super-Kick heads behaves during installation and early stretching, and how Aquarian's Vacuum Process two-ply heads compare in feel and tone to non-vacuum alternatives. This installation experience enables advice that goes beyond product descriptions to reflect how heads actually behave in practice.

Performance Experience With Aquarian

Our professional drummer staff use Aquarian heads in live performance and recording contexts. We understand from actual playing experience how different Aquarian series behave under real playing conditions - how the Focus-X ring controls sustain across different tuning ranges, how Performance II heads respond when tuned loose for classic rock depth, how Super-Kick heads interact with different beater types and bass drum tuning approaches. This performance experience translates into specific advice about which Aquarian series suits your playing style and musical context rather than defaulting to the most popular option regardless of fit.

Drum School Head Selection Guidance

Our drum school instructors work with students on kit development including head selection as a natural part of progressing beyond whatever heads came with a student's first kit. We understand from teaching experience which Aquarian heads suit student contexts - where the controlled ring of Focus-X heads assists beginners in hearing tone clearly during practice, where Response 2 heads provide the durability students need through heavy learning periods, and when a student's drum sound problem is primarily about head choice versus tuning versus technique. This teaching perspective informs advice for students and parents that pure retail experience cannot replicate.

Honest Cross-Brand Perspective

We stock and install Aquarian alongside Evans, Remo, and other major head brands. This means our advice on Aquarian is genuinely comparative rather than exclusively promotional. We can discuss honestly where Aquarian's Floating Muffling System provides a different approach to bass drum damping than Evans EMAD foam or Remo Powerstroke systems, where Performance II heads deliver a specific vintage tonal character that differs from Evans G2 two-ply construction, and where the Safe-T-Loc system addresses detuning problems differently to competitor approaches. This cross-brand knowledge is the basis for recommendation rather than brand loyalty.

Aquarian's Founding Philosophy - Engineering For Drummers

The combination of Roy Burns and Ron Marquez at Aquarian's founding in 1980 is significant precisely because it brought together capabilities that drum head development actually requires but rarely gets simultaneously. Burns was not a hobbyist or an enthusiast drummer - he was a professional musician who performed with Woody Herman and Benny Goodman, two of the most demanding bandleaders in American jazz, and went on to become a respected drumming educator and clinician. His understanding of what professional performance requires from a drum head was specific and demanding.

Marquez brought systems analysis and manufacturing plant management experience - the engineering rigour to translate Burns' performance requirements into manufacturable products with consistent quality. The Vacuum Process eliminating air pockets between plies in two-ply heads, the Safe-T-Loc collar system providing consistent seating on bearing edges, and the Floating Muffling System enabling passive bass drum damping without external muffling all reflect genuine engineering innovation applied to real performance problems.

This founding philosophy - identify what drummers actually need, engineer solutions that work - continues to define Aquarian's development approach. The Super-Kick series, which remains one of the most widely used and recommended bass drum head systems in professional and studio contexts four decades after its introduction, represents what happens when engineering quality is applied to a real performance problem with durability and consistency as primary objectives.

Aquarian's Proprietary Technologies

Four distinct innovations that differentiate Aquarian from other head manufacturers and explain why specific Aquarian series behave differently to comparable products from other brands.

Floating Muffling System
A narrow band of acoustic felt positioned around the perimeter on the inside of the head that moves and breathes with the drumhead rather than being rigidly fixed. Used in the Super-Kick and Regulator bass drum series. Controls high-end overtones and boosts low-end punch without deadening the head or requiring external muffling. The felt floats - hence the name - allowing the head to resonate naturally while passively controlling problematic frequencies. Often imitated, never matched by rigid foam alternatives.
Vacuum Process
Aquarian's multi-ply vacuum moulding process used on all two-ply heads including Response 2 and Performance II. Eliminates air bubbles and wrinkles between the two plies that can cause inconsistent tone, deaden sustain, or create contact noise during playing. The vacuum process bonds plies uniformly, producing heads that sound consistent across the entire surface and from drum to drum. This manufacturing precision is what gives Aquarian two-ply heads their characteristic full, even tone rather than the slight deadness that uneven ply bonding creates.
Safe-T-Loc System
Aquarian's collar design that locks the head into specially contoured aluminium extrusion hoops secured with epoxy. The Sound Curve collar allows the bearing edge to find its optimal seating position within the curve during installation, making tuning more consistent and faster. Once seated, heads using the Safe-T-Loc system resist detuning under playing stress better than standard collar designs. Drum heads that stay in tune longer and tune up more consistently are a practical workshop benefit our installation staff notice directly.
Power Dot
A thin layer of proprietary woven material applied to the batter surface - either centrally for reinforcement and tonal focus, or across the entire surface as in the Hi-Energy snare head. The Power Dot adds durability at the impact point without significantly altering the head's fundamental tonal character. Used across multiple Aquarian series including Hi-Energy, Super-Kick III, and the Focus-X Power Dot variant. Provides the impact resistance needed for aggressive playing while preserving the head's designed sound characteristics.

Aquarian Tom and Snare Heads

Classic Clear

Open Single Ply

Single-ply 10mil clear head delivering Aquarian's open, full, natural tom and bass drum tone. Wide dynamic range with good sustain. Versatile across tuning ranges from low and open to moderate tension. The foundation of Aquarian's range, works well as both batter and resonant head.

  • 10mil single-ply clear film
  • Open full natural tone
  • Wide tuning range
  • Versatile batter and resonant use
  • Power Dot version available
  • Broad genre suitability

Texture Coated

Classic Coated Response

Aquarian's standard coated head providing the warm attack and brush-friendly surface that coated heads deliver. Warmer tone than equivalent clear heads with slightly reduced sustain. Standard choice for drummers wanting traditional coated character across toms and snare drums.

  • Textured coated surface
  • Warm attack character
  • Brush compatible
  • Slightly reduced sustain vs clear
  • Traditional coated tone
  • Single and two-ply options

Focus-X

Vented Internal Ring

Single-ply 10mil head with a unique vented muffling ring tucked inside the hoop underneath the head. The vented design eliminates unwanted ring while preserving full, articulate tone - no external muffling required. Sensitive snare response. Excellent for studio recording and live close-miking where ring control without deadening is required.

  • 10mil single-ply construction
  • Vented internal muffling ring
  • Eliminates ring without deadening
  • Sensitive snare response
  • No external muffling needed
  • Clear and texture coated versions

Studio-X

Warm Focused Control

Clear 10mil single-ply head with a lightweight muffle ring adhering to the perimeter underside. Eliminates unwanted high frequencies while maintaining warm, open, focused sound. More subtle control than Focus-X - ideal for situations requiring a warm natural tone with high-frequency overtones managed rather than fully suppressed.

  • 10mil single-ply clear
  • Perimeter muffle ring underside
  • Warm open focused character
  • High-frequency management
  • More subtle than Focus-X
  • Power Dot version available

Response 2

Versatile Two-Ply

Two-ply 2x7mil head manufactured with Aquarian's Vacuum Process, eliminating air bubbles between plies. Full sound with great attack and consistent tone drum to drum. Works at tight and loose tuning with clean open character. Aquarian's most versatile two-ply head across musical styles and playing situations.

  • Two-ply 2x7mil construction
  • Aquarian Vacuum Process
  • Full sound, great attack
  • Consistent tone drum to drum
  • Tight and loose tuning versatile
  • Clean open two-ply character

Performance II

Classic Rock Two-Ply

Two-ply head designed specifically for loose tuning to achieve the deep, fat, low tom tom sound of classic rock recordings. Aquarian's Vacuum Process applied to a construction tuned for depth and punch with controlled ring. For drummers seeking the large, warm tom sound heard on rock recordings where toms are tuned lower than typical modern setups.

  • Two-ply Vacuum Process
  • Designed for loose tuning
  • Deep fat classic rock tom tone
  • Depth and punch combination
  • Controlled ring at low tensions
  • Clear and texture coated options

Hi-Energy

High Impact Snare

Clear 10mil single-ply snare batter with an extremely thin layer of Power Dot material bonded across the entire head surface, with additional reinforcement at centre. The full-surface Power Dot layer provides exceptional durability for heavy snare playing while preserving snare sensitivity and articulation. Built for aggressive players who require durability without deadening the snare response.

  • 10mil clear single-ply
  • Full-surface Power Dot layer
  • Additional centre reinforcement
  • Exceptional durability
  • Preserves snare sensitivity
  • Heavy and aggressive playing

Hi-Velocity

Coated Two-Ply Snare

Coated two-ply 2x7mil snare batter with a reverse Power-Thin dot for additional strength. Warm coated character with two-ply durability and enhanced impact resistance. Suited to players wanting coated warmth and tone with the durability and controlled response of two-ply construction for demanding live playing situations.

  • Coated two-ply 2x7mil
  • Reverse Power-Thin dot
  • Warm coated tone character
  • Two-ply durability
  • Enhanced impact strength
  • Live performance durability

Aquarian Bass Drum Heads

The Super-Kick series is Aquarian's most widely recognised product and one of the most recommended bass drum head systems in professional drumming. The Floating Muffling System addresses the fundamental challenge of bass drum tone - controlling the high-end overtones and room-exciting frequencies that make amplified bass drums sound harsh and undefined - with felt that moves with the head rather than rigid foam that fights against it. The result is the warm, controlled, low-end-focused bass drum tone that recording engineers and stage drummers have relied on since the Super-Kick's introduction.

Super-Kick I

Classic Felt Muffling

Clear 10mil single-ply bass drum batter with Aquarian's patented Floating Muffling System. A narrow band of acoustic felt around the perimeter inside the head controls resonance, enhances low-end, and delivers well-defined focused attack. Pre-dampened natural sound without blankets, pillows, or external muffling. Available 14" to 28".

  • Clear 10mil single-ply
  • Floating Muffling System - felt
  • Controls resonance naturally
  • Enhances low-end punch
  • No external muffling needed
  • Available 14" to 28"

Super-Kick II

Two-Ply Durability

Twin 7mil ply version of the Super-Kick with the same Floating Muffling System. Additional ply adds durability for heavy players and aggressive beater styles while maintaining the warm controlled Floating Muffling System tone. Slightly brighter and more focused than Super-Kick I with better resistance to wear under demanding playing conditions.

  • Twin 7mil two-ply construction
  • Floating Muffling System
  • Enhanced durability
  • Slightly brighter than SKI
  • Heavy player recommended
  • Aggressive beater compatible

Super-Kick III

Coated with Power Dot

White coated 10mil single-ply Super-Kick with an additional 6.5" Power Dot at centre. Coated surface adds warmth and slight attack softening. Power Dot provides enhanced impact durability. Floating Muffling System delivers the same controlled tone. For players wanting coated character with the Super-Kick's signature bass drum control.

  • White coated 10mil single-ply
  • 6.5" central Power Dot
  • Floating Muffling System
  • Warm coated attack character
  • Enhanced centre durability
  • Classic appearance

Regulator

Resonant Front Head

Single-ply resonant front bass drum heads specifically designed as companions for the Super-Kick batter series. Feature Aquarian's Floating Muffling System on the resonant side, eliminating external muffling of the front head entirely. Available in Video Gloss Black or White, with no port, 7" central port, or 4.25" offset port options. Bass drum tunes up and mics up in seconds.

  • Single-ply resonant head
  • Floating Muffling System inside
  • No external front muffling needed
  • Black or white gloss options
  • No port, 7" or 4.25" offset port
  • Super-Kick perfect companion

What Makes Aquarian Different

01

Drummer Founded, Engineer Built

Founded by Roy Burns whose professional jazz career with Woody Herman and Benny Goodman provided the performance standards, and Ron Marquez whose manufacturing engineering provided the means to achieve them. The combination of genuine drumming expertise with engineering rigour produced innovations that pure manufacturers could not conceive and pure musicians could not execute.

02

Floating Muffling System

The industry's most imitated bass drum head technology, used in Super-Kick and Regulator series. Felt that moves and breathes with the drumhead rather than rigid foam provides warm, natural damping without the deadening effect of compression-based alternatives. Professional studios and touring engineers have relied on it for over four decades.

03

Vacuum Process Two-Ply

Eliminating air bubbles and wrinkles between plies through vacuum moulding produces more consistent tone across the head surface than standard ply bonding. Aquarian two-ply heads using this process deliver the full, even tone that vacuum bonding enables and standard bonding cannot guarantee.

04

Safe-T-Loc Collar

The Sound Curve collar allows bearing edges to find optimal seating during installation, making tuning faster and more consistent. Heads stay in tune better under playing stress than standard collars. Our workshop staff notice the difference in installation consistency and tuning stability directly from hands-on experience.

05

Complete System Approach

Super-Kick batter heads and Regulator resonant heads are designed as a matched system - both using the Floating Muffling System - eliminating the need for external front head muffling entirely. The complete bass drum tone solution in two heads, without blankets, pillows, or additional products.

06

Forty-Five Years of Refinement

Since 1980, continuous development of heads that address real drumming requirements rather than marketing differentiation. The Super-Kick series has remained consistently recommended by professional drummers and recording engineers across four decades - a longevity that reflects genuine performance quality rather than trend-driven popularity.

Common Questions About Aquarian Drum Heads

What is the difference between Super-Kick I, II, and III?
All three Super-Kick models use Aquarian's Floating Muffling System felt ring inside the head - this is the core technology that defines Super-Kick tone. The differences are in the shell construction and surface. Super-Kick I is a clear 10mil single-ply - the lightest and most open-sounding of the three, warm and natural. Super-Kick II is twin 7mil ply - slightly brighter and more focused than SKI with additional durability that suits heavy players and aggressive beater styles. Super-Kick III is the same single-ply as SKI but with a white coated surface and a 6.5" Power Dot at centre - adds warmth from the coating and enhanced durability at the impact point. For most players, the choice is SKI for warm natural tone or SKII for durability with a slightly more defined attack. SKIII suits players wanting coated warmth with the Super-Kick system. Our workshop staff have installed all three across different kick drum configurations and can discuss the practical differences from direct experience.
How does the Focus-X control ring without deadening the drum?
The Focus-X's vented muffling ring is the key - it sits tucked inside the hoop underneath the head rather than directly contacting the playing surface. Because it's vented, air can move through it as the head vibrates, which means the ring damps the specific high-frequency sustain that creates problematic ring without restricting the head's fundamental vibration. The result is a drum that sounds controlled and focused without the choked, dead quality of external tape or foam dampening. Our workshop staff have installed Focus-X heads across both toms and snare drums and the difference in live tone compared to undamped alternatives is immediately audible. Particularly valuable for close-miking applications where undamped ring creates phase and bleed problems, and for live situations where monitor systems and stage volume make ring control practically necessary.
What is the difference between Performance II and Response 2?
Both are two-ply heads using Aquarian's Vacuum Process but they are designed for different tuning approaches and tonal goals. Performance II is designed specifically for loose tuning - it was created to achieve the deep, fat, low tom tone of classic rock recordings where toms sit low and open. It delivers maximum depth and punch at lower tensions. Response 2 is Aquarian's most versatile two-ply head, designed to work well across tight and loose tuning with consistent tone drum to drum. It delivers a full sound with good attack that suits a broad range of styles. The practical choice: if you want classic rock depth and you tune your toms lower than typical, Performance II is designed for that application. If you want a versatile two-ply that works across different tuning ranges and musical styles, Response 2 is the more adaptable choice.
Do I need a Regulator front head if I use a Super-Kick batter?
You don't have to, but the Regulator is specifically designed as the Super-Kick's companion and the combination addresses both sides of bass drum tone together. A Super-Kick batter on a standard resonant head will sound better than a standard batter because the batter is controlling the primary damping. Adding a Regulator front - which also uses the Floating Muffling System on the resonant side - creates a complete system where both heads are working together to produce the warm, controlled bass drum tone. The Regulator's port options (no port, 7" central, or 4.25" offset) accommodate different mic placement preferences without requiring cutting and patching a standard head. Our workshop staff have installed Super-Kick and Regulator combinations on various kick drum setups and the complete system tuning and miking consistency the combination provides is meaningfully better than Super-Kick alone.
How do Aquarian heads compare to Evans and Remo?
We stock all three brands and our honest view is that each has genuine strengths in specific applications rather than one being universally superior. Aquarian's Floating Muffling System in Super-Kick heads provides a warmer, more natural-feeling bass drum damping than Evans EMAD foam or Remo Powerstroke designs - many professional engineers and drummers prefer the Super-Kick felt ring specifically for this quality. Aquarian's Focus-X vented ring approach to ring control is distinctly different to Evans UV coating approach or Remo CS dot construction. Aquarian's Vacuum Process two-ply bonding is a genuine manufacturing quality advantage. Evans Level 360 collar is a strong alternative to Aquarian's Safe-T-Loc for installation consistency. The right choice depends on your specific application, drum construction, and tonal goals - our workshop staff can discuss the practical differences across brands from direct installation and playing experience rather than brand preference.
Do you offer drum head installation at your Melbourne workshop?
Yes, our on-site drum repair workshop installs drum heads as part of our regular services. This covers single head replacement, full kit re-heading, and new head installation with proper seating, tensioning, and tuning. If you purchase Aquarian heads from us, our workshop staff can install them and ensure proper seating using the Safe-T-Loc system for consistent results. We can also advise on head selection for your specific drums and musical context based on direct experience installing Aquarian heads across many different drum kits. Visit us at 4-6 Drake Boulevard, Altona VIC 3018 or call (03) 8360 7799 to discuss your head requirements and installation needs.

Professional Aquarian Services

Our Melbourne Aquarian expertise combines workshop head installation knowledge, professional performance experience with Aquarian heads, and drum school teaching context for head selection at every level.

Head Selection Advice

Expert guidance from staff who install and play:

  • Musical context and genre assessment
  • Single-ply vs two-ply guidance
  • Ring control requirement evaluation
  • Super-Kick system selection
  • Cross-brand honest comparison
  • Complete kit head recommendation

Workshop Installation

Professional head fitting service:

  • Single head replacement
  • Full kit re-heading service
  • Proper bearing edge seating
  • Safe-T-Loc collar technique
  • Initial tuning and voicing
  • Super-Kick and Regulator fitting

Student and Educational

Drum school informed guidance:

  • First head upgrade advice
  • Student-appropriate head selection
  • Durability and value guidance
  • Head care and maintenance
  • Tuning instruction alongside heads
  • Development-stage appropriate choices

Why Buy Aquarian From Angkor Music Melbourne

Drum head selection benefits from advice grounded in actual installation and playing experience rather than specifications. Our drum repair workshop installs heads across the Aquarian range regularly - we know how Safe-T-Loc collars seat on different bearing edge profiles, how Super-Kick felt rings behave during the initial head stretching period, and how different Aquarian series compare in tone and durability under real playing conditions. This hands-on installation knowledge enables advice that product descriptions cannot provide.

Our professional drummer staff use Aquarian heads in live performance and recording contexts. The difference between recommending Performance II for loose-tuned classic rock toms based on the product description versus recommending it based on having actually played it through that application in a live context is significant. We provide the latter - recommendations grounded in musical experience with the products rather than marketing material.

We stock Evans and Remo alongside Aquarian, which means our head advice is genuinely comparative. When we recommend Aquarian Super-Kick over an Evans EMAD, it is because our workshop staff and professional drummer staff have direct experience with both and have an honest view of how they differ and when each is appropriate. When another brand genuinely suits a situation better, we say so. That honest cross-brand perspective is what customers making significant head purchase decisions deserve.

Call (03) 8360 7799 Visit Our Showroom

Aquarian Drum Heads Melbourne

Expert advice from professional drummers and repair workshop staff who install and play Aquarian heads. Comprehensive stock across the full range with professional installation available.

Call (03) 8360 7799 View Range Online

Angkor Music Melbourne | 4-6 Drake Boulevard, Altona VIC 3018 | Professional Drummers, Drum School & Repair Workshop

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AQUARIAN

Drum Head Innovation Since 1980

Aquarian has been innovating drum head technology since 1980, when co-founders Roy Burns - a professional jazz drummer whose career included the Woody Herman and Benny Goodman big bands - and Ron Marquez, a systems analyst and manufacturing engineer, combined genuine drumming expertise with engineering rigour to develop heads that addressed real performance problems rather than incremental variations on existing designs. The result is a range of proprietary technologies unique to Aquarian: the Floating Muffling System used in the industry-leading Super-Kick bass drum series, the Vacuum Process eliminating air bubbles between plies in two-ply heads, the Safe-T-Loc collar locking heads to hoops without detuning, and the Power Dot reinforcement applied to batter surfaces. Aquarian's range spans single-ply open-sounding tom and snare heads including the Classic Clear and Texture Coated, controlled-ring options in the Focus-X and Studio-X, versatile two-ply heads in the Response 2 and Performance II, high-impact snare heads in the Hi-Energy and Hi-Velocity, and the comprehensive Super-Kick and Regulator bass drum system. At Angkor Music Melbourne, our drum repair workshop installs drum heads regularly across every type of kit - giving our workshop staff hands-on knowledge of how Aquarian heads install, seat, and perform compared to alternatives. Our professional performing drummers use Aquarian heads in live and studio contexts and our drum school instructors work with students on head selection as part of kit development. We stock comprehensive Aquarian including all major tom, snare, and bass drum series. Located 4-6 Drake Boulevard, Altona VIC 3018. Call (03) 8360 7799 for advice from staff with genuine installation and performance experience across the Aquarian range.

1980
Founded in USA
Drummer expertise meets engineering
★
Professional Drummers
Aquarian users in live and studio
♪
Drum School
Head selection taught at every level
⚙
Repair Workshop
Installing Aquarian heads daily

Why Our Aquarian Advice Matters - Workshop, Stage and Teaching Experience

Drum head advice requires knowing how heads actually behave once installed and played - not just what the specifications say about ply count and coating. Our workshop staff install heads across the full Aquarian range, our professional drummers use them in real performance contexts, and our drum school instructors understand them in teaching applications. That combined perspective enables specific guidance rather than generic descriptions.

Workshop Head Installation Experience

Our drum repair workshop installs drum heads on a regular basis across all drum types - beginner kits through to professional custom instruments. We install Aquarian heads across the full range and understand from this hands-on experience how the Safe-T-Loc collar seats on bearing edges, how the Floating Muffling System in Super-Kick heads behaves during installation and early stretching, and how Aquarian's Vacuum Process two-ply heads compare in feel and tone to non-vacuum alternatives. This installation experience enables advice that goes beyond product descriptions to reflect how heads actually behave in practice.

Performance Experience With Aquarian

Our professional drummer staff use Aquarian heads in live performance and recording contexts. We understand from actual playing experience how different Aquarian series behave under real playing conditions - how the Focus-X ring controls sustain across different tuning ranges, how Performance II heads respond when tuned loose for classic rock depth, how Super-Kick heads interact with different beater types and bass drum tuning approaches. This performance experience translates into specific advice about which Aquarian series suits your playing style and musical context rather than defaulting to the most popular option regardless of fit.

Drum School Head Selection Guidance

Our drum school instructors work with students on kit development including head selection as a natural part of progressing beyond whatever heads came with a student's first kit. We understand from teaching experience which Aquarian heads suit student contexts - where the controlled ring of Focus-X heads assists beginners in hearing tone clearly during practice, where Response 2 heads provide the durability students need through heavy learning periods, and when a student's drum sound problem is primarily about head choice versus tuning versus technique. This teaching perspective informs advice for students and parents that pure retail experience cannot replicate.

Honest Cross-Brand Perspective

We stock and install Aquarian alongside Evans, Remo, and other major head brands. This means our advice on Aquarian is genuinely comparative rather than exclusively promotional. We can discuss honestly where Aquarian's Floating Muffling System provides a different approach to bass drum damping than Evans EMAD foam or Remo Powerstroke systems, where Performance II heads deliver a specific vintage tonal character that differs from Evans G2 two-ply construction, and where the Safe-T-Loc system addresses detuning problems differently to competitor approaches. This cross-brand knowledge is the basis for recommendation rather than brand loyalty.

Aquarian's Founding Philosophy - Engineering For Drummers

The combination of Roy Burns and Ron Marquez at Aquarian's founding in 1980 is significant precisely because it brought together capabilities that drum head development actually requires but rarely gets simultaneously. Burns was not a hobbyist or an enthusiast drummer - he was a professional musician who performed with Woody Herman and Benny Goodman, two of the most demanding bandleaders in American jazz, and went on to become a respected drumming educator and clinician. His understanding of what professional performance requires from a drum head was specific and demanding.

Marquez brought systems analysis and manufacturing plant management experience - the engineering rigour to translate Burns' performance requirements into manufacturable products with consistent quality. The Vacuum Process eliminating air pockets between plies in two-ply heads, the Safe-T-Loc collar system providing consistent seating on bearing edges, and the Floating Muffling System enabling passive bass drum damping without external muffling all reflect genuine engineering innovation applied to real performance problems.

This founding philosophy - identify what drummers actually need, engineer solutions that work - continues to define Aquarian's development approach. The Super-Kick series, which remains one of the most widely used and recommended bass drum head systems in professional and studio contexts four decades after its introduction, represents what happens when engineering quality is applied to a real performance problem with durability and consistency as primary objectives.

Aquarian's Proprietary Technologies

Four distinct innovations that differentiate Aquarian from other head manufacturers and explain why specific Aquarian series behave differently to comparable products from other brands.

Floating Muffling System
A narrow band of acoustic felt positioned around the perimeter on the inside of the head that moves and breathes with the drumhead rather than being rigidly fixed. Used in the Super-Kick and Regulator bass drum series. Controls high-end overtones and boosts low-end punch without deadening the head or requiring external muffling. The felt floats - hence the name - allowing the head to resonate naturally while passively controlling problematic frequencies. Often imitated, never matched by rigid foam alternatives.
Vacuum Process
Aquarian's multi-ply vacuum moulding process used on all two-ply heads including Response 2 and Performance II. Eliminates air bubbles and wrinkles between the two plies that can cause inconsistent tone, deaden sustain, or create contact noise during playing. The vacuum process bonds plies uniformly, producing heads that sound consistent across the entire surface and from drum to drum. This manufacturing precision is what gives Aquarian two-ply heads their characteristic full, even tone rather than the slight deadness that uneven ply bonding creates.
Safe-T-Loc System
Aquarian's collar design that locks the head into specially contoured aluminium extrusion hoops secured with epoxy. The Sound Curve collar allows the bearing edge to find its optimal seating position within the curve during installation, making tuning more consistent and faster. Once seated, heads using the Safe-T-Loc system resist detuning under playing stress better than standard collar designs. Drum heads that stay in tune longer and tune up more consistently are a practical workshop benefit our installation staff notice directly.
Power Dot
A thin layer of proprietary woven material applied to the batter surface - either centrally for reinforcement and tonal focus, or across the entire surface as in the Hi-Energy snare head. The Power Dot adds durability at the impact point without significantly altering the head's fundamental tonal character. Used across multiple Aquarian series including Hi-Energy, Super-Kick III, and the Focus-X Power Dot variant. Provides the impact resistance needed for aggressive playing while preserving the head's designed sound characteristics.

Aquarian Tom and Snare Heads

Classic Clear

Open Single Ply

Single-ply 10mil clear head delivering Aquarian's open, full, natural tom and bass drum tone. Wide dynamic range with good sustain. Versatile across tuning ranges from low and open to moderate tension. The foundation of Aquarian's range, works well as both batter and resonant head.

  • 10mil single-ply clear film
  • Open full natural tone
  • Wide tuning range
  • Versatile batter and resonant use
  • Power Dot version available
  • Broad genre suitability

Texture Coated

Classic Coated Response

Aquarian's standard coated head providing the warm attack and brush-friendly surface that coated heads deliver. Warmer tone than equivalent clear heads with slightly reduced sustain. Standard choice for drummers wanting traditional coated character across toms and snare drums.

  • Textured coated surface
  • Warm attack character
  • Brush compatible
  • Slightly reduced sustain vs clear
  • Traditional coated tone
  • Single and two-ply options

Focus-X

Vented Internal Ring

Single-ply 10mil head with a unique vented muffling ring tucked inside the hoop underneath the head. The vented design eliminates unwanted ring while preserving full, articulate tone - no external muffling required. Sensitive snare response. Excellent for studio recording and live close-miking where ring control without deadening is required.

  • 10mil single-ply construction
  • Vented internal muffling ring
  • Eliminates ring without deadening
  • Sensitive snare response
  • No external muffling needed
  • Clear and texture coated versions

Studio-X

Warm Focused Control

Clear 10mil single-ply head with a lightweight muffle ring adhering to the perimeter underside. Eliminates unwanted high frequencies while maintaining warm, open, focused sound. More subtle control than Focus-X - ideal for situations requiring a warm natural tone with high-frequency overtones managed rather than fully suppressed.

  • 10mil single-ply clear
  • Perimeter muffle ring underside
  • Warm open focused character
  • High-frequency management
  • More subtle than Focus-X
  • Power Dot version available

Response 2

Versatile Two-Ply

Two-ply 2x7mil head manufactured with Aquarian's Vacuum Process, eliminating air bubbles between plies. Full sound with great attack and consistent tone drum to drum. Works at tight and loose tuning with clean open character. Aquarian's most versatile two-ply head across musical styles and playing situations.

  • Two-ply 2x7mil construction
  • Aquarian Vacuum Process
  • Full sound, great attack
  • Consistent tone drum to drum
  • Tight and loose tuning versatile
  • Clean open two-ply character

Performance II

Classic Rock Two-Ply

Two-ply head designed specifically for loose tuning to achieve the deep, fat, low tom tom sound of classic rock recordings. Aquarian's Vacuum Process applied to a construction tuned for depth and punch with controlled ring. For drummers seeking the large, warm tom sound heard on rock recordings where toms are tuned lower than typical modern setups.

  • Two-ply Vacuum Process
  • Designed for loose tuning
  • Deep fat classic rock tom tone
  • Depth and punch combination
  • Controlled ring at low tensions
  • Clear and texture coated options

Hi-Energy

High Impact Snare

Clear 10mil single-ply snare batter with an extremely thin layer of Power Dot material bonded across the entire head surface, with additional reinforcement at centre. The full-surface Power Dot layer provides exceptional durability for heavy snare playing while preserving snare sensitivity and articulation. Built for aggressive players who require durability without deadening the snare response.

  • 10mil clear single-ply
  • Full-surface Power Dot layer
  • Additional centre reinforcement
  • Exceptional durability
  • Preserves snare sensitivity
  • Heavy and aggressive playing

Hi-Velocity

Coated Two-Ply Snare

Coated two-ply 2x7mil snare batter with a reverse Power-Thin dot for additional strength. Warm coated character with two-ply durability and enhanced impact resistance. Suited to players wanting coated warmth and tone with the durability and controlled response of two-ply construction for demanding live playing situations.

  • Coated two-ply 2x7mil
  • Reverse Power-Thin dot
  • Warm coated tone character
  • Two-ply durability
  • Enhanced impact strength
  • Live performance durability

Aquarian Bass Drum Heads

The Super-Kick series is Aquarian's most widely recognised product and one of the most recommended bass drum head systems in professional drumming. The Floating Muffling System addresses the fundamental challenge of bass drum tone - controlling the high-end overtones and room-exciting frequencies that make amplified bass drums sound harsh and undefined - with felt that moves with the head rather than rigid foam that fights against it. The result is the warm, controlled, low-end-focused bass drum tone that recording engineers and stage drummers have relied on since the Super-Kick's introduction.

Super-Kick I

Classic Felt Muffling

Clear 10mil single-ply bass drum batter with Aquarian's patented Floating Muffling System. A narrow band of acoustic felt around the perimeter inside the head controls resonance, enhances low-end, and delivers well-defined focused attack. Pre-dampened natural sound without blankets, pillows, or external muffling. Available 14" to 28".

  • Clear 10mil single-ply
  • Floating Muffling System - felt
  • Controls resonance naturally
  • Enhances low-end punch
  • No external muffling needed
  • Available 14" to 28"

Super-Kick II

Two-Ply Durability

Twin 7mil ply version of the Super-Kick with the same Floating Muffling System. Additional ply adds durability for heavy players and aggressive beater styles while maintaining the warm controlled Floating Muffling System tone. Slightly brighter and more focused than Super-Kick I with better resistance to wear under demanding playing conditions.

  • Twin 7mil two-ply construction
  • Floating Muffling System
  • Enhanced durability
  • Slightly brighter than SKI
  • Heavy player recommended
  • Aggressive beater compatible

Super-Kick III

Coated with Power Dot

White coated 10mil single-ply Super-Kick with an additional 6.5" Power Dot at centre. Coated surface adds warmth and slight attack softening. Power Dot provides enhanced impact durability. Floating Muffling System delivers the same controlled tone. For players wanting coated character with the Super-Kick's signature bass drum control.

  • White coated 10mil single-ply
  • 6.5" central Power Dot
  • Floating Muffling System
  • Warm coated attack character
  • Enhanced centre durability
  • Classic appearance

Regulator

Resonant Front Head

Single-ply resonant front bass drum heads specifically designed as companions for the Super-Kick batter series. Feature Aquarian's Floating Muffling System on the resonant side, eliminating external muffling of the front head entirely. Available in Video Gloss Black or White, with no port, 7" central port, or 4.25" offset port options. Bass drum tunes up and mics up in seconds.

  • Single-ply resonant head
  • Floating Muffling System inside
  • No external front muffling needed
  • Black or white gloss options
  • No port, 7" or 4.25" offset port
  • Super-Kick perfect companion

What Makes Aquarian Different

01

Drummer Founded, Engineer Built

Founded by Roy Burns whose professional jazz career with Woody Herman and Benny Goodman provided the performance standards, and Ron Marquez whose manufacturing engineering provided the means to achieve them. The combination of genuine drumming expertise with engineering rigour produced innovations that pure manufacturers could not conceive and pure musicians could not execute.

02

Floating Muffling System

The industry's most imitated bass drum head technology, used in Super-Kick and Regulator series. Felt that moves and breathes with the drumhead rather than rigid foam provides warm, natural damping without the deadening effect of compression-based alternatives. Professional studios and touring engineers have relied on it for over four decades.

03

Vacuum Process Two-Ply

Eliminating air bubbles and wrinkles between plies through vacuum moulding produces more consistent tone across the head surface than standard ply bonding. Aquarian two-ply heads using this process deliver the full, even tone that vacuum bonding enables and standard bonding cannot guarantee.

04

Safe-T-Loc Collar

The Sound Curve collar allows bearing edges to find optimal seating during installation, making tuning faster and more consistent. Heads stay in tune better under playing stress than standard collars. Our workshop staff notice the difference in installation consistency and tuning stability directly from hands-on experience.

05

Complete System Approach

Super-Kick batter heads and Regulator resonant heads are designed as a matched system - both using the Floating Muffling System - eliminating the need for external front head muffling entirely. The complete bass drum tone solution in two heads, without blankets, pillows, or additional products.

06

Forty-Five Years of Refinement

Since 1980, continuous development of heads that address real drumming requirements rather than marketing differentiation. The Super-Kick series has remained consistently recommended by professional drummers and recording engineers across four decades - a longevity that reflects genuine performance quality rather than trend-driven popularity.

Common Questions About Aquarian Drum Heads

What is the difference between Super-Kick I, II, and III?
All three Super-Kick models use Aquarian's Floating Muffling System felt ring inside the head - this is the core technology that defines Super-Kick tone. The differences are in the shell construction and surface. Super-Kick I is a clear 10mil single-ply - the lightest and most open-sounding of the three, warm and natural. Super-Kick II is twin 7mil ply - slightly brighter and more focused than SKI with additional durability that suits heavy players and aggressive beater styles. Super-Kick III is the same single-ply as SKI but with a white coated surface and a 6.5" Power Dot at centre - adds warmth from the coating and enhanced durability at the impact point. For most players, the choice is SKI for warm natural tone or SKII for durability with a slightly more defined attack. SKIII suits players wanting coated warmth with the Super-Kick system. Our workshop staff have installed all three across different kick drum configurations and can discuss the practical differences from direct experience.
How does the Focus-X control ring without deadening the drum?
The Focus-X's vented muffling ring is the key - it sits tucked inside the hoop underneath the head rather than directly contacting the playing surface. Because it's vented, air can move through it as the head vibrates, which means the ring damps the specific high-frequency sustain that creates problematic ring without restricting the head's fundamental vibration. The result is a drum that sounds controlled and focused without the choked, dead quality of external tape or foam dampening. Our workshop staff have installed Focus-X heads across both toms and snare drums and the difference in live tone compared to undamped alternatives is immediately audible. Particularly valuable for close-miking applications where undamped ring creates phase and bleed problems, and for live situations where monitor systems and stage volume make ring control practically necessary.
What is the difference between Performance II and Response 2?
Both are two-ply heads using Aquarian's Vacuum Process but they are designed for different tuning approaches and tonal goals. Performance II is designed specifically for loose tuning - it was created to achieve the deep, fat, low tom tone of classic rock recordings where toms sit low and open. It delivers maximum depth and punch at lower tensions. Response 2 is Aquarian's most versatile two-ply head, designed to work well across tight and loose tuning with consistent tone drum to drum. It delivers a full sound with good attack that suits a broad range of styles. The practical choice: if you want classic rock depth and you tune your toms lower than typical, Performance II is designed for that application. If you want a versatile two-ply that works across different tuning ranges and musical styles, Response 2 is the more adaptable choice.
Do I need a Regulator front head if I use a Super-Kick batter?
You don't have to, but the Regulator is specifically designed as the Super-Kick's companion and the combination addresses both sides of bass drum tone together. A Super-Kick batter on a standard resonant head will sound better than a standard batter because the batter is controlling the primary damping. Adding a Regulator front - which also uses the Floating Muffling System on the resonant side - creates a complete system where both heads are working together to produce the warm, controlled bass drum tone. The Regulator's port options (no port, 7" central, or 4.25" offset) accommodate different mic placement preferences without requiring cutting and patching a standard head. Our workshop staff have installed Super-Kick and Regulator combinations on various kick drum setups and the complete system tuning and miking consistency the combination provides is meaningfully better than Super-Kick alone.
How do Aquarian heads compare to Evans and Remo?
We stock all three brands and our honest view is that each has genuine strengths in specific applications rather than one being universally superior. Aquarian's Floating Muffling System in Super-Kick heads provides a warmer, more natural-feeling bass drum damping than Evans EMAD foam or Remo Powerstroke designs - many professional engineers and drummers prefer the Super-Kick felt ring specifically for this quality. Aquarian's Focus-X vented ring approach to ring control is distinctly different to Evans UV coating approach or Remo CS dot construction. Aquarian's Vacuum Process two-ply bonding is a genuine manufacturing quality advantage. Evans Level 360 collar is a strong alternative to Aquarian's Safe-T-Loc for installation consistency. The right choice depends on your specific application, drum construction, and tonal goals - our workshop staff can discuss the practical differences across brands from direct installation and playing experience rather than brand preference.
Do you offer drum head installation at your Melbourne workshop?
Yes, our on-site drum repair workshop installs drum heads as part of our regular services. This covers single head replacement, full kit re-heading, and new head installation with proper seating, tensioning, and tuning. If you purchase Aquarian heads from us, our workshop staff can install them and ensure proper seating using the Safe-T-Loc system for consistent results. We can also advise on head selection for your specific drums and musical context based on direct experience installing Aquarian heads across many different drum kits. Visit us at 4-6 Drake Boulevard, Altona VIC 3018 or call (03) 8360 7799 to discuss your head requirements and installation needs.

Professional Aquarian Services

Our Melbourne Aquarian expertise combines workshop head installation knowledge, professional performance experience with Aquarian heads, and drum school teaching context for head selection at every level.

Head Selection Advice

Expert guidance from staff who install and play:

  • Musical context and genre assessment
  • Single-ply vs two-ply guidance
  • Ring control requirement evaluation
  • Super-Kick system selection
  • Cross-brand honest comparison
  • Complete kit head recommendation

Workshop Installation

Professional head fitting service:

  • Single head replacement
  • Full kit re-heading service
  • Proper bearing edge seating
  • Safe-T-Loc collar technique
  • Initial tuning and voicing
  • Super-Kick and Regulator fitting

Student and Educational

Drum school informed guidance:

  • First head upgrade advice
  • Student-appropriate head selection
  • Durability and value guidance
  • Head care and maintenance
  • Tuning instruction alongside heads
  • Development-stage appropriate choices

Why Buy Aquarian From Angkor Music Melbourne

Drum head selection benefits from advice grounded in actual installation and playing experience rather than specifications. Our drum repair workshop installs heads across the Aquarian range regularly - we know how Safe-T-Loc collars seat on different bearing edge profiles, how Super-Kick felt rings behave during the initial head stretching period, and how different Aquarian series compare in tone and durability under real playing conditions. This hands-on installation knowledge enables advice that product descriptions cannot provide.

Our professional drummer staff use Aquarian heads in live performance and recording contexts. The difference between recommending Performance II for loose-tuned classic rock toms based on the product description versus recommending it based on having actually played it through that application in a live context is significant. We provide the latter - recommendations grounded in musical experience with the products rather than marketing material.

We stock Evans and Remo alongside Aquarian, which means our head advice is genuinely comparative. When we recommend Aquarian Super-Kick over an Evans EMAD, it is because our workshop staff and professional drummer staff have direct experience with both and have an honest view of how they differ and when each is appropriate. When another brand genuinely suits a situation better, we say so. That honest cross-brand perspective is what customers making significant head purchase decisions deserve.

Call (03) 8360 7799 Visit Our Showroom

Aquarian Drum Heads Melbourne

Expert advice from professional drummers and repair workshop staff who install and play Aquarian heads. Comprehensive stock across the full range with professional installation available.

Call (03) 8360 7799 View Range Online

Angkor Music Melbourne | 4-6 Drake Boulevard, Altona VIC 3018 | Professional Drummers, Drum School & Repair Workshop

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