Sabian
SABIAN
Canadian Cymbal Craftsmanship Since 1981
Sabian cymbals carry over four decades of Canadian craftsmanship and cymbal-making heritage stretching back considerably further - founder Robert Zildjian brought centuries of cymbal knowledge with him when he established Sabian in Meductic, New Brunswick in 1981, building one of the world's most respected cymbal companies from that foundation. The Sabian range spans from professional hand-hammered B20 bronze series including the dark complex HHX, bright modern AAX, and traditional HH and AA, through to accessible B8 and brass entry options that give students a genuine upgrade path from kit-supplied cymbals. Choosing between Sabian series is one of the most personally significant equipment decisions a drummer makes - cymbals shape kit sound more dramatically than almost any other variable, and the right choice depends entirely on musical context, playing style, and tonal preference in ways that cannot be determined from descriptions alone. At Angkor Music Melbourne, our staff includes professional performing drummers across diverse genres who use Sabian cymbals in live and studio contexts, providing direct comparison experience across series that retail product descriptions cannot replicate. We operate an on-site drum school where our instructors guide students through cymbal selection at every level, and our showroom has Sabian cymbals you can actually strike and hear before purchasing. We stock comprehensive Sabian including HHX, AAX, HH, AA, XSR, B8X, SBR and effects cymbal ranges. Located 4-6 Drake Boulevard, Altona VIC 3018. Call (03) 8360 7799 to arrange time with a professional drummer who understands the Sabian range from actual performance experience across musical styles.
Why Our Sabian Advice Matters - Heard, Played, and Taught With
Cymbal selection is the most subjective major equipment decision in drumming. The gap between good and poor cymbal advice is the difference between someone who has played Sabian series across real musical contexts and someone who has read product descriptions. Our professional drummers, drum school instructors, and showroom with playable stock give us genuine grounds for the advice we provide.
Multi-Genre Performance Experience
Our professional drummer staff perform across rock, jazz, funk, pop, and session contexts where different Sabian series are genuinely appropriate for different reasons. We understand from actual performance experience that HHX suits jazz and studio contexts where dark complex tone matters, that AAX delivers the cut and brightness demanded by live rock and pop without sounding harsh, that AA provides versatile professional quality at accessible price, and that HH hand-hammered character suits players prioritising traditional warmth. This cross-genre performance experience enables specific series recommendations grounded in musical context rather than price point alone.
Drum School Student Experience
We operate an on-site drum school guiding students from first cymbal purchase through to professional setups. This teaching experience spans the entire Sabian range - helping beginners understand why B8X is a genuine upgrade over kit cymbals, guiding intermediate students through the AA versus AAX decision, and advising advanced players on whether HHX or HH better suits their developing musical direction. Cymbal selection at different stages of development requires understanding what students are ready to hear and use, which our instructors assess from ongoing teaching relationships rather than one-time retail interactions.
You Can Hear Them In Our Showroom
Cymbals cannot be properly assessed from audio samples on a website or from descriptions of tonal character. The only way to know whether a cymbal suits your playing and musical context is to strike it yourself. Our Melbourne showroom has Sabian cymbals available to play before purchase. Our professional drummer staff can play cymbals for you demonstrating characteristics across series, compare models side by side, and help you distinguish between subtle tonal differences that matter to your specific requirements. This listening experience before purchase is the most valuable thing we offer Sabian customers and is something online retailers fundamentally cannot provide.
Honest Series Hierarchy Guidance
The Sabian range spans entry brass through hand-hammered professional B20, and understanding where each series sits and why matters for informed purchasing. Our professional drummer staff can explain the practical difference between B20 and B8 bronze in terms you can hear, why hand-hammering in HH creates tonal complexity that machine-hammering cannot replicate, and where the genuine performance step-ups occur in the range versus where additional spend provides diminishing returns for most players. This honest guidance reflects our interest in customers making the right purchase for their situation rather than the most expensive available option.
Understanding the Sabian Series Range
Sabian's range is organised around two key variables that determine both price and tonal character: metal alloy and manufacturing process. Understanding these two factors explains why cymbals in different series sound and feel different, and why those differences matter or don't depending on your playing context.
B20 bronze - an alloy of approximately 80% copper, 20% tin - is the professional standard for cymbal manufacturing because it provides the broadest frequency range and the most complex tonal character. All of Sabian's professional series including HHX, AAX, HH, AA, and Artisan use B20. B8 bronze - 92% copper, 8% tin - is less expensive to produce and provides a brighter, less complex tone that suits student applications well. B8X is Sabian's B8 series. SBR uses brass, which is the most affordable but least tonally complex option.
Within B20 series, the manufacturing process creates tonal differences. Hand-hammering in the HH series creates subtle variations across the cymbal surface producing complex, warm, traditional tone. Computer-controlled machine processes in AAX create highly consistent, bright, modern tone. HHX combines hand-hammering with modern design philosophy producing dark, complex tone with contemporary projection. Understanding these distinctions enables informed series selection based on tonal preference rather than simply budget.
Sabian Series In Depth
HHX
Dark, Complex, Hand-Hammered
HHX is Sabian's answer for players seeking dark, warm, complex cymbal tone with modern projection. Hand-hammered B20 bronze creates the tonal complexity and nuance jazz, fusion, and studio drummers demand while retaining the cut to project in live settings.
- Hand-hammered B20 bronze
- Dark complex tonal character
- Strong projection despite dark tone
- HHX Evolution, Complex, Legacy, Anthology sub-lines
- Natural and brilliant finish options
- Jazz, fusion, studio, modern applications
AAX
Bright, Modern, Precise
AAX uses larger-peen hammering on B20 bronze to create bright, precise, modern tone with wide dynamic range. The world's first modern cymbal series, AAX delivers cut and clarity across rock, pop, and metal contexts where bright articulate sound is required.
- B20 bronze, larger-peen hammering
- Bright modern tone character
- Wide dynamic range
- Studio and Stage sub-lines
- Natural and brilliant finish
- Rock, pop, metal, R&B applications
HH
Traditional Hand-Hammered
The HH series represents Sabian's traditional hand-hammered craftsmanship applied to B20 bronze. Warm, complex, versatile tone suited to players who value traditional cymbal character across a wide range of musical contexts from rock through jazz.
- Hand-hammered B20 bronze
- Warm traditional character
- Complex tonal depth
- Versatile across genres
- Natural and brilliant finish
- Professional drummers worldwide
AA
Bright and Versatile B20
The AA series provides broad tonal versatility in B20 bronze at a more accessible price than the top-tier series. Bright and responsive character suits a wide range of playing styles and musical contexts, with the tonal foundation of professional B20 material.
- B20 bronze construction
- Bright versatile character
- Broad musical range
- Accessible professional pricing
- Natural and brilliant finish
- Preferred by many touring drummers
XSR
B20 at Accessible Price
XSR delivers genuine B20 bronze performance at a more accessible price point than the upper series. Represents a genuine tonal upgrade from B8 and brass cymbals making it an excellent step-up choice for developing players ready for professional material.
- B20 bronze - same as pro series
- Accessible step-up pricing
- Genuine tonal improvement over B8
- Broad style suitability
- Ideal upgrade from student cymbals
- Professional material, accessible entry
B8X
Student and Entry Level
B8X uses B8 bronze to deliver genuine Sabian quality at student price levels. A meaningful improvement over brass kit cymbals in tone and feel. Sonically matched sets ensure hi-hats, crashes, and rides work together as a balanced setup straight from the box.
- B8 bronze construction
- Bright student-appropriate tone
- Sonically matched sets available
- Affordable first upgrade
- Durable for developing players
- Genuine improvement over brass
Sabian Effects and Specialty Cymbals
Sabian produces an extensive effects range spanning across series. From Ozone crash cymbals with perforated holes creating raw dark sizzle, to China cymbals in various series for trashy aggressive accent tones, to stacks and specialty configurations used by professional drummers seeking unique sonic options.
Effects cymbal selection requires particular care because the sonic character of effects cymbals varies enormously between models and the right choice depends heavily on what sound you are seeking and what context it serves in your music. Our professional drummer staff can demonstrate effects models in the showroom and discuss how specific effects fit into complete kit setups based on actual performance experience using them.
The FRX (Frequency Reduced) series provides full-size Sabian cymbals with significantly reduced volume for practice and performance in acoustic-sensitive environments, maintaining the playing feel and visual appearance of regular cymbals while controlling sound output - a different approach to volume reduction than Cympad Moderators, better suited to players needing near-silent practice on a full kit setup.
What Makes Sabian Different
Canadian Heritage, Global Standard
Founded in 1981 by Robert Zildjian in Meductic, New Brunswick, bringing centuries of cymbal-making knowledge to establish a distinctly Canadian craft tradition. Sabian has grown to compete with the oldest cymbal makers in the world through quality and innovation rather than heritage alone.
Complete Range Architecture
The only cymbal manufacturer offering a coherent range from brass student cymbals through hand-hammered professional B20, enabling drummers to grow through the range as their playing and musical requirements develop. Series-to-series upgrade paths are well-defined and tonally logical.
Tone Projection Design
HHX's Tone Projection philosophy combines dark hand-hammered character with modern design enabling dark cymbals to cut through live mixes - solving the problem that traditional dark cymbals often disappear in loud ensemble contexts. Dark and present simultaneously.
Sonically Matched Sets
Sabian's Vault team sonically matches cymbal sets - testing individual cymbals and their compatibility before packaging - ensuring B8X and SBR sets arrive as balanced, musically coherent setups rather than random combinations of individual models.
Innovation Track Record
Pioneers of the modern cymbal concept with AAX, developers of the Tone Projection approach with HHX, and continuous innovators in effects cymbals including the Ozone and Holy China designs. Innovation driven by working drummer feedback rather than engineering abstraction.
Professional Adoption Across Genres
Sabian artists span jazz, rock, pop, metal, fusion, and orchestral contexts. This broad professional adoption across musical styles reflects genuine tonal versatility across the range rather than suitability for a single genre or playing approach.
Common Questions About Sabian Cymbals
Professional Sabian Services
Cymbal selection is the most personal major equipment decision a drummer makes. Our Melbourne Sabian consultation combines professional performance experience across genres, drum school teaching expertise across skill levels, and an in-store listening environment that online retailers cannot provide.
Cymbal Selection Consultation
Guided listening and expert advice:
- Musical context and genre assessment
- Budget and upgrade path guidance
- In-store cymbal demonstration
- Series comparison and explanation
- Individual cymbal listening before purchase
- Compatible setup building advice
Student Cymbal Guidance
Drum school and teaching expertise:
- First cymbal purchase advice
- Upgrade timing assessment
- Level-appropriate series guidance
- Set versus individual selection
- Value and longevity consideration
- Development stage matching
Professional Setup Consultation
Performing musician perspective:
- Genre-specific series advice
- Live versus studio considerations
- Effects cymbal selection
- Setup compatibility assessment
- Artist model and signature advice
- Complete kit tonal balance guidance
Why Buy Sabian From Angkor Music Melbourne
Cymbal purchasing is uniquely unsuited to online retail without listening opportunity. The tonal differences between Sabian series are real and meaningful, but they are experienced through ears rather than understood through descriptions. Our Melbourne showroom with playable Sabian stock and professional drummer staff available to demonstrate is the most valuable thing we offer Sabian customers - the opportunity to hear cymbals in person before making a purchasing decision that will affect how your kit sounds for years.
Our professional drummer staff perform across different genres and understand which Sabian series are genuinely appropriate for different musical contexts from actual stage and studio experience. The difference between recommending HHX for jazz because it is marketed for jazz versus recommending HHX because our staff use it in jazz performance and understand its characteristics in ensemble context is significant for the quality of advice received. We provide the latter.
We operate a drum school where our instructors guide students through cymbal progression from first purchase to professional level. This teaching experience spans the complete Sabian range in a way that pure retail experience cannot replicate. We understand what students need from cymbals at different development stages and can honestly advise on when the next upgrade genuinely serves a player's development versus when the money is better directed elsewhere.
With 1,500 Google reviews at 4.9 average, our customers' experience of purchasing and advice quality speaks directly to the consultation we provide. Cymbal selection is one of the most significant equipment purchases a drummer makes, and getting it right the first time matters both tonally and financially.
Hear Sabian Cymbals Before You Buy
Visit our Melbourne showroom and strike Sabian cymbals for yourself. Our professional drummer staff will guide your listening and help you find the series and models that genuinely suit your music.
Angkor Music Melbourne | 4-6 Drake Boulevard, Altona VIC 3018 | Professional Drummers, Drum School & Repair Workshop
SABIAN
Canadian Cymbal Craftsmanship Since 1981
Sabian cymbals carry over four decades of Canadian craftsmanship and cymbal-making heritage stretching back considerably further - founder Robert Zildjian brought centuries of cymbal knowledge with him when he established Sabian in Meductic, New Brunswick in 1981, building one of the world's most respected cymbal companies from that foundation. The Sabian range spans from professional hand-hammered B20 bronze series including the dark complex HHX, bright modern AAX, and traditional HH and AA, through to accessible B8 and brass entry options that give students a genuine upgrade path from kit-supplied cymbals. Choosing between Sabian series is one of the most personally significant equipment decisions a drummer makes - cymbals shape kit sound more dramatically than almost any other variable, and the right choice depends entirely on musical context, playing style, and tonal preference in ways that cannot be determined from descriptions alone. At Angkor Music Melbourne, our staff includes professional performing drummers across diverse genres who use Sabian cymbals in live and studio contexts, providing direct comparison experience across series that retail product descriptions cannot replicate. We operate an on-site drum school where our instructors guide students through cymbal selection at every level, and our showroom has Sabian cymbals you can actually strike and hear before purchasing. We stock comprehensive Sabian including HHX, AAX, HH, AA, XSR, B8X, SBR and effects cymbal ranges. Located 4-6 Drake Boulevard, Altona VIC 3018. Call (03) 8360 7799 to arrange time with a professional drummer who understands the Sabian range from actual performance experience across musical styles.
Why Our Sabian Advice Matters - Heard, Played, and Taught With
Cymbal selection is the most subjective major equipment decision in drumming. The gap between good and poor cymbal advice is the difference between someone who has played Sabian series across real musical contexts and someone who has read product descriptions. Our professional drummers, drum school instructors, and showroom with playable stock give us genuine grounds for the advice we provide.
Multi-Genre Performance Experience
Our professional drummer staff perform across rock, jazz, funk, pop, and session contexts where different Sabian series are genuinely appropriate for different reasons. We understand from actual performance experience that HHX suits jazz and studio contexts where dark complex tone matters, that AAX delivers the cut and brightness demanded by live rock and pop without sounding harsh, that AA provides versatile professional quality at accessible price, and that HH hand-hammered character suits players prioritising traditional warmth. This cross-genre performance experience enables specific series recommendations grounded in musical context rather than price point alone.
Drum School Student Experience
We operate an on-site drum school guiding students from first cymbal purchase through to professional setups. This teaching experience spans the entire Sabian range - helping beginners understand why B8X is a genuine upgrade over kit cymbals, guiding intermediate students through the AA versus AAX decision, and advising advanced players on whether HHX or HH better suits their developing musical direction. Cymbal selection at different stages of development requires understanding what students are ready to hear and use, which our instructors assess from ongoing teaching relationships rather than one-time retail interactions.
You Can Hear Them In Our Showroom
Cymbals cannot be properly assessed from audio samples on a website or from descriptions of tonal character. The only way to know whether a cymbal suits your playing and musical context is to strike it yourself. Our Melbourne showroom has Sabian cymbals available to play before purchase. Our professional drummer staff can play cymbals for you demonstrating characteristics across series, compare models side by side, and help you distinguish between subtle tonal differences that matter to your specific requirements. This listening experience before purchase is the most valuable thing we offer Sabian customers and is something online retailers fundamentally cannot provide.
Honest Series Hierarchy Guidance
The Sabian range spans entry brass through hand-hammered professional B20, and understanding where each series sits and why matters for informed purchasing. Our professional drummer staff can explain the practical difference between B20 and B8 bronze in terms you can hear, why hand-hammering in HH creates tonal complexity that machine-hammering cannot replicate, and where the genuine performance step-ups occur in the range versus where additional spend provides diminishing returns for most players. This honest guidance reflects our interest in customers making the right purchase for their situation rather than the most expensive available option.
Understanding the Sabian Series Range
Sabian's range is organised around two key variables that determine both price and tonal character: metal alloy and manufacturing process. Understanding these two factors explains why cymbals in different series sound and feel different, and why those differences matter or don't depending on your playing context.
B20 bronze - an alloy of approximately 80% copper, 20% tin - is the professional standard for cymbal manufacturing because it provides the broadest frequency range and the most complex tonal character. All of Sabian's professional series including HHX, AAX, HH, AA, and Artisan use B20. B8 bronze - 92% copper, 8% tin - is less expensive to produce and provides a brighter, less complex tone that suits student applications well. B8X is Sabian's B8 series. SBR uses brass, which is the most affordable but least tonally complex option.
Within B20 series, the manufacturing process creates tonal differences. Hand-hammering in the HH series creates subtle variations across the cymbal surface producing complex, warm, traditional tone. Computer-controlled machine processes in AAX create highly consistent, bright, modern tone. HHX combines hand-hammering with modern design philosophy producing dark, complex tone with contemporary projection. Understanding these distinctions enables informed series selection based on tonal preference rather than simply budget.
Sabian Series In Depth
HHX
Dark, Complex, Hand-Hammered
HHX is Sabian's answer for players seeking dark, warm, complex cymbal tone with modern projection. Hand-hammered B20 bronze creates the tonal complexity and nuance jazz, fusion, and studio drummers demand while retaining the cut to project in live settings.
- Hand-hammered B20 bronze
- Dark complex tonal character
- Strong projection despite dark tone
- HHX Evolution, Complex, Legacy, Anthology sub-lines
- Natural and brilliant finish options
- Jazz, fusion, studio, modern applications
AAX
Bright, Modern, Precise
AAX uses larger-peen hammering on B20 bronze to create bright, precise, modern tone with wide dynamic range. The world's first modern cymbal series, AAX delivers cut and clarity across rock, pop, and metal contexts where bright articulate sound is required.
- B20 bronze, larger-peen hammering
- Bright modern tone character
- Wide dynamic range
- Studio and Stage sub-lines
- Natural and brilliant finish
- Rock, pop, metal, R&B applications
HH
Traditional Hand-Hammered
The HH series represents Sabian's traditional hand-hammered craftsmanship applied to B20 bronze. Warm, complex, versatile tone suited to players who value traditional cymbal character across a wide range of musical contexts from rock through jazz.
- Hand-hammered B20 bronze
- Warm traditional character
- Complex tonal depth
- Versatile across genres
- Natural and brilliant finish
- Professional drummers worldwide
AA
Bright and Versatile B20
The AA series provides broad tonal versatility in B20 bronze at a more accessible price than the top-tier series. Bright and responsive character suits a wide range of playing styles and musical contexts, with the tonal foundation of professional B20 material.
- B20 bronze construction
- Bright versatile character
- Broad musical range
- Accessible professional pricing
- Natural and brilliant finish
- Preferred by many touring drummers
XSR
B20 at Accessible Price
XSR delivers genuine B20 bronze performance at a more accessible price point than the upper series. Represents a genuine tonal upgrade from B8 and brass cymbals making it an excellent step-up choice for developing players ready for professional material.
- B20 bronze - same as pro series
- Accessible step-up pricing
- Genuine tonal improvement over B8
- Broad style suitability
- Ideal upgrade from student cymbals
- Professional material, accessible entry
B8X
Student and Entry Level
B8X uses B8 bronze to deliver genuine Sabian quality at student price levels. A meaningful improvement over brass kit cymbals in tone and feel. Sonically matched sets ensure hi-hats, crashes, and rides work together as a balanced setup straight from the box.
- B8 bronze construction
- Bright student-appropriate tone
- Sonically matched sets available
- Affordable first upgrade
- Durable for developing players
- Genuine improvement over brass
Sabian Effects and Specialty Cymbals
Sabian produces an extensive effects range spanning across series. From Ozone crash cymbals with perforated holes creating raw dark sizzle, to China cymbals in various series for trashy aggressive accent tones, to stacks and specialty configurations used by professional drummers seeking unique sonic options.
Effects cymbal selection requires particular care because the sonic character of effects cymbals varies enormously between models and the right choice depends heavily on what sound you are seeking and what context it serves in your music. Our professional drummer staff can demonstrate effects models in the showroom and discuss how specific effects fit into complete kit setups based on actual performance experience using them.
The FRX (Frequency Reduced) series provides full-size Sabian cymbals with significantly reduced volume for practice and performance in acoustic-sensitive environments, maintaining the playing feel and visual appearance of regular cymbals while controlling sound output - a different approach to volume reduction than Cympad Moderators, better suited to players needing near-silent practice on a full kit setup.
What Makes Sabian Different
Canadian Heritage, Global Standard
Founded in 1981 by Robert Zildjian in Meductic, New Brunswick, bringing centuries of cymbal-making knowledge to establish a distinctly Canadian craft tradition. Sabian has grown to compete with the oldest cymbal makers in the world through quality and innovation rather than heritage alone.
Complete Range Architecture
The only cymbal manufacturer offering a coherent range from brass student cymbals through hand-hammered professional B20, enabling drummers to grow through the range as their playing and musical requirements develop. Series-to-series upgrade paths are well-defined and tonally logical.
Tone Projection Design
HHX's Tone Projection philosophy combines dark hand-hammered character with modern design enabling dark cymbals to cut through live mixes - solving the problem that traditional dark cymbals often disappear in loud ensemble contexts. Dark and present simultaneously.
Sonically Matched Sets
Sabian's Vault team sonically matches cymbal sets - testing individual cymbals and their compatibility before packaging - ensuring B8X and SBR sets arrive as balanced, musically coherent setups rather than random combinations of individual models.
Innovation Track Record
Pioneers of the modern cymbal concept with AAX, developers of the Tone Projection approach with HHX, and continuous innovators in effects cymbals including the Ozone and Holy China designs. Innovation driven by working drummer feedback rather than engineering abstraction.
Professional Adoption Across Genres
Sabian artists span jazz, rock, pop, metal, fusion, and orchestral contexts. This broad professional adoption across musical styles reflects genuine tonal versatility across the range rather than suitability for a single genre or playing approach.
Common Questions About Sabian Cymbals
Professional Sabian Services
Cymbal selection is the most personal major equipment decision a drummer makes. Our Melbourne Sabian consultation combines professional performance experience across genres, drum school teaching expertise across skill levels, and an in-store listening environment that online retailers cannot provide.
Cymbal Selection Consultation
Guided listening and expert advice:
- Musical context and genre assessment
- Budget and upgrade path guidance
- In-store cymbal demonstration
- Series comparison and explanation
- Individual cymbal listening before purchase
- Compatible setup building advice
Student Cymbal Guidance
Drum school and teaching expertise:
- First cymbal purchase advice
- Upgrade timing assessment
- Level-appropriate series guidance
- Set versus individual selection
- Value and longevity consideration
- Development stage matching
Professional Setup Consultation
Performing musician perspective:
- Genre-specific series advice
- Live versus studio considerations
- Effects cymbal selection
- Setup compatibility assessment
- Artist model and signature advice
- Complete kit tonal balance guidance
Why Buy Sabian From Angkor Music Melbourne
Cymbal purchasing is uniquely unsuited to online retail without listening opportunity. The tonal differences between Sabian series are real and meaningful, but they are experienced through ears rather than understood through descriptions. Our Melbourne showroom with playable Sabian stock and professional drummer staff available to demonstrate is the most valuable thing we offer Sabian customers - the opportunity to hear cymbals in person before making a purchasing decision that will affect how your kit sounds for years.
Our professional drummer staff perform across different genres and understand which Sabian series are genuinely appropriate for different musical contexts from actual stage and studio experience. The difference between recommending HHX for jazz because it is marketed for jazz versus recommending HHX because our staff use it in jazz performance and understand its characteristics in ensemble context is significant for the quality of advice received. We provide the latter.
We operate a drum school where our instructors guide students through cymbal progression from first purchase to professional level. This teaching experience spans the complete Sabian range in a way that pure retail experience cannot replicate. We understand what students need from cymbals at different development stages and can honestly advise on when the next upgrade genuinely serves a player's development versus when the money is better directed elsewhere.
With 1,500 Google reviews at 4.9 average, our customers' experience of purchasing and advice quality speaks directly to the consultation we provide. Cymbal selection is one of the most significant equipment purchases a drummer makes, and getting it right the first time matters both tonally and financially.
Hear Sabian Cymbals Before You Buy
Visit our Melbourne showroom and strike Sabian cymbals for yourself. Our professional drummer staff will guide your listening and help you find the series and models that genuinely suit your music.
Angkor Music Melbourne | 4-6 Drake Boulevard, Altona VIC 3018 | Professional Drummers, Drum School & Repair Workshop
