John E. Johnson, Jr.

Home Theater Movie Renter’s Guide – January, 2011

SECRETS Movie Review Team

Strictly Ballroom (DVD), House (Blu-ray), Battlestar Galactica: Razor (Blu-ray), Cronos (Blu-ray), The American (Blu-ray), Salt (Blu-ray), Yogi Bear's All Star Comedy: Christmas Caper (DVD) , Backdraft (Blu-ray), Swat Kats The Complete Series (DVD), Catfish (Blu-ray), Battlestar Galactica: Season Four (Blu-ray), Samantha: An American Girl Holiday (DVD), The Films of Rita Hayworth (DVD), Yojimbo & Sanjuro (Blu-ray), Death Race 2 (Blu-ray), Secretariat (Blu-ray), Gone Madigan (Blu-ray), Triggerman (DVD) 

Movie Reviews

Sabian 18″ AAX X-Plosion Crash Cymbal

John E. Johnson, Jr.

With the high sound volume levels being used in concerts performed by today's rock groups, there is definitely a need for crash cymbals that will cut through the thousands of watts in the guitar amplifiers, not to mention an auditorium full of screaming fans. Such cymbals have to be bright with a full bodied, piercing sound. Sabian's X-Plosion crash cymbals serve this purpose. This review covers the 18" X-Plosion Crash, which would be classified as a medium weight. The "X-Plosion Fast Crash", which is covered in a separate review, would be equivalent to medium-thin.

Cymbals

Sabian 18″ AA Medium Thin Crash Cymbal

John E. Johnson, Jr.

If one were to be asked what is the second most often used crash cymbal model, regardless of the brand, it would probably be the Medium Thin Crash (the most popular is probably the 18" medium crash). Sabian has one in their AA line, which is reviewed here. It has a neutral tonality, slightly brighter than its "medium" cousin, but not too bright. It has more wash than the medium version as well. The medium and medium thin are perfect mates.

Cymbals

Sabian 18″ AA Medium Crash Cymbal

John E. Johnson, Jr.

If one were to be asked what is the most often used crash cymbal model, regardless of the brand, it would probably be the Medium Crash. Sabian has some in their AA line, and the 18" is reviewed here. It has a neutral tonality, and is not too bright, not too dark, not too loud, not too soft. Just right.

Cymbals

Sabian 22″ Vault Artisan Medium Ride Cymbal

John E. Johnson, Jr.

Sabian's Vault Artisan line focuses on the methods used to make cymbals that are hundreds of years old, and refrains from the use of machines, except perhaps the electric motor that turns the lathe, instead of using foot power. The finished cymbal looks a bit like the 22" Legacy Heavy Ride that we have also reviewed. The differences are that the Artisan has more extensive hammering, wider lathing, and a slightly smaller bell. The results are a dark but distinct ping, and a deep wash.

Cymbals

Sabian 21″ Vault Holy China Crash Cymbal

John E. Johnson, Jr.

In the 1950's Avedis Zildjian got together with Gene Krupa to make something that would be called a Pang cymbal. It looked like a regular cymbal with the edge turned upward, and it had a distinctive Far East sound quality. The Swish cymbal, a variation on the Pang, was also developed, and it had a higher pitch with more wash. Jazz drummers started using Pangs in their kit, and these days, many drummers have several of them, calling them simply China cymbals. While the first one didn't look distinctive except for the turned up edges, the China cymbals of today have all kinds of distinctive characteristics, including engravings. Sabian collaborated with Chad Smith and introduced what they call the Holy China cymbal, because it has holes in it. Drilling holes and slots in cymbals, calling them Special Effects cymbals, is very popular now, and Sabian has done this with the Holy China line. Available in 19" and 21" sizes, the present review covers the 21".

Cymbals

Sabian 19″ Vault Holy China Crash Cymbal

John E. Johnson, Jr.

In the 1950's Avedis Zildjian got together with Gene Krupa to make something that would be called a Pang cymbal. It looked like a regular cymbal with the edge turned upward, and it had a distinctive Far East sound quality. The Swish cymbal, a variation on the Pang, was also developed, and it had a higher pitch with more wash. Jazz drummers started using Pangs in their kit, and these days, many drummers have several of them, calling them simply China cymbals. While the first one didn't look distinctive except for the turned up edges, the China cymbals of today have all kinds of distinctive characteristics, including engravings. Sabian collaborated with Chad Smith and introduced what they call the Holy China cymbal, because it has holes in it. Drilling holes and slots in cymbals, calling them Special Effects cymbals, is very popular now, and Sabian has done this with the Holy China line. Available in 19" and 21" sizes, the present review covers the 19".

Cymbals

Sabian 22″ AAX Omni (Crash and Ride) Cymbal

John E. Johnson, Jr.

Jojo Mayer requested that Sabian design a cymbal that could be all-purpose, namely crash and ride. Of course, you can crash and ride any cymbal, but the sound that is produced is not often suitable. So, Sabian came up with the Omni. Currently, they are available in two sizes, 18" and 22". This review covers the 22" version, and I have to say that the design not only works well, but the two versions make a nice set.

Cymbals

Sabian 18″ AAX Omni (Crash and Ride) Cymbal

John E. Johnson, Jr.

Jojo Mayer requested that Sabian design a cymbal that could be all-purpose, namely crash and ride. Of course, you can crash and ride any cymbal, but the sound that is produced is not often suitable. So, Sabian came up with the Omni. Currently, they are available in two sizes, 18" and 22". This review covers the 18" version, and I have to say that the design works very well.

Cymbals

Sabian 22″ HHX Legacy Heavy Ride Cymbal

John E. Johnson, Jr.

Cymbals that jazz drummers often seek, but have a difficult time finding are rides that have a dark wash, and a ping that is just above the wash to be heard but not distract from the soloist. The Sabian 22" HHX Legacy Heavy Ride is just such as cymbal.

Cymbals

Meinl 20″ MB10 Medium Crash Cymbal

John E. Johnson, Jr.

Meinl's MB10 series is made from B10 bronze, which means 90% copper and 10% tin. The high copper content results in a bright sound, and although high copper content usually gives the cymbal a more reddish color, the MB10's look like B20.

Cymbals

Mark Levinson No 53 Monoblock Power Amplifier

John E. Johnson, Jr.

Mark Levinson is a state-of-the-art brand, whose products are purchased by consumers whose bank accounts are also state-of-the-art. Levinson makes no apologies for their prices, nor do they have to justify them. The axiom is simple: If you want the best, it costs a lot. The latest addition to their power amplifier line takes a huge leap from the previous designs, which were Class AB, and which usually were biased well into Class A operation. The Mark Levinson No 53 is a monoblock power amplifier that is a switching design, i.e., the output stage is operated in switching mode, but it is unique in that it interleaves eight switchers to produce a fully balanced output, at a realized switching frequency of 4 MHz.

Power Amplifiers

Sabian 22″ APX Ride Cymbal

John E. Johnson, Jr.

One of Sabian's more economical lines of cymbals (mid-priced) is called APX. They are made from sheet metal rather than cast, but they still use a bronze alloy (not brass). This particular one is the 22" APX ride cymbal, and I have to say that the ping from this cymbal cuts through like a razor. It has a very sharp and lightning fast attack, with very little wash. So, all the energy goes into the ping. You can ride the heck out of it without developing a wash that buries the ping. So, don't overlook this moderately inexpensive series. It might have what you need.

Cymbals