Meinl 22″ MB20 Heavy Bell Ride Cymbal

John E. Johnson, Jr.

Meinl, whose home base is in Germany, produces some excellent cymbals. Most of them are forged in Germany, but some, such as the MB20, are forged in Turkey and then finished in Germany. This MB20 Heavy Bell Ride cymbal produces some mean pings that will be heard above all the amp stacks and the crowd noise. It has a gorgeous tonality that will make its drummer's smile as bright as the cymbal itself.

Cymbals

Paiste 18″ Signature Reflector Heavy Full Crash Cymbal

John E. Johnson, Jr.

Paiste has several styles in their Signature line. This one is an 18" Reflector Heavy Full Crash in their Signature line. I imagine it is called "Reflector" rather than "Brilliant" in terms of the finish because the lathing lines are very fine and very evenly spaced, indicating that the lathing was done by CNC (Computer Numeric Control) machining which results in more of a mirror (reflection) surface than simply being shiny (brilliant).

Cymbals

Paiste 18″ Alpha Brilliant Metal Crash Cymbal

John E. Johnson, Jr.

For you metal drummers out there, Paiste makes this one in the Alpha line, which includes 17", 18", 19", and 20" sizes, all in a Brilliant finish (shined with an abrasive). There is also a 20" Alpha Metal Ride available. Alphas are made from a B8 alloy (92% copper, 8% tin), and this can be seen in its very coppery color. It's thick, heavy, and delivers a bright punch that will cut through any stack of guitar amplifiers. It will take a beating, for sure. In fact, when I ran the test, it overloaded my microphones, so I had to back them off a few more inches. My microphones will handle up to 130 dB!

Cymbals

Paradigm SA-15R-SM In-Ceiling Speakers

Stephen Hornbrook

Paradigm has been in the speaker business for many years - 28 to be exact - and they have consistently produced some of the finest floor standing speakers and subwoofers on the market. What many may not be aware of is there full line of in-wall and in-ceiling speakers. I had the chance to check out their extensive line up at this years' CES. It was also my first time meeting some of the nice folks at Paradigm. They recommended I try a set if in-ceilings in my family room to finish out the surround sound system. So here they are, the Paradigm SA-15R-SM's.

Surround Sound Speaker Systems

Wyred4Sound SX-1000 Monoblock Power Amplifier

Stephen Hornbrook

Wyred4Sound has entered into the high end audio market with plenty of experience behind its doors. Born from the skilled minds and hands of EJ Sarmento and Rick Cullen of Cullen Circuits, these two have been providing high end components for the audio industry for years. Rick used to be the production manager for PS Audio, until in 1990 he started Cullen Circuits- a provider and consultant to companies such as PS Audio, Genesis Technologies, Camelot and more. In this review, we take a test drive with their SX-1000 Class D monoblock power amplifier.

Power Amplifiers

Paiste 18″ RUDE Thin Crash Cymbal

John E. Johnson, Jr.

Paiste's RUDE cymbal line was developed as part of the need for a heavy cymbal line that could take a pounding and produce volume that would cut through the high output amplifier stacks that were piled on the stages for Metal band performances. In this review, we take a listen to the RUDE 18" thin crash.

Cymbals

Paiste 24″ RUDE Mega Power Ride Cymbal

John E. Johnson, Jr.

Paiste's RUDE cymbal line, which debuted in 1980, and went through being incorporated into several other model names, emerged again in 1999 with its own separate identity. It was developed as part of the need for a heavy cymbal line that could take a pounding and produce volume that would cut through the high output amplifier stacks that were piled on the stages for Metal band performances. It has endured over the years, and the king of this line is the 24" Mega Power Ride. It has a ping that is razor sharp and will have the guitarists trying to turn their volume knobs past the end point.

Cymbals