Sabian AAX 10-inch O-Zone splash cymbal

General

Sabian is one of the most famous cymbal manufacturers in the world. The company was founded in 1981 by Robert Zildjian, when his older brother became the head of the Zildjian company. Armed with a lifetime of knowledge and experience, he started over and created a company named after his three children, Sally, Bill and Andy (SaBiAn). Over time, Sabian grew into the respected company it is today, and now belongs to what has been dubbed 'the big four', along with Zildjian, Paiste and Meinl.

Sabian AAX series

Today, Sabian is known for their innovative cymbals, and the AAX line is what started it all. Like the AA-series, it consists of machine-made B20 bronze cymbals. The AAX series, however, receives very different hammering and lathing treatments, which results in a very different sound. It also features the exclusive Auto-Focus Response feature. Where other cymbals have a 'response threshold', meaning they sound best once they reach a certain volume, AAX cymbals respond with total accuracy at all dynamic levels, from low to high volumes.

Sabian AAX 10-inch O-Zone splash cymbal

This 10-inch Sabian AAX O-Zone splash cymbal is another great innovation from Sabian. After the success of the O-Zone crashes, they have now applied the same formula on a splash cymbal. Six 1-inch holes puncture the bow of the cymbal, which alters the way the sound travels through the cymbal and reduces weight. This allows for a more airy sound and a much more rapid response and decay, and gives it a nice, biting splash sound.