Reviews
"The wash is great, the perforated wave edge moves a lot of air so keep 'em close to each other even when you're playing open and they sizzle just right. For Latin, playing with the foot is great, the chick is nice and airy, not clunky at all. They're great in rock bands, move enough air in jazz fusion with a nice swish, and have even work for me in swing. The place they excel for me is recording however." - Jack Wade
"Tight, crisp closed sound, with a silky smooth opened sound are what these hats are all about. Of course, they are very bright, but at the same time have a mid-to-low level pitch." - Typo
"My bandmates even told me that they liked them and said I should use them more often! The sound is a very nice sound, darker then most cymbals." - Daniel M.
"These hi-hats are so versatile! They sound great opened or closed, also A very nice chick when closed. Crisp and clean." - Wideoutvike
"If you want hi-hat cymbals that are sure to be heard through the band and above any noise in the room, these are the ticket.
Adjectives that apply include loud, full, penetrating, hard, tight, clear, brash, and explosive. According to Sabian, X-Celerator Hats have a special "air wave" design that eliminates sound-muting air lock. This "air wave" is actually a series of ripples shaped into the heavy bottom cymbal. When the hi-hat cymbals meet, the ripples form openings that allow the air between the cymbals to escape. This means that the cymbals impact each other at full speed. Additionally, they only contact at the ripple high spots, so there is less muting of sound. This results in more vibration from the cymbals being transmitted to the air and to the ear. In practical terms, the sounds generated by the X-Celerator Hats are not the same as those of your standard hi-hat. Chick, wash, closed, open, sidestick hits, and stick-tip strikes all are unique to these hi-hats. Each is louder, faster, and brasher, and each type of stick contact produces a more immediate volume and presence. When the hats are struck with a stick and then quickly closed, the response is immediate. The full volume is present from the split-second the stick strikes the cymbal. (Great effect!) When played fully closed, the hats have clear stick definition and good projection. Ah, but play these cymbals slightly open, and the entire band will turn around to see what's happening. There's enough white noise here to filling whatever the music demands. These cymbals really sing for their supper. Because of their sound characteristics, the X-Celerator Hats are good solid cymbals for rock, metal, and funk. They're probably a little too much for light pop or jazz. But for the drummer who needs (or just wants) to be distinctly heard when laying down the backbeat for the band, these are definitely hats to check out." - Kevin D. Osborn
