Sabian 20" HHX Chinese
Description
Sabian 20" HHX Chinese
The Sabian 20" HHX Chinese delivers aggressive, cutting attack with the traditional character that Chinese cymbals are known for. Medium-thin weight through the bow makes this cymbal responsive and articulate, cutting through dense mixes while maintaining definition as a crash-ride or accent voice.
Material & Construction
Built from B20 bronze alloy—the traditional bronze, tin, and silver formula—this cymbal features hand lathe and hammering designs with multiple sized peens for nuanced tonal complexity. The large flanged lip contributes to edge definition and cutting sustain characteristic of the HHX series.
Tone & Studio Performance
Sabian's pinpoint lathing enhances responsiveness, allowing fast articulation and quick decay ideal for tracking sessions requiring clarity and separation. The HHX "Tone Projection" innovative design ensures this cymbal sits distinctly in recordings and mixes without eating into headroom or overwhelming kick and snare capture.
Key Features
- 20" diameter
- B20 bronze alloy (bronze, tin, and silver formula)
- Weight: 1504g
- Medium-thin weight through the bow
- Large flanged lip
- Hand lathe and hammering designs
- Multiple sized peens for tonal shaping
- Pinpoint lathing for enhanced responsiveness
- HHX "Tone Projection" innovative design
- Available in highly polished brilliant finish or traditional finish
This is a professional-grade Chinese cymbal that balances traditional character with modern projection technology—a solid choice for producers and engineers tracking drums who need authentic voice with cutting clarity in the mix.
More Information
| Condition | New |
|---|---|
| Cymbal Size | 20" |
| Cymbal Type | Effects |
| Country of Manufacture | Canada |
Reviews
At a Glance
The Sabian 20" HHX Chinese is a versatile B20 bronze crash-ride engineered to capture aggressive attack and cutting sustain while maintaining articulate detail in a mix. Its medium-thin weight and pinpoint lathing make it responsive and quick-decaying—ideal for rock, metal, and hard-rock sessions where you need definition and projection without cymbal wash. Track it when you want traditional Chinese character with modern cutting power that won't mud up your overhead or room mics.
Who This Is For
Great for
- ✓ Rock
- ✓ Metal
- ✓ Hard Rock
- ✓ Live Performance
- ✓ Studio Sessions
Not the best pick for
- – Jazz
- – Folk
Skill level: Intermediate · Advanced · Professional
Frequently Asked Questions
What weight and response should I expect from this cymbal?
The 20" HHX Chinese weighs 1504g with a medium-thin weight through the bow, making it responsive and articulate with quick decay. Hand lathe and pinpoint lathing designs enhance responsiveness, so it reacts fast to stick attacks without lingering sustain.
Will this cymbal work for genres like jazz or funk?
No; the HHX Chinese is designed for rock, metal, and hard rock where aggressive attack and cutting sustain are priorities. Its pinpoint projection and quick decay are not suited to jazz, folk, or styles requiring darker, longer-sustaining crashes.
What's the difference between the brilliant and traditional finishes?
The cymbal is available in a highly polished brilliant finish or a traditional finish. Both versions use the same B20 bronze alloy and hand-hammering construction; the finish is purely cosmetic and does not affect tone.
How does this compare to other 20" crash-rides?
The HHX Chinese competes with models like the Zildjian K Constantinople, Meinl Byzance Dark, and Paiste 2002 in the crash-ride category. Sabian's Tone Projection design and multiple-sized peen hammering give it pinpoint projection and articulation suited to drummers who want definition without wash.
What's included and what is B20 bronze?
The cymbal itself is included. B20 is the traditional bronze alloy formula—80% copper, 20% tin, plus a small amount of silver—hand-lathed and hammered with multiple sized peens for tonal complexity and responsiveness.