General
Over the last few decades, Sabian has come to be a major force in the cymbal making industry. The company - that was founded by Robert Zildjian in 1981 - belongs to the 'big four' manufacturers of cymbals, along with Zildjian Paiste and Meinl. All four companies create very high-quality cymbals, but Sabian stands out because it pours just as much effort into its budget-friendly cymbals as it does into its expensive, high-end series.
Sabian XS20 16-inch Medium Thin Crash: high-quality B20 bronze
The XS20 series is quite special, as it is a budget-friendly series of cymbals that is made of the same high-quality alloy of B20 bronze as Sabian's high-end cymbals. By using a more automated production process, however, Sabian has been able to keep costs at a minimum, making these cymbals not only very high in quality, but also very affordable.
Of course, this 16-inch Medium Thin Crash has the familiar bright XS20 sound. Its medium-thin weight ensures that it speaks quickly with plenty of high mids, and that it has a relatively rapid decay. It is a versatile crash that is excellently suited for shorter accents and quick punctuation of specific beats in the music.