MusicRadar

ZHT: Serious looking, medium priced cymbals.

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• Review
• Manufacturer's Description

Zildjian refers to their budget cymbals, which include the ZHTs, as sheet bronze. This is to distinguish them from their pro cymbals, which are formed from individual castings.

Sheet bronze cymbals were previously made from B8 bronze, with its low tin content of eight percent. Zildjian's cast cymbals have 20 percent. The new ZHTs split the difference with B12 - 88 percent copper and 12 percent tin. That extra four percent gives the ZHTs 'increased musicality' compared to previous budget efforts. So how does this manifest itself?

Well, they're a great silvery gold colour, which gives them a pro look. They have broad, even lathings and regular hammerings, top and bottom. As for the sound, let's take a listen...

Crashing out

Starting with the crashes these come in 14", 16" and 18" diameters and a good selection of weights. There are four 18" crashes - Fast, Medium-Thin, Rock and crash-ride.

The 18" Rock is bright and loud, with a penetrating, rounded tone, almost orchestral. The 18" crash-ride is pretty close, but a little heavier and brighter. You can crash it and continue riding without losing stick definition, which is clean but thick. The bell is the best of the bunch too.

The 18" Fast is deeper and smoother, quicker to respond and shorter in decay. The 18" Medium-Thin is deeper still, quite silky but with more body. This one is probably our favourite. The same applies to the equivalent 16"s. They are uniformly good with quick attack and harmonious decay. Even the final, lingering overtones are less discordant than is usual for mid-priced cymbals.

The single 14" Fast crash is surprisingly full- bodied, again smooth and fast, with a higher pitch. This full character reaches right down to the 10" and 8" splashes too.

Going for a ride

An enjoyable set of crashes then, but moving on to the rides was disappointing. With budget kits it's the snares that don't cut it, with budget cymbals it's usually the rides. Accordingly, the ZHT rides were our least favourite of the series.

The 20" Rock and Medium rides are fine to play - the tip of the stick elicits a thick tone with an agreeable feel - and the fundamental pitch of each cymbal, which is slightly lower on the Medium, is ok. But then there are brassy, clangy overtones that scream 'budget cymbal'.

The third ride, a 20" Flat, was the most puzzling. It sounds as though it's being distorted through an electronic processor. It doesn't go 'ting', it goes 'zing'. In fact, it goes 'zzzziiiinnggg', like an electric razor. If you want a dark electro sound, this might be your dream cymbal. As a traditional flat, however, it's a weird one. It has crisp stick response though, which you would expect from a Flat.

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