Sabian XSR 21 Ride vs AAX 18 X-Plosion Crash: which should I buy?
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Answered by Roadie
Buy the Sabian XSR 21 Ride for steady rhythmic patterns; choose the AAX 18 X-Plosion Crash for accents and transitions. They fill different jobs, so pick the role your kit is missing rather than treating them as direct alternatives.
The XSR 21 Ride is the sensible choice if you need a dedicated cymbal for keeping time. A ride’s usual job is to carry repeated patterns through a verse, chorus or instrumental passage.
The AAX 18 X-Plosion Crash in Brilliant Finish makes more sense if you need a crash for punctuation: emphasising a downbeat, finishing a fill or marking a change of section. Don’t choose it simply as a smaller substitute for a ride.
The supplied best new prices are £389 for the XSR and £373 for the AAX. With just £16 between them, let the missing musical role decide: timekeeping means ride; accents mean crash.
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