Sabian AAX Hi-Hats: Stage Hats vs Medium Hats

Recently I swapped out my AAX Stage hats for a pair of AAX Medium hats I had on my other kit. Several people asked me what the sound difference is and why I swapped them. With that said, I decided I would do a simple video comparing the two. Both are AAX Series by Sabian and both are 14" in size. I'm not disappointed in either choice and both sound great to me. i mad the swap primarily just because I changed out and bought some matching Medium crashes for my kit.
What do you think of the sound differences and which do you prefer?!

[@MM-kh7nx]

For a live situation, I would go with Stage Hats for sure. For a home situation, either would be a fine choice.

[@KunaevNS]

Thank you for this video! Very nice playing as well.

[@ZackZweifel]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching!

[@Jml1313]

They both sound really nice. I'm gonna add the medium hats to my list now. I've had my eye on 14" aax x-celerator hi hats for awhile, and I'm always considering the stage hi hats just to go with my stage crashes, lol. My current hi hats are 14" xs20 medium hi hats, and honestly, I haven't really been that pressed to upgrade them. They sound amazing for the 65 bucks I spent on 'em 😂.

[@ZackZweifel]

yeah sometimes my OCD gets the best of me and i just need to have matching series!

[@towerspercussion3053]

Mi HiHat principal es el AAX Xcelerator de 14". Un poco mas arriba y siempre a la izquierda, del Xcelerator, tengo los Fusion Hats de 13" con el Remote Hat que utilizo con mi pie derecho. Ahora, a la derecha, encima de los toms, del lado derecho, tengo los Stage Hats, y, son increíbles, ya que su sonido es seco, cortante con extrema definición. 💪🏻 El Xcelerator obviamente es una joya entre joyas. (Tengo en la mira el K MasterSound de 14" para tenerlo como HiHat principal), dentro de algún tiempo lo compraré. El Stage Hats es tan versátil, fenomenal, se adapta a todo.

[@randywiedmer4656]

So the top hat for the mediums are higher than the stage, but the bottom of the mediums are much lower. When played it sounds like the mediums are a lower pitch. i"ve never took the time to think about that. Interesting. I just figured both cymbals on the Stage would be thicker providing a higher pitch...thanks for taking the time to do this. The older I get the more I favor lower pitched hats. I currently have Sabian HHX 15" Complex. But I def wouldn't ruling out the mediums for playing out.

[@ZackZweifel]

I really want to try out a set of 15"! Those are on my list for sure

[@ontheone9559]

Great video Zach! One comment I have: is their any way you could add graphics describing which were which? Halfway through I was confused by which were the Stage hats and which were the mediums. Just a suggestion. Rock on!

[@ZackZweifel]

Great suggestion! I can and indeed will make sure to do that for future comparison videos! Thanks for watching and thanks for the feedback!!

[@psanders7173]

I prefer the dirtier more aggressive stage hats. However, the medium’s would be much more suitable for softer music with fewer instruments without the need for maximum cutting power.

[@xIcarus227]

I agree in the sense that I tend to like stage hats more as well, but the scenario really needs to be considered. I found that Stage hats just don't record very well, and I think they're too loud even for live situations. Went to the studio a few months back and brought a pair of HHX Stage hats which I recorded for a doom metal band, so not exactly quiet music. The sound engineer who's mixing our album effectively _turned off_ the close mic for the hats because they were already very loud in the overheads. The bad thing here is that you lose stick definition with the close mic off, but they just overpower else everything with it on. What I'm trying to say is that there's absolutely such a thing as 'too loud' with hats. I ended up purchasing a pair of HHX Medium hats after that experience, and I can definitely see why Sabian discontinued their Stage line.

[@CharlesWillisBonsai]

For some reason I assumed they were pretty much the same, but the Stage hats were noticeably louder. The overall tonality seemed very similar, just a difference in projection.

[@ZackZweifel]

That is a great way to explain it indeed. Tonality is very close but live the Stage Hats are my go to!

[@Tommy.OrginalvideosPhilly]

Need them stage hats for live outdoor performances. Loud as hell and crisp 👌🏻💯💪🏻... Both great tho

[@drummercarson896]

I love my AAX Medium Hats

[@ZackZweifel]

Yeah im super happy with mine also! They've been great and record super nice

[@BADD400]

Mediums sound good. Will go well with your cymbals.

[@ZackZweifel]

Yeah I like the swap myself.

[@VCMsoundvision]

They’re both great sounding hats. The Stage hats definitely project more and have more pronounced definition. I’m about to try a combo using an AAX Stage top with an HHX Evolution bottom-we’ll see what THAT sounds like(!) (Could be quite good-that Evo bottom is one serious piece of bronze!)

[@ZackZweifel]

oh that would be a killer combination!! The Evolutions are amazing cymbals!!

[@VCMsoundvision]

@@ZackZweifel-Zack- I got the Stage AAX in today-the combination with the HHX Evo IS really amazing! Makes for one killer pair of hats! I’ll let you know when I get a video ready so you and others can hear what that combo sounds like. Really liking it myself-great balance of crisp hat definition with power and body, courtesy of that heavy HHX Evo bottom. I also drilled four holes in the bottom a-lá Zildjian Quick Beat. Great freakin hats!

[@briang6040]

What people need to realize is that both pair will cut through any sound on stage when mic'ed up. I play the HHX groove hats and groove ride, and they cut through anything.

[@MikeyLikesDrums]

I just purchased a used set of mediums. I hope they are not as loud and aggressive as the stage hats. Trying to reduce my volume at live gigs. Just bought a 20”’ride too for the same reason.

[@ZackZweifel]

I love them both. I definitely use my mediums full time for both live and studio now.

[@MikeyLikesDrums]

@@ZackZweifel My fav hats ever are the 15” AAX thin hats but they aren’t available in 14” and for my live set, I prefer 14” for spacing. I can’t wait to try these mediums!

[@ariwibowom1984]

Medium hats has more versatility (studio and live) compare to stage hats which is more for that bright live setting

[@drumjoedrum]

They are both awesome! You can’t go wrong with either. Now, what do they sound like if you swap the bottoms???😳😉😆

[@ZackZweifel]

you know I've never tried that and have always wondered... I know a couple of drummers who prefer the bottom on top and top on bottom. Guess I'll give it a go and see!

[@drumjoedrum]

@@ZackZweifel no I mean put the Med. Bottom under the Stage top

[@ZackZweifel]

@@drumjoedrum I'll try that too!

[@drumjoedrum]

@@ZackZweifel like the Vulcans say, infinite diversity in infinite combinations! 😁

[@FalconTheAviator]

Both sound great, But I slightly like the sound of the stage hats more, They're a little more higher pitched and more aggressive sounding than the medium hats and I love it. Stage hats might be a little better for live situations or heavier music.

[@ZackZweifel]

Funny thing is! I use the Stage Hats for my live shows! :) they are my favorite hats

[@FalconTheAviator]

@@ZackZweifel Nice. The reason why I was watching this is because I'm seeing them used for kinda cheap and was seeing if they sounded any good. They sound great! Better than medium hats imo. Sabian AAX is amazing.

[@favd2002]

Médium hats sounds like My mastersound A customs

[@conduit1540]

"I looked up the weights" as opposed to weighing the actual cymbals with a... scale

[@mikuspalmis]

Depending on where the scale is and what may be going on in the environment, looking it up may have been quicker. But who knows.

[@zedzero77]

Mediums record better that's for sure

[@xIcarus227]

Oh I can absolutely confirm this. As I wrote in another comment, I brought some HHX Stage hats to the studio when we recorded our album (doom metal band, not exactly quiet music). The sound engineer who's mixing our album _completely_ turned off the close mic for the hats because they were already very loud in the overheads. The bad thing with that is that you lose stick definition with the mic off, but if you turn it on they overpower. Lose-lose situation.

[@angelagk4884]

I dislike the sound of Botton mid... i like More the stage by far

[@ZackZweifel]

Yeah I LOVE the Stage hats. They are my full time live hats now!

[@Tommy.OrginalvideosPhilly]

What exact model are them stage hats

[@ZackZweifel]

Stage Hats are the model. AAX Stage Hats. I absolutely love them. They are unfortunately no longer produced though.

[@lt.frankdrebin3317]

Face it -- you'd be paying more for the same cymbals relabeled as "medium" hats that are the old Stage hats. Sheep are willing to pay more for the latest-and-greatest, even if it's the same product with a different label.

[@Assimilator702]

Nope. Sabian actually did change the way they make their cymbals from 2015 to present. It might be only slight changes but there differences. I own 14” HH Dark Hats from 2012 and a pair from 2018 and there is an improvement with the newer cymbals. Same thing with the HHX and HH X-Celerators, the HHX Mediums and AAX Mediums that I own. There’s more bite while still being more complex and dark. There’s nothing wrong with the older models but I prefer the newer models. So don’t knock Sabian unless you really know and have played a few sets and compared them side by side.

[@alproxxx]

Medium hats are thinner than Stage hats. They're not the same.

[@C-Stanz]

They clearly sound different, not to mention the pitch, they have different weights, new have raw bell, etc. I had the opposite experience of what you're claiming as well: I own an older 20" AA China & wanted the same cymbal but smaller so bought the newer AA China in 18" & it is clearly an entirely different cymbal recipe than the old one. In this case I prefer the old AA China but the new AAX's are an improvement over the old ones. I always preferred A Custom's over the older AAX but then I discovered HHX + the new AAX since 2019 & that's all I use now. It is 100% not placebo. I hate the new logo though.

[@xIcarus227]

It's not the same product at all. Played a pair of HHX Stage hats for a few years (not mine) and purchased a pair of HHX Medium hats about half a year ago. They're related, but different. The volume and stick definition are _very_ different which gives them very different characteristics and response. Just try recording some Stage hats and you'll see how recording-unfriendly they are, while the Mediums will work just fine.

[@drumjoedrum]

@@C-StanzI LOVE the old Pre-AA Chinas. 80s-90s AA Chinas are awesome as well, but I wish Sabian would start making the very first Chinese cymbals they used to make as an option, call it “Vintage Chinese” or something.