Sonor Snare Drum Shootout! SQ2, Phonic and One of a Kind!

The ultimate comparison of ‪@SonorDrumTube‬ SQ2 snare drums!
Direct links to purchase these snare drums:
Sonor SQ2 Beech Snare Drum 13x5.5 Birdseye Maple
Available for purchase here: buydru.ms/SQ2-CUSTOM14974829
Sonor SQ2 Maple Snare Drum 13x7 Scandinavian Birch w/ Gold Hardware
Available for purchase here: buydru.ms/SQ2-1002199-2
Sonor One Of A Kind Maple/Beech Snare Drum 13x7 Mango
Available for purchase here: buydru.ms/OOAK-18-1307-SDW-MA
Sonor Phonic Reissue Beech Snare Drum 14x5.75 Rosewood
Available for purchase here: buydru.ms/D515PA
Sonor SQ2 Heavy Maple Snare Drum 14x6 Ebony Gloss
Available for purchase here: buydru.ms/SQ2SNARE-1002192-2
Sonor SQ2 Maple Snare Drum 14x6.5 Signal Grey
Available for purchase here: buydru.ms/SQ2-1003014-2-1465
Sonor Phonic Reissue Beech Snare Drum 14x6.5 Mahogany
Available for purchase here: buydru.ms/D516MR
Sonor SQ2 Beech Snare Drum 14x8 Gloss Rosewood
Available for purchase here: buydru.ms/SQ2-1003014-2-1480
Drum kit in this video:
Sonor SQ2 3pc Maple Drum Set Pastel Green
Available for purchase here: buydru.ms/SQ2-1000920-2
Cymbals in this video:
Istanbul Agop Traditional Light Hi Hat Cymbals 15"
Available for purchase here: buydru.ms/LH15
Istanbul Agop Mantra Ride Cymbal 22"
Available for purchase here: buydru.ms/MTR22
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[@stringer19]

Sonor is on another level. After decades of finding what pleases my ears, I've settled on Sonor. All of their high-end stuff is off the charts.

[@rankest2390]

I agree dude!

[@afj617]

Well they literally are made almost like different instruments in a way. All high end Sonor drums are .5 inches smaller than the listed shell size, which means the bearing edge hits the flat part of the head. Also, their ply work and vertically oriented plies is unequaled. Tama makes some amazing stuff, and I personally tend to hate the way DW sounds but have heard awesome stuff from them. Sonor is German. My 83 Signare Bubinga kit also has in a number of places, a 'disengagable' screw thing. You pull back on it and can orient it where you need to in order to tighten it when the floor or other stuff is in the way. Then you let go of the spring and it re engages and you continue to loosen or tighten from where it engaged. Over engineering but actually very very useful especially on the bottom two bass drum tension rods, because you can just avoid the floor altogether. German. Different. Sonor. Porsche. Mercedes. BMW. Accuton. Boker. Neumann. It goes on and on but they don't care about profit as much as quality and engineering, which can sometimes go too far in complexity, but that's how they've always done it.

[@davidfarmer8317]

In 1969, I bought my first set of drums. They were second hand and they were Sonor. They went with to Fort Campbell when I served in the US Army. To this day I have never heard better sounding drums in my humble opinion.

[@TempoDrift1480]

Yet again folks, the way you tune these drums does such a service to us because it demonstrates the difference in the drum and not the difference in tuning and heads. I think these videos are one of the single most importing things in determining what is up with different construction and materials. Thanks for taking the time to do this.

[@drumcenternh]

Thanks for the kind words and glad you like the videos!!

[@XxExoNine]

I've been listening to snares all day and I'm very picky. These are, by far, the best I've ever heard and exactly what I'm looking for. Been searching for a "warm crack" and these snares nail that sound, for me. Great video, thank you!

[@vires-et-honore]

Phonic Reissue Beech - 14x6.5 Mahogany for me! Thank you Shane!

[@drumcenternh]

Thanks for watching!

[@deathcheatersguild4266]

Thank you Shane and company, for your great Snare Drum 🥁 videos 📹. This one was excellent 👍🏻! There’s not enough Sonar HQ2 videos out there with the exact specs of the kits. Keep them coming.

[@drumcenternh]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching.

[@noelghallager4672]

First off, your guy’s videos are the best. Second, Sonor snare drums are absolutely the best sounding snares out there. Thirdly, that Phonic Reissue is my favorite out of all of these. Thanks for putting in all the time and effort for these videos. Just amazing 🤩

[@drumcenternh]

Thanks so much!

[@stromghouls]

my favorite is the tiny 5.5x13 heavy beech. it sound incredible.

[@gpouliasis]

Man... wow! Sonor drums - especially their snare drums - have a unique "thud" quality to them. Don't know how else to describe it, it's just very original and recognizable. Thanks for the consistently great content, I hope to travel to your store one day :)

[@bradanderson1442]

I'm in love with the Heavy Beech 14x8... Just gorgeous.. so much body. beautiful tone.

[@JulianFernandez]

Production is off the charts!

[@adamfrost8417]

Thanks, Julian!

[@banditY2K]

Seriously, how can you go wrong with any of these? My fave is the 14x6 ebony gloss heavy maple. ooo wheee !!

[@ryanspeed4671]

Thx for the video & they all sound great. My favorite would be the Sq2 Heavy Beech 13.5x5 Birdeye Maple. I love snares that produces a nice crack that has body as well.

[@timurhant469]

13 x 7" Mango for me. So much potential, authority and musical balls!!! I also loved how you tuned and recorded these gems. Thanks a lot!

[@Neverokful]

Sonor always manage to bring a smile to the face. Hard to choose but I think I'd take the first one however, I'll happily accept any of them to be honest :-) I think these and the Tama Star line of drums are as good as it gets today. Good work!

[@afj617]

I’m with you in terms of sonor and tama being my favorite sounding kits currently being made, but my favorite is a walnut stave shell kit I heard, can’t quite remember who makes it but to me walnut is the king of tone. Sounds like maple with more attack to me. Cherry also sounds similar with a bit more low end. Yamaha phx kits also right up there.

[@smasica]

My younger brother was the drummer in a group we had together in '64-'65 with three other guys. He had a full Sonor kit. Snare, bass, twin toms (IIRC) above the bass drum and floor tom. Sweet sounding set. I played guitar. After the group broke up, he traded it in the early 70s to a guy for a Triumph Bonneville 650 motorcycle.

[@dugjay]

The14x8 Rosewood sounds as great as it looks!

[@tmaddrummer]

I keep coming back just to see and hear that beautiful SQ2 Beech14x8 Rosewood that I tried to buy, but I was too late. And then I started hoping that it was my wife who bought it for me, and I tried staying as patient as possible waiting for Christmas Day, and when Christmas had come and gone, this old man was playing the Blues..... now patiently waiting to see what NAMM19 has to offer. Good things come to those who wait, at least that's what I've heard. Don't worry, just like Ahnold.... I'll be back!

[@johnbertasius2612]

Never had the pleasure of playing Sonor drums myself. They look like works of art. Personally I preferred the sound of the Tama snare drums in the last shootout.

[@jonathanustin6295]

I don't want to buy ONE. I want them all! There isn't a single one of those that I wouldn't LOVE to play or even hear! They all have that gorgeous throaty quality that is the most important sound in a snare drum to me. There's bite, sensitivity, and body to every drum. Hearing them just makes me feel happy! That's how pleasing the sound of them is to me. Would you do a review of the Tama Abe Cunningham snare? I'd love to hear it in the context of your excellent production techniques.

[@mediumstudio]

they all sound insane!

[@joaquinahumada5587]

SQ2 HEAVY MAPLE - 13X7 SCANDI BIRCH OMG!!!!!!!!! WHAT A SOUND

[@carljohnson1726]

With room mics it somehow always sounds best to me.

[@denisdolgiy4108]

Great sound quality!

[@jaredg.2211]

DW Collectors Series Snare Drum Shootout would be awesome!

[@themog4911]

Love your shoot out videos, keep them coming please :)

[@drumcenternh]

You keep watching 'em, we'll keep making 'em!

[@ulusot]

02:10, 03:32, 04:52, 06:24, 07:42, 09:16, 10:32, 11:53,

[@rhythmista7707]

As much as I love beech and birch, the heavy maple ebony gloss and rosewood take the cake here. Whatever the case, they all sound superb, and I wouldn't mind have any one them in my possession. 👍

[@DrummerGrrrl]

This is absolutely insane!! ALL of the snare drums are highly sensitive. The dudes barely apply much pressure on the drumheads but the drums just sing!

[@matthewgray713]

The 'One of a Kind' Maple/Beech 13x7 mango was my pick but also liked the SQ2 Heavy Maple 13x7.

[@luismendez7632]

The sound is impressionable.

[@OwensDrumming]

You guys do the BEST videos. Would it be possible to do a demo comparing identical sized Sonor drums with different shell thicknesses and wood types?

[@drumcenternh]

Great idea! We just have to keep them in stock long enough to do a video...

[@OwensDrumming]

Drum Center of Portsmouth after seeing this vid I can imagine how many of them you must sell… they sound awesome!

[@OwensDrumming]

Drum Center of Portsmouth what are your thoughts on medium beech shells (for jazz)?

[@drumcenternh]

@@OwensDrumming Medium Beech is a really warm, full sound. Jazz sizes would be nice and thumpy and resonant. If you wanted a little more punch and volume, Heavy Beech would be a solid choice.

[@KGTv123]

Absolutely gorgeous drums. Both visually and sonically. Is that pastel green a custom color? Wish I wasn't doing home renovations, cause I would buy that kit. No pesky pedal squeak in this video, either! :)

[@drumcenternh]

The Pastel Green is a custom RAL color. We tossed that other pedal in the garbage. 😉

[@zendean5207]

It would be nice to know the plies on each drum. Are these the typical super thick shells or are any of them super thin shells. Sonor offers both extremes.

[@pbldrum]

Do the Istanbul Mantra rides pretty much sound similar? I love the one you're using here in this video. Not to mention the stupendous Sonor snares.

[@drumcenternh]

Not really. They are going to vary depending on weight. The link in the description is that exact cymbal, though.

[@ColinWilliamsDrums]

Awesome Comparison!

[@drumcenternh]

Thanks, Colin. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@haroldbrooks4235]

Man they have some beautiful drums that also sound amazing

[@drumsanddrumming]

agree, they sound extraordinary good.

[@Lavo68]

Another great DC video. Note to the editor: Title graphic for each drum is on and off too quickly😬

[@adamfrost8417]

Noted.

[@josephyang7181]

NO.1 is Sonor Phonic Reissue Beech Snare Drum 14x6.5 Mahogany for me!

[@metal-adventures-joerg]

Great Stuff!!! Greets from Germany!

[@drumcenternh]

Cheers!

[@james35856]

Anything sonor makes sounds awesome. I'll take all please.

[@Uzziel_lay_drums]

Hello folks. I have a question to ask I am on noble and Cooley Maple snare or sonor designer maple which one would b the best option ?

[@RandomnessVortex]

Hello DCP, I am very interested in prolite snare drum by sonor. If you could please do an review or video on that, it would be amazing❤! Thank you so much, love your videos!!

[@clintdufour8371]

I own a set of Sonor Force 3000 in Scandinavian birch. I purchased them in the early 90’s. The snare was stolen, now I’m trying to find something to match the original kit. Any suggestions.

[@gypbob123]

The link is gone for the kit, please what size and shell thickness is the bass drum, it's slammin'. amazingly clear sonud. Thank you

[@davidpomella6786]

wondering if there is a Brinell Hardness test for maple

[@mermerserkan]

Sonor SQ2 Beech Snare Drum 14x8 Gloss Rosewood best for me!

[@peterpiece2102]

My favourite is medium maple 14×6.5 signal grey, and after the heavy maple...❤

[@emlix1]

They all sound better than my Ludwig black magic. The last one (heavy beech?) Was my favourite.

[@Jokilldrum]

How do the sq2 compare to the star from TAMA

[@afj617]

wish my 83 signature kit were as easy to tune as something like this but I have a feeling that having been in Boston for almost 40 cycles of crazy humidity to crazy dryness plus some not perfect bearing edges also the thing that is supposed to keep it tuned with the flat tension ross makes them difficult for me even with a tune bot I notice my ears tell a different story than a tune bot which doesn’t make sense but i guess i’m insane haha

[@bogartsandoval]

Is there one here used for the DCNH intro/theme solo?

[@rkdpf06181]

10:34 my favorite sound ♡

[@Scopay73]

What is the Ludwig kit on the shelf and is it for sale?

[@drs-Rigo-Reus]

wide dynamic range is due to their OSM, slightly undersized.

[@fredy53553]

and the pedal is trick pro v.. Is that right?

[@crmasciocchi]

I loved the 8” beech rosewood

[@officialMainspring]

love the Mango/Beech 13x7... but at 2k I'd rather invest in a cast bell bronze snare for that type of money. beautiful snare though.

[@ChristopherSmithNYC]

Do you remember what ride was used here? Great video!

[@jeromelester8]

The Phonic Reissue Beech 5.75 Rosewood is the most versatile in my opinion - it's my desert island snare.

[@drumcenternh]

Great choice! We love that snare.

[@ivanbajovic3476]

Yes sir. For me it's the sweetest

[@Monsterdrumma]

Soundclass My favorite one here also!

[@josenadaldrummer7456]

Sonor one the kind , saludos desde Argentina

[@Mburk1202]

That's one heavy beech!

[@iaushabtiu]

The phonic reissue is just insane mann

[@jaylee8703]

The heavy shells were the best..

[@jimmydunn2231]

Awesome sounding snare(s) and kit. Good demo! PLEASE, next time turn the snares off and demo a little bit so we can hear the tone of the shells a little better.

[@toothnail605]

Beating the _______ out of the ride LOL so we can try and hear the clarity of the snare...? lmFAO i've only seen 2% of drum sound demo's where someone is actually demoing the sound of said drum(s.) So can I make a suggestion, get rid of the double peddles, and use either ONE hi hat or ONE small cymbal and thats it! Leave the chop festival at the chop festival. I sincerely appreciate what you guys are doing but ________ I always have open other windows and... ....OH RIGHT HERE THERE'S 3 SECONDS WHERE I CAN ACTUALLY HERE WHAT I NEED TO HEAR. Sorry to rant. Peace

[@DiegoHEduardo]

What mics is that on the snare drum?

[@kushking420]

Damn i want a 14x8 heavy beech rosewood now lol

[@afj617]

I will never understand not using the slotted tension rods. They turn anything into a drum key, whereas square lugs can basically only be turned with a drum key, and if you’re somehow stuck with no key, you’re screwed. Not that sq2 drums go out of tune very easily but a number of times I’ve had to tune my signatures with a quarter, and once a metal ruler worked perfectly also you can use a flathead screwdriver and hold it sideways to do very fine tuning with longer turn radius which is cool.

[@b0uGhTbYChrist]

What kind of heads do these snares have?

[@drumcenternh]

All have the factory coated Ambassadors on them.

[@filsolano5465]

The first 13x5.5 bird maple and the last 14x8 rosewood I believe those two were my favorites . But all of them sounded beautiful. Next time For marketing purposes maybe the guy should focus more on the product at hand. Snares on/off, different tuning ranges high, medium, low etc. instead of bashing all over the place.

[@clintdufour8371]

Sonor...in my honest opinion is The Best drums on the market period.

[@ericwilhelm2941]

Phonic's Both and at the end the SQ2 8 deep . all you need

[@percusski]

I must say, in comparison to the drums featured in the recent Tama shootout video these unfortunately get blown away on the whole. Tama are really nailing it at the moment and i speak as a long time Sonor player who owns and loves the Designer and Lite drums. Obviously the Sonors are great drums but A/B the videos to see what i mean ..

[@jaylee8703]

Nah that's bullshit. They did'nt get blown away by anybody. I listened to the two vids over and over again. The ones I DID think that stood out in the Tama line were the SOLID SHELL models. They all sound great but they did'nt blow Sonor away.

[@percusski]

@@jaylee8703 maybe it was the playing then :-D

[@jaylee8703]

@@percusski Well I hear you. The Tama Star shells are astounding IMO. The Sonor's , at least for me.. I can always hear that responsiveness from that undersizing and majority vertical shell. It's extremely apparent in person IMO.

[@percusski]

@@jaylee8703 yes I've got a Designer 14x5 and a Lite 14x7.25 and 14x4 all incredibly musical drums. I recently ordered a Star maple bop kit with an additional 10" tom and a Star Solid Maple Snare which sadly wasn't included in the snare line-up comparison. I've been so impressed with the Star drums I've heard in person, the video seemed to reflect that. For years i didn't even look at anything other than Sonor drums, that shows how good the Star kits sound!

[@jaylee8703]

​@@percusski Yeah I think the Designer was the pinnacle. I would not kick a Tama Star out of bed.... nor would I with any of the top kits currently. But the Sonor will ALWAYS look cooler than anything.. LOL The metal parts are just cooler... the rocket mount, the spurs, the highly detailed lugs. .. the bass tension knobs, the claws.. everything.

[@tmaddrummer]

I really, really, really, really would love to bring that sweet baby Sonor SQ2 Beech Snare Drum 14x8 Gloss Rosewood home sweet home to my house and play it as long as I can!!!

[@haroldbrooks4235]

First time I’ve ever seen anyone use Istanbul Cymbals on anybody’s KZbin channel. Sweet you guys must know something. Never seen Innovative Drums being used either

[@afj617]

Sonor snares medium and high tuning seems noticeably somehow flatter than regular sized.

[@jeffwhitfield173]

ok, ok....did anyone hear that floor tom???? like it had a deep BOOM sound....like wow, i want that floor tom for xmas ;)

[@metzilla]

that's Sonor for you! I wish the links worked so I could see what shell thickness that maple Sq2 is .... their drums just sing!

[@TempoDrift1480]

Compliments on the playing too. I think I'm gonna pick the first one in the demo.

[@sn47som]

Tone city!

[@izzyoss773]

My respect to SONOR 4 ever. But it is our personal preference nothing wrong in other drums

[@DrummerGrrrl]

I like Sonor drums about 100 times more than DW drums. Both brands are expensive as hell, though! Ha ha.

[@danielbeavers8701]

The sonor sounds the best! Who agrees????? Lol!

[@larrytate1657]

If I only I was rich tha one of a kind beech/maple 13x7 would be mine but 2k for one snare is above my pay grade. I can go up to 1k at most. So when the 50 Percent off sale comes she’s mine.

[@svenrustempasic8332]

The first snare (13¨ x 5,5¨) he played had H.F. ringing, very strong ringing... but half way through they either filtered it out in the final mix of the recording or it had, for some reason (?!), stopped for awhile, than it came back (which suggest they did not filter it out in the final mix). Second snare had also a H:F. ringing, at the beginning... not so strong as the first snare...

[@jamescaliendo1030]

I've been a loyal DW cat for years now, their finishes and woods are amazing but sonically they're no where near what Sonor produces...slowly I'm leaning towards an SQ1 in the future

[@thesneakygamer4343]

Go for it. I used to play DW and Pearl and my Sonor deluge/SQ2 trumps them. Way easier to tune, so much more responsive, and much warmer.

[@jamescaliendo1030]

@@thesneakygamer4343 honestly man it's not a money thing...I'm being told it's a 10-12 month build. Merkel really destroyed Germany with her covid protocols

[@thesneakygamer4343]

@@jamescaliendo1030 my sq2 took that much time with COVID but it is so worth it. I understand that is really off putting though

[@jamescaliendo1030]

@@thesneakygamer4343 big time man!!! I don't want to sound like a typical spoiled kid, but if I'm paying close to 9k I want it in a decent time lolol...I work in the crane industry here in NYC ....I could get killed in the time I have to wait for the kit lol

[@carloscrosara6931]

Heavy maple by far

[@ricohorton]

Who wouldn't like any of those snares? Lol 😆

[@andrewlockett863]

the phonic reissues, 14x8........ it needs a 12x7 and a 13x5 or 6 playmates.....come on sonor! lol

[@KiBumShin12]

Heyy! Iron Man!! Oops.. sorry..

[@vorkap]

The mix is a bit off, too much compression etc

[@tinterlande]

Not one of my best… come along way since this.

[@perosa99]

Didn’t play any of the metal sonor snares. Maybe a next time we could hear the Phil Rudd, Steve Smith steel, prolite steel and brass, Danny Carey, artist bronze, etc

[@drumcenternh]

So many snare drums, so little time...

[@philliph2118]

Have you guys ever thought about hiring a professional to come in and play the demos?

[@drumcenternh]

That would be too expensive, so, no.

[@skwark56]

i'm sorry if this sounds like a rant, but i just can't take this anymore, i've got to say something : it's pronounced SAW-NER, or SUH-NORE! NOT SONAR! that is something ships and boats use for echo-location. it's in the dictionary, ( mine has it under sonorous, and one online dictionary has it pronounced SO-noor ). i'm sure those who wish to poke fun or taunt me by purposefully replying with its' incorrect pronunciation will now commence to doing so, but i don't care. i would think that a retailer would know how to pronounce the names of the products he's selling. sorry if you take that as an insult, it's not, just an observation. maybe slowly over time, the SO-noor pronunciation evolved into its current one, but i'm not having it.

[@skwark56]

as an update to my statement, after listening more closely, it does sound as if he's saying SO-noor, so i will retract my statement about pronouncing your products correctly. again, i wish to reiterate that it was not intended as an insult or in any way derogatory. but i still stand behind the rest of my previous comments.

[@drumcenternh]

Thanks for watching!

[@Affeyblaster]

Nobody cares..listen to the sound/tone. Thats enough for me. Cheers!

[@Affeyblaster]

@@skwark56 triggered? Stfu and go buy SONOR set or SAW-Ner wth u said!

[@skwark56]

@@Affeyblaster triggered no, but obviously you are.

[@Tmxx5788]

Except of deeper snares they all sound exactly the same...

[@jeonghoonshin3966]

sonor snare sound is good but lug is born to brokened because lug hole design is wrong very wrong

[@larrytate1657]

Mine haven’t

[@BillBrolse]

Couldn´t be further from the truth. I´ve never heard of any lug defect on german made Sonor´s. They are unbreakable.

[@thoidiemoi]

hey stop doing that same beat please it's really annoying. I want to hear some jazz. Thank you

[@hannibalcorps6384]

you should find descent drummer. this guy grooving like rookie

[@drumcenternh]

We do the best we can! Thanks for watching.

[@hannibalcorps6384]

@@drumcenternh Don't be sorry, be better (c) Kratos, The Ghost of Sparta

[@tinterlande]

Glad you enjoyed the free content, Bro.

[@hannibalcorps6384]

@@tinterlande glad you glad, bro.

[@emlix1]

If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. It's a snare comparison, not a masterclass.