It sounds (and looks) like no other china: it is dark, ominous and dirty, a sound so complex and exotic that defies description. A vigorous stroke on the lip produces an explosive response, followed by a deep roar that decays very fast, without the clanginess usual in chinas. But the cymbal is equally amazing as a ride, generating very different sounds depending on where you hit it, how hard you hit it and with which part of the drumstick you hit it.
Comparing it with two other (outstanding) Meinl Byzance chinas that I own, it is faster than the Dark China 18 (due to the lathed underside and the lighter weight) and less clangy than the Extra Dry China 16. When used as a ride, it has less stick definition than the Dark China 18.
The sound palette is so rich and the cymbal is so responsive that it can fit any music genre, from jazz to metal. It is thin for a 20 inch china, but one doesn?t need to strike it hard to produce a loud and full sound.