DragonCrestPC
Well-Known Member
Can't find much info on Aquarian heads vs Remo and Evans. Anyone have any reviews or feedback, thinking of trying out the texture coated series to replace my ambassadors.
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Aquarian heads vs Remo and Evans?
- Thread starter DragonCrestPC
- Start date
To my ear they each have a distinctly different sound and a decidedly different feel. I would pick my favorite tom or snare (what ever you are looking at replacing the heads on) and buy one of each for a cost efficient side by side comparison. You can read to our thoughts and watch videos all day (and their are some good ones out there) but at the end of the day, only your ear can make the final call. Let us know what you decide and good luck!
By the way, welcome to DFO as well!
Ward
By the way, welcome to DFO as well!
Ward
Matched Gripper
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There's tons of stuff on YouTube.
Bottom line for me, they're all good, but, I like the design, sound and durability of Aquarian heads better than the others.
Bottom line for me, they're all good, but, I like the design, sound and durability of Aquarian heads better than the others.
foxy_shazamtastic
Very well Known Member
Aquarian’s tend to be a little fatter and darker sounding to my ears. Remo are more open and rich across the frequency spectrum. Evans are my least favorite, not as rich as Remos and not as full as Aquarian.
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This. Right. Here. Pour a glass of your favorite beverage and devote a couple of hours. A quick YT search will yield direct comparisons between all three brands, as well as an avalanche of stuff about each one individually.
JDA
DFO Star
"What is the equivalent Aquarian to a Coated Ambassdor called?"
Texture Coated, Single Ply
Texture Coated Single Ply
The Texture Coated Series drumhead is a single ply, medium weight head that produces a responsive and resonant tone with sticks, mallets, and brushes. The Z-100 coating is the thinnest and most durable coating we have ever developed. Unlike conventional coatings, it resists chipping and it lasts...
shop.aquariandrumheads.com
GretschMan61
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Aquarian has the most durable coating by far . I used their heads for a long time but went back to Remo a couple years ago because Aquarian availability was lacking at my local shops . Aquarian uses a film that has to my ear has a lower fundamental tone and spongier feel than Remo or Evans .
Evans heads sound too plasticy and sharp to me and feel very stiff to play . There are a few model I do like . The coated EMAD ; Power Center Reverse dot and the G12 white coated .
Remo heads to me have the best qualities of both Aquarian and Evans - they feel wonderful to play and have been the Industry standard forever. Their coating seems to be holding up better these days which is one of the reasons I went to Aquarian from Remo initially.
Evans heads sound too plasticy and sharp to me and feel very stiff to play . There are a few model I do like . The coated EMAD ; Power Center Reverse dot and the G12 white coated .
Remo heads to me have the best qualities of both Aquarian and Evans - they feel wonderful to play and have been the Industry standard forever. Their coating seems to be holding up better these days which is one of the reasons I went to Aquarian from Remo initially.
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My vintage Ludwigs seem to favor the Ambassadors over any other head. It's probably the easy fit relationship between the shell and the hoop. They would also be my preferred sound and feel over the others so I'm no help sorry
Stretch Riedle
DFO Master
I like my toms to go "boom", so I use Aquarian heads. Like stated above, not better or worse than Remo...just different. Coated tops and clear bottoms. And 13 of my snare drums have Aquarian heads on them. Long lasting coating too.
Stretch
Stretch
repete
This one goes to eleven
I went through a long Evans phase into a Remo phase. Some kits with smooth white and some with coated. I recently put Aquarian texture coated and clears on a kit and like them a lot. I’ll be switching out other kits as the time comes along.
DamnSingerAlsoDrums
DFO Master
My local drum shop did a most comprehensive break down of all of Aquarian, Remo and Evans heads.. Here is the vid for the snare heads but if you go on their YT channel, they have one for BD heads as well.
Matched Gripper
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It’s a fun video, but, I get ear fatigue after about 10 demos. Too much information compressed in too short a time.
PS: And some of the demos seem incredible. Like the clear Diplomat that sounds drier than the coated Amb.
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DamnSingerAlsoDrums
DFO Master
I did too the first time I tried to get through it all in one go. But it came in handy to check out some less common heads that rarely get reviewed elsewhere. The slider/forward button is your friend
langmick
Very well Known Member
Evans: I've tried a few varieties. A bit too pointed and plasticky for me, focused. Not a fan of their BD heads, but may be perfect for triggers for metal.
Aquarian: Have also played a few varieties, mostly on toms. Good heads, a little too perfect. Played clear
Remo: have always sounded and felt the best to me. They have a roundness and funk in their tone, and they change as they age, usually for the better. The other two, they sorta stay the same or get deader. It takes a lot for me to wear out an Ambassador X. Their heads just feel livelier. I've always had a CS reverse dot coated on my snare, never had an issue.
Aquarian: Have also played a few varieties, mostly on toms. Good heads, a little too perfect. Played clear
Remo: have always sounded and felt the best to me. They have a roundness and funk in their tone, and they change as they age, usually for the better. The other two, they sorta stay the same or get deader. It takes a lot for me to wear out an Ambassador X. Their heads just feel livelier. I've always had a CS reverse dot coated on my snare, never had an issue.
My preference is Remo (then Aquarian if they are cheap blowouts on AZ) I never liked Evans sound, or their silly name on my drums. What is that James and Florida Evans , JJ, Thelma and Michael too? Get them off my drums!! 
kevinyarger
Well-Known Member
I started out on Remo heads but sometime in 2003 or so I switched to Aquarian on a recommendation from a friend. Found Aquarian to be super easy to tune for a guy that never changed heads and like mentioned the coating was super strong except for gigs in high humidity.
That said I switched back to Remo in 2013, I started to realize that the Aquarians were making all my drums sound the same, didn’t matter the shell or brand or anything. Although at times I find Remo to sound ”papery” I was at least hearing a difference between all my drums. I also wasn’t as big a fan of Aquarian changing films, especially when it came to snare side heads. I kept getting wonky overtones that I didn’t like. I still recommend Aquarian to all my students because I find them forgiving to beginners and durable.
As for Evans, I gave them a chance while getting back into Remo and I found them to sound ok to my ear but I couldn’t get over the feel of them while I played. The rebound just felt off to me.
That said I switched back to Remo in 2013, I started to realize that the Aquarians were making all my drums sound the same, didn’t matter the shell or brand or anything. Although at times I find Remo to sound ”papery” I was at least hearing a difference between all my drums. I also wasn’t as big a fan of Aquarian changing films, especially when it came to snare side heads. I kept getting wonky overtones that I didn’t like. I still recommend Aquarian to all my students because I find them forgiving to beginners and durable.
As for Evans, I gave them a chance while getting back into Remo and I found them to sound ok to my ear but I couldn’t get over the feel of them while I played. The rebound just felt off to me.
