Sonor Kompressor Beech Snare Drums – Reviewed

November 25, 2024

Here’s the latest video from the Drummer’s Review Live Room featuring a pair of Beech-shelled snare drums from Sonor’s Kompressor series.

14″ x 6″ or 13″ x 7″ models available, featuring…

12ply, 8mm Beech shell,
Sonor’s proprietary Cross Laminated Tension Free Process construction,
2.3mm steel power hoops,
Sonor’s Tunesafe tension rods,
Remo heads: coated Ambassadors on batter over medium-thin clear heads on the resonant side.

Filmed September 2024 at Paul Caboche Studios, Cornwall, UK. (scroll down for recording & equipment details)

“In terms of build quality, both drums are exceptional. Flawless finishing and solid feeling shell hardware combine to give great looking drums…”

Sonor Says…“Breathtaking power, unparalleled variety – In keeping with this commitment, we are adding two new wood snare drums to our well received KOMPRESSOR Series. They are equally powerful, responsive and versatile as their metal counterparts to cover a vast range of musical styles as your go-to wood snare drums. These made in Germany instruments project with a full and articulate sound, characteristic for SONOR drums. Their heavy beech shell is made using our proprietary Cross-Laminated Tension Free (CLTF) process and Optimum Shell Measurements (OSM). The slightly undersized diameter allows for perfect contact between the shell and the drumhead in all tunings. At the same time, TuneSafe lugs and REMO USA drumheads guarantee maximum tuning stability and a great sound right out of the box.“

“We we’re also impressed by the price – we feel that they are very competitively priced and offer good value for money.”

Sonor Kompressor Series Beech Shell Snares: UK RRP:

14″ x 6″: £479.00

13″ x 7″: £519.00

“Adding a touch of dampening to both really tightened things up, giving a much more musical and useful tone throughout.”

Pro’s:

Exceptional build quality
Great sound – particularly 13″ model
Classy looks

Con’s:

Slightly overpowering overtones

For more details on the Sonor Kompressor range, head to: www.sonor.com/drums

“As a side note, we felt that the 13 would also make for an excellent side snare if you so decided.”

Drummer’s Review, based in North Devon, England would like to thank the https://www.bathhotellynmouth.co.uk/ for the use of their hotel for this photo shoot in their stunning bar. Photography by Guy Harrop on location at Bath Hotel in Lynmouth, Devon.

Recording Details:

Filmed at Paul Caboche Studios (Cornwall UK).

Microphone List:

Kick Rear: Audix D6
Kick Front: Electrovoice RE27ND
Snare Top: Electrovoice PL80
Snare Bottom: Electrovoice PL80
Hi Hat: Oktava MK-012-01 Cardio
Over Head wide: AKG C414B (pair)
Centre Over Heads: AEA R88 MK2 Stereo Ribbon Mic
Front Centre Room : AEA R88 MK2 Stereo Ribbon Mic
Wide Room Mic’s: sE2200T Tube Mic’s (pair)

Recording Process:

Microphone Pre amps: 16x Rupert Neve Designs 5052

Pre amp outs to Avid HD analog to digital converters connected to Avid HDX card

Recorded into Pro Tools Ultimate latest version running HDX cards mounted in an Apple Mac Pro 2019 16core.

Audio Template Details:

Basic EQ:

Basic EQ setting using the EQ section of the Neve 5052 mic Pre-Amps. No post recoded EQ or processing applied.

A Note From Paul…

“The microphones were set up with the overheads and room mic’s measured to the centre of the snare drum to keep the phase of any stereo pair in phase. The AEA R88 MK2 mic’s being stereo mic’s had no issue with phase but the front centre room mic and centre overhead where aligned with each other to keep the same stereo image. The phase reverse switch on the front kick mic was used to correct the phase between the two bass drum mic’s. The phase reverse switch was engaged on the bottom snare mic to correct the phase between the two snare mic’s. Hi pass filters only used on the hi hat mic, Ride mic and overheads. The live room of the studio has been treated to provide a neutral sound close to the drums & cymbals with the room mic’s then giving a true representation of what the instruments sound like in the room. Using 16 identical Mic Pre amps also helps with electrical phase so there is no difference between tone and phase of the Mic Pre amps. The brief for the recoding was to give as true a representation as possible of what the instruments actually sound like.”

For more completely impartial, HD video reviews, please subscribe to Drummer’s Review on YouTube: www.youtube.com/drummersreview and click on the bell icon to be notified as soon as each new video is released. You can also follow Drummer’s Review on social media:

Facebook: @DrummersReviewUK

Instagram: @drummersreview

Twitter: @drummersreview

All of Drummer’s Review videos are recorded in a top quality studio with the finest equipment. To get the best from our reviews and really hear the instruments perform be sure to listen on good quality speakers or headphones!

The post Sonor Kompressor Beech Snare Drums – Reviewed appeared first on Music Instrument News.

Source: musicinstrumentnews.co.uk