Zildjian K0720 14-Inch K Sweet Hi-Hats Review: Dark, Sweet Chick

Who Should Buy It

Key Specifications

Overview

The Zildjian K0720 14-Inch K Sweet Hi-Hats arrive as part of the K Sweet line, which the listing frames as a new tonal color direction for the long running K Family rather than a simple reissue of an existing pair. Buyers already familiar with K Family hats will recognize the lineage, but the listing is clear that this is meant to sound different from the standard dark or Custom options.

At the center of the design is a deliberately unbalanced build: a thin top cymbal sits over an extra heavy bottom. That pairing is unusual among standard hi-hats, and the listing credits it with producing a dark, sweet voice alongside a solid chick sound and a full wash when the pair is opened.

This is an editorial research review built from the published bullet points rather than a firsthand playing session. The listing describes the tonal concept and the top to bottom relationship clearly, but it does not state alloy, finish, weight in grams or country of origin, and this review flags those gaps rather than guessing at them.

Sound and Tone

The headline descriptor here is dark and sweet, a pairing of words that points to a lower fundamental pitch with smoother, less aggressive overtones than a bright A style hat. Buyers reading the listing should expect a hat that leans musical and warm rather than cutting, which fits the stated goal of a new tonal color inside the K Family rather than another bright option.

The chick sound is described as solid, which in hi-hat terms usually means a clean, defined foot sound rather than a loose or splashy one. Pairing that solid chick with an extra heavy bottom cymbal makes sense, since a heavier bottom generally resists flex and gives the foot stroke more definition even on a dark sounding pair.

Opening the hats brings out what the listing calls a full wash, a trait usually associated with thinner top cymbals that respond quickly and bloom into a broader, more complex sound once they separate. The extensive K hammering mentioned in the bullets is also relevant to tone, since heavier hammering tends to break up the surface and add complexity to both the closed chick and the open wash.

Alloy, Weight and Build

The alloy used in the K0720 pair is not published in the listing. K Family cymbals are widely associated with traditional cast bronze construction, but this review does not state that composition as fact for this specific model because the bullets do not confirm it, and buyers who need the alloy verified should raise that with the seller before ordering.

What is published is the relative weight relationship between the two cymbals: a thin top over an extra heavy bottom. That is a meaningful build detail on its own, since it tells a buyer the top is designed to respond fast while the bottom anchors the pitch and gives the chick its solid feel, even without gram weights attached to either cymbal.

Extensive K hammering is listed as a feature of the build, which typically means more hammer marks across more of the surface than a lightly finished cymbal. Finish type, whether traditional or brilliant, and the country where the pair is made are both left unstated, so this review treats those as open questions rather than filling them in.

Versatility Across Styles

A dark, sweet hi-hat with a solid chick and a full wash reads as a groove oriented pair first. Styles that lean on steady, musical hi-hat work, such as jazz, fusion, gospel, soul and modern pop, are a natural fit for a cymbal built around warmth and a controllable foot sound rather than maximum brightness.

The full wash on opening also gives the pair some range beyond tight, closed patterns. Drummers who like to crack the hats open for accents or build sections get a broader, more complex sound rather than a thin hiss, which extends the K0720 into rock and funk settings where dynamic hi-hat work matters.

Where this pair is less obviously suited is high volume, cutting styles such as metal or loud blues rock, where a bright A style hat is usually the safer choice. The listing does not claim this model is built for maximum cut, and its dark, sweet character points toward musicality over sheer volume.

• Jazz and fusion where a warm, controllable chick matters
• Gospel, soul and modern pop groove playing
• Funk and rock sections that use an open, washy hi-hat accent
• Studio sessions where a sweet, dark tone sits well under a mix
• Less suited to high volume metal or loud blues rock

Durability and Care

Because the listing does not publish gram weights, alloy or finish, durability has to be judged mainly by the described build and by general hi-hat care practice rather than by hard numbers. An extra heavy bottom cymbal is generally a durable component, since added mass tends to resist cracking better than a very thin cymbal under the same playing pressure.

The thin top cymbal is the part that benefits most from careful technique. Striking across the edge with the shoulder of the stick, rather than driving straight down into the bow, reduces the stress that leads to keyholing around the bell and hairline cracks near the edge over time.

Routine care such as a snug but not overtightened clutch, fresh felts, and a sleeve on the hi-hat rod protects the thin top specifically. The listing does not state a warranty term for this pair, so buyers who want that information should confirm it with the seller before relying on it.

What Is in the Pack

The K0720 is sold as a matched hi-hat pair, meaning the top and bottom cymbals are designed and voiced to work together rather than sold separately. That matched relationship, thin top and extra heavy bottom, is the core of what the listing describes as the source of the solid chick and full wash.

Beyond the two cymbals themselves, the listing does not mention any included accessories such as a clutch, sleeve, bag or cleaning cloth. Buyers should assume they are purchasing the hi-hat pair on its own and plan to use their existing hardware and accessories.

There is also no mention of documentation, a warranty card or packaging specifics in the bullets. For a pair positioned as a new tonal direction within an established line, the absence of extra accessory detail is fairly typical of how hi-hat pairs are usually sold.

Daily Use and Setup

Setting up a hi-hat pair like this one follows standard practice: seat the bottom cymbal on the stand with its felt and ensure it sits close to flat, then mount the top cymbal with the clutch set so the pair closes evenly across the surface rather than at an angle.

Given the described thin top and heavy bottom, players chasing the full wash the listing mentions should experiment with foot height when playing open, since a slightly higher open position tends to let a full, washy hi-hat bloom more than a barely cracked position does.

For the solid chick sound, keeping the clutch tension moderate rather than cranked tight usually preserves the defined foot sound the listing describes, while overtightening can choke the extra heavy bottom's natural resonance and make the chick feel stiffer than intended.

Who Should Buy It

This pair suits drummers who want a dark, sweet hi-hat voice with a dependable chick and the option of a full wash, particularly those already working within the K Family sound and looking for a sweeter alternative to a standard K hat.

Studio drummers who need a hi-hat that sits warmly in a mix without harsh overtones are also a good match, since the described tonal direction favors smoothness over aggressive cut.

Players who need hard technical data before buying, or who specifically need the brightest, most cutting hi-hat available for loud, high energy styles, are likely better served by a different model, since this pair is defined by warmth rather than volume.

Alternatives Worth Considering

Drummers wanting more brightness and cut from the same general K Family price range might look toward A Custom style hats, which are generally voiced brighter and more cutting than the dark, sweet character described here.

Players who want a budget friendly entry point with a simpler sheet bronze build, rather than a premium K Family pair, could consider something closer to a Zildjian ZBT or a comparable entry level hat, understanding that tonal complexity and K style hammering would be reduced.

For drummers who specifically want the darkest, lowest volume option for practice or very quiet settings, a Zildjian L80 Low Volume style hat is a different category entirely, trading tonal richness for volume control rather than offering the sweet, musical voice this K0720 pair targets.

Verdict

The Zildjian K0720 14-Inch K Sweet Hi-Hats are a focused attempt to add a new dark, sweet voice to the K Family rather than a simple variation on an existing model, and the described thin top over extra heavy bottom build backs that intent with a sensible mechanical explanation for the solid chick and full wash the listing promises.

With alloy, finish, exact weight and country of origin left unpublished, buyers are relying on the K Family reputation and the specific tonal description rather than a complete spec sheet, which keeps this review cautious even while the sound concept itself reads as coherent and well targeted at groove focused, musical drumming.

Strengths and Limitations

Alternatives to Consider

Stagg MYR-CH18RW US

Rock, metal and fusion drummers who want a cast B20 china with a dry, quick trash at a lower mid-range price.

Read the Stagg MYR-CH18RW US review →

Stagg 18"

Rock, metal and contemporary drummers who want a bright, cutting 18 inch medium crash at a lower mid-range price and are not fussy about the exact alloy.

Read the Stagg 18" review →

Stagg SH-CT19R SH

Drummers who want a large, fast opening thin crash for lower volume rock, pop, worship or jazz adjacent work at a lower mid-range price.

Read the Stagg SH-CT19R SH review →

Questions Buyers Ask