Safari Set AQ2 - Maple/white pearl Jungle Set AQX - Poplar/red moon sparkle Bass Drum 16" x 15" Snare Drum 13" x 6" Tom Tom 10" x 7" Floor Tom 13" x 12" Thank you www.sonorista.cz :-)
The difference is there, but it is pretty minimal considering. The AQ2 sounds just a little more pure, round, and full... Most noticeable on the kick and floor tom, but it's not by any great length. Sonor's design of thicker shells plays into that. Sonor's goal is typically to make the shells irrelevant to tone, and to allow as much timbre as possible come from the drum heads alone. So in theory, this is why they are so similar sounding.
Just wanted to see if somebody compares these two kits...was NOT expecting to see one of the absolute best comparison videos i've ever seen on yt. Really really awesome, man, thanks!
I’ve had the AQ2 and loved it. I sold the AQ2 before a cross country move. I was going to buy it again, but saw the AQX had come out and after looking at this video decided I would save some money and get the AQX. I can say that the AQ2 felt more quality and sounds more warmer/rounder. The bass drum on the AQ2 sounded enormous where the AQX is not giving off the same vibe. While the AQ2 kit was fabulous without having to purchase anything else, I will need to do some work to get the AQX to sound like I want it. The heads on the AQX seem super cheap, easily dented, so getting new heads eats into the cost savings. I had one snare screw that was unusable on the AQX, other than that no other issues out of the box.
I've had the AQ2 studio set for a couple of years now, along with Gibraltar 6700 HW. Amazing kit, both for studio and live performances. The problem is the winter season: you get to play in small venues and club and I needed a smaller Bass drum and, generically, a smaller set. In addition, when you play many gigs you don't want to get back home, reassemble all kit, playing it at home and then disassemble the kit again for another gig, so I wasn't playing my drums home anymore. Until I discovered the AQX serie. I bought the jungle kit and a couple of Tama light hardware serie stands. Of course they're made out of poplar which is way less punchy compared to the AQ2's maple, but the result is outstanding. I'm working with a woodworker (which is my uncle) because I want to cut the bass drum and the floor tom in half and create a Matrioshka drumkit in order of being able to move my whole kit on a small kart. Until I get back to play outdoor gigs (spring and summer), with this kit and Remo heads (at least on toms and snare), I'm having no problem AT ALL! Bye from Italy!! PS Great video!!
I bought the AQX Jungle in blue to practice and gig with. The snare with an Evans head and toms with remo weather kings are fine. You can't argue with $399 brand new.
