The 18" AAXplosion crash in brilliant finish is, in my humble opinion, the best all-around modern crash ever made. That is a crowded field to be sure, but this cymbal blends every element so well. It's bright, glassy and smooth. Perfect responsiveness so it opens easily without feeling "bouncy" as you crash-ride it, its decay is perfect, it responds evenly at low or high volumes, the bell is useable and it also pairs well with many other crashes (other sizes of AAXplosions or HHXplosions naturally work well). It also has a clear, clean sound without the sparkly, sizzly nature of more vintage cymbals that make it an easy choice for modern music.