I have been using these stands as well as the DW 6710UL Straight Cymbal Stand, and thought that this stand might give a little bit more flexibility in terms of cymbal placement. While it does offer a bit of flexibility, the boom arm is so short that it is not much of an improvement over the straight stand. It also does not go nearly as high as the straight stand. When the boom arm is fully extended, the stand is not sturdy enough to hold a large cymbal, like a ride. I would use this stand maybe if I needed to place a splash or small crash somewhere tight and needed just a few more off of the center of the base of the stand, but for most applications, the straight stand would be just as good if not better.