This cymbal sounds great, and is great value for money. The main sound of it is very dark, as its name would suggest, but there are plenty of harmonics going on towards the end of each hit, which make it sound rather complex. It works well for playing jazz, but also for playing in situations where you don't want the ride to cut through very subtle guitar work, such as ambient or post-rock music. The finish looks fantastic and the cymbal itself feels quite durable. For the money, it definitely stands up against cymbals which cost nearly twice as much, and doesn't at all sound 'budget'.