Tama HL70M14W Snare Stand

Feature:
The most useful feature is that you can use the omni-ball to get the snare angled to exactly the perfect angle based on your left hand, and it's relation to the snare surface. Observe that some drummers tilt their snare all the way to the right, forcing them to raise their left hand or play traditional grip. That's your choice, but note that with a standard snare stand, you must turn the ratchet arm that is holding the snare basket until the 180 degree angle created by the ratchet itself aligns with the direction you want to tilt your snare basket. This is unnecessary with this snare stand. Additionally, you can also rotate the snare at around based on where it mounts to the L-shaped arm. This can be useful in getting it out of the way of your legs. You're not forced into any position with this snare stand. It's totally up to your playing angle and style!

Quality:
This is really a high-quality product. The snare base alone is double braced and made of quality Tama parts, and solid rubber feet that you can rely on. I can only complain about the small footprint of the tripod. I wish it were larger, but the smallness is good because it doesn't interfere with your pedals, especially if you use a double bass setup. The Omni-ball reciever portion is very solid, and probably the best that Tama ever made (note that Tama invented the Omni-ball--or was it Sonor?). The L-arm is crazy. It's a solid chunk of steel that's been chrome plated. You can seriously use this as a weapon (but don't). And as for the Starcast mount, that's a subject for a different review (I love it, for the most part).

Value:
Compare the price and availability of Tama parts to any other drum company, and the value is readily apparent.

Desirability:
Totally sexy. We're living in a world of freely resonating drums, and minimum shell to hardware contact. This takes the concept of minimum contact and applies it to the snare drum, for the first time in mass-produced drum hardware history. That's why Tama is the 'Legend in Innovation'.

Sound:
It doesn't make sound, but it makes your snare drum more resonant, and provides a bit of rebound on your rim-shots. This can be a good or bad thing, depending on your hand-position and your playing style.

Support:
Can't comment about this. Drum parts are so self-evident and self-explanatory in the acoustic level that I've never needed any support of any kind. Tama parts are so well-made you will never need to return them to the factory for any reason. Simple as that.

Overall:
There is no other similar product to this one on the market. So no alternatives. But no doubt companies like DW, Pearl and Sonor will rush in to make a similar one. We'll have to wait until the next NAMM show to see what's up.