DW Snare Drum Comparison: 5- and 6-inch maple, 6.5-inch nickel over brass

I'm fortunate enough to have three DW snare drums, and each of them is excellent. I bought the 5" maple snare first (in the late 1990s), then the 6" maple. And just a few months ago, I bought the 6.5" nickel over brass.
In this video, it's a little tough to differentiate the 5" and 6" maple drums. I probably tune the 5" in its medium range and the 6" a little higher, so there's some overlap in their ranges. But the stick response from the two drums is different because of the different depths. Although I used the 5" a ton back in the 1990s (when many of us were also using piccolo snare drums), I've used the 6" more over the years.
But I really love the new addition of the 6.5" nickel over brass. I had owned a Ludwig Black Beauty in the '90s, but I sold it because I thought the hardware was pretty unreliable. I had to re-tension the snare throw-off tension rod between every song. It was also a little too loud for my maple DW set.
Fast-forward about 20 years, and I decided to check out the DW nickel over brass-and it is excellent. It's the sound I've often heard in my head but hadn't been able to create before.
Anyway, here's what they sound like.
0:04 5" maple
1:00 6" maple
1:52 6.5" nickel over brass
2:48 5" maple
2:52 6" maple
2:58 6.5" nickel over brass
Equipment used:
-DW 5" and 6" maple snare drums, 6.5" nickel over brass snare drum
-DW maple drums (20" kick, 12" and 14" toms)
-Zildjian cymbals
-Blue Hummingbird overhead mics
-Shure SM57 on snare
-AKG D112 on kick
-Apogee Element 88 D/A converter
-Logic Pro X (with a variety of plug-ins, including compressors)
-Fujifilm X100T camera
-iMovie

[@Chiroman527]

Hi , question what batter heads did you use? I just purchased a used Design 6.5 inch Nickel over Brass snare. It came with the non stock head , a Evans Dry . Man whatta nice sound. I have just returned to drumming for pleasure and fun after a 50 year hiatus . I'm 68 now. Got a Gammon cheap 5 drum kit for Xmas , a wife gift to help with retirement fun. What stock batter head came with the drum?. I got mine in mint condition for $230 via Reverb . Thx for your time and advice. Happy Drumming !!

[@schmargle]

Enjoy your new snare-the Design Series nickel over brass drums look and sound great! On my snare drums, I use Remo Coated Ambassador Controlled Sound heads. (The dot is beneath the head.) remo.com/products/product/controlled-sound-coated-black-dot/ I like how the dot helps control the ring just a little bit and provides a little better response than just a plain coated head. I think my nickel over brass DW snare drum came with a Remo Coated Ambassador, without the dot, though I can't quite remember. I haven't tried Evans heads, so I'm not sure how any of these compare. Happy drumming to you too!