I think the s hoops are a pretty cool concept. I've never tried a set, but I can see that by the edge of the hoop being folded inward it might alter the voice somewhat by muting some of the sympathetic overtones that are related to the edge of a drum. That's the first thing that came to my mind when I saw them at NAMM last year. I didn't get to play them; I didn't like the look of them. But I might have to check them out soon.