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tim
(245 points)
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Has anyone had the opportunity to try the Sonares that are made in Germany instead of China? I wonder if their piccolo keywork is going to move to Germany as well...
Also, what exactly is this "Zinki" technology? Powell's marketing blurb about it is rather evasive.
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Flutist06
(1545 points)
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If memory serves, the "Zinki" technology is a new way to produce drawn tone holes. Supposedly it puts less stress on the metal, which Powell claims leads to increased resonance. As it's proprietary technology, the details of what Zinki involves is not available to the public, as far as I'm aware.
As for the new Sonares, I have played a few brand new ones and cannot report any noticeable change in how they play. They feel and sound much the same as older models. However, the quality may differ....That's something that will have to be shown over the long term, rather than from a short playtest.
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tim
(245 points)
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Aaahhh, I see. Now it makes sense why they don't explain WHY it's "better." But without an explanation as to how or why one method is superior to another it seems fishy.
As far as the Sonares go, I figured they'd sound relatively the same since no change to the headjoint was made. I was just curious if the mechanism was built with more integrity.
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Flutist06
(1545 points)
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I agree. Until they provide some explanation for why we should all be clambering for the Zinki technology, I just regard it as another marketing ploy. There may very well be a reasonable basis for the new way of doing things, but I don't like to take the word of folks that are trying to market something to me, particularly in an industry so notable for the marketing schemes.
Unfortunately, I cannot remark on the integrity of the new mechs, beyond saying that they seem to feel very similar to older Sonare mechs, as I haven't inspected one closely myself. Perhaps Micron or Joe B have a better basis on which to discuss them. I'd be interested in their conclusions as well.
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Kara
(2896 points)
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I have not tried the new Sonares yet, but speaking of Sonares, I have aquired one a couple of months ago. It is like no other Sonare I have ever played or seen. It is just stamped Sonare on the barrel, but does not have a model #. It did come with the regular Powell Signature headjoint and the body and foot were solid silver along with the headjoint. The weird thing about it is that is is closed hole and has a B foot. Now I am a huge fan of Yamaha, but the keywork on this flute and mechanism and just all around flute plays better than any of the comparable Yamaha models to me. I was very suprised to say the least because I have never liked any Sonare flute that I have ever tried. I wonder if this flute was made to sell in the European market or something. Has anyone ever ran accross one like this before?
After having this flute, I would be very interested in trying out the newer line by them. Chris, do you know which model you tried out? I have heard a couple of very good reviews on their new student line of flutes.
<Added>
I still don't much care for the Headjoints that come on these though. Powell or not.. not my cup of tea.
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Flutist06
(1545 points)
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I believe they were the 705 and 709 series (one was rose gold plated...Why, I'm not quite sure) that I tried out. That certainly sounds like an interesting flute you've got there, Kara....If you find out the answer to that little mystery, be sure to let us know!
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piccolo1991
(71 points)
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If I remember right, when the Sonares came out they didn't have have numbers on them. I remeber the only way we could tell the series number was based on the specs that it came with. I may be wrong, but I think I remember that. I never saw any with closed holes.
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Micron
(1406 points)
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Powell now made in Germany. Hmmm.
I wonder if I can then take it that manufacture in China was not up to expectations.
Zinki. Hmmm. If it means that rolled tone holes are more level, and that the levelness is stable, it is a good thing. But I would have thought they would boast about that if that were the result of Zinki.
For me, the jury's well and truly out. Very likely the change is quite minor and has no end-result effect; just a change in production method (probably to reduce costs). We'll see. It could be something like drawing the metal with a tool that is spinning and pulling, rather than just pulling, or induction heating of the metal while drawing. It could be incorporating of more undercutting of the tone holes. Whatever... it is any end result that is important, and end result that is actual, rather than marketing hype and belief-based.
Kara, you wrote, "the keywork on this flute and mechanism and just all around flute plays better than any of the comparable Yamaha models to me."
I guess you are saying the mechanism is better. Can you give details that are more than cosmetic? Unless there are glaring deficiencies, such as short fat springs, or wobbly pivots, or jamming pivots, Personally I find it difficult to evaluate especially upper-end flutes mechanically without seeing the ravages of use and time, & getting very familiar by doing intensive overhaul-type work on them.
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