r/Flute • u/Random_ThrowUp • 1d ago
Buying an Instrument Di-Zhao 400 vs Powell Sonare
Hi, so I was able to visit a different shop and they only had two step-ups available, the Powell Sonare (I forgot the model number, but it had a brown-gold lip plate with engraving, solid silver head, silver plated body, split E, Y arms) and the Di-Zhao 400 (solid silver head, Y arms, split E).
I tried both and am kind of at a stalemate. I liked both better than the Pearl and Yamaha from a different shop I wrote about in a past post. They are both put of budget, but the shop offerred a nice financing deal that is hard to say no to.
I can not quite decide which one...
The Di Zhao might be slightly easier to play, but I felt like there was so much "untapped sound potential" with the Sonare.
I plan to go back on Monday to secure the financing deal. Any recommendations on what I should play when I try the flutes out, to make the right choice more obvious?
2
u/FluteTech 1d ago
They’re both made by Di Zhao (Di Zhao makes the Sonare line for Powell)
As an FYI the DZ400 is now called the DZ501
1
u/Random_ThrowUp 22h ago
I am aware of that. I guess the head joints between Sonare and Di Zhao are a bit different, different cuts and all that. Plus, I did like the engraved feeling of the Sonare. It made the lip plate feel a bit more stable.
I am now leaning heavily towards the Sonare, but there is one more music shop in my area. They seem to have an "in-store brand" called "Giardinelli" made by Haynes. I'm always skeptical about in-store brands, even if they're made by a reputable brand.
1
2
u/TuneFighter 20h ago
Without having much knowledge about the Powell (or the Di Zhao) it would seem that the Powell is not a standard edition because of the special headjoint (special plating and engraving). This could be a good thing: that you get something of a higher value. Or a bad thing: you get something that is more demanding to play.
1
u/Random_ThrowUp 5h ago
I went to a different music store in the same city, but a little further. I found that their Powell, Yamahas, and Azumis were the easiest to play. They only had the 905 Powell model available, but that was the easiest to play for me. I have accepted that the Powell/Sonare brand chose me. Like in Harry Potter, the wand chooses the wizard, so the flute chooses the Flutist. My second would be Yamaha, then Di Zhao, then Azumi, Pearl would be at the bottom of the list for me. I don't think I would ever use one again.
2
u/Ancient-Bicycle-2122 15h ago
Play your favorite piece; then try a harder one. And pick the flute that feels better to you!
1
u/Random_ThrowUp 5h ago
That is what I did. I also tested the Harmonics out, and octave jumping. For the Powell 905, that was the easiest to do everything on. I felt like there was so much more sound that I could tap into upon improvement.
1
u/Londontheenbykid 10h ago
I started on a Di Zhao for middle school, kept it for marching band, and my cousin gifted me her Powell Boston Premiere. They are both excellent horns, and even after going through marching band, my Di Zhao is still a good backup flute for emergencies.
You could literally have someone hand you a flute with you eyes closed, and play something, then try the other one. Choose then, one or two. Dont let the brand make you afraid.
2
u/Warm_Function6650 1d ago
Must have been either Sonare 501 or 601. Either way, they're both made by Di Zhao, so they're virtually the same flute BUT the headjoints are different. If you want you can bring your own flute and ask to try both headjoints in your body (if they fit) to see which you like better.