Thank you Max & Chloe! My handpan is the much maligned Amazon handpan. It was advertised as the last one available. The sample video sounded good enough for my beginner status so I bought it. I was pleased that it was in good tune when I got it. When I checked it against the manufacturer's video that had many "artistic" close ups, I realized it was the same handpan with the same hammer marks and nitriding patterns. Of course it was in good tune - who would feature an out-of-tune😮 instrument? I lucked out there. I heard a distinct difference between with and without the rubber rim; there is more sustain and almost an "ember steel" sound. I am going to pull the rubber rim tomorrow to check out your findings. It's interesting you tried this as I have done just the reverse on my tongue drums. I use them for music therapy in an elder care memory facility. I bought a few inexpensive small tongue drums. Mostly they sounded, as the residents said, "tanky", except for one that has a rubber mid section. I found the the rubber was removable but then the sweet sounding drum sounded "tanky". When the rubber "belt" was placed around the other"tanky" sounding drums, they sounded sweet. I couldn't find any of the rubber belts for sale by themselves so I wrapped the beltless tongue drums with 1/4" soft hand cut deerskin thongs several times around. It works as well as the rubber belt, stays where you put it, is easily removed, comes in several natural colors and looks cool. If you want it, you can get it from Crazy Crow Trading Post online.

Hi, Max & Chloe, First few views and comment on your channel for me! Might I add that I'm glad to have found you! Grand stuff, I do say! Regarding the content of the video and the differences heard/perceived in the comparison: Upon looking for examples of the cheaper handpans that are becoming readily available, and the relating dubiousness that such entails, I followed a comment and found this video. The only amz/tem/ali example/recording, of which I've found that has removed the rubber rim protector... There's a huge difference between the two, in my humble, honest, minimally learned, opinion. Enough so that you might well have just aided in the conformation that I'd be content with a factory-made, mass-produced handpan to commence my journey into a realm, that'd otherwise be at present a somewhat expenisvely uncertain and alas, financially out of reach journey for me! If I was to recieve an unblemished, tuned pan from one of the import sites that sounds as this one does, I certainly wouldn't regret the purchase, regardless of being limited to one scale, compromising of 10 notes and however many chords that two hands has the potential to make! The overall change/contrast of the sounds envolope (ie. attack/sustain/decay) is definitely noticeable. The second, de-rubbered rim, being a more postive, favourable, reasurring, meditive factor might I add! Do I sense slightly more overtone/harmoic register? There's certsinly more 'colour'/brightness, and the gentle, immersive soundscape that one would wish to frequent. I'm only observing and listening through a (few year old flagship) Samsung and it's in built Dolby Atmos speaker and could literally feel the soundwave difference in my fingertips! Upon further reflection: I did notice that your playing naturaly switched up a level once you'd removed the rubber and sample a few notes/percusive techniques. Also, upon finishing the second sound deml, the little "hm!" of which you expressed was defiantly perceivable a pleasant suprise! Im conclusion: I don't believe I'd have been able to tell the difference between the mass produced being demonstrated and a more expensive handcrafted one. At least listening to a recording through a handheld device, that is. The rubber rim protector definitely provides a muting, 'flattening' effect and I can only presume that they're intended for shipping purposes. Out of curiosity: Do the artisans handmade handpans typically come shipped with them? I do really want to sample a cheaper handpan now, I think that it'd be a good entry-point for a novice pauper such as myself! Thank you for your video(s), skill, time and useful insight! I look forward to more of your appeasing

To me it sounds brighter. More upper mids. I like it more with the rim.

I kept going back to the beginning and then up to where you are now and there is a little bit of a difference.I think the sound may hang on a little bit longer with band off.But other than that they both sound good

I like it better without the rubber stuff.very subtle difference.

Hmmmm sounds better.