I was considering purchasing the Meinl CM-2 castanet machine but after a quick listen to the audio clip of these I was sold. They arrived quickly and nicely boxed, upon opening I was pleasantly surprised to find they both look great and more importantly they sound fantastic, and after a quick attempt at recording they fit in the mix perfectly ( so much easier to use compared to my old concert castanets ). I would defiantly recommend these to anyone who wants a cheaper alternative to the Meinl ones.