In experimenting with different rims on 14″ snare drums, I have found a few intersting facts.  My Jarrah drum was nice, but maybe a bit high-pitched.  By adding die-cast rims to it, it became lower and punchier.  It is often said that die cast rims choke a drum, but I don’t find that to be the case.  Gretsch drums use die cast rims and they have a wonderful, full tone.  On most every snare I have tried them on, the die cast rims improve the sound.  But, my walnut snare sounds a bit too dry.  It might possibly sound better with a triple flanged 2.3mm standard rim.  We’ll see.  In the meantime, most snares of Jarrah, Maple, Birch, Zebra etc. sound better with Die cast.  For the walnut… we will see..