I think I mentioned in my post above that I never hit my china straight on. They are loud! I kind of side swipe it across the front to good effect, not to loud but you get the china sound. I'd play around with it before you give up. But if you just don't like it, then try the dark and dry cymbals that are out there. Agop has the Xist series of dark/dry. They give the trash without the volume.