Keep in mind these are very much first impressions and I am still subject to the honeymoon period on both throws.
Contrast
The Contrast plays quite differently from most modern comp focused yo-yos imo, with a focus on light play-feel and agility over raw spin power.
It feels very light and manoeuvrable during play. I’d compare its agility to the Adrenaline but it feels a good bit lighter. It has a natural quick pacing but it doesn’t feel like it’s rushing you. This lightness does result in lower spin times, more comparable to a comp mono than a bimetal imo, but it doesn’t compromise its stability; I’ve found that it handles off-plane movement without tilting or precessing very well, likely due to the wide V shape.
You do feel the width in play, even compared to the other 50mm yo-yos I’ve used, it feels like there’s more usable width, again likely due to it being v-shaped. I do find this means I need to concentrate more for one of my tech slack tricks to avoid accidental string hits. Otherwise though I don’t find the width to make tech tricks any harder (though I’m also generally of the opinion that yo-yos up to 52mm don’t really make tech harder and can sometimes make it easier, can’t speak to tech with +53mm width yo-yos as I haven’t tried one). I’m sure this width along with the good stability makes it very effective for zontals, zoning and body tricks, but I generally don’t do these often so I can’t give much feedback in that regard.
Other miscellaneous bits: mine has a glossy finish, that plus the rims means it’s a bit mediocre for grinds. It’s also rather mediocre for rejections, you can still do them well enough but it’s not going to be giving you easy and early rejects like the YYR Upheaval. The diameter isn’t so large that it makes chopsticks harder, but the rims will punish accidental finger bumps. All the edges are very well rounded, avoiding uncomfortable returns (W1LD is almost always very good for this). Visually it’s very striking with the black+white rims, the little engraving inside the rim is a bit boring though, especially compared to other recent W1LD engravings (those Shy engravings are 
). There is perhaps some concern about fragility due to how many parts it has bit I can’t speak to that ATM as it hasn’t taken any knocks.
Overall I think it’s a pretty unique yo-yo that stands out both from the rest of the W1LD lineup and other comp designs due to its light feel. I’m really enjoying it so far.
Copper
In comparison, I think the Copper forms quite a nice contrast (haha).
I’ve always really like 53-54mm diameter yo-yos, but you don’t see too many bimetals in this mid-sized range. The Copper doesn’t feel like it loses any power from the reduced diameter but it also avoids the bricky, overly solid feeling that you sometimes find in smaller yo-yos that try to maintain good spin power.
It has a dense-ish, compact feel on the string, with middle of the road pacing and likely a higher top speed. It has good spin power and stability, though it gets pushed off-plane slightly more easily than the Contrast. I’d compare its play-feel to a slightly more dense and compact UNPRLD Distortion. It handles rejections very well and its 45mm width, though narrow compared to most comp yo-yos releasing currently, is still wide enough that it doesn’t require any extra focus during play.
The tumbled finish means it’s decent for grinds, though not standout. Again, can’t speak to zontals/zoning much but I’d assume it’ll be rather average for it based on the shape/width/good stability.
The response pads it came with were very grippy with OT Fat so I’m currently waiting on my Gear Oil silicone to dry before picking it back up.
If you’ve tried the Apathy (Keiran’s other Empathy sig), I’d say this outperforms it in every metric and avoids the sharp rims that I found were an issue on the Apathy. It feels a good bit less heavy and bricky than the Apathy as well.
Worth remembering that the copper rings will develop a patina over time (mine have already dulled slightly) and there is a long-term risk of pitting. So it might need the occasional maintenance and if you’re in a humid environment then that may cause more issues. Visually it’s very striking with the copper rings and the Zach Gormley edition looks stunning (I’d have waited for the ZG edition if I knew about it before purchasing tbh).
Overall I’m liking it so far. I think play-wise it isn’t quite as unique feeling as the Contrast but it still stands out with its smaller diameter. I need more time with it to solidify my feelings.
Regarding your question of which is better for a tech/flow player, I think most people who identify their play-style as such would prefer the Copper. I think both are very capable for it though. The Contrast has marginally better stability and handled off-plane movement in tech better while the Copper has better power and will handle longer combos more easily I think.
) and seti is just plain fun! Helluva haul for 60 bucks. I would happily pay that much for either of them, by themselves.
