which brake out of these 2 do you think is better?

Which brake do you think is better for recoil reduction and which do you think is better for sound reduction?

http://www.k-var.com/shop/images/AK-351.jpg

or this

http://www.k-var.com/shop/images/d_868.jpg

First off, a muzzle brake doesn't reduce sound, but it can redirect it. The AK74 muzzle brake is very effective, but to people standing to either side of the shooter it is excessively loud. The brake didn't increase the sound of the shot, it just redirected the majority of the sound that would have gone downrange out the sides.

That said, the top brake should be more effective than the traditional slantbrake as more gas is being redirected. If you are standing off to the side it will also be louder as the blast will be directed toward you instead of downrange.

Nothing like a good loudener to get some elbow room at the range.

I know my psl directs a lot of noise to the sides with a brake similar to the top one. I never thought it was all that loud until I let a friend shoot it and was pleasantly surprised. Still, I prefer a brake that looks like it belongs on the rifle more than anything. I still think the ak-74 style brake really compliments an ak more than anything else I've seen to date.