10 Reviews: Best Cymbals for All Genres (May 2023)

The rich, warm, and expressive tones of Zildjian cymbals, which were first made by Kerope Zildjian in Turkey in the nineteenth century, continue to amaze drummers today. This Zildjian alloy produces dark, flexible cymbals that are ideally suited to a broad range of musical styles, from jazz to rock. The K Series of cymbals pays homage to this tradition by using intricate hammering and lathing processes in an effort to recreate that legendary sound.

The Zildjian A Custom is the company’s best-selling series, and once you hear it, you’ll understand why. Jazz musicians that desire the nostalgic heavy ping in their cymbals use them, despite the fact that they are often used in rock music. Each stick hit creates a smooth, nuanced sound with just enough warmth to let you relax and melt. You’ll hear a well-balanced tone every time you play them.

Zildjian A’s are great cymbals. The brilliant finish on these are much easier to eep clean. I bought these for the Worsip Team I drum for. I’ve been a drummer for 43 years and played many different brands and styles of cymbals and it’s true in cymbals that you get what you pay for. These are worth the price!

by Picklednunn

With the A Zildjian Rock Pack, you can join music’s greatest history by playing drums loud and hard. The renowned A Zildjian Cymbals, which are part of the world’s most popular and adaptable cymbal line, are included in this powerful collection. Each cymbal is bright, sharp, and full-bodied, with the appearance, sound, and feel you need to cut through and project across the stage or in the studio. This is the ultimate Rock cymbal set from the only brand with a position in Rock n’ Roll history.

Really good quality. I bought a box set from a retail joint in the south and immediately replaced it because it was obviously used. Never buy anything from the south. They are usually broke a-holes for a reason. I bought the set on here and I love it!

by Amazon Customer

They’re bright and chunky, making them perfect for cutting through high-energy song mixes. As a reason, they’re an excellent match for gospel settings. If you’re playing in a church with a choir and a lot of shout breaks, they will be ideal. When it comes to grooves, the 14″ Hi-hats provide a distinct, clear tone. The 16″ and 18″ crashes provide a good combination of crash and sustain. The twenty-first century, the medium ride is somewhat violent.

These cymbals sound phenomenal! The ride has such a great clean sustain and the bell on the ride is quick with lots of punch. The high hats sound great too, not too bright and very quick response. The two crash cymbals sound so good you can use them as a secondary ride especially for rock music. Overall I’m still sold with Zildjian’s classic sound quality, as I was originally going to buy a Sabian cymbal pack, but not after playing these!

by Nathometheatre

As the name says, this is a beginner’s cymbal set in every sense of the word. This series of cymbals is an excellent alternative for any budding drummer looking for a more affordable option. The I Series starting set is very long-lasting due to its high quality construction. This set of cymbals will serve you or your young drummer well for many years to come.

The sound of these cymballs are really bright and deep. You can see that the material is resistant and does not lose its shine against the moisture.
Another investment that I'd recommend for drummers, whose looking for to get a budget-friendly and professional-sounding product.

by Anthony De Gracia Olmos

Sabian’s Hand Hammered cymbals are a knockout. There’s something remarkable about the fact that they’re made entirely by hand. The music is both gloomy and alive at the same time. In addition to pop and rock, R&B, worship, hip hop and fusion are all excellent applications for this cymbal kit. These cymbals have an incredibly dark and warm tone to them. When you play with them, they actually wash.

XS cymbals are an excellent intermediate option for rock and metal drummers looking to expand their arsenal. The XSR range of cymbals from Sabian is better suited to a rock and metal sound than anything else. The XSR range of cymbals from Sabian is designed to withstand the punishment of a vigorous drummer. Despite the fact that they are not the most expensive-sounding cymbals available, they are ideal for an intermediate student or young musician.

This set is upper-low tier or lower-mid tier Sabian cymbal kit (depending if you're glass half full/empty). However, this kit is a HUGE upgrade from my PDP Mainstage default cymbals. Not only do the additional cymbals provide variety in my playing, but even the sound of these new cymbals have revitalized my desire to practice. If you are still using the default drum kit cymbals, or are looking for a casual-player-level upgrade within a budget then these are a wonderful option.

by Ryan M Cox

B8X Cymbals are an entry-level cymbal set that is ideal for first-time drummers as well as junior musicians. Any and all genres are suitable. They do provide a pleasant feel and a realistic picture of what it would be like to play more costly cymbals for someone who is starting to play the drums, which is ideal for beginners.

i finally had to upgrade my 20 year old set of Sabian B8 hats, and found that they'd changed the series a bit now into this B8X line. I've been playing on these for a few weeks now, and I'm loving them so far. they're nice and bright, but not overly harsh or clangy as most budget cymbals are. for the price they're hard to beat!

by Johnny Resin

Meinl’s rendition of Benny Greb’s characteristic cymbal line is just fantastic. This product is ideal for the professional trying to further their career. These cymbals have a highly dry and gloomy tone to them. You really can’t go wrong with this one. This is a set that even Mat Halpern from Periphery uses. It’s all about the metal! While the price is high, the quality of the sound you get is as pricey.

These sound great, and could be used for any style of music. The trash crash is paper thin and has a fast attack and could replace any China cymbal in my Arsenal. The ride is so clean and has a great feel under my sticks, the bell sounds great with any part of the stick. The 18in crash is a higher pitch but cuts thru like a knife thru hot butter!!! And last but not least the hi-hats nice heavy bottom and a thin top makes for a great "chick" and has fantastic rebound.

by chmemakowski

This package seems to be exceptional value for the money. It’s an excellent choice for novices who want the Meinl sound without the expensive price tag; it’s also suitable for musicians of many genres. Meinl’s Classics series of cymbals is the finest choice for a student who is interested in jazz and fusion music. Despite their inexpensive price, these cymbals have a sound that suggests they should be far more costly.

These cymbals sound good for the money , I have been playing drums for 57 Years i started when i was 10 years old I have 5 different sets of cymbals that cost me $$$$ i like these for the look but they good for rock & roll kind of like my K Zildjian set but cheaper !

by BRUCE ROZAK