Shopping for cymbals can lead to serious sticker shock these days. Regardless of the make or model, prices have jumped the past few years. Dollars just don’t go as far as they used to. The good news is there are still some good values out there, particularly when it comes to starter and intermediate cymbal packs.
We put this list together to help you get the most for your hard-earned money. Our approach here was similar to our other ‘Best Values’ lists, like Best Values: Snare Drums and Best Values: Hi-Hat Stands. These cymbal packs aren’t simply the best overall packs under $500, but the best values around their various price points. All of these items will give you a lot for your money.
We chose four cymbal packs, starting under $200 and going up to $499 (at the time of writing). That means wherever your budget falls within that range, there will be a good option for you. All of these cymbals are made by established brands and they all do a good job of achieving their intended purposes. Some are primarily made to be starter practice cymbals, while one or two could even work on stage. No matter which you choose, you can be sure you’re getting a solid value.
On with the list! These are the best cymbal pack values under $500.
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Under $200
Meinl HCS Brass Pack (18/14/14)
This Meinl HCS Brass pack is our pick for anyone who’s looking for the least expensive viable option. It works well as a student cymbal pack or as an upgrade from no-name student cymbals. Many budget drum sets come with generic cymbals made of soft metal (cymbal-shaped objects, as some have joked). Those cymbals sound terrible, dent easily, and are generally uninspiring to play. They’re mainly included with drum kits for photography reasons. The HCS line is a logical step up.
Meinl designed this pack to use a brass alloy and to have smaller diameters. Both keep prices down. While brass cymbals may lack the sonic quality of bronze, they at least sound and play like cymbals. They have tone, stick definition, and sustain. Generic soft metal cymbals don’t really have any of those things. As for the sizes, the scaled-down diameters of these cymbals are generally large enough to learn and practice on.
Crash-Ride
Rather than including a standard-sized ride cymbal, this HCS pack includes a hybrid 18″ crash-ride. Compared to standard rides, crash-ride cymbals have a slightly higher pitch, have less stick definition, and have increased wash. This HCS version is more a crash than a ride, but learning ride patterns on it is certainly possible.
Crash
The included crash is scaled down to 14 inches, from the standard 16. The mellow tone of brass doesn’t thrive particularly well with crash cymbals, but it can work fine for practice. This 14″ crash has a straightforward tone – something that should be expected with any brass crash cymbal.
Hi-Hats
The HCS hi-hats have a standard 14″ diameter. That’s good news, not only for playing comfort, but for sound. Hi-hat foot patterns can sound weak with brass alloys, so keeping as much tonal body as possible is welcome. These hi-hats are fairly solid, considering their brass construction, and are the strongest part of this pack.
In Short
This Meinl HCS cymbal pack is an upgrade from generic soft metal cymbals. It’s a good inexpensive option for drummers who are just starting out, and who can get by using a very basic configuration.
Under $300
Zildjian Planet Z Pack (20/16/14)
This Zildjian Planet Z cymbal pack is the most popular pack on this list. It’s our pick for anyone who’s looking for a basic starter cymbal pack in standard sizes. They work well as a first set of cymbals. Many players use them for several years before upgrading. Plus, having standard sizes makes upgrading one cymbal at a time more practical, increasing the lifespan of this pack even more.
Planet Z’s are manufactured using a brass alloy. This keeps costs at a reasonable level, but it also comes with tonal limitations. The pack’s standard diameters do help a bit, however. Large diameters allow cymbals to breathe more naturally, which is important with less-expensive cymbal alloys.
Ride
The Planet Z ride cymbal has a standard 20″ diameter. It has a bright tone and a decent amount of stick definition. It’s a simple ride cymbal, meaning there isn’t a wide variety of sounds you can draw from it, but that’s the case with any brass ride. The main areas of concern, the bow and bell, sound good for brass and work for most practicing drummers.
Crash
As mentioned earlier, brass alloys don’t translate particularly well to crash cymbals. That’s the case for the 16″ Planet Z, as well. For practice purposes, it can get the job done. The sound is fairly dry and straightforward.
Hi-Hats
The Planet Z pack includes 14″ hi-hats. They’re bright and have good articulation, albeit with a thin tone. As with any brass hi-hat, the foot-chick sound is so-so, but good enough to learn on.
In Short
The Zildjian Planet Z cymbal pack is a popular choice for drummers shopping for their first set of standard-sized cymbals. They’re best used for practice purposes.
Under $400
Sabian B8X Pack (20/18/16/14)
The Sabian B8X Performance Pack is the first pack on this list consisting of a bronze alloy. As the name suggests, the alloy is called B8, which is made of 92% copper and 8% tin. Compared to the previously-mentioned brass cymbals, bronze has a more musical tone. It also has more flexibility, which is especially important for crash cymbals. B8 cymbals are commonly purchased as either first cymbals or as upgrades from brass cymbals.
This B8X pack uses standard sizes, and it even includes an extra crash cymbal. That makes this pack one drummers could use without upgrading for a longer period of time. In addition, Sabian sonically matches the cymbals included in box sets, which ensures you’ll get a set of cymbals that sound as good as possible as a whole.
Ride
The B8X ride has a 20″ diameter. That’s a standard size, making playing comfortable and helping with tone. The combination of size and the bronze alloy gives this rides a richer sound than either of the brass rides mentioned. It has better stick definition, a more powerful tone, and a fairly strong bell sound.
Crashes
The fact that this pack comes with two crash cymbals is a nice bonus. 16″ and 18″ diameters are the two most common crash sizes drummers use. Those sizes tend to compliment each other well. These B8X crashes are bright and fairly responsive for cymbals in this price range.
Hi-Hats
The B8X hi-hats have the standard 14″ diameter. They are brighter than either of the brass hi-hats on this list. The bronze alloy allows for a more articulate stick sound, while foot-chick notes have added projection.
In Short
This Sabian B8X cymbal pack works well as either a first cymbal pack or as an upgrade from brass cymbals. While this pack is still primarily made for practice purposes, it has better tonality than brass packs. It also includes a second crash cymbal.
Under $500
Paiste PST7 Pack (20/16/14)
The Paiste PST7 Universal pack is another that uses a B8 bronze alloy, which Paiste calls CuSn8. Paiste specializes in using this alloy – they even construct several of their professional lines with it. That expertise trickles down to the PST7 line. This pack could be considered in the ‘semi-pro’ quality range, making great practice cymbals and even working on stage for certain styles.
This pack uses standard diameters. It also incorporates a minor amount of hammering, which is a nice design feature that helps decrease unwanted frequencies. Even without the inclusion of a second crash cymbal, this pack’s overall tone makes it a great value.
Ride
The PST7 ride cymbal is a 20″ with medium thickness. It has good stick definition and a glassy tone. The bell projects well, cutting though mixes without much effort. This ride’s edge also crashes surprisingly well.
Crash
The included crash cymbal in this pack is the standard 16″ diameter. Although PST7s don’t have extensive hammering, the small dimples particularly help with the crash. The hammering helps tame resonance, while still allowing for plenty of tone. This cymbal has a medium thickness – it’s bright and has a good amount of volume, but also lacks some sensitivity.
Hi-Hats
If you like a crisp, articulate hi-hat sound, the 14″ PST7 hats could be for you. They’re the brightest hi-hats on this list. Notes are clearly heard, even when playing busy sticking patterns. Foot techniques are also more well-defined than they are on any other hi-hats on this list.
In Short
The Paiste PST7 pack is a solid choice for any drummer who’s looking for a bright sound and may want cymbals that will last longer through their playing days. This pack works great in practice spaces and can even fit well on stage.
Wrap-Up
Those are the picks for best cymbal pack values under $500. As with most things, you get more if you spend more. However, each of these packs serve a good purpose. Everyone has their own needs and budget to consider. Whichever pack you decide is best for your situation, your money will be well-spent.
By Peter Treuden – About the Author
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