20 Crash Cymbals Compared - From $70 to $570

[@sebar4123]

That first Wuhan sounds amazing for its price

[@venubhalla2825]

Was about to say the same thing

[@jakebelmonte8443]

Also agree

[@kushking420]

i had to listen to it again, out of shock lol

[@3vamtb]

Damn right!

[@JMRSplatt]

Indeed. Just be very careful with it!

[@hardcoreyorkie]

That Wuhan is punching ridiculously above it's weight. That's a phenomenal sounding crash The K Constantinople is very tasty.

[@CameronBartholomew]

Yup those two really caught my ear the most also.

[@EricT43]

Ha, those two were my favorites too.

[@davidnunes9528]

but from my experience, the wuhan can break easily

[@hardcoreyorkie]

@@davidnunes9528 I haven't tried the crashes but have a 70s 24" china that's still going strong

[@enewhuis]

I just grabbed my first K Constantinople. The more I use it the more I love it. Major investment but, well, takes things in a whole new direction.

[@blackstar535]

"Does the Sabian Artisan really sound 8x better than the ZBT?" Even the Wuhan sounds 8x than that ZBT 🤣

[@nosfy]

I see what you're saying for sure! And I agree about the Wuhan v. ZBT. But I really do think it sounds far better in the sense that artisan would definitely record better in a professional environment. As well as project far better and prettier live. Overall, on a practice kit or not as demanding situation, I think a cheap cymbal is whatever. As long as it gets the job done. But I've also been spoiled by a collection of very high end Agop for five years and couldn't fathom going back. Even when I have to buy cheaper working cymbals, I go XIST, for a little more than beginner cymbal price, you get something really versatile and pleasing to play. Lastly, I think there's definitely a difference in the feel of the cheap crash vs. the pricier one. ZBTs or HCS feel far more stiff and also tend to craft sooner cause of the rigidity of the metal. Whereas pricier ones are generally more malleable with the vibration, and feel absolutely incredible to play. Which will 100% make a difference in playing conviction and confidence with any player. People like expensive, boutique items. Sorry for the essay, I guess I just really love cymbal talk haha.

[@drummerbhoyshug]

To me, The Wuhan is an amazing sounding Cymbal for the price 👍

[@luis_robledo_richards]

Wow, that Paiste signature traditionals sounds amazing.

[@jorgedeltiempo]

The best..

[@ytusersumone]

I'd choose those, although the Wuhan is another I'd consider.

[@kc-vf4lp]

💯

[@roomdog40]

That one was a nice surprise

[@zoranm6432]

Paiste 2002 series. The best !

[@billyhughes9776]

Best sound for value -- the Wuhan hands down. The one that surprised me was the Sabian HHX Complex -- really nice. Zildjian K, Turkish Classic, Meinl Byzance Traditional and Foundry Reserve, Istanbul Traditional Dark are my favs.

[@Goodboy0953]

Paiste Signature in my humble opinion is the finest sounding cymbals made.

[@ytusersumone]

The Paiste Signature Traditional $440 had a nice, even and long "shwoosh" and not too trebly, not too dark first frequencies and the affordable end Paiste is a viable option too (together with the Wuhan). Safe investment, all around fitting.

[@cscamby0410]

Hands down

[@daltonidaho]

Wuhan is hands down the best value! Sounds like the more expensive cymbals than the other cymbals in its price range. My favourites were the Turkish Classic and Sabian HHX Complex.

[@hugorezende199]

There are no bad sound cymbals made with b20 alloy. They are always decent

[@billyc3757]

The Wuhan shocked me! Went to Amazon immediately to price check. For the money, huge winner. I own top of the line Meinl crashes and rides. The Wuhan I'm told might not last as long but for a bit over a hundred bucks I'm willing to take a chance.

[@bilhamcobbly2957]

Wuhan!!!!!! All the way.Sorry,There we’re some nice stuff in there.But for the price I could get an entire set of the Chinese made cymbals for under the price of the last sabian.

[@areallygooddrummer]

For real tho! Best sound from the lower end for sure!

[@frankcunnigham220]

I agree I love Wuhan

[@stanleyc.348]

Had to back and make sure wuhan was my fave, next to the k dark or byzance. I have the 16 and 18 wuhan. Ganna snage the 17 and 19 off amazon

[@joshua.merrill]

I’ve got all Wuhan cymbals, except for a Meinl big bell and a Paiste Psychoctopus Giga bell. If Wuhan made big bell rides, I would probably have got them instead, but I REALLY love the Psychoctopus.

[@maynardcrow6447]

That's crazy I couldn't hear any better than that $110 Wuhan except one of the lower end paiste sounded pretty good too. I've always been a Sabina fan but idk now. And zildjan has always sounded like a cymbal with now high or lows. It's like cranking the mids all the way. Pure ASS!

[@christopherscamby4559]

Paiste signatures are really in a class by themselves. They sound so glassy

[@Myriam-nk2fw]

So true, Ill probably buy a signature traditionals set when I go to study because the 20 and 22" rides are soooo good too

[@elusivelectron]

Word

[@brian2101]

Yes, I’ve always said the same about Paiste… Glassy!

[@BlindManifest]

@@Myriam-nk2fw They are my favorite cymbals, but I have cracked 2 of them and I'm not a hard hitter. One cracked in a circular manner around the bell - something I've never seen. They are just too brittle for me to keep buying.

[@squ94wk]

But all Paistes have this bell-like tone which puts me off. I don't understand people that prefer that over the traditional Turkish style of cymbals.

[@carlosdrummer4915]

The Istanbul Agop Traditional Dark just sounds gorgeus, and I didn't expect that Zildjian A Thin to sound that good!

[@bbdeffect]

The traditional darks ride better but the thins open up quicker.

[@sonnygruntstick]

I agree..

[@TonesT4]

Wuhan’s are great for the price- pretty sure they’re made out of the same metal as paiste/zildjan all the good ones-

[@Assimilator702]

@anthonymarks1306 Wuhan claims they use B20 like Sabian, Zildjian, Isantbul and Byzance.

[@tombailey1059]

I was on a mission in late 2021 to find the perfect 17" crash, so much so that my KZbin homepage was cymbals, cymbals, cymbals, and one other video titled "15 Signs You Might Be Autistic". The hunt was hell and algorithmic insult made things hotter still. But then it appeared: the Istanbul Agop Traditional Dark Crash. This cymbal, it will slap the cheeks on your face. It sounds like waves spanking the shoreline of a copper planet. It's difficult to explain, but I feel this Agop keeps an eye on me while I sleep at night. In a rocking chair, perhaps.

[@RandyHanley]

That Turkish Classic Crash sounds great for $225, wow! 4:00

[@TempoDrift1480]

Yeah that one made me look over at the screen.

[@hendrickroy7481]

I keep listening to it.

[@Martin-kn6vc]

Yeah, that Wuhan sounds pretty outrageous for the price... I'd just be worried that they'd crack really easily. I really liked the Turkish Classics at 3:56, I imagine it'd record well, meaning you can compress the room mics a bit harder. I can also see why the A-Customs and Meinl Byzance Traditional cymbals are so popular - they sounded great!

[@ChimichangaGuy]

Wuhan are hit and miss. I had a 20" china that crack in just a couple months but I have a 18" china that I've had since 2014 and it cracked a couple years ago but I trimmed it down to 16" and still use it.

[@Martin-kn6vc]

@@ChimichangaGuy I thought that would be the case. I've also heard that the consistency between the cymbals is pretty drastic, as in two of the same cymbal can sound wildly different from each other.

[@BST-lm4po]

Wuhan "Western Style" is their best cymbal. It's a B20 alloy like high-end cymbals. I have a set. The crash is great. The hi-hats are great. The ride is average. (IMO).

[@zackedge2456]

@@Martin-kn6vc yes, it’s because they’re all handmade ;)

[@Theratron]

The Zildjian A and K sound like what I would want my 18" crash to sound like. Not surprising since all my crashes are (regular) K Zildjians. But honorary mentions certainly go to the Wuhan for the price, and I also like the sound of the Turkish classic and the Sabian HHX.

[@boobo3763]

We have the EXACT same taste in cymbals. Ha! i was scrolling through the comments when the Zildjian A came up and I quick scrolled up to see what it was because when I heard it I said to myself "Ooo, now that sounds like a cymbal..." I, also, really liked the Turkish!

[@Theratron]

@@boobo3763 the exact same GREAT taste, haha 😉

[@boobo3763]

@@Theratron When are the kids gonna learn??

[@prestonjones20013]

The immediate jump in sound quality from the ZBT to the Wuhan is staggering for only a $40 price difference After watching the full video, I’m blown away by the Wuhan. It holds its own against many of the $300-$500 cymbals. There’s only a handful I really like more than it, the HHX Complex, Turkish Classics Custom, and the K Constantinople are the only ones that I would say stood out as “better” to me than the Wuhan

[@Sasquatch27]

These DCP comparison videos are the best ones out there! You guys rock🤘

[@mmilliganjr]

GUYS! Thank you so much for doing this video! It's not only helpful in finding out what certain makes and models of cymbals cost, but also exploring what cymbal sound any certain person may gravitate to since tone ranges can ultimately boil down to personal vision and preference. THANKS ❤

[@mmilliganjr]

Yep, everyone crapping themselves over that $110 Wuhan, myself included! Something tells me the price is about to change 😆

[@rosmakloma]

Super impressed by the Wuhan and Dream crashes, but the Paiste's always grab my ear. Would love to see this same approach with chinas and/or splashes

[@ZetroDrummer]

Wuhan has the best. The explosive sound of their Chinas have no comparison.

[@stanleyc.348]

Dream was pretty trashy to me, would love to hear the next thickness line from dream, the contact i think?

[@PeterKudelin]

@@stanleyc.348 honestly was thinking to myself it almost sounded like a smaller accent thing

[@Cowdog1]

This, to me, sounds like a great demonstration of "You get what you pay for". Just my opinion. Great job as always!

[@xIcarus227]

Except the Wuhan, that thing has no right sounding that good lmao.

[@ChipsNeeson]

The Cindy Blackman OM was delicious, so too the 2002 thin. Brilliant showing DCP!

[@itsDarrell]

Also, I used dream cymbals as well which are fantastic at their price point and really hold up!

[@flapjack413]

Still a huge fan of my Zildjian A medium thin 18". That Wuhan though, absolutely can't beat that for the price! Overall favorites on sound alone in this video, the Turkish Classic and the Zildjian A thin.

[@La_sagne]

just bought a 16" A medium thin.. really a perfectly balanced cymbal for almost every genre imho

[@joshkirkwoodrealty3643]

What a cool video! Thanks for the unbiased presentation of all.

[@noamdrums3764]

The 2002 is So Incredible!

[@Myriam-nk2fw]

Meh

[@matej9907]

used to be the best cymbal . I had the " new " 2002 and the old one side by side ... same cymbal allegedly .... The new one sound like a cheap rip off

[@MichaelMarucci]

That Turkish Classic crash sounds ridiculously good, regardless of price. That should be an auto buy.

[@spearo83]

I thought it sounded quite similar to the 2002 thin, but with added lovely complex harmonic overtones. so good.

[@csikosbeka]

Can't agree more. I am using only Turkish cymbals - Classics and Kurak series mainly - and boy, those things are singing! Beautiful overtones, very musical cymbals - for a not too high price.

[@NinthDensity]

That was my favorite too.

[@jkf9167]

Under $200, the Wuhan sounded best. The Meinl Classics Custom and the Paiste PST8 also sounded good. Over $200, just about everything sounded great, and it's a matter of taste. I used to play ZBT 13" hats. They weren't refined, but in a hats/crash-ride setup with a more expensive crash, they worked great because their open sound was so loud and bright for accents and crashes.

[@claudebessette551]

From the HHX and above they all sound amazing

[@ragrapios]

That ZBT sound 8 times worse than high end for sure but not wuhan. Wuhan sounds so good.

[@jeffsadowski7759]

Great demo guys...Nice job Tony:)

[@michaelbruhl4425]

...for me "Paiste Signature Line" full or fast crashes are the best, but the prices are very high too. Believe me, the best cymbals in the world. Cheers

[@meekoloco]

For the money, the Wuhan sure sounds great. Outside of that, it seems like there are a lot of good choices just north of the $225 zone. That’s a lot better than I expected!

[@klauth_Yksyn]

Great presentation guys(still setting the standard of excellence) Wuhan stole the show for me! 👍💨

[@drumcenternh]

Much appreciated!

[@satanjd666]

The Wuhan and Meinl Byzance Traditional sound almost identical! Wuhan and Dream are sooo underrated!

[@RandyHanley]

Sometimes, I randomly will find a cheap cymbal that happens to have a more-expensive sound - it's hit or miss. Sometimes it's a wash. *haha, Snort* / Dad Drummer joke. Ok I'll sit down. Thank you for this video.

[@undigitaldrums5391]

The Turkish Classic & Paiste 2002 for the win

[@blake.r3602]

My exact thought too

[@prongATO]

Cymbals, in general, have skyrocketed in price over the past 6-8 years. I got a brand new Sabian 22” HH Rock ride for $211.00 in 2014. It’s now listed for $650.ish

[@demonicsweaters]

totally

[@claystaggs8908]

You ain’t kidding they are way overpriced now

[@johngatsby1473]

They will probably blame it on covid

[@TheProgGuy]

I believe you got a steal on that ride cymbal. I remember buying a Sabian 16" AAX-plosion Fast Crash for just over $205 back in 2013-2014, they're now listing for around $240-250.

[@stedankel]

They have, right!? I have a 17" Sabian HH Thin Crash, but I swear I never would have spent over $200 AUD for it! Equiv to $100 USD!

[@mrkarnz]

The wuhan sounds great! Problem is that I have never owned a wuhan cymbal that hasn't cracked after a year or 2

[@Joe.M]

I've used Paiste Signatures and 602s, they've all cracked after a few years. Just got too expensive to keep replacing them. Switched to Sabian and Ufip. No problems.

[@karllager2214]

I have a dream I bought ten years ago. Still going strong. I'm not a super heavily hitter. I've bashed it a good bit. I have heard they are brittle.

[@vistalite-ph4zw]

I bought a 8"A custom splash and got a 16" Wuhan China for free back in 2000 from Guitar Center. 23 years later that Wuhan China is still going strong, no cracks or keyholing. Still sounds fantastic!!!

[@justinreynolds3935]

To answer the question in the beginning. Yes it does. Lol. Cymbals are what I spend cash on. I can make any decent kit sound like a drum set. Cymbals you are stuck with what you get. Love the vids guys. Funny how palates high end cymbals are sheet bronze and generally what you find in the lower lines but they definitely have mastered the art.

[@jimlingmusicchannel]

The $110 Wuhan is really surprisingly good!!!

[@columbiajones1534]

Amazing how just one hit on each of these cymbals sounds pretty solid. Its when you get more complicated with your stick work that the true worth of the cymbal comes out.

[@buddy_love]

exactly

[@Eubreaux_]

My gigging set is virtually all Wuhan. The Agop 30ths are the best cymbals ever made and are my choice for the studio. They are my first and third picks from this list, with the Meinl Foundry Reserve getting spot #2. Great video.

[@BATTOUSAIBEATS]

I’ve had a Paiste 2002 Thin ($292) for 10+ years and it’s held up extremely well and I have always loved it’s sound

[@fede170493]

Great video, that will definitely help a lot of people. Wuhan was the best. The others sounded different but not bad. However, those sounds are not worthy the price. I mean, the Artisan is a beauty but $570 is too much for it.

[@velvetsound]

Unsurprisingly I liked the HHX Complex the most, but I should… that’s the cymbal pack I bought off DCP two years ago. Well done demos!!! I know my past choice is still right for me now!! That’s a rarity with gear.

[@grendallscholz4524]

That Wuhan takes the cake hands down no contest. Crisp, clean, and to the point. Wish I would have heard that before destroying thousands of dollars worth of A Customs.

[@Myriam-nk2fw]

I don't like a custom that much, the 20" crash is not bad but the 22" ride is terrible

[@BATTOUSAIBEATS]

@@Myriam-nk2fwI have the 18” A custom crash and I have always liked it a lot. Only cymbal I’ve ever had personally that sounded good still with a crack in it lol

[@darinhintz5723]

I think longevity plays a role here and A Customs are soooooo silky.

[@TrackDrums]

The Istanbul Agop Traditional for me sounds the best. For the money though, I would have picked an Xist. Amazing sounding cymbals at a great price point. 🙌

[@bbdeffect]

The thins open up a bit more easily and the dark crashes ride better, in my experience.

[@johncollins5552]

I hate when people ride crashes, crashing rides can work great on certain rides for sure .

[@karllager2214]

@@johncollins5552 I have a early version. Riding it with the bead of your stick it sounds amazing. Dark and the right amount of dry. The bell is amazing. Not enough sustain to ride the edge.

[@bbdeffect]

@@johncollins5552 In a Jazzier context, not like metal where they keep time on the crash.

[@joc8]

One of my crashes is a Dream Bliss paper thin, and in the flesh it's quite a complex sounding cymbal, with a nice dark decay, to my ears anyway. I also have a Dream Dark Matter paper thin crash, and to my ears, it's darker, but brighter sounding. I do love the Sabian Artisan crash, I've been saving for their 14" hi-hats...hopefully will get them sometime this year (fingers crossed). In essence, they all sounded great, it just comes down to personal preference, and the genre of music you play. Anyway, thanks guys, I really enjoy your videos.

[@rad_ryno9684]

FANTASTIC VIDEO! Been waiting for someone this through to do a vid this like 👏

[@drumcenternh]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@TargetHHH101]

I went from sabian b8x to zildjian zbt to zildjian a customs and ive never been happier with a set of cymbals

[@TM_Stone]

Many moons ago, my friend wanted new cymbals and I offered to buy his for $250, which he surprisingly accepted. I received all Paiste 2002s in the form of 14" Sound Edge hats, 16" and 18" crashes, a 10" splash, and a 20" ride, all mint. I need to find another one of those deals but with a different brand 🙂

[@janssensjohnm33]

My absolute favorite crash cymbal was an 18" Paiste 2002 Power Crash that I owned as a teen. One of the best sounding crashes I have ever played, and I preferred it over an 18" Zildjian K Custom that I also had on my first and only kit.

[@andreasbreitwieser1449]

First, as a drummer playing for more than 40 years, it's ridiculous how the prices for cymbals exploded while the quality went down! It's a pain in the ass! For my taste the good sounding crashes start with the Bliss - except of the Wuhan which sounds pretty ok for low budget. At the highest range I would go with either the Paiste Traditional, the Foundry Reserve or the Constantinople . And no, I don't think that the most expensive sounds the best!

[@08mlascelles]

Bought a 19" Sabian HHX complex thin crash (that's a mouthful 😂) about 5 months ago. It's one of the best cymbals I've ever owned (makes a lovely jazzy, low volume ride too). I'm majorly impressed by that Wuhan though, for the money it's staggeringly good (though I have heard they're fairly inconsistent in quality).

[@dancalabrese3523]

By pure sound I thought the best sounds came from Paiste, Meinl and surprisingly Wuhan. And this video convinced me that if I purchase anymore cymbals in my lifetime, they need to be Paistes.

[@davidlatimer3091]

I particularly like the Zildjian A and Constantinople. But that Wuhan was surprisingly good! Great comparisons guys-thanks!!

[@mrsayang]

this videos proves that it is not about the price tag, it's all personal taste and preferences. I preferred some cheaper ones compared to the expensive ones. My favorite was the Paise 2002 Thin and the K custom Dark. Best price value is the Paiste PS8 for me.

[@AaronTremblay]

Okay that first Wuhan crash caught me off guard. Sounded way better than I was expecting 😂

[@CornerStoreDrums]

I knew it was fixing to be a great day!! DCP ALL THE WAY! 💯 🥁

[@dipshlitz1]

Turkish Classic crash has me rethinking everything. Great cymbal!

[@nairnodrums]

It’s not necessarily just the sound that does it, but the longevity. Some cymbals in the cheaper brands sound decent, but there has been so many stories of them cracking under light use, or short terms. Part of the reason I often go for more reputable (expensive) brands is that they have more consistency in their metal forging.

[@ivanbajovic3476]

Some prices are extremely ridiculous high.

[@nairnodrums]

@@ivanbajovic3476 of course. No point getting some of the massively expensive ones if you’re either banging it in a club, or playing music that’s very thick and heavy. Some of these cymbals choke out at volume and you can hear a couple of the high end do that.

[@Andrew-wb2zq]

If I could only have one crash, I liked either of the Zildjian K’s. Just have that classic sound. Paiste Signature Traditional was also excellent.

[@hippydippy]

My God... That Wuhan is absolutely amazing for a mere $110! One of my favorites of the bunch.

[@DanstykMusic]

What a great video -- very well done. Probly the best cymbal review I've seen. I just wish you included the Ziljian Sweet Crash. :-)

[@af7119]

Best value: Wuhan. Balance of price and great sound: Turkish Classic Crash. Surprisingly Good: Paiste Signature Mellow. Effects Choice: Cindy Blackman. Runner Up: K Constantinople. My favorite: Paiste Traditionals.

[@storm-imageworks4517]

Great vid! Tanx 🙏 you are the best by far. If i'd add some new 18 crashes to my set, my picks would be the Paper thin Dream, the Paiste Traditionals and Cindy B's Istambul.

[@jestrickland1]

Wow! That Wuhan crash was nice so it’s tough to go wrong there. But DAAAAAAAMN IT, I loved the Istanbul cymbals (especially Cindy’s), the last Sabian, and the last two Paistes!! Looks like, nay, sounds like it’s time for me to make another trip up your way!! CURSES…but I LOVE it and your shop so much! Just don’t tell my Wife 😂😂.

[@toddvg6940]

An excellent way to show that spending more doesn’t always mean getting more. The unspoken message is how personal the cymbal buying experience is. Though I prefer 16”’medium crashes,18” med/thin & thins seem to dominate the market now. Buying a crash is almost as subjective as choosing a snare (Ok, maybe 96% less than that 😆). So comparing the stunning high shimmer of the Dream Bliss Paper Thin to the dark, heavier overtones of both the Turkish Classic Crash & the Agop Traditional Dark is more about what TYPE of crash fits ones needs and/or style. I have an unbranded 20” medium (student)ride I bought new for $70 32 years ago. I added 2 rivets to it & still get asked, “Wow! What IS THAT cymbal!?”. It’s got a dark, rich voice & a killer bell. Yet few ask about my favs: a 22” Sabian Omni AAX, & the 16” Zildjian Med Crash sitting on the other 2 stands. Still, this video is a great education in crash cymbal buying/budgeting, but tone is still king. Thanks for all you do!

[@bishopdrums647]

That Turkish for $220.00 hands down !

[@petermasalsky8844]

Remember that scene from "Moscow On The Hudson" where Robin Williams' character, a defector from the Soviet Union, goes coffee shopping for the first time in a U.S. grocery store and sees all the different varieties of coffee and freaks out? Yeah, that's me.

[@camerondean6804]

Well played. Pun intended.

[@davidwcopus]

I've referenced that scene more than a few times in the past 20+ years. I thought it was a huge wall of 25 brands of t.p. Thanks for the clarification. PS I lived in Brentwood while attending UCLA it was celeb central, especially on wkends. The actor who played the clown who chickened out/ did not defect, was aT the Starbucks. I said " hey, Moscow on the Hudson" and he literally sneered and replied, "among OTHER things!" Thanks for the reference and fond memories...! ;)

[@Ashlord]

1. K Con 2. Turkish Classic Crash 3. Instanbul Traditional Dark Honorable Mention: Wuhan! It sounds incredibly good for the price

[@bbdeffect]

My two favorite Paistes are the 20" 602 thin crash and the 18" and 19" masters dark crashes. For a clean 18", Zildjian A thins cannot be beat, and I always thought the K dark thins are ironically harsher in the midrange than the As because of the pitch they tend to cut at. Vintage As are all over the map.

[@pfunnk14]

Wuhan for cheap and either meinl foundry or paiste signature trad. for expensive. That Sabian artisan probably cut through the best though. Zildjian were cool but kinda pingy in this demo. Maybe 20inch would be better. Great job guys!

[@ronniek7748]

Great video as usual guys! What I noticed most of all is how bad that Zildjian ZBT sounded as compared to the next step up Wuhan, big difference. For me, I thought the sound difference wasn’t great enough to justify the cost between the mid price to the high price point. Save yourself some money.

[@jdallavia]

Wuhan sounds amazing! Nothing to envy to expensive lines at an affordable price.

[@nonameforareason]

Haha, this Dream Cymbals Bliss Series Paper Thin Crash 18 really stands out, sound like a mixture of a splash and a china with a crash in between. Even it's more an effect cymbal than a crash, i decided to buy this as a addition to my collection and i know i WILL use this, so THANK YOU for the tip!😁👍❤

[@TSR5000]

Love the foundry reserve. Beautiful sound, and I don't think it could be confused with any other cymbal. The 30th anniversary and hhx complex also sound fantastic in their own way.

[@robinjohnson6301]

Well the Wuhan certainly wins the value for money prize!! My favourite here is probably the Meinl Byzance Traditional which sounds similar to the Zildjian K Dark Thin crash that I use.

[@paulbila9430]

That Wuhan is definitely the best value by a mile, but outside of that, the Sabians allll day 🤙that OM crash was really unique and great sounding too!

[@rickjones507]

listened with my ears and not my eyes and the wuhan was one of the nicest all together. A thin and Agop trad. dark were also nice.

[@johnglover4453]

The great thing about cymbals, especially in a studio recording context, and while it's not foolproof, still, often enough, with proper sweet EQ, even dirty dull cheap cymbals can be made to sound like a million dollars more than they're actually worth. Having a good sonic chef behind the board, too, of course; who knows the appropriate spices of this lil cheat, helps A LOT!

[@man_of_war]

Wooow! I love the comparison! I hope there's going to be a Saluda entry at some point too.

[@drewsneddon8219]

The Turkish Classic and the Wuhan both seem like great values in comparison...I'm still scratching my head over that Cindy Blackman Agop cymbal. I honestly don't know what to think of it.

[@mancuniancandidatem]

The best crash cymbal I own is a Zyn (British make from the 60s and 70s). I found it in a refuse skip outside a house that was having a clearout, along with a Maxwin drum set that I used for many of my gigs in the 90s. The cymbal is an 18. It's super thin, bendable and has the most wonderful smokey complex crash sound. The best bit is that the cymbal will actually bend before it cracks so you can give it some serious punishment without cracking. On low volume jazz gigs you can even ride on it.

[@3vamtb]

Those Wuhans are a hit or miss. Only on some occasion you happen to find a good sounding Wuhan cymbals like the one in this video.

[@xIcarus227]

Also I'm not sure they're very durable. Had a Stagg crash which is similar and didn't really last long, though in its defense it was one of my first crashes as I was learning to drum, so my technique was trash.

[@RockerBug17]

Funny thing about the Wuhan's, if you think they're cheap now you have no idea. I first heard Wuhan's traditional, or sometimes called western style, (they never really had a proper series name) cymbals in 2010 when my teacher got a 10in splash free with a china. I was blown away by the sound. I ended up buying TONS on these cymbals over the years and have yet to be disappointed. But the price; in 2014 when I bought a set I ended up paying between $60 and $80 dollars per crash. Brand new! Last crash I bought brand new was a 22in thin for $99! They're now $250, if you can even find them. Now they tend to be thinner, even the medium and heavy labeled Wuhan's, but if you're a lighter player like myself absolutely awesome. The Koi series are the successors to these. While they do cost more, they're still a fantastic deal.

[@johntracy3669]

Bought the Wuhan thin crash. Played last night abd the bass player recognized immediately the sound difference between my ZDTs. Really like the lower pitched deeper sound.

[@joeyburkman2233]

Taste is subjective to the individual. Smell, taste and sound etc. You get the idea. Personally for me I don't care much for the B20 alloy so yes I thought the ZBT recorded well compared to the $570 cymbal. However the Paiste's to me sounded the best. Especially the PST 8 and the 2002. Just because it cost a lot doesn't mean it sounds good. Many of those "dark" cymbals sound like trash can lids. But Ike I stated, taste is subjective If I only had the 2 cymbals to choose I'd pick the ZBT. As always....great fun video! Cheers!

[@RustyDodd]

It’s like the higher you go the better the cymbal is at hiding the stick sound while maintaining a definition in the rhythm while also having good wash at a range of dynamics

[@mermerserkan]

Istanbul traditional dark and sabian complex sounds best for me.

[@kepler240]

2:04 This Wuhan sounds great for $110.

[@VittsBar]

@@kepler240 true

[@camerondean6804]

Look at it this way... If you have ZBTs, you never have to worry about unloading your cymbals from your vehicle after a gig, when you arrive home late, sweaty, and tired. In fact, if they get five fingered you're sort of happy--you now have a legitimate reason to upgrade when you talk with your wife. Just be sure to drive your gear around in a beater, and leave the doors unlocked, so they don't break anything to get at the treasure within. All kidding aside, another great comparison by DCP. And, just about everything played sounded at least five times better than the ZBT... and this proves it doesn't have to cost you a sack of cash. My favorites in the sound bought for money spent: Wuhan Westerns, Istanbul Agop Xists, Zildjian A.s, and Turkish Classics. I see a set of Wuhan Westerns for worry free practice and gigging in the hopefully not too distant future.

[@VudooChild]

If you’re on a tight budget, that Wuhan can get it done. Sounded way better than many of the big brand options, imo. The Sabian Complex, the Turkish Classic and the Artisan Brilliant were a few that got my attention! Great comparison vid. Plz do one with 15” high hats. If it’s been done, plz share the link.

[@RIdrummer96]

Super slept on cymbal: Stagg DH exo thin crash 18”, which is 165 new atm. Also you can buy used zildjian A cymbals incredibly cheap (got a 1960s 18” factory second crash for $100), blows a lot of the cymbals out of the water

[@parsec3dDesign]

Seriously, the darker ones are amazing. I love those rich, earthy and voluminous sounds. Sabian is my favourite. Meinl Bycance is so great, even though i do not like Meinl as a brand. Paiste Signature can be so good! Thanks for this comparison. I got aware of Turkish (brand) Cymbals recently. You can actually hear Zildjan craftsmanship in those Cymbals...

[@mistervacation23]

I just received my Andre Kostelanetz Marchers from cymbal city in Chicago

[@Mudge07]

Horses for courses, a really good spread of tones and types, from simple short sustains to deeper wash and sizzle. The main thing for me is whether you can control the level of the wash rather than having something that over-sustains. Too crisp a ping on the strike without any higher tones is either a lesser alloy cymbal or going for a darker, dry tone. And the winner is.. I’m looking at Zil A’s so lighter than full Custom, I also like the Paiste offerings here if I was staying in a purely rock tone palette. The first Meinl didn’t appeal but they have a nice spectrum of tones in the HHX. The Wuhan certainly is full of colour, so useful in the right context, perhaps a second or third crash, to fill the role with near-fx resonance.

[@willymccabe6602]

I might be the odd man out here, but the 3 most expensive cymbals in this video are the ones that put my lights out. They had the perfect blend of spread, attack, depth and a full warm decay. And yeah, I dug the Wuhan too, but you'll never confuse it with a Meinl Foundry Reserve

[@wheelie63]

really excellent test.........very unique and informative. i liked almost all of them........is that so wrong ?

[@mikelawrence8855]

Paiste Signatures are the winners for me great Vid