11 Best Cymbal Packs for Beginners and Pros (All Budgets)

Zildjian K Series Box Set: Overview

The Zildjian’s K Series cymbal set is top of the line. I suggest drummers who are shopping for their first set of cymbals wait a little bit on these ones. Included in the kit are four cymbals:

• 14″ K Hi-Hats
• 16″ K Dark Thin Crash
• 18″ K Dark Thin Crash
• 20″ K Ride

If you have ever heard these cymbals, you’ll know that they are very dark and beautiful. They just sound expensive.

As with any thin cymbal, durability is going to be less than that of a thinker cymbal. If you play Zildjian K cymbals, especially the thin crashes, be advised that these cymbals will crack easier. If you play hard rock, you may want to consider buying a separate set of cymbals for recording only, as touring with these will get quite expensive.

SABIAN HHX Evolution Promotional Set: Overview

Sabian knocks it out of the park with Hand Hammered cymbals. There’s something special about the handcrafted touch of them. The sound is so dark and full of life. I have always loved Sabian’s higher end cymbals, specifically HHX. These cymbals sound extremely dark, yet very warm. They really wash when you play them.

As with other thin cymbals, durability will be an issue for harder players. I would consider these to be studio cymbals, so be careful while you play them and use proper cymbal playing technique. The added free O-Zone crash cymbal is a great bonus.

Meinl Byzance Benny Greb Sand Cymbal Pack: Overview

Benny Greb’s cymbal pack is very similar in tonality and timbre. I love the sound of the Byzance line. There’s a reason the price tag is so high. These are extremely dry and dark sounding cymbals. You really can’t go wrong.

Even Mat Halpern from Periphery uses this line. For metal! While the cost is high, the sound you get is equally expensive. The only gripes I have with this cymbal pack is the ride cymbal. It’s so dry that there’s barely any attack or sustain to it. Take a listen in the video below.

Zildjian A Cymbal Pack: Overview

Another of my favorite lines from Zildjian is the A Custom. These cymbals are perfect for a modern sound. They’re full-bodied and really project on stage. Included in this pack are four cymbals:

• 14″ A Custom Hi-Hats
• 16″ A Custom Crash
• 18″ A Custom Crash
• 20″ A Custom Medium Ride

Compared to the K Series, the A Custom cymbals are going to be a bit brighter but still maintain an expensive sound. I personally like the K Series over these.

Zildjian Rock A Cymbal Set: Overview

Moving away from darker sound cymbals to brighter, we have the Avedis line from Zildjian. These were actually the first cymbals I played and still love them today. The hi-hat especially cuts through mixes well and has a good open sound. Included are four cymbals:

• 14″ Mastersound Hi-Hats
• 17″ Medium Thin Crash
• 19″ A Medium Thin Crash
• 20″ Ping Ride

We’re moving to a little bit thicker of cymbals when we’re talking about the Avedis line. You can be a harder hitter and still get a lot of life out of these cymbals. This pack is ideal for touring drummers who have what I like to call road cymbals.

They’re not quite as expensive, but they still sound great. You won’t worry as much about taking them to gigs and potentially damaging them. I’d recommend grabbing a set of these even if you have more expensive plates you already gig with. Having a variety of cymbals enhances your versatility and makes you a more sought-after drummer.

SABIAN XSR Performance Set w/Free 18″: Overview

Sabian’s XSR line of cymbals fosters to more of a rock and metal sound, in my opinion. They aren’t necessarily bright but are thick enough cymbals that can take a beating. They appear to be a rebranding of the original XS20 series cymbals. Whether or not that’s a good thing is up to your ear. To my ears, the hi-hat stands out. The crashes on the other hand, leave more to be desired.

Included in this pack are four cymbals:

• 20″ XSR Ride
• 18″ XSR Fast Crash
• 16″ XSR Fast Crash
• 14″ XSR Hi-Hats

It’s a great value for four cymbals (technically five if you count hi-hats as two). The only grief I have with this cymbal pack is the small cymbals: they just sound so weak. Take a listen in the video below.

Sabian’s XSR line of cymbals can definitely take the hits of a powerful drummer. While these aren’t the most expensive sounding cymbals, they are perfect for an intermediate student or young player.

Meinl Classics Custom Dark Expanded: Overview

Meinl is quickly gaining my love over the past few years. Every high-end cymbal I hear from them (minus that one ride cymbal) I seem to adore. Meinl’s Classics line is the best cymbal pack for a student interested in jazz and fusion.

Despite such a low cost, these cymbals sound like they should be way more expensive, on par with Sabian’s Hand Hammered line and Zildjian’s A Customs. I was truly blown away by these cymbals.

Zildjian S Series Cymbal Pack: Overview

The S Series from Zildjian is a newer line of cymbals aimed at younger students and intermediate players of all ages. They’re made from 88% copper and 12% tin. The cymbals overall are very bright and don’t have as much body like some of the higher end lines.

You definitely can tell that this line of cymbals was designed to be an upgrade (small, albeit) from the ZBT line.

The durability of the S Line cymbal pack is fantastic. This cymbal pack will last until you decide to upgrade to a more expensive line of cymbals. Being that these cymbals are thicker, expect them to be good for rock, pop, country, metal, and more. Don’t worry about cracks!

Meinl Cymbals HCS Cymbal Set: Overview

The HCS line is very much on par with the Sabian B8 line. It’s a very cheap line of cymbals that works great for students and beginner players.

The sound quality you will get from the HCS line isn’t great at all (really any of the lower end cymbals), to be honest. If this is going to be your first line of cymbals, go for it. If you really enjoy playing drums and know you’ll upgrade in the future, save your money.

Zildjian I Series Cymbal Set: Overview

As the name implies, this is absolutely a beginner cymbal pack. For any aspiring drummer, this line of cymbals is a perfect entry-level choice. Included are four cymbals:

• 14″ Hi Hats
• 16″ Crash (2)
• 20″ Ride

This is another thicker cymbal pack, a common theme you’ll notice among cheap cymbal sets. The durability of the I Series starter set is great. This set of cymbals can last you or your young drummer many years. The sound won’t be amazing, but it’s a great set of learning cymbals.

Like with a lot of cymbal packs available, there are other configurations, so be sure to browse around.

SABIAN B8X Performance Set Plus: Overview

If you haven’t heard of the B8 line from Sabian, you must be living under a rock. They might be the most popular entry-level cymbals on the market.

These cymbals do sound pretty terrible (better than the ZBT line), but for someone learning to play the drums, they do give a nice feel and accurate representation of what more expensive cymbals would be like to play.

Even though they are entry-level, you could get away with playing live gigs with them. Think about it—who are you playing to? Is it a drunk couple dancing in front of the stage or a room full of cross-armed cymbal makers that want to critique the sound of your cymbals? The audience doesn’t care. From my personal standpoint, having instruments that sound good to me, makes me play better as a musician, so there’s a case for both points.