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Crash cymbals are an essential part of a drummer’s toolkit. They produce the most recognizable crash sounds within a drum set, and they are extremely fun to play.
While a single crash cymbal has a particular sound profile, there are many different crash cymbals on the market to suit all different tastes.
When choosing the best-sounding crash cymbal, you will want a crash cymbal that complements the styles of music you intend to play. It will also be the ideal size for your playing style and setup.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at the best crash cymbals to suit a range of budgets. I’ve compared cymbal sizes, sounds, build quality, and cost to give you my top recommendations.
What are the Best Crash Cymbals?
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In-Depth Crash Cymbal Reviews
Zildjian 17” K Custom Dark Crash Cymbal
Zildjian 17” K Custom Dark Crash Cymbal Review
This sublime Zildjian K Custom Dark Crash Cymbal is a medium-thin weight model, and it is an extremely versatile and beautiful sounding crash cymbal.
The K Custom line is Zildjian’s flagship range of premium cymbals that have a dark and complex character.
This 17” crash cymbal bursts to life with an explosive, dark, rich, and complex character. It has a lower pitch yet it still has high-end qualities that give it a strong presence and enable it to cut through instruments within various musical genres.
This cymbal is forged from Zildjian’s B20 bronze alloy, which lends it its highly musical voice. After the initial crash explosion, the sounds decay quickly. It’s a highly articulate and versatile cymbal with a buttery smooth sound that is just so inviting to play.
The Zildjian K Custom line of cymbals represent some of the best cymbals available, and this 17” dark crash is one of the finest in the series. It is in my opinion the best crash cymbal at the premium price point.
Features:
- B20 bronze alloy
- Medium thin weight
- Traditional finish
Pros
- Gorgeous explosive and dark sounds
- Highly musical and is perfect for a broad range of styles and genres
- Articulate and responsive no matter what playing dynamics
Cons
- Premium price tag
- Darker character may not be best suited for those who enjoy bright cymbals such as A customs
Meinl 18” Classics Custom Medium Crash Cymbal
Meinl 18” Classics Custom Medium Crash Cymbal Review
This stunning Meinl Classics Custom Crash Cymbal is one of the best value crash cymbals available. It has a bold, full-bodied, well-rounded tone with a loud projection.
This 18” crash cymbal delivers great power and projection with incredible clarity. It blends in seamlessly with most musical styles, and it has the power to be played for heavy styles of music as well as being balanced and warm enough for pop, funk, and hip-hop.
The B10 bronze alloy is lathed to a brilliant finish to provide a bright punch with rich, musical tones. The cymbal has an immediate response with just the right amount of sustain to make it cut through without being overbearing sonically.
This cymbal has a comparable sound and brightness to the Zildjian A Custom and Sabian AAX range of cymbals, but this cymbal is half the price of these competitor offerings.
For the money, you really cannot beat this cymbal. It’s the best crash cymbal that ticks all of the boxes.
Features:
- B10 bronze alloy
- Medium weight
- Brilliant finish
Pros
- Cutting attack with rich musical tones
- Incredible value for money
- Versatile and explosive crash cymbal
Cons
- B10 alloy doesn't provide the cymbal with the same sonic richness as B20 bronze
Paiste 18” PST7 Crash Cymbal
Paiste 18” PST7 Crash Cymbal Review
The Paiste PST7 18-inch crash is an excellent mid-range crash cymbal produced by Swiss manufacturer Paiste. It has an explosive and full-bodied sound that truly offers amazing value for money.
The Paiste PST7 cymbals are hand-lathed by Swiss craftsmen for an authentic and traditional sound.
They possess similar sound qualities to that of far more expensive cymbals thanks to the high-quality CuSn8 bronze alloy, which is the same as Paiste’s legendary 2002 series.
When compared to the flagship 2002 18” medium crash this cymbal sounds almost identical.
This crash cymbal opens up with an incredibly musical voice, and it really bursts to life with bright overtones and it has just the right amount of sustain. It has a medium pitch and has a good balance of bright and warm sonic qualities.
The Paiste PST7 Crash Cymbal works great for just about any popular style of music. It has the ability to cut through a wall of loud distorted guitars as well as speak with a softer voice when played more quietly.
Overall this crash cymbal is a fantastic mid-priced option, and if you are looking for the best cymbal for the money this has to be in your shortlist.
For the money, I can find no faults with this cymbal, and it’s a great choice for all drummers looking to upgrade a crash cymbal or to add an additional crash to a setup.
Features:
- CuSn8 bronze alloy
- Medium weight
- Traditional finish
Pros
- Beautiful traditional sounding crash cymbal
- Excellent value for money- easily one of the best sounding crash cymbals for its price point
- Explosive and full-bodied with bright and rich tones
Cons
- Very few negatives can be drawn, but some of the high frequencies may be problematic for very small rooms
Meinl 16” Classics Custom Trash Crash Cymbal
Meinl 16” Classics Custom Trash Crash Cymbal Review
Up next on our list we have a unique crash cymbal that packs a trashy sonic punch- the 16-inch Meinl Classics Custom Trash Crash.
Meinl developed this effects cymbal to offer an energetic and explosive response. This crash cymbal works excellently as an additional crash that adds exciting new flavors.
This thin crash cymbal is made from premium quality B10 bronze and features perforated holes to deliver a trashy sound with a short sustain for quick accents and punchy musical transitions. It has a thin profile and features a brilliant finish for a shimmering sound.
This cymbal really packs a loud punch but with rich musical tones. It fits right in with modern music styles such as pop, rock, metal, fusion, and RnB.
This cymbal has a distinctive, trashy sound that adds a lot of excitement to any style of music. If you are looking for a fun-to-play crash cymbal that offers unique sound effects, then look no further!
Features:
- B10 bronze alloy
- Thin weight
- Brilliant finish
Pros
- Bright and cutting projection
- Unique effects cymbal
- Exciting new flavors
Cons
- Not ideal as a main crash cymbal
- Trashy sounds not to everyone's tastes
Zildjian 17” I Series Crash Cymbal
Zildjian 17” I Series Crash Cymbal Review
Lastly up for review, we have a Zildjian 17” I Series Crash Cymbal and it’s the perfect entry-level crash for students. The new Zildjian I Series has been a hit amongst drummers because of its quality at an affordable price.
The Zildjian I Series offers the legendary Zildjian brand quality on a budget, and the cymbals are all made with Zildjian’s secret hammering techniques for an optimal sound performance.
This cymbal is made from B8 bronze and for a beginner cymbal, it delivers some really great sounds. It has a full-bodied, bold sound with just the right amount of wash and a medium length of decay.
This crash delivers surprisingly rich sounds that outperform other entry-level cymbals at this price point. This cymbal also has a loud projection that will allow it to burst into life in any musical performance.
For any drummer looking to begin their musical journey, this is the best crash cymbal to start off with. It fits right in with a wide range of musical styles and will equip you with great sounds to help you explore your creativity.
Features:
- B8 bronze alloy
- Medium thin weight
- Traditional finish
Pros
- Best crash cymbal for beginners
- Renowned Zildjian quality
- Full-bodied and musical
Cons
- Will require upgrading eventually
Crash Cymbal Buying Guide
A crash cymbal is an iconic cymbal that is featured in every musical style and is a staple part of any drum set. The main function of a crash cymbal is to provide distinctive accents within music to signify the ends of phrases and musical transitions.
Because of their distinctive sound qualities and use within modern music, a drummer typically features two or more crash cymbals within a setup.
Crash cymbals are typically the loudest cymbals available as the name suggests, and provide a punctuated and sharp sound. They are very fun to play, but I wouldn’t be thrashing a crash cymbal without any hearing protection on!
Crash cymbals help to add dynamics to a track, and they are an essential part of a drummer’s ‘tool kit’ in terms of sounds a drummer has access to. They sound great at the end of a fill, which generally marks the transition into the ‘1’ of a new phrase.
Rock and metal music predominantly feature crash cymbals within grooves and drum beats to add more aggression and power alongside the distorted guitar rhythms.
When hi-hats or a ride cymbal bell won’t quite cut it, wailing on a crash cymbal will add lots more intensity to a piece of music!
What Features to Look for in a Crash Cymbal
Cymbal Alloy
The type of cymbal alloy used is largely responsible for the cymbal’s overall sound. Traditionally, the best crash cymbal is one that is made from B20 bronze: a formula that is comprised of 80% copper and 20% tin, with traces of silver.
Adding more tin to a bronze alloy is known to darken the tone, and lead to a sonically richer sounding cymbal. This is why nearly all professional cymbals available are comprised of B20 bronze.
Meinl and Paiste have developed mid-priced point cymbals that are far superior to other affordable cymbals in terms of quality, tone, sound, versatility, and playing response. These two manufacturers utilize B10 bronze and CuSn8 bronze respectively to produce high-quality and affordable cymbals.
B20 bronze cymbals still dominate the premium cymbal market and are still the professional’s choice. But it’s important to use your ears over your eyes when it comes to choosing a crash cymbal.
Cymbal Weight
The weight of a cymbal greatly affects the cymbal’s volume, sound, and power. Thin crash cymbals speak faster and are more responsive. This is because vibrations are able to travel through the metal faster. Because of this, thinner cymbals are punchier and more energetic.
But with this being said, heavier crash cymbals are louder and have more projection. So in terms of volume and power, heavier cymbals can cut through music far better than lightweight models.
If you are looking for the best crash cymbal to suit a wide range of musical styles, the crash cymbal you should go for will be a medium weight, which has the optimal balance of explosive sounds and loud projection.
Cymbal Size
Crash cymbals can range from 14 to 24 inches in diameter, even though the most popular sizes are between 16 and 20 inches.
Larger cymbals have more volume and a longer sustain than smaller cymbals. Think of the short and snappy cutting sound of a splash cymbal as opposed to a 24” ride cymbal. Bigger cymbals have a bigger sound and will require more power from the drummer to activate them.
The size of the bell of a cymbal also contributes to the volume and overtones. The cymbal bell adds harmonics that can audibly be heard. A heavy crash cymbal with a large bell has richer harmonics than a thin cymbal with a small bell.
Cymbal Finishes
There are two main types of finishes that come adorned on crash cymbals: traditional or brilliant.
Brilliant finish cymbals have a gleaming, highly-buffed mirror-shine surface. The reflective, slick surface lends itself to a much brighter sound overall that can cut through loud mixes.
Traditional finish cymbals undergo a less intense finishing process, and therefore have a dull sheen on the surface. Traditional cymbals typically have a warmer and darker sound compared to brilliant finish cymbals.
Crash Cymbal FAQs
What Size Crash Cymbals Should I Get?
The ideal size for a crash cymbal is between 16 and 20 inches in diameter. Anything smaller than 16 inches and I find it begins to sound like a splash cymbal, and if you go larger than 20 inches it loses its explosiveness.
It is very common and popular for drummers to incorporate two crash cymbals within their setup of different sizes. My personal favorite-sized crash cymbals are 17 and 19 inches. So I like to have a 17-inch crash cymbal on my left in my setup, and the 19-inch crash placed to my right.
If you are buying a first crash cymbal as a beginner I’d recommend buying a 16-inch crash cymbal. If you are getting a secondary crash cymbal then I would look to get a 17-inch or 18-inch crash cymbal.
Do I Need 2 Crash Cymbals?
Most drummers feature more than one crash cymbal within their setup, whether that’s two, three, or even more crash cymbals.
It totally depends on personal preference, budget, the style of music you play, as well as the amount of space you have to set up a drum set!
There are rock and metal drummers like Mike Portnoy and Thomas Lang who play with almost 10 crash cymbals! And then there are some drummers who only use 2 or even some who use a single crash cymbal.
Drummers with very compact sets (typically Motown or jazz drummers) tend to only use a single crash cymbal, it just depends on personal preference and also your playing style.
If I had a drum tech that would set up and pack down my drum set between shows, then I think I would probably be using a lot more crash cymbals within my setup!
