Drum teacher Brett Clur picks the best Zildjian ride, hi-hats, crash, china and cymbal packs, with an honest verdict and the one catch each one hides.
The best Zildjian cymbals for most drummers are the K Custom Dark Cymbal Pack (9.7/10): four matched, dark and musical cymbals that sound great live and in the studio. For rock, get the A Custom Pack instead.
Playing metal? Add the 21" A Ultra Hammered China. On a budget? See which Zildjian line fits your budget.
Every cymbal on this page was picked and scored by drum teacher Brett Clur. When you buy through the Sweetwater buttons, The Drum Ninja may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. No brand paid to be included, and no brand saw this ranking before it went live.
The K Custom Dark cymbals have a dark tone that overflows with musicality. The pack gives you a pair of 14" hi-hats, 16" and 18" crashes and a 20" ride, so your whole setup matches from day one.
The mellow tone blends into a mix instead of cutting through it, which is why so many sound engineers love them. They record extremely well, sound fantastic live and respond to light playing with a full tone.
Buying the pack is also a lot cheaper than buying the same four K Custom Dark cymbals one by one.
This is one of the true pro rides, and plenty of accomplished drummers have used it. Stick articulation is amazing, with just enough warm wash and sustain underneath.
It stays clear even when you play fast patterns, which makes it great for jazz. Crash it and the spread is gorgeous, and the bell has a robust ping that cuts through.
It's expensive for a ride, but you'll struggle to find a better cymbal for small jazz groups.
Standard hi-hats are 14", so 15" might seem odd. These are some of the best-sounding hi-hats you'll hear, with a warm, luscious sound that makes you want to keep playing.
The light top gives a smooth wash and the heavier bottom gives a solid chick from the pedal. The unlathed bells add a complex tone that works for most styles, live or in the studio.
The A Customs produce the classic cymbal sound everyone knows. They sit between dark and bright, and the pack includes 14" hi-hats, 16" and 18" crashes and a 20" ride.
The crashes attack and then decay quickly. The hi-hats have a distinct chick that cuts through any mix, and the ride is bright with a nice ping.
Overall they give you a lot of projection, which is exactly what you want for rock.
The 18" A Custom allows delicate, nuanced playing. It reacts to the slightest touch, so it has a huge dynamic range, and it opens up into a big sound when you dig in.
It cuts through a mix like butter without too many harsh overtones. It works in most styles, but it really shines in rock setups.
This is one of the biggest chinas on the market, and the sound is just as big. It's extremely loud, with a low pitch that cuts well.
It has a fair bit of sustain without becoming overbearing. It's thin for a china, so the edges wobble when you hit it, but it's durable and takes a beating.
Scores are out of 10, based on sound, build and value. Prices are typical US street prices checked in October 2026. They change often, so use the buttons for today's price.
| # | Cymbal | Score | Price (US) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | K Custom Dark Cymbal PackBest Overall14" hi-hats · 16" and 18" crashes · 20" ride · dark, warm | 9.7/10 | about $1,540Check price |
| 2 | 22" K Constantinople Medium Thin Low RideBest Ride22" medium thin · hand-hammered · dark, complex | 9.6/10 | about $700Check price |
| 3 | 15" K Sweet Hi-HatsBest Hi-Hats15" pair · light top, heavier bottom · warm, dark | 9.6/10 | about $670Check price |
| 4 | A Custom Cymbal PackBest for Rock14" hi-hats · 16" and 18" crashes · 20" ride · bright, cutting | 9.6/10 | about $1,070Check price |
| 5 | 18" A Custom CrashBest Crash18" · brilliant finish · bright, fast | 9.6/10 | about $360Check price |
| 6 | 21" A Ultra Hammered ChinaBest China21" · thin · loud, trashy, low pitch | 9.2/10 | about $400Check price |
Sound, build and value sub-scores are on each card above.
Pick the box that describes you.
The 22" K Constantinople ride with the 15" K Sweet Hi-Hats. Dark, complex and full of detail.
The A Custom Pack. Bright, cutting cymbals that project in a loud band. Add an 18" A Custom Crash if you want two big crashes.
The K Custom Dark Pack. Warm cymbals that blend into a mix instead of fighting it.
The A Custom Pack plus the 21" A Ultra Hammered China for breakdowns. More ideas in the best cymbals for rock guide.
Start with an S Family or I Family pack (see the lines below), then add one great cymbal, like the A Custom Crash, when you can.
Zildjian's L80 Low Volume cymbals are perforated to cut volume a lot, so you can practice on an acoustic kit without bothering anyone.
Zildjian, founded in 1623, makes several cymbal families. Knowing what each line is for is the fastest way to find the right cymbals for your music and budget.
| Line | Sound | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| K Constantinople | Darkest and most complex, hand-hammered | Jazz, small groups, studio | $$$$ |
| K / K Custom | Dark and warm. Special Dry and Hybrid models add drier, trashier flavors | Fusion, gospel, worship, studio, versatile setups | $$$ |
| A Custom | Bright, brilliant finish, cutting | Rock, pop, worship | $$$ |
| A Zildjian | The classic all-round Zildjian sound | Rock and just about everything | $$$ |
| S Family | Bright and straightforward | Intermediate players upgrading | $$ |
| I Family, Planet Z, ZBT | Bright, simple, durable | Beginners and first kits | $ |
| L80 Low Volume | Perforated, very quiet | Practice at home | $$ |
Every cymbal on this page was picked and scored by Brett Clur, a drum teacher with a Drum Performance Diploma from Trinity College London and 20+ years behind the kit. Each one gets three scores out of 10:
The overall score is the average of the three. Read more in our full A Custom cymbal set review and K Custom Special Dry Trash Crash review.
No manufacturer paid for a placement, and no score changes because of an affiliate link.
For most drummers, the K Custom Dark Cymbal Pack. You get four matched, dark and musical cymbals that work live and in the studio. For rock, the A Custom Pack is the better choice. For a single ride, the 22" K Constantinople Medium Thin is hard to beat.
K cymbals are dark, warm and complex, and they blend into the music. A and A Custom cymbals are brighter and cut through, so they project better in loud bands. Jazz and studio players usually prefer Ks, rock players usually prefer As.
Start with an S Family or I Family pack. They're affordable and much better than the cheap cymbals that come with most starter kits. Upgrade to A or K cymbals one at a time as your ear and budget grow.
The 22" K Constantinople Medium Thin ride and 15" K Sweet Hi-Hats. Both are dark and complex, with the stick definition and warm wash jazz needs.
The A Custom Pack for bright, cutting cymbals that project, plus the 21" A Ultra Hammered China for big, trashy accents.
ZBTs are entry-level cymbals made to be affordable, and they come with many starter kits. They're bright and heavy, which suits beginners playing rock, but they're not very musical. Experienced drummers will want S, A or K cymbals.
Neither is better overall. Both make excellent cymbals at every price, and the sounds differ slightly. Listen to both and pick the one you prefer. Compare them in our best Sabian cymbals and best cymbal brands guides.
Usually, yes. A pack like the K Custom Dark or A Custom costs less than buying the same cymbals one by one, and everything is matched to sound good together.
Pro Zildjian lines like the A, K and K Constantinople are cast bronze and hammered, lathed and tested by skilled workers, and some are hand-hammered one by one. That takes time and gives a more musical sound than cheap, stamped cymbals.
Use a cleaner made for your finish and a soft cloth, wiping along the grooves. Avoid abrasive cleaners on brilliant finishes. Many drummers prefer the darker look of uncleaned K cymbals, so cleaning is optional.
For one set that does it all, get the K Custom Dark Pack. Playing rock? The A Custom Pack. Building a setup one cymbal at a time? Start with the 22" K Constantinople ride or the 15" K Sweet Hi-Hats, and add an 18" A Custom Crash. For metal, finish it with the 21" A Ultra Hammered China.
Great cymbals only take you so far. The rest is practice: our free drum lessons cover you from day one.
Still comparing brands? See the best Sabian cymbals, best Meinl cymbals, best Paiste cymbals and our best cymbal brands guide. Need the drums too? Start with the best intermediate drum sets.
Drum Teacher
Brett Clur has a Drum Performance Diploma from Trinity College London has been playing drums for over 20 years. He is passionate about advanced concepts and uses his years of experience to teach his students about them. While he is a full-time drum teacher, he is also working on growing a YouTube channel where shares his insights. You can see him playing there, or on Instagram where he posts daily videos.
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