Whether you’re just getting into drumming or looking to upgrade your second-hand cymbals, you don’t have to break the bank to get a quality cymbal set. $300 buys you all kinds of options for big-name cymbal packs. All of the major manufacturers have several offerings at or around this price point, so how do you get the most value for your hard-earned money? Once again, The Drum Center of Portsmouth is here to help you navigate the marketing hype and help you choose the best cymbal set for around $300.
Our top picks:
- Best value for money: Wuhan WUTBSU Western Style 14/16/20 Cymbal Set
- Best for beginners: Sabian B8X Performance Set + 14
- Best B8 Bronze set: Meinl HCS Bronze Complete Cymbal Set
- Best sound: Zildjian I Family Pro Gig Cymbal Pack
- Best Paiste cymbal set: Paiste PST 3 Universal Cymbal Set 14/18/20 + Free 16
What $300 Gets You
Cymbals at this price point are NOT going to be professional level. For the manufacturers to deliver an entire set of cymbals for relatively short money (and still make a profit), some compromises will be made. Each cymbal pack on our list has uniquely approached these compromises, giving you five totally distinct options. If you drop three bills on a beginner-level cymbal pack, you should expect AT LEAST a ride cymbal, one crash cymbal, and some hi-hats. After this 4-cymbal baseline, you can generally expect diminishing returns on sound quality. With that said, we’ve found the five best cymbal sets around the $300 sweet spot.
1. Wuhan WUTBSU Western Style 14/16/20 Cymbal Set
For some people, the Wuhan brand name is associated with a “lower quality” sound at a highly favorable price. Their Chinas and Splash Cymbals sell like hotcakes because It’s OK for effect cymbal to sound slightly harsh. The trashier, the better! The Wuhan WUTBSU Western Style Cymbal Pack is anything BUT trashy. It’s the only cymbal pack on our list that is made from professional-level B20 alloy. For only $279, you get a 20” Ride, 14” hi-hats, and a single 16” Crash. The obvious trade-off here is fewer cymbals, but the sound you get for your money is undeniable. Wuhan offers a TON of expansion opportunities, including their Linear Smash effect series, which we love.
2. Sabian B8X Performance Set + 14
The Sabian B8 cymbals are perhaps the most recognizable on our list. These affordable B8 Bronze alloy cymbals have been a mainstay in the beginner-level market for decades. Not much has changed with the latest “B8X” iteration, and that’s a good thing, in our opinion. This B8X Performance Set comes with the standard 20” Ride/14” Hats/16” Crash, along with a “free” 14” Crash. At $315, it’s one of our higher-priced cymbal packs, but you can trust that Sabian knows what they're doing regarding B8 bronze. There are a few options to expand this setup, our favorite being the O-Zone crashes.
3. Meinl HCS Bronze Complete Cymbal Set
The Meinl HCS Bronze Complete Cymbal Set consists of a 20” Ride, 14” Hi-hats, and a single 16” Crash - all of which are medium weight. Visually, these are among the most appealing on our list and do not disappoint in sonic quality. Made from B8 Bronze, these cymbals are predictably bright and cutting while minimizing unpleasant overtones associated with cheap cymbals. At $299, Meinl has created one of the better values at this price point. If you want to expand on this box set, we recommend the Trash Crash or Trash Splash offerings.
4. Zildjian I Family Pro Gig Cymbal Pack
While the Zildjian I Family Pro Gig Cymbal Pack is the most expensive on our list at $340, we also feel like it packs the most bang for your buck. Zildjian has balanced the beginner cymbal pack's cost vs. performance element perfectly with the I Family Pro Gig. Along with the standard 20/14/16 setup, you also get an 18” Crash cymbal. These cymbals sound excellent and will keep you happy for a long time. Should you feel the need to expand, we recommend their trash-effect cymbals. For our full review of the Zildjian I Family of cymbals, check out our YouTube Video.
5. Paiste PST 3 Universal Cymbal Set 14/18/20 + Free 16
We couldn’t make a “Best Cymbal” video without including our favorite cymbal manufacturer...Paiste! Paiste cymbals are generally more expensive than other brands, but we feel that the quality of their product warrants it. In order to meet our $300-ish price point, we couldn’t include the entry-level PST 5 Bronze cymbal pack. This Paiste PST 3 cymbal pack is made of Brass. Wait...we know what you’re thinking. Brass is at the bottom of the cymbal alloy totem pole. While this is true, Paiste has created a brass cymbal pack UNDER $300 that easily competes with other manufacturers' entry-level B8 lines. These surprisingly mellow cymbals consist of the standard 20/14/16 sizes PLUS a versatile 18” Crash/Ride. Expansion opportunities are limited, but we like the China and Splash options.
Shop With Confidence
We hope you found our list of Best $300 Cymbal Sets helpful. Please call the professionals at Drum Center of Portsmouth if you want more information on these or any other cymbals. We are happy to assist you in the quest for YOUR ideal cymbal sound!