One of the most important things about this channel is that you guys actually play whatever product you're demonstrating but you aren't grandstanding. I know I'm not the only drummer who appreciates your no bullshit approach to showcasing these products. There is nothing worse than some doofus hourly employee or manager who uses the video to show off his/her supposed chops instead of demonstrating the product. I also sincerely appreciate you all pointing out both the strengths and weaknesses of a product. AND!!!! And, not yapping the entire time! Gahhhh, that makes me want to throw my cellphone across the room. Anyway, speaking of gabbing endlessly...🤣
Wuhans are flippin great. I know they have a reputation for being particularly breakable but in my experience as long as you aren't chopping the living hell out of them all the time (or playing the chinas upside down AND chopping the hell out of them), I get just as much milage from them as I do from any of my other cymbals. And I dont think there's any contest value wise. They're cheap to begin with... but I bought a used, cracked (pretty big one too) 15" China for $20 and used it for years! Loads of em being sold in local classifieds at similar prices.
I got a set for about $160. Still got 'em. Still love em. IMHO, they're great for that vintage jazz sound. But the 16" medium/thin crash, man it is the best 16" crash I've owned. No unwanted after tone, just CRASH!
You will never beat Wuhan for low priced cymbals that sound and feel fantastic! Comparable to the pro stuff! Durable too, mine have lasted longer than some Zildjian A customs I've had! I swear by them!
i've loved my wuhan cymbals, but i would not call them durable, lol. i've only had two and both cracked faster than any other cymbals ive ever played. they sound incredible, but i'd consider them as cymbals on a consistent replacement plan
@@owenmark702 Lol, right on man! I assure you I know how to strike a cymbal. 👍 Much better drummers than I, with much better technique than mine have cracked much stronger cymbals than A's or A Customs! Unfortunately it does happen! And when it does, I'd rather have $60 tied up than $300! Just my personal opinion man! I play Meinl HCS on my home kit. Cheap as hell, don't sound great and definitely crack if you're a heavy hitter. But they work! Check out my channel if you wanna hear those! Stay positive buddy! 💯🥁💚👍
Let's face it. The Wuhan sounds the best by far. They are the only set featured that are pro level sound. Don't buy low cost big brand name cymbals. They are cheap B8 while the Wuhans are B20
The Wuhan set does sound great, but the zildjan didn't seem particularly better than any of the others. It's just my own personal preference but that particular zildjan line has a super high pitched artifact in the sustain that doesn't decay as quickly as the overall sound body. I think that would get super annoying to me over time.
Ok I know its off subject but man you guys should put out a "how to tune your drums" tutorial. Those drums sound amazing!! All of the videos I hear the drums, even on less expensive kits, sound killer!
The Wuhan first (which surprised me) and Zildjian second but at this price point they all sounded great! I would have taken the Wuhan and Zildjians for professional cymbals. Thank you DCP for another great video. No one else does drum videos at the level of quality that you do.
In August 2023, at Amazon India, someone listed this Meinl HCS Bronze set (14 hihat, 16 cr and 20 ride) for Rs.15000 (~180 USD) and i grabbed them ASAP. Was feeling so lucky. And 2days later, it even went down further to Rs 11000(~USD130). But didnt grt the chance to grab thar second offer. BEST DEAL EVER.
Even though I am a Paiste Fan, but in this Beginner-Sets-Comparison, I prefer clearly the Zildjan set, but the second one are the Wuhans.Thank you very, very much for this nice Vid !!!
@Michael Bruhi BULLSEYE,MY FELLOW DRUMMER!! I've played just about every cymbal brand there is,over my 40 years of playing drums.. And the (Zildjians) in just about every category (from beginner to professional!!) The Zildjians Brands always,"to me anyway." Always Come out on top🤟🤘🤙🤟!! And ive always liked the top brand Sabians at a good REPECTFUL 2OND!!!
Ive toured and recorded with Wuhans and have always gotten tons of compliments from recording engineers, other drummers, and worship leaders. For the money, you absolutely can’t beat them.
Players today have a great selection of low-end / cheaper cymbals all the way up. Back in the late 80's and early 90's there wasn't nearly the selection. I wish there would have been more options back when I had less money. Funny thing is, now I have more money and I will buy some of the cheaper cymbals if I'm looking for a particular sound. Some good sounds from these lower-end cymbals, especially on the effects side. I mix in a bit of everything these days, but most of my cymbals are still higher-end simply because of the sounds I want. I certainly wouldn't shy away from these lower-end cymbals if I was just starting out or was on a tight budget. Great options.
I remember finally spending some money and getting a great price on a new set of Zildjian ZBT. They were the first nee cymbals I ever bought, besides the old Wuhan deal of a splash and China pack for 30 bucks. So many people said, "Wow! You got so much better, so quickly!" It was just that my old cymbals were whatever I could find. That was back in 2004. I recently got the Sabian BX8 set and use the ZBT hi hats with it on my secondary kit that I keep at my house. Fantastic cymbals for the price! My main kit has a mix of Zildjan A customs and Ks.
Great video as always, guys! I think that the Wuhans win hands down! By far the best alloy B20, the most balanced sound. I´m a Zildjian kind of drummer, but i have two crashes 17" and 18" by wuhan, that are my favourites for the past 17 years. I also carry my old K Customs 16" and 18" whenever I go to a recording session, but end up almost always using the Wuhans, they´re super dark, low pitched, like no other cymbal i have ever played. Regarding the other manufacturers, they´re on a different league, not comparable, at this price point. My point is, don´t let the price tag fool you, the Wuhans are incredible musical instruments. They won´t sound like anything else out there, becouse they sound unique. Cheers from Brazil!
Actually really like the Zildjians for the money, and the fact you get an extra crash. Although i think if I were a beginner i would save just a little more for the S series.
Super helpful! I'm looking to put together my first acoustic kit, and being able to hear all these being played is better than any written review. Thanks!
All of the sets are excellent. Each set had it's standouts. They would all sound great, no matter the stage. I would love to have my favorite pieces combined into a single set. Some of them would be a hard decision for sure. I would call the whole thing a draw in terms of overall sound. It all boils down to a matter of taste and opinion. Some like pork, some like beef, chicken, fish, turtle, whatever, and opinions vary. 🎉 All of those sets are awesome, because their makers fully put their hearts and souls into them. I'm a cherry picker, hahaha 🎉 🎉 🎉
Best part of this video is the back to back comparison edit. A lot of channels can learn a thing or two from you - even for other instrument demos. Top marks and a like for you from me!
Wow the Zildgian set was fantastic! It’s the only set that didn’t have that cheap hollow undertone, very crisp and a smooth pleasing decay. they are a no brainer ‼️🤘😉🤘
The I-Series is a good choice in this price range. I wouldn't say they are fantastic. They sound compromised by the alloy, but I would pick them at this price.
Hey guys, great, revealing review of budget cymbals. Seriously, we could bring any of these to a gig, and no one would know, except us, of course! A comment about the Paiste PST3: I reviewed their predecessor, Paiste 101 cymbals, many years ago. One thing I found out about brass cymbals is that their muted quality and reduced volume, vs. bronze, actually lends itself to RECORDING, more than live performance. They tend to record well, as they don't get in the way of the drums, OR each other. Yes, brass may be a less-than-ideal material for cymbals, but for some people, especially with home studios, they may have a place as their recording or low-volume pies.
My favorite Ride is the Wuhan. It just has the sweetest bell sound. Favorite Hi-hat is the Zildjian i. Crash is something I had a hard time with, but I'd probably go with the Zildjian there as well.
My preference after keen listening to the sound of the 5 cybals set: I select Sabian B8X as first, Wuhan WUTBSU as second and Zildjian I Series Pro Gig as Third. The sound of that Sabian B8X cymbals is so amazing. The sound of B8X Ride is what amazes me the most. I just love to hear the sound of that Sabian B8X cymbals set. Wuhan WUTBSU is my second choice. The Wuhan Ride also sounds perfect !
I actually own a set of the Sabian BX8. Not the hihats though. They sound fantastic playing live and recorsing. My main kit has Zildjian A and Ks. While they dont sound as great as the high end Zildjians i own, they are not disappointing in the least. This is a great video for comparing the different cymbals, you wont actually know which fit tou the best until you play them yourself and hear them in person. I definitely wouldn't base my purchase on a video while listening through a phone. Use ear buds, headphones, studio monitors etc. Watch many videos, not just one.
I’m really surprised no one else loves the Meinl. They sounds clear with the right amount of depth. Some of the other cymbals sound like a thud. I can see why people love the Wuhan but they don’t do much for me.
I just got back into drumming after about 15 years without a set, and the used set I picked up came with a set of Meinl HCS. I always went with mid-to-high end Zildjian back in the day (A's or K's) and hated the budget stuff like the ZBTs back then, but I was pretty impressed by the sound quality of the HCS and bought a bunch more to round out my set (not like I'm recording or playing live shows). Having options like the trash and bell cymbals in an entry level series is pretty cool and it's nice to see companies have expanded on their budget selections a lot since I last played. I see the low-end Zildjian and Sabian stuff still sounds like absolute garbage (in my opinion...just....yuck), and the Paiste set feels like a mixed bag, but VERY impressed by the Wuhan stuff, which I'd never really sampled before. Were I not already invested in the Meinl series, I'd consider Wuhan!
I really only liked the wuhan and the zildjian were ok. I have the wuhan and think they sound great. Nice bright shimmery attack with some warmer undertones.
The Sabian B8X are the best by far especially if you get the rock crashes instead of the thin crashes because they have more sustain, power and attack to them and are darker sounding and for a drummer with a budget like me they are well worth the money-highly recommend! Also great comparison vid- u guise do the best around👍
I agree. Don't know why they are getting no love. To me they are the only cymbals here that don't sound like reconditioned seconds. The Hihats were by far the best and the ride cymbal was comparative to the Zildjian. The crashes were solid. The wuhans remind me of these cheap cymbals we used to find in the UK that were unbranded. They just used to say Made in Italy. They sounded nice because they were so thin but they would only last a month.
Zildjian always was my favorite. The I have my Paiste PST 14"crash sounds so good mixed with my Sabians . I like to mix them all for fun not consistency... whuhan does sound pretty dang good.
This Yamaha kit seems fabulous! Like every time with beginner kits the crashes sound not nice, short and metallic. But the rest is very good! Wuhan are brillant!
Even though I’m a Meinl guy I have to say that the Wuhan cymbals really took me by surprise, it had the most natural sound to my ears, almost to what cymbals are supposed to sound like, another option for affordable cymbals would be Dream Cymbals! Great video overall
The difference between Wuhan and other cymbals in this video is HUGE! Here in Europe, Turkish cymbals are really affordable, and there are so many Turkish brands. They don't make entry level cymbals, but only professional hand-hammered b20 alloy cymbals. Istanbul Mehmet, Istanbul Agop, Anatolian, Impression, Bosphorus, Diril, Murat Diril, Symrna, Turkish, Amedia... the choice is huge, and the quality is the same as the Big 4 (Zildjian/Paiste/Sabian/Meinl), but at a much lower price. The entire Meinl Byzance series are hand hammered in Turkey, I believe in Diril factory. I haven't had a chance to try Dream cymbals, but based on the videos, they sound great.
A tornado destroyed evening including my drums and my mix of Sabian AAX and HHX cymbals ,well 3 years later I finally got my dream set of drums, and a full Gibralter rack which didn't leave me much price room to get the same cymbals I lost, so I got the Meinl HCS seris Ultimate Pack for like $400, Fast forward 2 years later and I decided to stay with Meinl and purchased the Brilliant Meinl Classics Custom set for $999 and couldn't be happier!
A few thoughts... - Obviously, the Wuhan cymbals stand out here for their B20 depth, projection & overtones. - I do like B8 bronze but my only gripe about it is that all the rides sound exactly the same no matter who the manufacture is, the bell is always very dull and lackluster when compared to B20. - There are a few stand out pieces in these demos... the 16" Meinl crash sounds great.... the Zildjian 17" trash crash is gorgeous... my personal preference for hats is 14" Sabian B8, I really love the crisp pop these hats have and I have a few sets of them currently. - Sonically speaking, Its not really fair to compare brass to B8 or B20... so the PS3 cymbals are at a bit of a disadvantage here, but the price point is very reasonable for an entry level setup and and a 2 year warranty is a welcome bonus for any new drummer working on hitting technique. P.S. the audio mix on this demo is fantastic... that snare!
Wish you could make your own kit with combinations from these kits! Love the Wuhan 20" ride! I'd take the Meinl 14" hi hat , and the Zildjian 16" and 18" crashes as my kit. Also kudos to your mixing skills! I just realized that your panning changed perspectives with the video camera angle changes. Very cool!
The Zildjians sounded great to me, but I always love their stuff. The Wuhans sounded killer too. Such a great cymbal for the money. Very musical. The brass Paistes didn't do it for me, but I'm always biased against brass starter cymbals. I had a set of brass Camber cymbals on my first beginner set and when I upgraded to pro Zildjians the difference was so clear. I would always choose b8 bronze over brass any day because it just sounds better and more musical. Brass does it's one thing okay, but bronze gives you so much more options. I would always budget in the bronze, you'll appreciate them later. And always go for the set that has at least one crash and a ride , and not just one crash/ride in addition to hats. I get the the budget thing, but I feel it is crucial for the beginning drummer to have the two separate to learn the difference. Plus most starter crash/rides don't sound enough like either and you get a less usable cymbal.
My suggestions to all beginners. Ranked: Wuhan, Paiste, Zildjian, Sabian, Meinl. Honestly the first two are the only ones I’d go for in this price range. I play Zildjian K’s, A’s and S’s but the i series also has a great sound but when you stack it up to the Paiste or Wuhan brands it can’t compete. Another reason I put wuhan at the top is the versatility and expandability. I had a wuhan stack and a wuhan holy china and I kept replacing them because they sound so good. They are super cheap as well, the holy china was only like 30 bucks and their 10” splash only about 20. Don’t let the numbers fool you, the company is ancient and makes quality stuff. Also uses B20 bronze for the actual cymbal packs (most of em) though the cheaper ones are made of congruently cheaper materials.
Wuhan takes it here - pricing aside their sound and blend is far above the rest of the packs. The others sounded good for what they are with this kit supporting them, but they showed their true colors when they were isolated. If you are buying/own a Yamaha Absolute like this one - for at least $3,000. You’re likely spending the cost of these packs PER cymbal. Otherwise you’re what I would say, drum set poor. Kit aside (which I understand isn’t the point of the video) you can get a sub $1,000 to $1,500 drum set to sound close to one twice it’s price - it’s a lot more challenging to do that with a set of cymbals. Especially if you’re planning to record now or in the future. If I was in a situation and needed them on a gig or recording I’d take the Wuhan’s. As always love these comparison videos DCP! A lot of people are about to learn that Wuhan makes more than that classic china cymbal!
That wuhan 16 inch crash and the stack both sounded good enough that I always have some nice cymbals and I still might pick those up pleasantly surprised!
Out of all the packs up here the Zildjian I set is the best bang for the buck . With two crashes it’s just worth the few extra bucks and outshines the other sets with two crashes . .
listening on a real high end hifi setup, I felt the Wuhan were by far the smoothest and most versatile, the Paiste were the next as far as consistant sound, they matched up very well as a set.
Hands down the b20 wuhan sound amazing not only for the price. put them next to AAX or A custom in a blind test i swear some of us will be fooled. Bronze, brass, b8 stuff call it what you like just sounds like horse sh*t. No timbre or musicality... that nasty lower mid bloom is just awful. great video btw! You made a point. My recomandation: allways get b20 maybe istanbul agop or mehmet. They have very grown up musical cymbals for a good price point. Only b8 i can dig in certain settings is the paiste900, 2002 and meinl pure alloy.
I couldn't agree more! Turks make fantastic cymbals of the same quality as the Big 4, but at a much lower price. Entire Meinl Byzance series are hand hammered in Turkey, I believe in Diril factory. Istanbul Mehmet, Istanbul Agop, Amedia, Anatolian, Impression, Diril, Murat Diril, Bosphorus, Masterwork, etc... The choice is huge!
I'm at the b8x cymbals. And I tell you what wohan blew me away and they are under $300 ill be recommending them to everyone who is just starting. Id play them for sure
Great video!! I have 2 MEINL HCS crashes. I thought they all sounded good for that price range and I don't think you could go wrong with any of them. To put it in perspective I just purchased a PAISTE 24 inch Big Beat I think it was around 465.00. Does it sound like a 465.00 cymbal? Off course it does. Shanes favorite hats the 602 Modern essentials are 620.00. Do they sound that good? Of course they do. The bottom line here is to have fun drumming and get what ever you can afford and have fun. I think this video was really good at showing lower priced cymbal packs that really did sound amazing to me at least. Great video Shane keep up the good work at DCP my man. Thank you!!
Got the meinl Hcs ultimate 9 piece for $400 love it. Twice to three times as many pieces as these kits for $100 extra or less and they sound jus as good if not better then the others no brainer
Get the Wuhans. B20 bronze set for that price is amazing! I am a meinl fan and is planning to switch all my cymbals out to meinls, but it’s expensive. But the hogher class meinl cymbald could honestly compare with the wuhans.
I do like the effects sounds and overall thought they were better than the low-end Paiste. They are slightly better than a variety of trash can lids. HA HA
It seems like the most obvious weak link in these cymbal sets are the hi-hats; I thought the Wuhans sounded great until the hi-hat was fully open. The bell on the ride also seems to be a weak link, but the Wuhan ride sounded the best to me. Other than that, I thought the Zildjians were the best all-rounders, with Paiste being my least favourite - they had a very short voice and their overall sound was quite gong-y. For trash cymbals though, any of the lines provide great sounds, it seems counter-intuitive to buy expensive trash cymbals when the cheaper lines can get some great results.
Both Paiste crashes sound great with the kick drum and Paiste HiHat had this nice "breath" when you did the "open>hit>close" beat. Wuhan had very nice set too. I use the Zildjan crashes, but i seriosly think to get closer look at the Paiste set. Thanx. Great job you do.
I was originally stuck between the i's and the HCS's. Played them in store, the i's sound better to me in person. But after seeing the comments and listening again like 50 times, I think I'm going to get me a set of those Wuhans. That'll save me buying another crash stand right now too. Only issue is where to find the Wuhan. Right now (July '21), Sweetwater is the only place I can find, and they're at $300.00.
wuhan alllllll the way. i have expensive taste but i’ll always have some wuhans and old sabian xs20’s on hand for a practice setup that sounds pretty damn good
oh my sweet god i dont have any choice to admit you guys are the best.. im waiting for the beat cymbal pro pack!😇 you should make a summer camp.. i would ask my wife to send me there for the vacations 😂 peace from Quebec✌️
Zildjian is my choice... They just sounds fuller and louder... The sound seems to carry more. At least in my opinion. But Wuhan and meinl come in close second
I have all Meinls. I got the HCS Bronze Soundwave Hi Hats 14", 16 and 14 crashes. Classics Custom Dark 18 crash and 8 splash. Classics Custom 12 trash splash and 8 splash. Generation X 16 filter china. Gotta say, HCSB sound damn good for their price and alloy.
I liked the way most of them sounded, loved the way the Wuhan set sounds overall but it was the Zildjian ride (specifically the bell) that made me go "ooohhh" when I can finally be in the right environment to have an acoustic set I'd think about getting the Wuhans as a start then Aim to by the Zildjian ride as my first "accessory" so to speak and begin the process of mixing and matching my sounds to my preference. thanks for the video, very insightful.
![ลองสุ่มไอโฟน 990 โกงมั้ย? [ โกงมั้ยครับ ep.101 ] | DOM](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/bfsWe0j492k/mqdefault.jpg)
One of the most important things about this channel is that you guys actually play whatever product you're demonstrating but you aren't grandstanding. I know I'm not the only drummer who appreciates your no bullshit approach to showcasing these products. There is nothing worse than some doofus hourly employee or manager who uses the video to show off his/her supposed chops instead of demonstrating the product. I also sincerely appreciate you all pointing out both the strengths and weaknesses of a product. AND!!!! And, not yapping the entire time! Gahhhh, that makes me want to throw my cellphone across the room. Anyway, speaking of gabbing endlessly...🤣
I’m with you!
Wuhans will keep most drummers happier for longer, especially if they have any intention of playing with dynamics
Lander Pridgen agree
I have wuhan accents mixed in with my A customs, they're pretty stellar
Wuhans are flippin great. I know they have a reputation for being particularly breakable but in my experience as long as you aren't chopping the living hell out of them all the time (or playing the chinas upside down AND chopping the hell out of them), I get just as much milage from them as I do from any of my other cymbals.
And I dont think there's any contest value wise. They're cheap to begin with... but I bought a used, cracked (pretty big one too) 15" China for $20 and used it for years! Loads of em being sold in local classifieds at similar prices.
100% señor! when i started out with my HCS i got tired of the sounds SOOO fast and i had just started and knew nothing of cymbals!
I got a set for about $160. Still got 'em. Still love em. IMHO, they're great for that vintage jazz sound. But the 16" medium/thin crash, man it is the best 16" crash I've owned. No unwanted after tone, just CRASH!
You will never beat Wuhan for low priced cymbals that sound and feel fantastic! Comparable to the pro stuff! Durable too, mine have lasted longer than some Zildjian A customs I've had! I swear by them!
i've loved my wuhan cymbals, but i would not call them durable, lol. i've only had two and both cracked faster than any other cymbals ive ever played. they sound incredible, but i'd consider them as cymbals on a consistent replacement plan
I’d second. Wuhans sound great but crack easily. Not nearly as durable as the As. Sorry but if your breaking As you don’t know how to hit a cymbal
@@owenmark702 Lol, right on man! I assure you I know how to strike a cymbal. 👍 Much better drummers than I, with much better technique than mine have cracked much stronger cymbals than A's or A Customs! Unfortunately it does happen! And when it does, I'd rather have $60 tied up than $300! Just my personal opinion man! I play Meinl HCS on my home kit. Cheap as hell, don't sound great and definitely crack if you're a heavy hitter. But they work! Check out my channel if you wanna hear those! Stay positive buddy! 💯🥁💚👍
I have two Wuhan western style crashes 16 medium-thin,17 thin two years now and they havent cracked.
For your comparison needs:
2:53 - Wuhan WUTBSU
5:38 - Sabian B8X
8:03 - Meinl HCS Bronze
10:29 - Zildjian I Family
13:04 - Paiste PST 3
legend
Those Wuhan cymbals were very surprising, especially given the price!
But the real winner here was Yamaha. Those are some great sounding drums!
I was thinking the same thing
Fact. I have a Yamaha snare, an it sound real good. Wuhan cymbals sound pro level. Very Impressive.
I have a Yamaha birch kit
@@drummerboymilon436 I have an 80s recording custom 6 piece all-birch set, including the snare.
Wuhan & Zildjian
Thats what I was thinking
Let's face it. The Wuhan sounds the best by far. They are the only set featured that are pro level sound. Don't buy low cost big brand name cymbals. They are cheap B8 while the Wuhans are B20
When he named off the brands I instantly knew Wuhan would be at the top
Legendary Paiste 2002 are B8.
The alloy dosent really matter, depends which sound you’re going for, but I agree the Wuhans are the best
@@MadWinter889 never been a fan. Too much high end for me. The only Paiste's I like are the 602's and the tradional's (RIP)
Furthermore, never buy Sabian in any price range.
Was it just me that thought the wuhans sounded fantastic!? The zildjan was great too
Yup just you. Just you and almost every other commenter 🤪
@@TheBeakertube bruh do you even play drums
The Wuhan set does sound great, but the zildjan didn't seem particularly better than any of the others. It's just my own personal preference but that particular zildjan line has a super high pitched artifact in the sustain that doesn't decay as quickly as the overall sound body. I think that would get super annoying to me over time.
I bought the Wuhan's years ago and had no complaints. They've held up well and have gotten me through many gigs. For the price, they're unbeatable.
You produce the best comparison videos, hands down. Thank you
Wow, thank you!
Man those Wuhans sound really good for that price point! There's subtle complexity in its sound, really shines through with that med-heavy ride!
So much value there!
That’s because they used a brilliant finish B20 alloy wich is what professional cymbals are made of the B20
Wuhan hands down! Let's not forget Wuhan's china's start at 12in and go up to 20in, and sound amazing. Nice job guys 👍
I believe they have a 27 inch actually
@@VICIOUSD3M0N they do, and it's a beast of a cymbal. Incredible sound. I have yet to find a good way to incorporate it into my setup though 😂
Ok I know its off subject but man you guys should put out a "how to tune your drums" tutorial. Those drums sound amazing!! All of the videos I hear the drums, even on less expensive kits, sound killer!
I think they also have good mics
I was thinking the same thing
The Wuhan first (which surprised me) and Zildjian second but at this price point they all sounded great! I would have taken the Wuhan and Zildjians for professional cymbals. Thank you DCP for another great video. No one else does drum videos at the level of quality that you do.
My favorites too.
In August 2023, at Amazon India, someone listed this Meinl HCS Bronze set (14 hihat, 16 cr and 20 ride) for Rs.15000 (~180 USD) and i grabbed them ASAP. Was feeling so lucky. And 2days later, it even went down further to Rs 11000(~USD130). But didnt grt the chance to grab thar second offer. BEST DEAL EVER.
Even though I am a Paiste Fan, but in this Beginner-Sets-Comparison, I prefer clearly the Zildjan set,
but the second one are the Wuhans.Thank you very, very much for this nice Vid !!!
Thanks for watching!
@Michael Bruhi BULLSEYE,MY FELLOW DRUMMER!! I've played just about every cymbal brand there is,over my 40 years of playing drums.. And the (Zildjians) in just about every category (from beginner to professional!!) The Zildjians Brands always,"to me anyway." Always Come out on top🤟🤘🤙🤟!! And ive always liked the top brand Sabians at a good REPECTFUL 2OND!!!
I got the Zildjian set too at #1 and am a Paiste guy(whenever i can afford it) :)
I like the I-Series for the price, but the Wuhan are on the level of the A-Custom Series.
the wuhan hats are phenomenal. so crisp and the feel is amazing.
Those hats could compete with the big boys for sure!
I know this is about cymbals, but that bass drum is insane
Yamaha will do that to you.
Yes! That kick is KILLER!
@@drumcenternh I'm waiting for the video with name 'Ten 22" bass drums comparison' 😉
I appreciate how the stereo image changes when the front and top cameras are being used so it matches where the cymbals are. Cool :)
Glad you like it!
I think the Wuhan set sounds the best, and it's a b20 cymbal at a killer price.
I like Zildjan best - but the Wuhan has the best price-quality ratio
Nice pfp bruhv
I write from italy.Always the best demonstration video's in all the web.Congratulations.Great job guys.
Thank you very much!
@@drumcenternh It's just the truth.
This channel is my new 'what shall I check on YT' channel. Don't even live in the states. Thanks DCP! Keep up the good work.
Ive toured and recorded with Wuhans and have always gotten tons of compliments from recording engineers, other drummers, and worship leaders. For the money, you absolutely can’t beat them.
Players today have a great selection of low-end / cheaper cymbals all the way up. Back in the late 80's and early 90's there wasn't nearly the selection. I wish there would have been more options back when I had less money. Funny thing is, now I have more money and I will buy some of the cheaper cymbals if I'm looking for a particular sound. Some good sounds from these lower-end cymbals, especially on the effects side. I mix in a bit of everything these days, but most of my cymbals are still higher-end simply because of the sounds I want. I certainly wouldn't shy away from these lower-end cymbals if I was just starting out or was on a tight budget. Great options.
I remember finally spending some money and getting a great price on a new set of Zildjian ZBT. They were the first nee cymbals I ever bought, besides the old Wuhan deal of a splash and China pack for 30 bucks. So many people said, "Wow! You got so much better, so quickly!" It was just that my old cymbals were whatever I could find. That was back in 2004. I recently got the Sabian BX8 set and use the ZBT hi hats with it on my secondary kit that I keep at my house. Fantastic cymbals for the price! My main kit has a mix of Zildjan A customs and Ks.
The b20 alloy really speaks for itself, it just sounds so much warmer than the others
Warmer? I would say brighter. Almost the opposite of warmth.
@@rsilvers129I had the same impression. Sounds like the wuhans are thinner. So, less meat, but more complex overtones and easier crashability
Wow I’m blown away by those Wuhans, I’d take those over a set of Zildjian Z’s
I really like the Wuhans, but there's something about Zildjian rides.. The bells have the sweetest sound.
I’d definitely play those Wuhans! They sound the best overall I think. And the Meinl set has great sounding hats.
Great video as always, guys!
I think that the Wuhans win hands down!
By far the best alloy B20, the most balanced sound.
I´m a Zildjian kind of drummer, but i have two crashes 17" and 18" by wuhan, that are my favourites for the past 17 years. I also carry my old K Customs 16" and 18" whenever I go to a recording session, but end up almost always using the Wuhans, they´re super dark, low pitched, like no other cymbal i have ever played.
Regarding the other manufacturers, they´re on a different league, not comparable, at this price point.
My point is, don´t let the price tag fool you, the Wuhans are incredible musical instruments. They won´t sound like anything else out there, becouse they sound unique.
Cheers from Brazil!
I do prefer the Zildjians, with the Meinls a close second. But each pack has an outstanding cymbal in it. Well done, folks.
You like B9 alloy then. They sound halfway between real cymbals and brass ones to me.
Wuhan are perfect for Punk, Hardcore, Metal Drummers who are on a budget but want a great sounding cymbal set 🤙
Wow! I just fell in love. Will go for Meinl HCS141620.
If I was starting out again, I’d choose the Wuhans, hands down...
Those Wuhans sound great
Wuhan Splashes (not shown in video) , Meinl Hi Hats, Ride and Crashes I’m not sure. Great video again DCP team!. Thanks!.
I started off with the Paiste PST 3 and 5 cymbals. Now I use Paiste 2002, Gaint beat,Alpha,and big beat cymbals.
Winner, finally a man that knows cymbals!😎
Actually really like the Zildjians for the money, and the fact you get an extra crash. Although i think if I were a beginner i would save just a little more for the S series.
Got to say, this is one of Shane´s best performances so far, very tasty fills and grooves. Not saying he is not good though, don´t get me wrong.
Super helpful! I'm looking to put together my first acoustic kit, and being able to hear all these being played is better than any written review. Thanks!
All of the sets are excellent. Each set had it's standouts. They would all sound great, no matter the stage. I would love to have my favorite pieces combined into a single set. Some of them would be a hard decision for sure. I would call the whole thing a draw in terms of overall sound. It all boils down to a matter of taste and opinion. Some like pork, some like beef, chicken, fish, turtle, whatever, and opinions vary. 🎉 All of those sets are awesome, because their makers fully put their hearts and souls into them. I'm a cherry picker, hahaha 🎉 🎉 🎉
On second listen I kind of Like the Meinl! that is so crazy !
Best part of this video is the back to back comparison edit. A lot of channels can learn a thing or two from you - even for other instrument demos. Top marks and a like for you from me!
Wow the Zildgian set was fantastic! It’s the only set that didn’t have that cheap hollow undertone, very crisp and a smooth pleasing decay. they are a no brainer ‼️🤘😉🤘
The I-Series is a good choice in this price range. I wouldn't say they are fantastic. They sound compromised by the alloy, but I would pick them at this price.
Hey guys, great, revealing review of budget cymbals. Seriously, we could bring any of these to a gig, and no one would know, except us, of course!
A comment about the Paiste PST3: I reviewed their predecessor, Paiste 101 cymbals, many years ago. One thing I found out about brass cymbals is that their muted quality and reduced volume, vs. bronze, actually lends itself to RECORDING, more than live performance. They tend to record well, as they don't get in the way of the drums, OR each other. Yes, brass may be a less-than-ideal material for cymbals, but for some people, especially with home studios, they may have a place as their recording or low-volume pies.
I just bought the Wuhan 13 inch western hihats and they are the best sounding hi hats I have ever had. Believe it or not.
My favorite Ride is the Wuhan. It just has the sweetest bell sound. Favorite Hi-hat is the Zildjian i. Crash is something I had a hard time with, but I'd probably go with the Zildjian there as well.
My preference after keen listening to the sound of the 5 cybals set: I select Sabian B8X as first, Wuhan WUTBSU as second and Zildjian I Series Pro Gig as Third. The sound of that Sabian B8X cymbals is so amazing. The sound of B8X Ride is what amazes me the most. I just love to hear the sound of that Sabian B8X cymbals set. Wuhan WUTBSU is my second choice. The Wuhan Ride also sounds perfect !
The Wuhans are impressive. The price and sound combination are unbeatable.
I actually own a set of the Sabian BX8. Not the hihats though. They sound fantastic playing live and recorsing. My main kit has Zildjian A and Ks. While they dont sound as great as the high end Zildjians i own, they are not disappointing in the least. This is a great video for comparing the different cymbals, you wont actually know which fit tou the best until you play them yourself and hear them in person. I definitely wouldn't base my purchase on a video while listening through a phone. Use ear buds, headphones, studio monitors etc. Watch many videos, not just one.
I’m really surprised no one else loves the Meinl. They sounds clear with the right amount of depth. Some of the other cymbals sound like a thud. I can see why people love the Wuhan but they don’t do much for me.
I'm usually a Paiste guy but in this case I'm digging the Zildjian,Meinl, & Wuhan most....
Wuhan, Meinl, Zildjian are top 3 by far. I would probably go with Meinl or Wuhan.
This is a fantastic video. I wish I had seen this much sooner. What would be the next bracket for someone at a more intermediate level?
I just got back into drumming after about 15 years without a set, and the used set I picked up came with a set of Meinl HCS. I always went with mid-to-high end Zildjian back in the day (A's or K's) and hated the budget stuff like the ZBTs back then, but I was pretty impressed by the sound quality of the HCS and bought a bunch more to round out my set (not like I'm recording or playing live shows). Having options like the trash and bell cymbals in an entry level series is pretty cool and it's nice to see companies have expanded on their budget selections a lot since I last played.
I see the low-end Zildjian and Sabian stuff still sounds like absolute garbage (in my opinion...just....yuck), and the Paiste set feels like a mixed bag, but VERY impressed by the Wuhan stuff, which I'd never really sampled before. Were I not already invested in the Meinl series, I'd consider Wuhan!
I really only liked the wuhan and the zildjian were ok. I have the wuhan and think they sound great. Nice bright shimmery attack with some warmer undertones.
The Sabian B8X are the best by far especially if you get the rock crashes instead of the thin crashes because they have more sustain, power and attack to them and are darker sounding and for a drummer with a budget like me they are well worth the money-highly recommend! Also great comparison vid- u guise do the best around👍
I thought they sounded terrible
I agree. Don't know why they are getting no love. To me they are the only cymbals here that don't sound like reconditioned seconds. The Hihats were by far the best and the ride cymbal was comparative to the Zildjian. The crashes were solid.
The wuhans remind me of these cheap cymbals we used to find in the UK that were unbranded. They just used to say Made in Italy. They sounded nice because they were so thin but they would only last a month.
Wuhans are pretty sweet cymbals. Cant be beat at that price point.
I liked the Wuhan and Zildjian cymbals the best.
Zildjian always was my favorite. The I have my Paiste PST 14"crash sounds so good mixed with my Sabians . I like to mix them all for fun not consistency... whuhan does sound pretty dang good.
Whtever question i want i get from your videos.. i was seeking under 30,000 ruppess cymbal set..
Thankyou for making very practical videos
Glad to hear that!
This Yamaha kit seems fabulous! Like every time with beginner kits the crashes sound not nice, short and metallic. But the rest is very good! Wuhan are brillant!
Even though I’m a Meinl guy I have to say that the Wuhan cymbals really took me by surprise, it had the most natural sound to my ears, almost to what cymbals are supposed to sound like, another option for affordable cymbals would be Dream Cymbals! Great video overall
The difference between Wuhan and other cymbals in this video is HUGE! Here in Europe, Turkish cymbals are really affordable, and there are so many Turkish brands. They don't make entry level cymbals, but only professional hand-hammered b20 alloy cymbals. Istanbul Mehmet, Istanbul Agop, Anatolian, Impression, Bosphorus, Diril, Murat Diril, Symrna, Turkish, Amedia... the choice is huge, and the quality is the same as the Big 4 (Zildjian/Paiste/Sabian/Meinl), but at a much lower price. The entire Meinl Byzance series are hand hammered in Turkey, I believe in Diril factory. I haven't had a chance to try Dream cymbals, but based on the videos, they sound great.
A tornado destroyed evening including my drums and my mix of Sabian AAX and HHX cymbals ,well 3 years later I finally got my dream set of drums, and a full Gibralter rack which didn't leave me much price room to get the same cymbals I lost, so I got the Meinl HCS seris Ultimate Pack for like $400, Fast forward 2 years later and I decided to stay with Meinl and purchased the Brilliant Meinl Classics Custom set for $999 and couldn't be happier!
A few thoughts...
- Obviously, the Wuhan cymbals stand out here for their B20 depth, projection & overtones.
- I do like B8 bronze but my only gripe about it is that all the rides sound exactly the same no matter who the manufacture is, the bell is always very dull and lackluster when compared to B20.
- There are a few stand out pieces in these demos... the 16" Meinl crash sounds great.... the Zildjian 17" trash crash is gorgeous... my personal preference for hats is 14" Sabian B8, I really love the crisp pop these hats have and I have a few sets of them currently.
- Sonically speaking, Its not really fair to compare brass to B8 or B20... so the PS3 cymbals are at a bit of a disadvantage here, but the price point is very reasonable for an entry level setup and and a 2 year warranty is a welcome bonus for any new drummer working on hitting technique.
P.S. the audio mix on this demo is fantastic... that snare!
Practically speaking i think it's absolutely a fair comparison if they fall within the same price point
I love these reviews! They've been very valuable to me while starting out. Thanks! And, happy to purchase from you as much as possible!
btw, do the Wuhans still sound this way or have any elements changed since this review?
They are the same. The sound consistency can vary from cymbal to cymbal, it we can hand pick some for you if you’d like.
Love the videos. Got to visit the shop today and it was incredible. Everyone working there greeted me and were extremely friendly. You guys are great!
Wish you could make your own kit with combinations from these kits! Love the Wuhan 20" ride! I'd take the Meinl 14" hi hat , and the Zildjian 16" and 18" crashes as my kit. Also kudos to your mixing skills! I just realized that your panning changed perspectives with the video camera angle changes. Very cool!
The Zildjians sounded great to me, but I always love their stuff. The Wuhans sounded killer too. Such a great cymbal for the money. Very musical. The brass Paistes didn't do it for me, but I'm always biased against brass starter cymbals. I had a set of brass Camber cymbals on my first beginner set and when I upgraded to pro Zildjians the difference was so clear. I would always choose b8 bronze over brass any day because it just sounds better and more musical. Brass does it's one thing okay, but bronze gives you so much more options. I would always budget in the bronze, you'll appreciate them later. And always go for the set that has at least one crash and a ride , and not just one crash/ride in addition to hats. I get the the budget thing, but I feel it is crucial for the beginning drummer to have the two separate to learn the difference. Plus most starter crash/rides don't sound enough like either and you get a less usable cymbal.
I agree, usually the crash/ride is too gongy as a crash, yet too washy for a ride.
Meinl for me, with Wuhan a close 2nd. However, they're all decent and will make someone happy for a starter set of cymbals.
Zildjian I all the way, surprisingly musical and not too high pitched to be in B8 bronze alloy
Arborea B8 cymbals are much cheaper but would satisfy the needs of any beginner or those on a tight budget.
they're Brazilian right?
@@gyurko Made in China I think.
My suggestions to all beginners.
Ranked:
Wuhan, Paiste, Zildjian, Sabian, Meinl.
Honestly the first two are the only ones I’d go for in this price range. I play Zildjian K’s, A’s and S’s but the i series also has a great sound but when you stack it up to the Paiste or Wuhan brands it can’t compete. Another reason I put wuhan at the top is the versatility and expandability. I had a wuhan stack and a wuhan holy china and I kept replacing them because they sound so good. They are super cheap as well, the holy china was only like 30 bucks and their 10” splash only about 20. Don’t let the numbers fool you, the company is ancient and makes quality stuff. Also uses B20 bronze for the actual cymbal packs (most of em) though the cheaper ones are made of congruently cheaper materials.
Wuhan takes it here - pricing aside their sound and blend is far above the rest of the packs. The others sounded good for what they are with this kit supporting them, but they showed their true colors when they were isolated.
If you are buying/own a Yamaha Absolute like this one - for at least $3,000. You’re likely spending the cost of these packs PER cymbal. Otherwise you’re what I would say, drum set poor.
Kit aside (which I understand isn’t the point of the video) you can get a sub $1,000 to $1,500 drum set to sound close to one twice it’s price - it’s a lot more challenging to do that with a set of cymbals. Especially if you’re planning to record now or in the future.
If I was in a situation and needed them on a gig or recording I’d take the Wuhan’s.
As always love these comparison videos DCP! A lot of people are about to learn that Wuhan makes more than that classic china cymbal!
That wuhan 16 inch crash and the stack both sounded good enough that I always have some nice cymbals and I still might pick those up pleasantly surprised!
Out of all the packs up here the Zildjian I set is the best bang for the buck . With two crashes it’s just worth the few extra bucks and outshines the other sets with two crashes . .
listening on a real high end hifi setup, I felt the Wuhan were by far the smoothest and most versatile, the Paiste were the next as far as consistant sound, they matched up very well as a set.
Hands down the b20 wuhan sound amazing not only for the price. put them next to AAX or A custom in a blind test i swear some of us will be fooled.
Bronze, brass, b8 stuff call it what you like just sounds like horse sh*t. No timbre or musicality... that nasty lower mid bloom is just awful.
great video btw! You made a point.
My recomandation: allways get b20 maybe istanbul agop or mehmet. They have very grown up musical cymbals for a good price point.
Only b8 i can dig in certain settings is the paiste900, 2002 and meinl pure alloy.
I couldn't agree more! Turks make fantastic cymbals of the same quality as the Big 4, but at a much lower price. Entire Meinl Byzance series are hand hammered in Turkey, I believe in Diril factory. Istanbul Mehmet, Istanbul Agop, Amedia, Anatolian, Impression, Diril, Murat Diril, Bosphorus, Masterwork, etc... The choice is huge!
The Wuhan cymbals were the standout. For the price , they sound incredible.
Great vid 👍
I'm at the b8x cymbals. And I tell you what wohan blew me away and they are under $300 ill be recommending them to everyone who is just starting. Id play them for sure
Great video!! I have 2 MEINL HCS crashes. I thought they all sounded good for that price range and I don't think you could go wrong with any of them. To put it in perspective I just purchased a PAISTE 24 inch Big Beat I think it was around 465.00. Does it sound like a 465.00 cymbal? Off course it does. Shanes favorite hats the 602 Modern essentials are 620.00. Do they sound that good? Of course they do. The bottom line here is to have fun drumming and get what ever you can afford and have fun. I think this video was really good at showing lower priced cymbal packs that really did sound amazing to me at least. Great video Shane keep up the good work at DCP my man. Thank you!!
Cymbals aside, those drums sound fantastic
Got the meinl Hcs ultimate 9 piece for $400 love it. Twice to three times as many pieces as these kits for $100 extra or less and they sound jus as good if not better then the others no brainer
Get the Wuhans. B20 bronze set for that price is amazing! I am a meinl fan and is planning to switch all my cymbals out to meinls, but it’s expensive. But the hogher class meinl cymbald could honestly compare with the wuhans.
Sound quality wise, I would rate them as follows:
1. Wuhan
2. Zildjan
3. Meinl
4. Sabian
5. Paiste
Sabian need to rethink their B8X, it's absolutely trash compared to their competitors.
I had some B8X as a beginner and got rid of them pretty quickly. They just sound cheap and bad...
I agree, but at least better than their cheapest set - sbr... that's so terrible.
C'mon they're better sounding then those Paiste PST3 trash!
I like meinl hcs a little better. But stay away from the brass crash cymbals.
I do like the effects sounds and overall thought they were better than the low-end Paiste. They are slightly better than a variety of trash can lids. HA HA
Honestly I was surprised on how good they are all. I think it the mic and mixing factor.
Wuhan is another level. No match for the rest.
I think the Wuhans were my favorite, wish I knew about them when I started
I won't buy China, ever those Paiste are great for live or practice and won't break the bank made in Switzerland, Germany
Wuhan sounds professional and pleasant! I used to have Paiste 802 wich are semi-pro and still they sounded dreary.
It seems like the most obvious weak link in these cymbal sets are the hi-hats; I thought the Wuhans sounded great until the hi-hat was fully open. The bell on the ride also seems to be a weak link, but the Wuhan ride sounded the best to me. Other than that, I thought the Zildjians were the best all-rounders, with Paiste being my least favourite - they had a very short voice and their overall sound was quite gong-y. For trash cymbals though, any of the lines provide great sounds, it seems counter-intuitive to buy expensive trash cymbals when the cheaper lines can get some great results.
best to my ears: Wuhan and Zildjian as complete sets!
Both Paiste crashes sound great with the kick drum and Paiste HiHat had this nice "breath" when you did the "open>hit>close" beat. Wuhan had very nice set too. I use the Zildjan crashes, but i seriosly think to get closer look at the Paiste set.
Thanx. Great job you do.
I was originally stuck between the i's and the HCS's. Played them in store, the i's sound better to me in person. But after seeing the comments and listening again like 50 times, I think I'm going to get me a set of those Wuhans. That'll save me buying another crash stand right now too. Only issue is where to find the Wuhan. Right now (July '21), Sweetwater is the only place I can find, and they're at $300.00.
wuhan alllllll the way. i have expensive taste but i’ll always have some wuhans and old sabian xs20’s on hand for a practice setup that sounds pretty damn good
oh my sweet god i dont have any choice to admit you guys are the best.. im waiting for the beat cymbal pro pack!😇 you should make a summer camp.. i would ask my wife to send me there for the vacations 😂 peace from Quebec✌️
That kit though!! 🔥🔥😍 Wuhans sound great
Zildjian is my choice... They just sounds fuller and louder... The sound seems to carry more. At least in my opinion. But Wuhan and meinl come in close second
I have all Meinls. I got the HCS Bronze Soundwave Hi Hats 14", 16 and 14 crashes. Classics Custom Dark 18 crash and 8 splash. Classics Custom 12 trash splash and 8 splash. Generation X 16 filter china. Gotta say, HCSB sound damn good for their price and alloy.
I liked the way most of them sounded, loved the way the Wuhan set sounds overall but it was the Zildjian ride (specifically the bell) that made me go "ooohhh" when I can finally be in the right environment to have an acoustic set I'd think about getting the Wuhans as a start then Aim to by the Zildjian ride as my first "accessory" so to speak and begin the process of mixing and matching my sounds to my preference. thanks for the video, very insightful.
PST7's are the budget 2002's, which are the cymbals that all the biggest drummers from the 60's-70's.
Like John Bonham sound and all of Led Zeppelin catalog of songs
yeah! pity they didnt make a pst7 sound edge hats