Best 12" Splash Cymbals 2026
Top-rated 12" splash cymbals 2026 - expert picks for every budget and skill level
Last updated: January 14, 2026 • Next update: January 21, 2026
#1
⭐
4.9/5
(17 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Sabian 12" AAX Splash
by
Sabian
Unique Setups
Experimental
Special Effects
Key Feature:
• Professional specialty applications
✓ PROS
- • Professional specialty applications
- • Distinctive visual and audio impact
✗ CONS
- • Very expensive specialty cymbal
- • Requires exceptional musical taste
Sabian 12" AAX SplashSplashSize: 12"AAX seriesBrillant finishTransparent soundExtrem fastvery bright...
⭐
4.9/5
(17 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 100892
$270
#2
⭐
4.7/5
(19 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Sabian 12" HHX Evolution Splash
by
Sabian
Unique Setups
Experimental
Special Effects
Key Feature:
• Unique sonic character and presence
✓ PROS
- • Great for special effects and accents
- • Distinctive visual and audio impact
✗ CONS
- • Very expensive specialty cymbal
- • Limited practical applications
Sabian 12" HHX Evolution Splash, Splash CymbalThe HHX Evolution series was developed in collaboration with Dave...
⭐
4.7/5
(19 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 165354
$292
#3
⭐
4.9/5
(53 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Istanbul Mehmet 12" Splash Samatya Series
Progressive
Creative Applications
Fusion
Key Feature:
• Great for special effects and accents
✓ PROS
- • Unique sonic character and presence
- • Professional specialty applications
✗ CONS
- • May be overwhelming in normal contexts
- • Very expensive specialty cymbal
Istanbul Mehmet 12" Splash Samatya Series12" SplashSamatya seriesBrillant finishModernfast responding...
⭐
4.9/5
(53 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 312217
$182
#4
⭐
5.0/5
(4 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Zildjian 12" A-Custom Splash
by
Zildjian
Fusion
Unique Setups
Creative Applications
Key Feature:
• Unique sonic character and presence
✓ PROS
- • Great for special effects and accents
- • Maximum splash volume and projection
✗ CONS
- • Limited practical applications
- • May be overwhelming in normal contexts
Zildjian 12" A-Custom SplashSplashSize: 12"A-Custom seriesBrillant finishFast attackRoundshort sustainVery...
⭐
5.0/5
(4 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 121052
$230
#5
⭐
4.6/5
(10 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Sabian 12" HHX Splash
by
Sabian
Fusion
Unique Setups
Special Effects
Key Feature:
• Maximum splash volume and projection
✓ PROS
- • Maximum splash volume and projection
- • Great for special effects and accents
✗ CONS
- • Requires exceptional musical taste
- • Very expensive specialty cymbal
Sabian 12" HHX SplashSplashHHX SeriesHand-hammeredSize: 12”Fastwaspypiercing splashPunchy attackkurzesschnell...
⭐
4.6/5
(10 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 158686
$292
#6
⭐
4.8/5
(42 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Istanbul Mehmet 12" Splash Turk Series
Unique Setups
Special Effects
Fusion
Key Feature:
• Unique sonic character and presence
✓ PROS
- • Unique sonic character and presence
- • Maximum splash volume and projection
✗ CONS
- • May be overwhelming in normal contexts
- • Limited practical applications
Istanbul Mehmet 12" Splash Turk SeriesSplash CymbalSize: 12"Turk SeriesDry and voluminous soundThe Turk...
⭐
4.8/5
(42 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 311535
$182
#7
⭐
4.7/5
(6 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Istanbul Agop 12" Xist Splash Brilliant
Creative Applications
Experimental
Special Effects
Key Feature:
• Distinctive visual and audio impact
✓ PROS
- • Unique sonic character and presence
- • Professional specialty applications
✗ CONS
- • Limited practical applications
- • Very expensive specialty cymbal
Istanbul Agop 12" Xist Splash BrilliantSplash CymbalSize: 12"Xist SeriesBrilliant finishMaterial: B20 bronze...
⭐
4.7/5
(6 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 382846
$138
#8
⭐
4.5/5
(32 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Meinl 12" Byzance Extra Dry Splash
by
Meinl
Special Effects
Progressive
Unique Setups
Key Feature:
• Professional specialty applications
✓ PROS
- • Great for special effects and accents
- • Unique sonic character and presence
✗ CONS
- • Limited practical applications
- • May be overwhelming in normal contexts
Meinl 12" Byzance Extra Dry SplashSplashByzance seriesSize: 12"Natural finishMaterial: B20...
⭐
4.5/5
(32 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 334224
$218
#9
⭐
4.6/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Istanbul Mehmet 12" Splash Traditional Series
Creative Applications
Special Effects
Fusion
Key Feature:
• Maximum splash volume and projection
✓ PROS
- • Unique sonic character and presence
- • Maximum splash volume and projection
✗ CONS
- • Limited practical applications
- • Blurs line between splash and crash
Istanbul Mehmet 12" Splash Traditional Series12" SplashTraditional seriesRegular finishDark warm soundFast...
⭐
4.6/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 311524
$182
#10
⭐
4.5/5
(20 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Meinl 12" Byzance Splash Traditional
by
Meinl
Unique Setups
Creative Applications
Fusion
Key Feature:
• Maximum splash volume and projection
✓ PROS
- • Professional specialty applications
- • Unique sonic character and presence
✗ CONS
- • Very expensive specialty cymbal
- • May be overwhelming in normal contexts
Meinl 12" Byzance Splash TraditionalSplash CymbalSize: 12"Byzance SeriesTraditional finishBeautifully...
⭐
4.5/5
(20 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 167208
$208
#11
⭐
4.7/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Paiste 2002 Classic 12" Splash
by
Paiste
Progressive
Creative Applications
Unique Setups
Key Feature:
• Great for special effects and accents
✓ PROS
- • Great for special effects and accents
- • Unique sonic character and presence
✗ CONS
- • Blurs line between splash and crash
- • Requires exceptional musical taste
Paiste 2002 Classic 12" Splash, Splash CymbalA very thin, warm Splash, with a soft sound character. The sound...
⭐
4.7/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 100871
$198
#12
⭐
4.4/5
(55 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Schlagwerk 12" Cajon Splash
by
Schlagwerk
Experimental
Unique Setups
Creative Applications
Key Feature:
• Professional specialty applications
✓ PROS
- • Distinctive visual and audio impact
- • Maximum splash volume and projection
✗ CONS
- • Blurs line between splash and crash
- • Requires exceptional musical taste
Schlagwerk 12" Cajon SplashCajon Splash CymbalSize: 12"Material: B20 bronzeHandmade in TurkeyBrushed...
⭐
4.4/5
(55 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 437228
$171
#13
⭐
4.9/5
(17 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Zultan 12" Rock Beat Splash
by
Zultan
Special Effects
Unique Setups
Creative Applications
Key Feature:
• Maximum splash volume and projection
✓ PROS
- • Distinctive visual and audio impact
- • Great for special effects and accents
✗ CONS
- • Limited practical applications
- • May be overwhelming in normal contexts
Zultan 12" Rock Beat SplashSplash bekkenSize: 12”Rock Beat seriesSound characteristics: fullassertive and...
⭐
4.9/5
(17 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 269725
$105
#14
⭐
4.8/5
(38 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Zultan 12" Splash Dark Matter
by
Zultan
Special Effects
Creative Applications
Experimental
Key Feature:
• Distinctive visual and audio impact
✓ PROS
- • Unique sonic character and presence
- • Maximum splash volume and projection
✗ CONS
- • Requires exceptional musical taste
- • May be overwhelming in normal contexts
Zultan 12" Splash Dark MatterSplash cymbalSize: 12"Dark Matter LineHand hammeredDark splash cymbalMade of B20...
⭐
4.8/5
(38 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 382732
$120
#15
⭐
4.9/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Zultan 12" Splash 25
by
Zultan
Unique Setups
Progressive
Special Effects
Key Feature:
• Unique sonic character and presence
✓ PROS
- • Great for special effects and accents
- • Maximum splash volume and projection
✗ CONS
- • Blurs line between splash and crash
- • May be overwhelming in normal contexts
Zultan 12" Splash 25Splash Cymbal25th anniversary seriesSize: 12"Material: B20 BronzeHigh-quality cymbal...
⭐
4.9/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 611983
$109
How to Choose the Best 12" Splash Cymbals
Budget Planning
- • Under $200: Entry-level
- • $200-$500: Intermediate
- • $500-$1000: Advanced
- • $1000+: Professional
Quality Check
- • Sound clarity & tone
- • Build materials & finish
- • Hardware durability
- • Overall craftsmanship
Key Features
- • Your musical style
- • Skill level match
- • Intended use case
- • Brand reputation
Frequently Asked Questions
Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced 12" splash cymbals typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.
