Best 12" Splash Cymbals Under $200 2026
Affordable 12" splash cymbals under $200 - great value without compromising quality
Last updated: January 14, 2026 • Next update: January 21, 2026
#1
⭐
4.6/5
(46 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Meinl 12" Pure Alloy Custom Splash
by
Meinl
Unique Setups
Special Effects
Fusion
Key Feature:
• Unique sonic character and presence
✓ PROS
- • Great for special effects and accents
- • Distinctive visual and audio impact
✗ CONS
- • Very expensive specialty cymbal
- • Requires exceptional musical taste
Meinl 12" Pure Alloy Custom SplashSplash CymbalSize: 12"Pure Alloy Custom SeriesWarmslightly washed-out tone...
⭐
4.6/5
(46 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 557716
$186
#2
⭐
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
#3
⭐
4.9/5
(3 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Ufip 12" FX Traditional Spl. Medium
by
Ufip
Progressive
Creative Applications
Unique Setups
Key Feature:
• Unique sonic character and presence
✓ PROS
- • Distinctive visual and audio impact
- • Maximum splash volume and projection
✗ CONS
- • Limited practical applications
- • May be overwhelming in normal contexts
Ufip 12" Class Series Splash MediumSplash CymbalSize: 12"Medium splashThe UFIP Class series always has...
⭐
4.9/5
(3 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 201864
$182
#4
⭐
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
#5
⭐
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
#6
⭐
4.6/5
(42 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Zultan 12" Dune Splash
by
Zultan
Unique Setups
Experimental
Special Effects
Key Feature:
• Unique sonic character and presence
✓ PROS
- • Maximum splash volume and projection
- • Unique sonic character and presence
✗ CONS
- • Limited practical applications
- • Very expensive specialty cymbal
Zultan 12" Dune SplashSplash CymbalSize: 12"Dune seriesHand-hammeredPremium splash cymbal from traditional...
⭐
4.6/5
(42 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 450091
$120
#7
⭐
4.7/5
(5 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Ufip 12" FX Power Splash
by
Ufip
Fusion
Creative Applications
Unique Setups
Key Feature:
• Maximum splash volume and projection
✓ PROS
- • Great for special effects and accents
- • Distinctive visual and audio impact
✗ CONS
- • Very expensive specialty cymbal
- • Blurs line between splash and crash
Ufip 12" Bionic Series SplashSplash CymbalSize: 12"Material: B20 BronzePowerfulbright and warm with great...
⭐
4.7/5
(5 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 424268
$175
#8
⭐
5.0/5
(32 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Masterwork 12" Custom Splash
by
Masterwork
Unique Setups
Progressive
Experimental
Key Feature:
• Unique sonic character and presence
✓ PROS
- • Maximum splash volume and projection
- • Great for special effects and accents
✗ CONS
- • Blurs line between splash and crash
- • Very expensive specialty cymbal
Masterwork 12" Custom Splash, Splash CymbalA considerable frequency range and a warm basic character with...
⭐
5.0/5
(32 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 111579
$109
#9
⭐
4.6/5
(56 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Zultan 12" F5 Splash
by
Zultan
Progressive
Experimental
Special Effects
Key Feature:
• Distinctive visual and audio impact
✓ PROS
- • Professional specialty applications
- • Maximum splash volume and projection
✗ CONS
- • Requires exceptional musical taste
- • Blurs line between splash and crash
Zultan 12" F5 SplashSplash cymbalSize: 12"F5 seriesAggressive splashFull sound with excellent dynamic...
⭐
4.6/5
(56 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 496610
$105
#10
⭐
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
#11
⭐
4.9/5
(14 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Istanbul Agop 12" Xist ION Splash Brilliant
Unique Setups
Special Effects
Experimental
Key Feature:
• Maximum splash volume and projection
✓ PROS
- • Professional specialty applications
- • Distinctive visual and audio impact
✗ CONS
- • Limited practical applications
- • Requires exceptional musical taste
Istanbul Agop 12" Xist ION Splash BrilliantSplash CymbalSize: 12"Xist ION seriesBrilliant finishMaterial: B20...
⭐
4.9/5
(14 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 382939
$146
#12
⭐
4.4/5
(23 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Zultan 12" Heritage Splash
by
Zultan
Unique Setups
Experimental
Creative Applications
Key Feature:
• Maximum splash volume and projection
✓ PROS
- • Unique sonic character and presence
- • Great for special effects and accents
✗ CONS
- • Limited practical applications
- • May be overwhelming in normal contexts
Zultan 12" Heritage SplashSplash CymbalHeritage SeriesSize: 12"100% Hand-crafted cymbal made according to old...
⭐
4.4/5
(23 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 422432
$160
#13
⭐
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
#14
⭐
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
#15
⭐
4.8/5
(26 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Meinl 12" Classics Custom Trash
by
Meinl
Progressive
Special Effects
Fusion
Key Feature:
• Maximum splash volume and projection
✓ PROS
- • Maximum splash volume and projection
- • Unique sonic character and presence
✗ CONS
- • Requires exceptional musical taste
- • May be overwhelming in normal contexts
Meinl 12" Classics Custom TrashTrash SplashSize: 12"Brillant surfaceSplash with extreme short decayHigh...
⭐
4.8/5
(26 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 278519
$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.
