Best 13" Hi-Hat Cymbals 2026
Top-rated 13" hi-hat cymbals 2026 - expert picks for every budget and skill level
Last updated: January 28, 2026 • Next update: February 4, 2026
#1
⭐
4.5/5
(51 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Sabian 13" HHX Evolution Hi-Hat
by
Sabian
R&B
Jazz
Medium Dynamics
Key Feature:
• Excellent for medium dynamics
✓ PROS
- • Versatile across multiple genres
- • Great balance of control and projection
✗ CONS
- • May lack power for heavy rock
- • Can sound thin in some applications
Sabian 13" HHX Evolution Hi-HatHi-HatSeries: HHXSize: 13"Evolution hi-hatBrilliant finishBright and clear...
⭐
4.5/5
(51 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 177772
$604
#2
⭐
4.5/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Istanbul Agop 13" Agop Signature Hi-Hat
Studio Work
Jazz
Gospel
Key Feature:
• Versatile across multiple genres
✓ PROS
- • Great balance of control and projection
- • Versatile across multiple genres
✗ CONS
- • May not cut through loud arrangements
- • Can sound thin in some applications
Istanbul Agop 13" Agop Signature Hi-HatHi-HatSize: 13"Agop Signature SeriesB20 BronzeHand-hammeredDry stick...
⭐
4.5/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 527933
$488
#3
⭐
4.7/5
(47 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Meinl 13" Byzance Dark Hi-Hat
by
Meinl
R&B
Jazz
Gospel
Key Feature:
• Excellent for medium dynamics
✓ PROS
- • Versatile across multiple genres
- • Great balance of control and projection
✗ CONS
- • Limited availability compared to 14"
- • Less common size, fewer options
Meinl 13" Byzance Dark Hi-HatDark Hi-Hat CymbalSize: 13"Byzance SeriesDark (natural/earthy) finishVery...
⭐
4.7/5
(47 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 225840
$488
#4
⭐
4.8/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Meinl 13" Byzance Serpents Hi-Hat
by
Meinl
R&B
Medium Dynamics
Jazz
Key Feature:
• Great balance of control and projection
✓ PROS
- • Great balance of control and projection
- • Excellent for medium dynamics
✗ CONS
- • May lack power for heavy rock
- • Limited availability compared to 14"
Meinl 13" Byzance Serpents Hi-HatHi-HatSize: 13"Derek Roddy SignatureBrilliant designDifferent designs for...
⭐
4.8/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 278559
$483
#5
⭐
5.0/5
(41 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Istanbul Mehmet 13" Medium Hi-Hat Turk Series
R&B
Medium Dynamics
Studio Work
Key Feature:
• Excellent for medium dynamics
✓ PROS
- • Versatile across multiple genres
- • Great balance of control and projection
✗ CONS
- • Limited availability compared to 14"
- • Less common size, fewer options
Istanbul Mehmet 13" Medium Hi-Hat Turk Series13" Medium Hi-HatTurk seriesDry and dark accentuated stick...
⭐
5.0/5
(41 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 311540
$403
#6
⭐
4.9/5
(7 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Paiste 13" Signature Dark Hi-Hat
by
Paiste
Medium Dynamics
R&B
Fusion
Key Feature:
• Versatile across multiple genres
✓ PROS
- • Versatile across multiple genres
- • Excellent for medium dynamics
✗ CONS
- • Limited availability compared to 14"
- • Less common size, fewer options
Paiste 13" Signature Dark Hi-HatDark Crisp Hi-HatSize: 13"Universally applicableSoftdeep toneControlled...
⭐
4.9/5
(7 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 141220
$593
#7
⭐
4.8/5
(40 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Meinl 13" Byzance Extra Dry Hi-Hat
by
Meinl
Medium Dynamics
Fusion
Jazz
Key Feature:
• Professional studio standard
✓ PROS
- • Versatile across multiple genres
- • Good stick definition and foot chick
✗ CONS
- • Less common size, fewer options
- • Limited availability compared to 14"
Meinl 13" Byzance Extra Dry Hi-Hat13" Extra dry medium hi-hatExtra dry (natural) finishVery dryearthy sound...
⭐
4.8/5
(40 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 223535
$494
#8
⭐
5.0/5
(41 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Meinl 13" Byzance Hi-Hat Medium
by
Meinl
Fusion
R&B
Medium Dynamics
Key Feature:
• Excellent for medium dynamics
✓ PROS
- • Versatile across multiple genres
- • Professional studio standard
✗ CONS
- • Limited availability compared to 14"
- • May lack power for heavy rock
Meinl 13" Byzance Hi-Hat MediumHi-hat cymbalSize 13"Traditional designMedium hi-hatSeries: ByzanceCymbals are...
⭐
5.0/5
(41 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 167211
$483
#9
⭐
4.5/5
(18 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Zildjian 13" S Series Mastersound HiHat
by
Zildjian
Fusion
Medium Dynamics
R&B
Key Feature:
• Versatile across multiple genres
✓ PROS
- • Professional studio standard
- • Excellent for medium dynamics
✗ CONS
- • May lack power for heavy rock
- • Less common size, fewer options
Zildjian 13" S Series Mastersound Hi HatMastersound hi-hat cymbalSize: 13"S seriesMedium topHeavy...
⭐
4.5/5
(18 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 380625
$274
#10
⭐
4.8/5
(4 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Sabian 13" B8X Hi-Hat
by
Sabian
Jazz
Medium Dynamics
Studio Work
Key Feature:
• Excellent for medium dynamics
✓ PROS
- • Great balance of control and projection
- • Good stick definition and foot chick
✗ CONS
- • Limited availability compared to 14"
- • May not cut through loud arrangements
Sabian 13" B8X Hi-HatHi-hat cymbalSize: 13"Strength: mediumB8X seriesAlloy: B8 bronzeNatural finishHammered...
⭐
4.8/5
(4 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 363280
$274
#11
⭐
4.6/5
(34 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Istanbul Mehmet 13" Light Hi-Hat Traditional
Medium Dynamics
Gospel
Jazz
Key Feature:
• Great balance of control and projection
✓ PROS
- • Good stick definition and foot chick
- • Professional studio standard
✗ CONS
- • May lack power for heavy rock
- • Less common size, fewer options
Istanbul Mehmet 13" Light Hi-Hat Traditional13" light hi-hatTraditional seriesRegular designDynamic spectrum...
⭐
4.6/5
(34 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 311948
$403
#12
⭐
4.8/5
(3 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Meinl 13" Byzance Jazz Thin Hi-Hat
by
Meinl
Gospel
Jazz
Fusion
Key Feature:
• Professional studio standard
✓ PROS
- • Professional studio standard
- • Good stick definition and foot chick
✗ CONS
- • May lack power for heavy rock
- • May not cut through loud arrangements
Meinl 13" Byzance Jazz Thin Hi-Hat13" Jazz Thin hi-hatByzance SeriesJazz versionExceptionally lightweight...
⭐
4.8/5
(3 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 223647
$461
#13
⭐
4.6/5
(21 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Istanbul Agop 13" Mel Lewis Sign.1982 Hi-Hat
Fusion
Medium Dynamics
R&B
Key Feature:
• Great balance of control and projection
✓ PROS
- • Good stick definition and foot chick
- • Excellent for medium dynamics
✗ CONS
- • Limited availability compared to 14"
- • May not cut through loud arrangements
Istanbul Agop 13" Mel Lewis Sign.1982 Hi-Hat, Hi-Hat Cymbal, Size: 13", Mel Lewis Signature Model, Classic...
⭐
4.6/5
(21 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 382975
$461
#14
⭐
4.7/5
(8 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Zildjian 13" K-Series Hi-Hat
by
Zildjian
Studio Work
Jazz
Medium Dynamics
Key Feature:
• Professional studio standard
✓ PROS
- • Great balance of control and projection
- • Professional studio standard
✗ CONS
- • May not cut through loud arrangements
- • May lack power for heavy rock
Zildjian 13" K-Series Hi-HatHi-hatFrom the K SeriesRegular finishDeep and full "chick" toneQuick...
⭐
4.7/5
(8 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 259279
$571
#15
⭐
4.5/5
(46 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Istanbul Mehmet 13" Hi-Hat Sultan Series
Jazz
Studio Work
R&B
Key Feature:
• Professional studio standard
✓ PROS
- • Excellent for medium dynamics
- • Versatile across multiple genres
✗ CONS
- • Limited availability compared to 14"
- • May not cut through loud arrangements
Istanbul Mehmet 13" Hi-Hat Sultan Series13" hi-hat cymbalSultan seriesSound: defineddarkvery warm and...
⭐
4.5/5
(46 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 312028
$402
How to Choose the Best 13" Hi-Hat 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 13" hi-hat 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.
