Best 13" Hi-Hat Cymbals for Studio Work 2025

Perfect 13" hi-hat cymbals for studio-work - easy to play and learn on

Last updated: November 5, 2025 • Next update: November 12, 2025

Istanbul Agop 13" Agop Signature Hi-Hat - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#1

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
Istanbul Agop 13" Xist Dry Dark Hi-Hat - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#2

Istanbul Agop 13" Xist Dry Dark Hi-Hat

Studio Work Jazz Medium Dynamics
Key Feature:
• Professional studio standard
✓ PROS
  • • Professional studio standard
  • • Excellent for medium dynamics
✗ CONS
  • • Can sound thin in some applications
  • • Less common size, fewer options

Istanbul Agop 13" Xist Dry Dark Hi-HatHi-HatSize: 13"Xist Dry Dark SeriesB20 BronzeHand-hammeredShort trashy...

4.4/5 (48 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Istanbul Mehmet 13" Light Hi-Hat Traditional - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#3

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
Istanbul Agop 13" Mel Lewis Sign.1982 Hi-Hat - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#4

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
Istanbul Mehmet 13" Medium Hi-Hat Turk Series - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#5

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
Zultan 13" Heritage Hi-Hat - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#6

Zultan 13" Heritage Hi-Hat

Medium Dynamics R&B Gospel
Key Feature:
• Excellent for medium dynamics
✓ PROS
  • • Professional studio standard
  • • Good stick definition and foot chick
✗ CONS
  • • May not cut through loud arrangements
  • • Less common size, fewer options

Zultan 13" Heritage Hi-HatHi-HatHeritage SeriesSize: 13"100% Handcrafted cymbal according to old tradition...

4.7/5 (29 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Meinl 13" Byzance Jazz Thin Hi-Hat - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#7

Meinl 13" Byzance Jazz Thin Hi-Hat

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
Zildjian 13" I Family Hi-Hat - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#8

Zildjian 13" I Family Hi-Hat

Studio Work R&B Medium Dynamics
Key Feature:
• Versatile across multiple genres
✓ PROS
  • • Great balance of control and projection
  • • Good stick definition and foot chick
✗ CONS
  • • Less common size, fewer options
  • • May not cut through loud arrangements

Zildjian 13" I Family Hi-HatHi-Hat CymbalSize: 13"I Family SeriesMaterial: B8 BronzeWeight: medium-thin top /...

4.5/5 (39 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Zildjian 13" S Series Mastersound HiHat - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#9

Zildjian 13" S Series Mastersound HiHat

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
Meinl 13" Byzance Dark Hi-Hat - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#10

Meinl 13" Byzance Dark Hi-Hat

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
Zultan 13" Raw Hi-Hat - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#11

Zultan 13" Raw Hi-Hat

Jazz R&B Fusion
Key Feature:
• Good stick definition and foot chick
✓ PROS
  • • Excellent for medium dynamics
  • • Great balance of control and projection
✗ CONS
  • • May not cut through loud arrangements
  • • May lack power for heavy rock

Zultan 13" Raw Hi-HatHi-hat cymbalSize: 13"Raw SeriesFrom B20 bronzeDarkerwarmer and fuller tone100%...

4.9/5 (27 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Istanbul Agop 13" Xist Hi-Hat Brilliant - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#12

Istanbul Agop 13" Xist Hi-Hat Brilliant

Studio Work Jazz Gospel
Key Feature:
• Versatile across multiple genres
✓ PROS
  • • Versatile across multiple genres
  • • Professional studio standard
✗ CONS
  • • Less common size, fewer options
  • • May not cut through loud arrangements

Istanbul Agop 13" Xist Hi-Hat BrilliantHi-hat cymbalSize: 13"Agop Xist seriesBrillant editionMaterial: B20...

4.7/5 (2 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Masterwork 13" Resonant Hi-Hat - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#13

Masterwork 13" Resonant Hi-Hat

Fusion R&B Gospel
Key Feature:
• Excellent for medium dynamics
✓ PROS
  • • Good stick definition and foot chick
  • • Professional studio standard
✗ CONS
  • • Can sound thin in some applications
  • • Limited availability compared to 14"

Masterwork 13" Resonant Hi-Hat, 13" Hi-HatThe Resonant series is hand-polished to give it its shiny surface...

4.5/5 (3 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Paiste 2002 Classic 13" Sound Edge HH - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#14

Paiste 2002 Classic 13" Sound Edge HH

Medium Dynamics R&B Jazz
Key Feature:
• Great balance of control and projection
✓ PROS
  • • Professional studio standard
  • • Excellent for medium dynamics
✗ CONS
  • • Limited availability compared to 14"
  • • Can sound thin in some applications

Paiste 2002 Classic 13" Sound Edge HH13" hi-hat sound edgeMedium brightfullbrilliant hi-hatExtremeresponsive...

5.0/5 (53 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Meinl 13" Byzance Serpents Hi-Hat - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#15

Meinl 13" Byzance Serpents Hi-Hat

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

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.

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