Best 16" China Cymbals for Intermediate 2026
Perfect 16" china cymbals for intermediate - easy to play and learn on
Last updated: January 14, 2026 • Next update: January 21, 2026
#1
⭐
4.6/5
(50 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Meinl 16" Byzance Dual China
by
Meinl
Heavy Music
Large Venues
Metal
Key Feature:
• Excellent projection in large venues
✓ PROS
- • Great for heavy rock and metal
- • Large 16-inch size for maximum china impact
✗ CONS
- • Large size requires significant setup space
- • Expensive investment
Meinl 16" Byzance Dual ChinaDual China CymbalSize: 16"Material: B20 BronzeHand-hammeredExtra Dry (natural)...
⭐
4.6/5
(50 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 483036
$384
#2
⭐
4.6/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Meinl 16" Byzance China Traditional
by
Meinl
Metal
Power
Large Venues
Key Feature:
• Large 16-inch size for maximum china impact
✓ PROS
- • Large 16-inch size for maximum china impact
- • Excellent projection in large venues
✗ CONS
- • Very loud and potentially overpowering
- • May be too much for many musical styles
Meinl 16" Byzance China TraditionalChina CymbalSeries ByzanceSize 16"ChinaByzance cymbals are made in...
⭐
4.6/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 168709
$373
#3
⭐
4.6/5
(51 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Sabian 16" AAX China
by
Sabian
Metal
Rock
Heavy Music
Key Feature:
• Professional power and sustain
✓ PROS
- • Large 16-inch size for maximum china impact
- • Great for heavy rock and metal
✗ CONS
- • Expensive investment
- • Large size requires significant setup space
Sabian 16" AAX ChinaChina CymbalAAX SeriesSize: 16"Brilliant finishRipping attack with a largeround tone yet...
⭐
4.6/5
(51 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 131357
$384
#4
⭐
4.7/5
(14 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Zultan 16" Dune China
by
Zultan
Metal
Rock
Professional
Key Feature:
• Excellent projection in large venues
✓ PROS
- • Large 16-inch size for maximum china impact
- • Excellent projection in large venues
✗ CONS
- • Expensive investment
- • Large size requires significant setup space
Zultan 16" Dune ChinaChina cymbalSize: 16"Dune seriesHand-hammeredPremium China cymbals from traditional...
⭐
4.7/5
(14 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 450118
$219
#5
⭐
4.4/5
(17 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Zultan 16" Mellow China
by
Zultan
Heavy Music
Professional
Rock
Key Feature:
• Excellent projection in large venues
✓ PROS
- • Great for heavy rock and metal
- • Excellent projection in large venues
✗ CONS
- • May be too much for many musical styles
- • Can dominate mix if not balanced properly
Zultan 16" Mellow ChinaChina CymbalSize: 16"Mellow SeriesMaterial: B20 bronze alloyReduces the cymbal volume...
⭐
4.4/5
(17 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 561617
$274
#6
⭐
4.6/5
(36 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Istanbul Agop 16" Xist China Brilliant
Heavy Music
Power
Metal
Key Feature:
• Excellent projection in large venues
✓ PROS
- • Excellent projection in large venues
- • Large 16-inch size for maximum china impact
✗ CONS
- • Very loud and potentially overpowering
- • Large size requires significant setup space
Istanbul Agop 16" Xist China BrilliantChina CymbalSize: 16"Xist SeriesBrilliant finishProfessional quality in...
⭐
4.6/5
(36 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 505872
$252
#7
⭐
4.5/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Zultan 16" China 25
by
Zultan
Professional
Power
Rock
Key Feature:
• Professional power and sustain
✓ PROS
- • Excellent projection in large venues
- • Great for heavy rock and metal
✗ CONS
- • Expensive investment
- • Can dominate mix if not balanced properly
Zultan 16" China 25China Cymbal25th Anniversary seriesSize: 16"Material: B20 bronzeHigh-quality cymbal series...
⭐
4.5/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 611993
$175
#8
⭐
4.4/5
(50 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
UFIP 16" FX Fast China
by
UFIP
Large Venues
Heavy Music
Professional
Key Feature:
• Professional power and sustain
✓ PROS
- • Large 16-inch size for maximum china impact
- • Substantial visual and sonic presence
✗ CONS
- • May be too much for many musical styles
- • Very loud and potentially overpowering
UFIP 16" FX Fast China20" Fast ChinaClass seriesThe UFIP Class series always has something more to offermore...
⭐
4.4/5
(50 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 201906
$274
#9
⭐
4.6/5
(28 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Meinl 16" Class. Cust. Dark Tr. Ch.
by
Meinl
Power
Rock
Heavy Music
Key Feature:
• Excellent projection in large venues
✓ PROS
- • Great for heavy rock and metal
- • Excellent projection in large venues
✗ CONS
- • Very loud and potentially overpowering
- • May be too much for many musical styles
Meinl 16" Class. Cust. Dark Tr. Ch.Trash China CymbalSize: 16"Classics Custom SeriesCC16DATRCHExplosive and...
⭐
4.6/5
(28 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 455936
$186
#10
⭐
4.9/5
(35 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Meinl 16" Classics Extreme China
by
Meinl
Rock
Professional
Heavy Music
Key Feature:
• Substantial visual and sonic presence
✓ PROS
- • Large 16-inch size for maximum china impact
- • Great for heavy rock and metal
✗ CONS
- • Can dominate mix if not balanced properly
- • Large size requires significant setup space
Meinl 16" Classics Extreme ChinaChina CymbalSize: 16"Brilliant finishB12 bronzeLoud assertive and explosive...
⭐
4.9/5
(35 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 278484
$164
#11
⭐
4.6/5
(10 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Istanbul Agop 16" Xist ION China Brilliant
Power
Rock
Heavy Music
Key Feature:
• Great for heavy rock and metal
✓ PROS
- • Excellent projection in large venues
- • Large 16-inch size for maximum china impact
✗ CONS
- • Large size requires significant setup space
- • Expensive investment
Istanbul Agop 16" Xist ION China BrilliantChina CymbalSize: 16"Xist ION seriesBrilliant finishMaterial: B20...
⭐
4.6/5
(10 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 382943
$252
#12
⭐
4.4/5
(11 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Meinl 16" Byzance China Brilliant
by
Meinl
Professional
Large Venues
Heavy Music
Key Feature:
• Professional power and sustain
✓ PROS
- • Excellent projection in large venues
- • Great for heavy rock and metal
✗ CONS
- • Expensive investment
- • May be too much for many musical styles
Meinl 16" Byzance China Brilliant16" China CymbalByzance seriesBrilliant finishAggressiveexotic sound with...
⭐
4.4/5
(11 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 225661
$373
#13
⭐
4.5/5
(51 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Meinl 16" Classics Custom China
by
Meinl
Rock
Metal
Large Venues
Key Feature:
• Large 16-inch size for maximum china impact
✓ PROS
- • Large 16-inch size for maximum china impact
- • Substantial visual and sonic presence
✗ CONS
- • Large size requires significant setup space
- • May be too much for many musical styles
Meinl 16" Classics Custom ChinaChina cymbalClassics Custom SeriesSize: 16"Brilliant finishExceptional smooth...
⭐
4.5/5
(51 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 261663
$186
#14
⭐
4.8/5
(47 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Zultan 16" Z-Series China
by
Zultan
Heavy Music
Professional
Rock
Key Feature:
• Substantial visual and sonic presence
✓ PROS
- • Substantial visual and sonic presence
- • Excellent projection in large venues
✗ CONS
- • May be too much for many musical styles
- • Large size requires significant setup space
Zultan 16" Z-Series ChinaChina CymbalSize: 16"Z SeriesHand-hammeredMaterial: B20 bronzeFullwarm sound with a...
⭐
4.8/5
(47 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 595623
$186
#15
⭐
4.4/5
(35 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Zultan 16" Rock Beat China
by
Zultan
Metal
Professional
Heavy Music
Key Feature:
• Professional power and sustain
✓ PROS
- • Substantial visual and sonic presence
- • Great for heavy rock and metal
✗ CONS
- • Can dominate mix if not balanced properly
- • Expensive investment
Zultan 16" Rock Beat ChinaChina cymbalSize: 16"Rock Beat seriesMade of B-20 BronzeShort and fast response...
⭐
4.4/5
(35 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 269732
$164
How to Choose the Best 16" China 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 16" china 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.
