Best 16" Crash Cymbals Under $200 2026
Affordable 16" crash cymbals under $200 - great value without compromising quality
Last updated: January 21, 2026 • Next update: January 28, 2026
GENRES & STYLES:
For Rock
For Hard Rock
For Metal
For Punk
For Aggressive Playing
For Live Performance
#1
⭐
4.8/5
(26 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Istanbul Mehmet 16" Crash IMC Natural
Live Performance
Punk
Rock
Key Feature:
• Powerful attack with good sustain
✓ PROS
- • Great stage presence and projection
- • Powerful attack with good sustain
✗ CONS
- • May be too loud for intimate settings
- • More expensive than smaller sizes
Istanbul Mehmet 16" Crash IMC NaturalCrash CymbalSize: 16"Material: B20 bronzeFinish: NaturalHigh-quality...
⭐
4.8/5
(26 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 609351
$174
#2
⭐
4.8/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Zildjian 16" Low Volume Crash
by
Zildjian
Aggressive Playing
Live Performance
Hard Rock
Key Feature:
• Classic rock crash size
✓ PROS
- • Classic rock crash size
- • Great stage presence and projection
✗ CONS
- • Can overpower in lighter musical contexts
- • May ring too long in some applications
Zildjian 16" Low Volume CrashLow Volume Crash CymbalSize: 16"Up to 80% quieter than standard cymbalsIdeal for...
⭐
4.8/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 401246
$197
#3
⭐
4.5/5
(31 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Zildjian 16" S Series Rock Crash
by
Zildjian
Metal
Punk
Hard Rock
Key Feature:
• Classic rock crash size
✓ PROS
- • Excellent for rock and heavier styles
- • Cuts through dense mixes well
✗ CONS
- • Requires proper technique to control
- • More expensive than smaller sizes
Zildjian 16" S Series Rock CrashRock Crash CymbalSize: 16"S SeriesMedium heavyMaterial: B12 Bronze alloy (88%...
⭐
4.5/5
(31 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 380603
$175
#4
⭐
4.6/5
(48 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Zildjian 16" S Series Medium Thin Crash
by
Zildjian
Aggressive Playing
Punk
Rock
Key Feature:
• Classic rock crash size
✓ PROS
- • Great stage presence and projection
- • Excellent for rock and heavier styles
✗ CONS
- • More expensive than smaller sizes
- • May be too loud for intimate settings
Zildjian 16" S Series Medium Thin CrashMedium Thin Crash CymbalSize: 16"S SeriesMaterial: B12 bronze alloy...
⭐
4.6/5
(48 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 380564
$175
#5
⭐
4.5/5
(31 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Masterwork 16" Custom Crash
by
Masterwork
Hard Rock
Aggressive Playing
Rock
Key Feature:
• Powerful attack with good sustain
✓ PROS
- • Classic rock crash size
- • Powerful attack with good sustain
✗ CONS
- • May be too loud for intimate settings
- • May ring too long in some applications
Masterwork 16" Custom Crash, 16" CrashThe all-round cymbal in the range. A remarkable sound spectrum and a...
⭐
4.5/5
(31 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 111586
$182
#6
⭐
4.6/5
(50 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Zildjian 16" I Family Crash medium-thin
by
Zildjian
Metal
Punk
Live Performance
Key Feature:
• Powerful attack with good sustain
✓ PROS
- • Classic rock crash size
- • Cuts through dense mixes well
✗ CONS
- • Can overpower in lighter musical contexts
- • May ring too long in some applications
Zildjian 16" I Family Crash medium-thinCrash cymbalSize: 16"I Family SeriesMaterial: B8 BronzeThickness:...
⭐
4.6/5
(50 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 480887
$153
#7
⭐
4.7/5
(31 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Meinl 16" Classics Cust. Trash Crash
by
Meinl
Metal
Aggressive Playing
Punk
Key Feature:
• Excellent for rock and heavier styles
✓ PROS
- • Excellent for rock and heavier styles
- • Cuts through dense mixes well
✗ CONS
- • Can overpower in lighter musical contexts
- • May ring too long in some applications
Meinl 16" Classics Cust. Trash Crash, Trash Crash, Brillant surface finish, B12 bronze, Various large cut-outs...
⭐
4.7/5
(31 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 278525
$197
#8
⭐
4.6/5
(44 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Zultan 16" Caz Crash
by
Zultan
Live Performance
Metal
Rock
Key Feature:
• Classic rock crash size
✓ PROS
- • Great stage presence and projection
- • Classic rock crash size
✗ CONS
- • May ring too long in some applications
- • May be too loud for intimate settings
Zultan 16" Caz CrashCrash cymbalB20 bronzeHand-hammeredFast-response crashWarmfull-bodied fundamental tone with...
⭐
4.6/5
(44 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 278663
$164
#9
⭐
4.7/5
(19 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Masterwork 16" Troy Traditional Crash
by
Masterwork
Aggressive Playing
Live Performance
Rock
Key Feature:
• Classic rock crash size
✓ PROS
- • Excellent for rock and heavier styles
- • Classic rock crash size
✗ CONS
- • May ring too long in some applications
- • More expensive than smaller sizes
Masterwork 16" Troy Traditional CrashCrash CymbalSize: 16"Material: B25 bronzeFinish:...
⭐
4.7/5
(19 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 611372
$138
#10
⭐
4.9/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Masterwork 16" Custom Rock Crash
by
Masterwork
Metal
Aggressive Playing
Live Performance
Key Feature:
• Cuts through dense mixes well
✓ PROS
- • Excellent for rock and heavier styles
- • Cuts through dense mixes well
✗ CONS
- • May ring too long in some applications
- • Can overpower in lighter musical contexts
Masterwork 16" Custom Rock Crash, 16 "Rock CrashThe all-round Cymbal of the series. A remarkable sound...
⭐
4.9/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 111589
$175
#11
⭐
4.7/5
(18 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Meinl 16" Classics Custom Med. Crash
by
Meinl
Punk
Hard Rock
Rock
Key Feature:
• Cuts through dense mixes well
✓ PROS
- • Classic rock crash size
- • Great stage presence and projection
✗ CONS
- • Can overpower in lighter musical contexts
- • More expensive than smaller sizes
Meinl 16" Classics Custom Med. CrashCrash CymbalsClassics custom seriesMedium crashBrillant surface finishIn all...
⭐
4.7/5
(18 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 261669
$186
#12
⭐
4.4/5
(33 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Zultan 16" Q Crash
by
Zultan
Metal
Hard Rock
Rock
Key Feature:
• Cuts through dense mixes well
✓ PROS
- • Classic rock crash size
- • Powerful attack with good sustain
✗ CONS
- • More expensive than smaller sizes
- • Requires proper technique to control
Zultan 16" Q CrashCrash cymbalSize: 16 "Q-seriesDarkThe outer 2" ring of the upper part is extremely...
⭐
4.4/5
(33 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 268243
$153
#13
⭐
4.8/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Meinl 16" Classics Custom Dark Crash
by
Meinl
Punk
Metal
Aggressive Playing
Key Feature:
• Excellent for rock and heavier styles
✓ PROS
- • Excellent for rock and heavier styles
- • Great stage presence and projection
✗ CONS
- • May ring too long in some applications
- • Requires proper technique to control
Meinl 16" Classics Custom Dark CrashCrash CymbalClassics Custom SeriesSize: 16"CC16DACFinish:...
⭐
4.8/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 344948
$186
#14
⭐
5.0/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Meinl 16" Class. Cust. Dark Heavy CR
by
Meinl
Live Performance
Punk
Aggressive Playing
Key Feature:
• Powerful attack with good sustain
✓ PROS
- • Classic rock crash size
- • Great stage presence and projection
✗ CONS
- • Requires proper technique to control
- • May ring too long in some applications
Meinl 16" Class. Cust. Dark Heavy CRCrash CymbalSize: 16"Classics Custom Dark SeriesThickness: HeavyFinish:...
⭐
5.0/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 510230
$186
#15
⭐
4.8/5
(37 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Paiste 16" 900 Series Crash
by
Paiste
Metal
Live Performance
Hard Rock
Key Feature:
• Cuts through dense mixes well
✓ PROS
- • Great stage presence and projection
- • Excellent for rock and heavier styles
✗ CONS
- • Can overpower in lighter musical contexts
- • May ring too long in some applications
Paiste 16" 900 Series CrashCrash CymbalSize: 16""900" SeriesMade of B8 (2002) bronzeFull sound with...
⭐
4.8/5
(37 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 407493
$164
How to Choose the Best 16" Crash 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" crash 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.
