Best 17" Crash Cymbals Under $500 2026
Affordable 17" crash cymbals under $500 - great value without compromising quality
Last updated: January 14, 2026 • Next update: January 21, 2026
#1
⭐
4.4/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Zildjian 17" Z Custom Crash
by
Zildjian
Fusion
Progressive
Rock
Key Feature:
• Versatile across heavier genres
✓ PROS
- • Excellent sustain and projection
- • Great for expressive playing
✗ CONS
- • Expensive compared to standard sizes
- • Can mask other instruments if overused
Zildjian 17" Z Custom CrashCrash CymbalDiameter: 17"Developed for heavy hittersBright sound with explosive...
⭐
4.4/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 588917
$413
#2
⭐
4.4/5
(43 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Istanbul Agop 17" Agop Signature Crash
Metal
Complex Music
Progressive
Key Feature:
• Excellent sustain and projection
✓ PROS
- • Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
- • Excellent sustain and projection
✗ CONS
- • Can mask other instruments if overused
- • May be overpowering in small venues
Istanbul Agop 17" Agop Signature CrashCrashHand hammeredSize: 17"Material: B20 bronzeVery thin crash with...
⭐
4.4/5
(43 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 435808
$356
#3
⭐
4.6/5
(7 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Paiste 17" Signature Fast Crash
by
Paiste
Metal
Progressive
Complex Music
Key Feature:
• Versatile across heavier genres
✓ PROS
- • Excellent sustain and projection
- • Versatile across heavier genres
✗ CONS
- • Expensive compared to standard sizes
- • Requires strong technique to control
Paiste 17" Line Fast Crash Cymbal, 17" Fast CrashThe Fast Crash from the Signature Line offers a warm, full...
⭐
4.6/5
(7 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 133499
$428
#4
⭐
4.7/5
(47 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Zildjian 17" K Custom Special Dry Trash
by
Zildjian
Metal
Fusion
Power Playing
Key Feature:
• Professional sound quality
✓ PROS
- • Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
- • Excellent sustain and projection
✗ CONS
- • Can mask other instruments if overused
- • Expensive compared to standard sizes
Zildjian 17" K Custom Special Dry TrashTrash Crash CymbalSize: 17"K Custom Special Dry SeriesNatural...
⭐
4.7/5
(47 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 407209
$438
#5
⭐
4.4/5
(41 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Zildjian 17" K-Custom Hybrid Crash
by
Zildjian
Complex Music
Fusion
Power Playing
Key Feature:
• Versatile across heavier genres
✓ PROS
- • Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
- • Excellent sustain and projection
✗ CONS
- • Heavy weight for extended playing
- • May be overpowering in small venues
Zildjian 17" K-Custom Hybrid CrashHybrid Crash CymbalSize: 17"K-Custom SeriesHybrid CrashRegular...
⭐
4.4/5
(41 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 198793
$428
#6
⭐
4.6/5
(42 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Sabian 17" AAX AAXplosion Crash
by
Sabian
Power Playing
Rock
Progressive
Key Feature:
• Professional sound quality
✓ PROS
- • Great for expressive playing
- • Versatile across heavier genres
✗ CONS
- • Heavy weight for extended playing
- • Expensive compared to standard sizes
Sabian 17" AAX AAXplosion Crash17" AAXplosion CrashAAX seriesBrillant finishClearcleanwell defined cymbal...
⭐
4.6/5
(42 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 188222
$417
#7
⭐
4.5/5
(40 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Sabian 17" AAX Thin Crash
by
Sabian
Complex Music
Progressive
Power Playing
Key Feature:
• Versatile across heavier genres
✓ PROS
- • Excellent sustain and projection
- • Professional sound quality
✗ CONS
- • Can mask other instruments if overused
- • Expensive compared to standard sizes
Sabian 17" AAX Thin CrashCrash CymbalSize: 17"AAX SeriesThickness: thinBrilliant finishMaterial: B20...
⭐
4.5/5
(40 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 465058
$417
#8
⭐
4.6/5
(11 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Sabian 17" HHX Complex Thin Crash
by
Sabian
Power Playing
Progressive
Metal
Key Feature:
• Professional sound quality
✓ PROS
- • Professional sound quality
- • Great for expressive playing
✗ CONS
- • Can mask other instruments if overused
- • May be overpowering in small venues
Sabian 17" HHX Complex Thin CrashThin Crash CymbalSize: 17"HHX Complex SeriesMaterial: B20 BronzeCombination...
⭐
4.6/5
(11 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 476036
$494
#9
⭐
5.0/5
(28 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Paiste 17" Masters Dark Crash
by
Paiste
Metal
Progressive
Complex Music
Key Feature:
• Versatile across heavier genres
✓ PROS
- • Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
- • Versatile across heavier genres
✗ CONS
- • Can mask other instruments if overused
- • Expensive compared to standard sizes
Paiste 17" Masters Dark CrashDark crash cymbalSize: 17"Masters SeriesDarksmoky cymbal soundSoft playing...
⭐
5.0/5
(28 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 382001
$438
#10
⭐
4.5/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Sabian 17" Stratus Crash
by
Sabian
Power Playing
Progressive
Fusion
Key Feature:
• Great for expressive playing
✓ PROS
- • Excellent sustain and projection
- • Versatile across heavier genres
✗ CONS
- • Requires strong technique to control
- • Expensive compared to standard sizes
Sabian 17" Stratus CrashCrash CymbalSize: 17"Material: B20 BronzeHigh impact hammeredTraditional finishThin...
⭐
4.5/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 603693
$347
#11
⭐
4.7/5
(26 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Sabian 17" HHX HHXtrem Crash
by
Sabian
Progressive
Fusion
Metal
Key Feature:
• Great for expressive playing
✓ PROS
- • Versatile across heavier genres
- • Professional sound quality
✗ CONS
- • Requires strong technique to control
- • May be overpowering in small venues
Sabian 17" HHX HHXtrem CrashHHXtrem Crash CymbalSize: 17"HHX seriesBrilliant finishAn attractive Crash with a...
⭐
4.7/5
(26 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 188151
$494
#12
⭐
4.5/5
(23 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Sabian 17" HHX Legacy Crash
by
Sabian
Metal
Fusion
Power Playing
Key Feature:
• Versatile across heavier genres
✓ PROS
- • Excellent sustain and projection
- • Professional sound quality
✗ CONS
- • May be overpowering in small venues
- • Expensive compared to standard sizes
Sabian 17" HHX Legacy CrashHHX Legacy CrashDave Weckl signature seriesSize: 17"The cymbal is thick and dark...
⭐
4.5/5
(23 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 193278
$488
#13
⭐
4.8/5
(38 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Meinl 17" Byzance Jazz Extra Thin Cr
by
Meinl
Complex Music
Power Playing
Metal
Key Feature:
• Professional sound quality
✓ PROS
- • Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
- • Excellent sustain and projection
✗ CONS
- • Can mask other instruments if overused
- • Expensive compared to standard sizes
Meinl 17" Byzance Jazz Extra Thin Cr17" Jazz Extra Thin CrashJazz model (brilliant)The response is fast and...
⭐
4.8/5
(38 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 223542
$406
#14
⭐
4.4/5
(45 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Zildjian 17" A-Custom Fast Crash
by
Zildjian
Metal
Power Playing
Complex Music
Key Feature:
• Versatile across heavier genres
✓ PROS
- • Professional sound quality
- • Excellent sustain and projection
✗ CONS
- • May be overpowering in small venues
- • Expensive compared to standard sizes
Zildjian 17" A-Custom Fast CrashCrashSize: 17"A Custom seriesBrilliant finishNaturalbrightnot too thicknot...
⭐
4.4/5
(45 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 160475
$366
#15
⭐
4.5/5
(43 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Meinl 17" Byzance Dark Crash
by
Meinl
Rock
Complex Music
Progressive
Key Feature:
• Great for expressive playing
✓ PROS
- • Versatile across heavier genres
- • Professional sound quality
✗ CONS
- • Heavy weight for extended playing
- • Expensive compared to standard sizes
Meinl 17" Byzance Dark CrashDark Crash CymbalByzance seriesSize: 17"Dark (natural) performanceExtremely...
⭐
4.5/5
(43 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 221807
$395
How to Choose the Best 17" 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 17" 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.
