Best Meinl 18" Crash Cymbals 2026
Premium Meinl 18" crash cymbals - legendary tone and craftsmanship
Last updated: January 14, 2026 • Next update: January 21, 2026
#1
⭐
4.8/5
(26 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Meinl 18" Byzance Vintage Pure Trash
by
Meinl
Heavy Rock
Stadium Rock
Powerful Playing
Key Feature:
• Maximum projection and volume
✓ PROS
- • Rich, full-bodied crash sound
- • Perfect for large venue performance
✗ CONS
- • Can be overwhelming in small spaces
- • Physically demanding to play effectively
Meinl 18" Byzance Vintage Pure TrashCrash CymbalSize: 18"Finish: NaturalMaterial: B20 BronzeHand-hammeredDry...
⭐
4.8/5
(26 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 510243
$417
#2
⭐
4.4/5
(48 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Meinl 18" Byzance Extra Thin Crash
by
Meinl
Progressive
Metal
Heavy Rock
Key Feature:
• Perfect for large venue performance
✓ PROS
- • Maximum projection and volume
- • Rich, full-bodied crash sound
✗ CONS
- • Can be overwhelming in small spaces
- • Requires powerful amplification to balance
Meinl 18" Byzance Extra Thin CrashCrash CymbalByzance seriesTraditional finishSize: 18" extra thin hammered...
⭐
4.4/5
(48 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 308277
$438
#3
⭐
4.6/5
(52 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Meinl 18" Byzance Polyphonic Crash
by
Meinl
Metal
Large Venues
Powerful Playing
Key Feature:
• Excellent sustain and wash
✓ PROS
- • Maximum projection and volume
- • Perfect for large venue performance
✗ CONS
- • May ring too long for fast passages
- • Can be overwhelming in small spaces
Meinl 18" Byzance Polyphonic CrashPolyphonic Crash CymbalSize: 18"Byzance SeriesTraditional surfaceMaterial:...
⭐
4.6/5
(52 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 533352
$428
#4
⭐
4.9/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Meinl 18" Byzance Dual Crash
by
Meinl
Powerful Playing
Heavy Rock
Stadium Rock
Key Feature:
• Impressive visual and sonic impact
✓ PROS
- • Excellent sustain and wash
- • Perfect for large venue performance
✗ CONS
- • Expensive investment
- • May ring too long for fast passages
Meinl 18" Byzance Dry Dual CrashCrash CymbalSize: 18"Byzance seriesB18DUCExtra dry (natural) and brilliant...
⭐
4.9/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 358824
$438
#5
⭐
4.6/5
(3 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Meinl 20" Pure Alloy Custom Trash Cr
by
Meinl
Progressive
Large Venues
Heavy Rock
Key Feature:
• Maximum projection and volume
✓ PROS
- • Perfect for large venue performance
- • Impressive visual and sonic impact
✗ CONS
- • Requires powerful amplification to balance
- • May ring too long for fast passages
Meinl 20" Pure Alloy Custom Trash Cr, Trash Crash Cymbal, Size: 20", Fast attack with very short sustain,...
⭐
4.6/5
(3 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 558055
$406
#6
⭐
4.9/5
(56 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Meinl 18" Pure Alloy E.Hammered Cr.
by
Meinl
Metal
Powerful Playing
Progressive
Key Feature:
• Excellent sustain and wash
✓ PROS
- • Excellent sustain and wash
- • Maximum projection and volume
✗ CONS
- • Physically demanding to play effectively
- • Can be overwhelming in small spaces
Meinl 18" Pure Alloy E.Hammered Cr.Crash CymbalSize: 18"Pure Alloy SeriesFinish: TraditionalThickness: medium...
⭐
4.9/5
(56 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 581404
$340
#7
⭐
4.9/5
(45 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Meinl 18" Byzance Extra Dry Trash Cr
by
Meinl
Large Venues
Progressive
Metal
Key Feature:
• Impressive visual and sonic impact
✓ PROS
- • Perfect for large venue performance
- • Maximum projection and volume
✗ CONS
- • Requires powerful amplification to balance
- • Expensive investment
Meinl 18" Byzance Extra Dry Trash CrCrash CymbalSize: 18"Finish: Extra Dry (Natural)Material: B20...
⭐
4.9/5
(45 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 510246
$428
#8
⭐
4.5/5
(20 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Meinl 18" Byzance Dual Trash Crash
by
Meinl
Heavy Rock
Large Venues
Progressive
Key Feature:
• Excellent sustain and wash
✓ PROS
- • Rich, full-bodied crash sound
- • Excellent sustain and wash
✗ CONS
- • Physically demanding to play effectively
- • Can be overwhelming in small spaces
Meinl 18" Byzance Dual Trash CrashCrash CymbalSize: 18"Material: B20 BronzeHand-hammeredExtra Dry (natural)...
⭐
4.5/5
(20 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 483033
$438
#9
⭐
4.4/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Meinl 18" Pure Alloy Custom M. Crash
by
Meinl
Progressive
Powerful Playing
Stadium Rock
Key Feature:
• Impressive visual and sonic impact
✓ PROS
- • Perfect for large venue performance
- • Excellent sustain and wash
✗ CONS
- • May ring too long for fast passages
- • Physically demanding to play effectively
Meinl 18" Pure Alloy Custom M. CrashCrash CymbalSize: 18"Pure Alloy Custom SeriesThickness: mediumBrightrich...
⭐
4.4/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 533377
$328
#10
⭐
4.5/5
(40 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Meinl 18" Byzance Dark Trash Crash
by
Meinl
Stadium Rock
Large Venues
Heavy Rock
Key Feature:
• Maximum projection and volume
✓ PROS
- • Impressive visual and sonic impact
- • Excellent sustain and wash
✗ CONS
- • Physically demanding to play effectively
- • May ring too long for fast passages
Meinl 18" Byzance Dark Trash CrashCrash CymbalSize: 18"Finish: Dark (Natural)Material: B20...
⭐
4.5/5
(40 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 510244
$438
#11
⭐
4.5/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Meinl 18" Byzance Vintage Crash
by
Meinl
Stadium Rock
Progressive
Metal
Key Feature:
• Perfect for large venue performance
✓ PROS
- • Rich, full-bodied crash sound
- • Perfect for large venue performance
✗ CONS
- • Requires powerful amplification to balance
- • Can be overwhelming in small spaces
Meinl 18" Byzance Vintage CrashCrash Cymbal18" Byzance SeriesVintage crashSandblasted surfaceLarge surface...
⭐
4.5/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 308282
$438
#12
⭐
4.8/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Meinl 18" Classics C. Dual Trash Cr.
by
Meinl
Progressive
Large Venues
Stadium Rock
Key Feature:
• Rich, full-bodied crash sound
✓ PROS
- • Excellent sustain and wash
- • Maximum projection and volume
✗ CONS
- • Can be overwhelming in small spaces
- • Requires powerful amplification to balance
Meinl 18" Classics C. Dual Trash Cr.Trash Crash CymbalSize: 18"Material: B-12 BronzeFinish: Dark /...
⭐
4.8/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 528053
$252
#13
⭐
4.5/5
(34 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Meinl 18" Byzance Foundry Reserve CR
by
Meinl
Metal
Stadium Rock
Powerful Playing
Key Feature:
• Rich, full-bodied crash sound
✓ PROS
- • Rich, full-bodied crash sound
- • Maximum projection and volume
✗ CONS
- • Requires powerful amplification to balance
- • Expensive investment
Meinl 18" Byzance Foundry Reserve CRCrash CymbalSize: 18"Byzance Foundry Reserve SeriesB20 BronzeTraditional...
⭐
4.5/5
(34 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 456940
$494
#14
⭐
4.5/5
(19 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Meinl 18" Pure Alloy Custom Trash
by
Meinl
Large Venues
Powerful Playing
Metal
Key Feature:
• Impressive visual and sonic impact
✓ PROS
- • Impressive visual and sonic impact
- • Perfect for large venue performance
✗ CONS
- • Requires powerful amplification to balance
- • May ring too long for fast passages
Meinl 18" Pure Alloy Custom Trash, Crash Cymbal, Size: 18", Finish: Smoke Bronze, Warm tone with very short...
⭐
4.5/5
(19 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 483025
$318
#15
⭐
4.9/5
(53 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Meinl 18"Byzance Heavy H. Crash
by
Meinl
Progressive
Powerful Playing
Metal
Key Feature:
• Perfect for large venue performance
✓ PROS
- • Impressive visual and sonic impact
- • Excellent sustain and wash
✗ CONS
- • May ring too long for fast passages
- • Requires powerful amplification to balance
Meinl 18" Byzance Heavy H. CrashCrash CymbalSize: 28"Byzance Heavy Hammered SeriesFinish: BrilliantMaterial:...
⭐
4.9/5
(53 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 428653
$428
How to Choose the Best 18" 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 18" 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.
