Best 21" Crash Cymbals and Bigger for Art Music 2026
Perfect 21" crash cymbals and bigger for art-music - easy to play and learn on
Last updated: January 21, 2026 • Next update: January 28, 2026
#1
⭐
4.6/5
(2 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Istanbul Agop 22" Xist Crash Brilliant
Art Music
Symphonic
Orchestral
Key Feature:
• Ultimate crash cymbal experience
✓ PROS
- • Impressive visual and acoustic impact
- • Unmatched sustain and complexity
✗ CONS
- • Impractical for general drumming
- • Extremely expensive professional instruments
Istanbul Agop 22" Xist Crash BrilliantCrash CymbalSize: 22"Xist seriesBrilliant finishMaterial: B20 bronze...
⭐
4.6/5
(2 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 348670
$404
#2
⭐
4.9/5
(46 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Istanbul Agop 22" Xist Dry Dark Brill. Crash
Film Scoring
Symphonic
Art Music
Key Feature:
• Professional orchestral applications
✓ PROS
- • Professional orchestral applications
- • Unmatched sustain and complexity
✗ CONS
- • Highly specialized applications only
- • Requires expert technique and control
Istanbul Agop 22" Xist Dry Dark Brill. CrashCrash CymbalsXist Dry Dark Brilliant SeriesSize:...
⭐
4.9/5
(46 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 554180
$413
#3
⭐
4.5/5
(26 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Istanbul Agop 22" Xist Dry Dark Crash
Orchestral
Symphonic
Special Effects
Key Feature:
• Ultimate crash cymbal experience
✓ PROS
- • Unmatched sustain and complexity
- • Professional orchestral applications
✗ CONS
- • Requires expert technique and control
- • Highly specialized applications only
Istanbul Agop 22" Xist Dry Dark CrashDark Crash CymbalSize: 22"Xist Dry Dark SeriesB20...
⭐
4.5/5
(26 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 485628
$402
#4
⭐
5.0/5
(44 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Zildjian 21" K Custom Special Dry Trash
by
Zildjian
Symphonic
Professional Recording
Art Music
Key Feature:
• Professional orchestral applications
✓ PROS
- • Unmatched sustain and complexity
- • Ultimate crash cymbal experience
✗ CONS
- • Highly specialized applications only
- • Extremely expensive professional instruments
Zildjian 21" K Custom Special Dry TrashTrash crash cymbalSize: 21"K Custom Special Dry SeriesNatural...
⭐
5.0/5
(44 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 407237
$505
#5
⭐
4.5/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Paiste 2002 Classic 22" Crash
by
Paiste
Art Music
Professional Recording
Symphonic
Key Feature:
• Professional orchestral applications
✓ PROS
- • Impressive visual and acoustic impact
- • Professional orchestral applications
✗ CONS
- • Highly specialized applications only
- • Impractical for general drumming
Paiste 2002 Classic 22" CrashCrash CymbalSize: 22"2002 Classic seriesBrightwarmfullradiant crash soundDefined...
⭐
4.5/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 111301
$483
#6
⭐
5.0/5
(3 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Istanbul Agop 22" Traditional Trash Hit
Symphonic
Special Effects
Orchestral
Key Feature:
• Professional orchestral applications
✓ PROS
- • Unmatched sustain and complexity
- • Impressive visual and acoustic impact
✗ CONS
- • Requires expert technique and control
- • Extremely expensive professional instruments
Istanbul Agop 22" Traditional Trash HitEffect CymbalSize: 22"Traditional Trash Hit SeriesMaterial: B20 bronze...
⭐
5.0/5
(3 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 581951
$545
#7
⭐
5.0/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Meinl Pure Alloy 22" Medium Crash
by
Meinl
Film Scoring
Orchestral
Special Effects
Key Feature:
• Impressive visual and acoustic impact
✓ PROS
- • Professional orchestral applications
- • Impressive visual and acoustic impact
✗ CONS
- • Highly specialized applications only
- • Limited availability and selection
Meinl Pure Alloy 22" Medium CrashMedium Crash CymbalSize: 22"Pure Alloy SeriesFinish: TraditionalHigh-tech...
⭐
5.0/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 428620
$417
#8
⭐
4.5/5
(36 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Meinl 22" Byzance Medium Crash
by
Meinl
Special Effects
Professional Recording
Art Music
Key Feature:
• Impressive visual and acoustic impact
✓ PROS
- • Impressive visual and acoustic impact
- • Professional orchestral applications
✗ CONS
- • Limited availability and selection
- • Highly specialized applications only
Meinl 22" Byzance Medium CrashCrash CymbalSize: 22"Byzance seriesMediumTraditional modelByzance cymbals are...
⭐
4.5/5
(36 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 221573
$611
#9
⭐
4.8/5
(9 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Zildjian 21" K-Series Paper Thin Crash
by
Zildjian
Art Music
Special Effects
Film Scoring
Key Feature:
• Professional orchestral applications
✓ PROS
- • Ultimate crash cymbal experience
- • Unique sonic characteristics
✗ CONS
- • Requires expert technique and control
- • Highly specialized applications only
Zildjian 21" K-Series Paper Thin CrashCrash CymbalSize: 21"K-SeriesExplosivedark crash cymbal from the...
⭐
4.8/5
(9 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 572220
$560
#10
⭐
5.0/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Zultan 22" Heritage Crash
by
Zultan
Professional Recording
Orchestral
Symphonic
Key Feature:
• Ultimate crash cymbal experience
✓ PROS
- • Unique sonic characteristics
- • Unmatched sustain and complexity
✗ CONS
- • Requires expert technique and control
- • Limited availability and selection
Zultan 22" Heritage CrashCrash CymbalHeritage SeriesSize: 22"100% handmade in accordance with traditional...
⭐
5.0/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 422433
$406
#11
⭐
4.7/5
(20 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Istanbul Agop 21" Xist Dry Dark Brill. Crash
Special Effects
Professional Recording
Symphonic
Key Feature:
• Unique sonic characteristics
✓ PROS
- • Unmatched sustain and complexity
- • Impressive visual and acoustic impact
✗ CONS
- • Requires expert technique and control
- • Highly specialized applications only
Istanbul Agop 21" Xist Dry Dark Brill. CrashCrash CymbalsXist Dry Dark Brilliant SeriesSize:...
⭐
4.7/5
(20 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 554176
$358
#12
⭐
4.6/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Sabian 22" HHX Complex Thin Crash
by
Sabian
Professional Recording
Symphonic
Special Effects
Key Feature:
• Unique sonic characteristics
✓ PROS
- • Unique sonic characteristics
- • Ultimate crash cymbal experience
✗ CONS
- • Requires expert technique and control
- • Extremely expensive professional instruments
Sabian 22" HHX Complex Thin CrashThin Crash CymbalSize: 22"HHX Complex SeriesMaterial: B20 BronzeCombination...
⭐
4.6/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 476040
$714
#13
⭐
4.7/5
(25 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Zultan 21" Caz Crash
by
Zultan
Art Music
Film Scoring
Symphonic
Key Feature:
• Unique sonic characteristics
✓ PROS
- • Professional orchestral applications
- • Impressive visual and acoustic impact
✗ CONS
- • Limited availability and selection
- • Requires expert technique and control
Zultan 21" Caz CrashCrash CymbalSize: 21"B20 BronzeHand-hammeredPolished surfaceFast responding crashWarmfull...
⭐
4.7/5
(25 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 475509
$274
#14
⭐
4.9/5
(41 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Istanbul Agop 22" Traditional Dark Crash
Art Music
Professional Recording
Special Effects
Key Feature:
• Unmatched sustain and complexity
✓ PROS
- • Impressive visual and acoustic impact
- • Unmatched sustain and complexity
✗ CONS
- • Requires expert technique and control
- • Highly specialized applications only
Istanbul Agop 22" Traditional Dark CrashDark Crash CymbalSize: 22"Traditional Dark...
⭐
4.9/5
(41 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 472201
$545
#15
⭐
4.5/5
(2 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Zildjian 22" K-Series Paper Thin Crash
by
Zildjian
Special Effects
Orchestral
Film Scoring
Key Feature:
• Ultimate crash cymbal experience
✓ PROS
- • Professional orchestral applications
- • Impressive visual and acoustic impact
✗ CONS
- • Extremely expensive professional instruments
- • Limited availability and selection
Zildjian 22" K-Series Paper Thin CrashCrash CymbalSize: 22"K-SeriesExplosivedark crash cymbal from the...
⭐
4.5/5
(2 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 572221
$582
How to Choose the Best 21" Crash Cymbals and Bigger
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 21" crash cymbals and bigger 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.
