Best 21" Ride Cymbals for Medium Heavy Playing 2026
Perfect 21" ride cymbals for medium-heavy-playing - easy to play and learn on
Last updated: January 21, 2026 • Next update: January 28, 2026
#1
⭐
4.9/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Istanbul Agop 21" Traditional Medium Ride
Jazz Fusion
Medium-Heavy Playing
Rock
Key Feature:
• Professional sound quality
✓ PROS
- • Excellent for expressive ride playing
- • Professional sound quality
✗ CONS
- • May be overpowering in small venues
- • Requires developed technique to control
Istanbul Agop 21" Traditional Medium RideRide CymbalSize: 21"Traditional Medium SeriesWide scope of...
⭐
4.9/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 558936
$483
#2
⭐
4.8/5
(8 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Paiste 21" 2002 Black Big Beat Cymbal
by
Paiste
Studio Recording
Rock
Jazz Fusion
Key Feature:
• Excellent for expressive ride playing
✓ PROS
- • Good projection for medium-large venues
- • Great sustain and wash capabilities
✗ CONS
- • Heavier physical weight
- • Can mask other instruments if overplayed
Paiste 21" 2002 Black Big Beat CymbalCymbalSize: 21"2002 Black Big Beat SeriesCan be used as a crash or...
⭐
4.8/5
(8 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 382016
$450
#3
⭐
4.5/5
(14 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Sabian 21" AAX Medium Ride
by
Sabian
Progressive
Medium-Heavy Playing
Studio Recording
Key Feature:
• Excellent for expressive ride playing
✓ PROS
- • Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
- • Good projection for medium-large venues
✗ CONS
- • Heavier physical weight
- • Can mask other instruments if overplayed
Sabian 21" AAX Medium RideRide CymbalSize: 21"AAX SeriesStrength: MediumBrilliant finishMaterial: B20...
⭐
4.5/5
(14 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 465195
$549
#4
⭐
4.8/5
(37 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Meinl 21" Byzance Transition Ride
by
Meinl
Rock
Jazz Fusion
Studio Recording
Key Feature:
• Good projection for medium-large venues
✓ PROS
- • Professional sound quality
- • Excellent for expressive ride playing
✗ CONS
- • Requires developed technique to control
- • Can mask other instruments if overplayed
Meinl 21" Byzance Transition RideRide CymbalSize: 21"Signature Ride Mike JohnstonExtra dry...
⭐
4.8/5
(37 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 329761
$626
#5
⭐
4.9/5
(53 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Meinl 21" Byzance Nuance Ride
by
Meinl
Medium-Heavy Playing
Jazz Fusion
Rock
Key Feature:
• Professional sound quality
✓ PROS
- • Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
- • Professional sound quality
✗ CONS
- • Requires developed technique to control
- • May be overpowering in small venues
Meinl 21" Byzance Nuance RideRide CymbalSize: 21"Ralph Peterson Jr. Signature RideByzance...
⭐
4.9/5
(53 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 358810
$604
#6
⭐
4.5/5
(6 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Istanbul Agop 21" Custom Series SE Jazz Ride
Jazz Fusion
Medium-Heavy Playing
Studio Recording
Key Feature:
• Excellent for expressive ride playing
✓ PROS
- • Professional sound quality
- • Great sustain and wash capabilities
✗ CONS
- • Heavier physical weight
- • Requires developed technique to control
Istanbul Agop 21" Custom Series SE Jazz RideRide CymbalSize: 21"Custom Series Special Edition JazzTraditional...
⭐
4.5/5
(6 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 480233
$546
#7
⭐
4.8/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Zildjian 21" K Custom Special Dry Ride
by
Zildjian
Studio Recording
Jazz Fusion
Rock
Key Feature:
• Great sustain and wash capabilities
✓ PROS
- • Excellent for expressive ride playing
- • Good projection for medium-large venues
✗ CONS
- • Requires developed technique to control
- • Heavier physical weight
Zildjian 21" K Custom Special Dry RideRide CymbalSize: 21"K Custom Special Dry SeriesNatural finishDarkearthy...
⭐
4.8/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 407258
$548
#8
⭐
4.6/5
(37 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Zildjian 21" K Series Crash Ride
by
Zildjian
Medium-Heavy Playing
Studio Recording
Jazz Fusion
Key Feature:
• Good projection for medium-large venues
✓ PROS
- • Great sustain and wash capabilities
- • Professional sound quality
✗ CONS
- • Requires developed technique to control
- • Heavier physical weight
Zildjian 21" K Series Crash RideCrash Ride CymbalSize: 21"K seriesBrilliant finishMaterial: B-20 alloyFast...
⭐
4.6/5
(37 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 344341
$527
#9
⭐
4.7/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Meinl 21" Byzance Polyphonic Ride
by
Meinl
Jazz Fusion
Medium-Heavy Playing
Rock
Key Feature:
• Good projection for medium-large venues
✓ PROS
- • Great sustain and wash capabilities
- • Professional sound quality
✗ CONS
- • Requires developed technique to control
- • May be overpowering in small venues
Meinl 21" Byzance Polyphonic RideRide CymbalSize: 21"Byzance SeriesTraditional design with an untreated...
⭐
4.7/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 428666
$593
#10
⭐
4.5/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Ufip 21" Blast Extra Dry Ride
by
Ufip
Studio Recording
Jazz Fusion
Progressive
Key Feature:
• Good projection for medium-large venues
✓ PROS
- • Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
- • Good projection for medium-large venues
✗ CONS
- • May be overpowering in small venues
- • More expensive than standard sizes
Ufip 21" Blast Extra Dry RideRide CymbalSize: 21"Blast Extra Dry SeriesMaterial: B20 BronzeDouble...
⭐
4.5/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 485836
$461
#11
⭐
4.7/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Zultan 21" Aeon Ride
by
Zultan
Rock
Expressive Playing
Studio Recording
Key Feature:
• Good projection for medium-large venues
✓ PROS
- • Great sustain and wash capabilities
- • Professional sound quality
✗ CONS
- • More expensive than standard sizes
- • Can mask other instruments if overplayed
Zultan 21" Aeon RideRide CymbalSize: 21"Material: B25 bronze alloy (75% copper25%...
⭐
4.7/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 540952
$318
#12
⭐
4.8/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Ufip 21" Bionic Series Heavy Ride
by
Ufip
Jazz Fusion
Studio Recording
Medium-Heavy Playing
Key Feature:
• Professional sound quality
✓ PROS
- • Good projection for medium-large venues
- • Excellent for expressive ride playing
✗ CONS
- • Can mask other instruments if overplayed
- • Requires developed technique to control
Ufip 21" Bionic Series Heavy RideHeavy RideSize: 21"Material: B20 BronzeBright and warm with great...
⭐
4.8/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 424292
$402
#13
⭐
4.7/5
(45 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Zultan 21" Aeon Light Ride
by
Zultan
Jazz Fusion
Medium-Heavy Playing
Progressive
Key Feature:
• Excellent for expressive ride playing
✓ PROS
- • Great sustain and wash capabilities
- • Good projection for medium-large venues
✗ CONS
- • More expensive than standard sizes
- • Requires developed technique to control
Zultan 21" Aeon Light RideLight Ride CymbalSize: 21"Material: B25 bronze alloy (75% copper25% tin)Hand...
⭐
4.7/5
(45 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 540951
$318
#14
⭐
4.5/5
(31 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Paiste 21" Masters Medium Ride
by
Paiste
Medium-Heavy Playing
Expressive Playing
Studio Recording
Key Feature:
• Good projection for medium-large venues
✓ PROS
- • Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
- • Great sustain and wash capabilities
✗ CONS
- • May be overpowering in small venues
- • More expensive than standard sizes
Paiste 21" Medium MastersMedium Ride CymbalSize: 21"Twenty Masters Collection SeriesSatisfyingopenrich in...
⭐
4.5/5
(31 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 319740
$637
#15
⭐
4.7/5
(55 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Meinl 21" Byzance Thomas Lang Ride
by
Meinl
Expressive Playing
Medium-Heavy Playing
Studio Recording
Key Feature:
• Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
✓ PROS
- • Excellent for expressive ride playing
- • Great sustain and wash capabilities
✗ CONS
- • Can mask other instruments if overplayed
- • May be overpowering in small venues
Meinl 21" Byzance Thomas Lang RideRide CymbalByzance SeriesBrilliant finishThomas Lang Signature ModelSize:...
⭐
4.7/5
(55 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 606868
$611
How to Choose the Best 21" Ride 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 21" ride 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.
