Best 21" Ride Cymbals Under $800 2026
Affordable 21" ride cymbals under $800 - great value without compromising quality
Last updated: January 21, 2026 • Next update: January 28, 2026
#1
⭐
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
#2
⭐
4.8/5
(45 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Sabian 21" HHX Complex Medium Ride
by
Sabian
Expressive Playing
Jazz Fusion
Studio Recording
Key Feature:
• Professional sound quality
✓ PROS
- • Great sustain and wash capabilities
- • Excellent for expressive ride playing
✗ CONS
- • May be overpowering in small venues
- • More expensive than standard sizes
Sabian 21" HHX Complex Medium RideRideSize: 21"B20 BronzeCombination of HH and HHX hammeringHand hammered...
⭐
4.8/5
(45 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 498162
$659
#3
⭐
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
#4
⭐
4.9/5
(45 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Istanbul Agop 21" Agop Signature Ride
Expressive Playing
Jazz Fusion
Medium-Heavy Playing
Key Feature:
• Excellent for expressive ride playing
✓ PROS
- • Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
- • Professional sound quality
✗ CONS
- • Can mask other instruments if overplayed
- • May be overpowering in small venues
Istanbul Agop 21" Agop Signature RideRide CymbalHand.hammeredSize: 21"Material: B20 bronzeProduces a dry...
⭐
4.9/5
(45 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 435654
$527
#5
⭐
4.6/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Paiste 21" Signature Dark Energy MK1
by
Paiste
Medium-Heavy Playing
Progressive
Rock
Key Feature:
• Excellent for expressive ride playing
✓ PROS
- • Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
- • Professional sound quality
✗ CONS
- • May be overpowering in small venues
- • Requires developed technique to control
Paiste 21" Signature Dark Energy MK1Ride CymbalSignature Line Series21" Dark Energy Ride Mark IFusion of...
⭐
4.6/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 169455
$747
#6
⭐
4.8/5
(11 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Meinl 21" Byzance Serpents Ride
by
Meinl
Expressive Playing
Medium-Heavy Playing
Progressive
Key Feature:
• Professional sound quality
✓ PROS
- • Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
- • Excellent for expressive ride playing
✗ CONS
- • Heavier physical weight
- • May be overpowering in small venues
Meinl 21" Byzance Serpents Ride21" Serpents RideBrilliant finishThe perfect blend of sound diversity and...
⭐
4.8/5
(11 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 223471
$604
#7
⭐
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
#8
⭐
4.9/5
(36 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Istanbul Agop 21" Traditional Dark Ride
Progressive
Jazz Fusion
Rock
Key Feature:
• Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
✓ PROS
- • Great sustain and wash capabilities
- • Good projection for medium-large venues
✗ CONS
- • May be overpowering in small venues
- • Can mask other instruments if overplayed
Istanbul Agop 21" Traditional Dark Ride, Ride Cymbal, Size: 21", Traditional Dark Series, Warm stick attack...
⭐
4.9/5
(36 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 523102
$501
#9
⭐
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
#10
⭐
4.4/5
(22 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Sabian 21" HHX Legacy Ride
by
Sabian
Rock
Expressive Playing
Jazz Fusion
Key Feature:
• Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
✓ PROS
- • Professional sound quality
- • Great sustain and wash capabilities
✗ CONS
- • May be overpowering in small venues
- • More expensive than standard sizes
Sabian 21" HHX Legacy RideRide cymbalSize: 21"HHX seriesDave Weckl SignatureLegacy ride cymbal with...
⭐
4.4/5
(22 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 193439
$659
#11
⭐
4.8/5
(53 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Meinl 21" Byzance D. Double Down C-R
by
Meinl
Medium-Heavy Playing
Progressive
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
- • More expensive than standard sizes
Meinl 21" Byzance D. Double Down C-RCrash Ride CymbalDeveloped in cooperation with Matt HalpernSize:...
⭐
4.8/5
(53 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 564130
$626
#12
⭐
4.6/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Zildjian 21" K-Series Projection Ride
by
Zildjian
Studio Recording
Expressive Playing
Jazz Fusion
Key Feature:
• Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
✓ PROS
- • Professional sound quality
- • Good projection for medium-large venues
✗ CONS
- • More expensive than standard sizes
- • Heavier physical weight
Zildjian 21" K-Series Projection RideRide CymbalSize: 21"K SeriesDual traditional brilliant finishWeight:...
⭐
4.6/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 613515
$604
#13
⭐
4.6/5
(56 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Istanbul Agop 21" Mel Lewis Signature Ride
Studio Recording
Rock
Expressive Playing
Key Feature:
• Good projection for medium-large venues
✓ PROS
- • Professional sound quality
- • Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
✗ CONS
- • Can mask other instruments if overplayed
- • May be overpowering in small venues
Istanbul Agop 21" Mel Lewis Signature RideRide cymbalMel Lewis Signature ModelGood stick definitionClassic warm...
⭐
4.6/5
(56 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 313982
$545
#14
⭐
4.9/5
(54 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Zildjian 21" K Sweet Ride
by
Zildjian
Medium-Heavy Playing
Studio Recording
Progressive
Key Feature:
• Good projection for medium-large venues
✓ PROS
- • Excellent for expressive ride playing
- • Professional sound quality
✗ CONS
- • More expensive than standard sizes
- • Heavier physical weight
Zildjian 21" K Sweet RideRide CymbalSize: 21"K SeriesA dark and fast responding cymbalFeatures random...
⭐
4.9/5
(54 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 430944
$560
#15
⭐
4.8/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Meinl 21" Byzance Medium Ride
by
Meinl
Jazz Fusion
Studio Recording
Expressive Playing
Key Feature:
• Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
✓ PROS
- • Excellent for expressive ride playing
- • Rich, complex overtones and harmonics
✗ CONS
- • May be overpowering in small venues
- • Heavier physical weight
Meinl 21" Byzance Medium RideMedium Ride CymbalByzance SeriesTraditional finishSize: 21"Byzance cymbals are...
⭐
4.8/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 168718
$582
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.
