Best 8" Splash Cymbals for Rock 2026
Perfect 8" splash cymbals for rock - easy to play and learn on
Last updated: February 4, 2026 • Next update: February 11, 2026
#1
⭐
4.5/5
(14 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Istanbul Mehmet 08" Splash Traditional Series
Jazz
Pop
Fills
Key Feature:
• Good balance of attack and sustain
✓ PROS
- • Affordable entry into splash cymbals
- • Easy to incorporate into any setup
✗ CONS
- • Requires good timing to use effectively
- • May not cut through very heavy music
Istanbul Mehmet 08" Splash Traditional Series8" SplashTraditional seriesRegular finishDarkwarm soundFast...
⭐
4.5/5
(14 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 311520
$127
#2
⭐
4.6/5
(31 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Istanbul Agop 08" Xist ION Splash Brilliant
Fills
Pop
General Use
Key Feature:
• Most popular and versatile splash size
✓ PROS
- • Great for various musical styles
- • Affordable entry into splash cymbals
✗ CONS
- • Still limited volume compared to crashes
- • Requires good timing to use effectively
Istanbul Agop 08" Xist ION Splash BrilliantSplashSize: 08"Xist ION seriesBrillant finishMaterial: B20 bronze...
⭐
4.6/5
(31 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 382927
$120
#3
⭐
4.8/5
(33 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Sabian 08" Paragon Splash
by
Sabian
General Use
Accent Hits
Pop
Key Feature:
• Good balance of attack and sustain
✓ PROS
- • Most popular and versatile splash size
- • Great for various musical styles
✗ CONS
- • May lack character of extreme sizes
- • Still limited volume compared to crashes
Sabian 08" Paragon Splash8" Splash CymbalParagon seriesNatural finishNeil Peart SignatureHandmade from Sabian...
⭐
4.8/5
(33 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 173142
$219
#4
⭐
5.0/5
(44 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Zildjian 08" A-Custom Splash
by
Zildjian
Fills
General Use
Jazz
Key Feature:
• Easy to incorporate into any setup
✓ PROS
- • Great for various musical styles
- • Affordable entry into splash cymbals
✗ CONS
- • May not cut through very heavy music
- • May lack character of extreme sizes
Zildjian 08" A-Custom SplashSplashSize: 08"A Custom seriesBrillant finishFast attackRoundshort sustainVery...
⭐
5.0/5
(44 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 127275
$175
#5
⭐
4.6/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Istanbul Agop 08" Xist Splash Brilliant
General Use
Accent Hits
Jazz
Key Feature:
• Easy to incorporate into any setup
✓ PROS
- • Easy to incorporate into any setup
- • Most popular and versatile splash size
✗ CONS
- • Still limited volume compared to crashes
- • May not cut through very heavy music
Istanbul Agop 08" Xist Splash BrilliantSplash CymbalSize: 08"Xist SeriesBrilliant finishMaterial: B20 bronze...
⭐
4.6/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 382867
$120
#6
⭐
4.5/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Paiste 2002 Classic 08" Splash
by
Paiste
Pop
Fills
General Use
Key Feature:
• Easy to incorporate into any setup
✓ PROS
- • Affordable entry into splash cymbals
- • Good balance of attack and sustain
✗ CONS
- • May lack character of extreme sizes
- • Requires good timing to use effectively
Paiste 2002 Classic 08" Splash, SplashA very thin, warm Splash, with a soft sound character. The sound spectrum...
⭐
4.5/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 100869
$164
#7
⭐
4.6/5
(9 reviews)
Sound:
6/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
10/10
Masterwork 08" Custom Splash
by
Masterwork
Accent Hits
Rock
Pop
Key Feature:
• Easy to incorporate into any setup
✓ PROS
- • Great for various musical styles
- • Affordable entry into splash cymbals
✗ CONS
- • Still limited volume compared to crashes
- • May not cut through very heavy music
Masterwork 08" Custom Splash, 8" SplashA considerable frequency range and a warm basic character with...
⭐
4.6/5
(9 reviews)
Sound:
6/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
10/10
Art. 111574
$87
#8
⭐
4.6/5
(25 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Meinl 08" Byzance Dark Splash
by
Meinl
Accent Hits
Pop
General Use
Key Feature:
• Most popular and versatile splash size
✓ PROS
- • Affordable entry into splash cymbals
- • Good balance of attack and sustain
✗ CONS
- • May lack character of extreme sizes
- • May not cut through very heavy music
Meinl 08" Byzance Dark SplashDark SplashByzance seriesSize: 08"Dark (natural) finishDarkearthy sound with...
⭐
4.6/5
(25 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 221810
$175
#9
⭐
4.6/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Sabian 08" AAX Splash
by
Sabian
Rock
Jazz
Pop
Key Feature:
• Affordable entry into splash cymbals
✓ PROS
- • Good balance of attack and sustain
- • Great for various musical styles
✗ CONS
- • May lack character of extreme sizes
- • Still limited volume compared to crashes
Sabian 08" AAX SplashSplash CymbalAAX seriesSize: 8"Brilliant finishTransparent soundExtremely fastVery...
⭐
4.6/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 100890
$208
#10
⭐
4.6/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
6/10
Value:
10/10
Zultan 08" Splash CS Series
by
Zultan
Jazz
Rock
Pop
Key Feature:
• Good balance of attack and sustain
✓ PROS
- • Affordable entry into splash cymbals
- • Most popular and versatile splash size
✗ CONS
- • Still limited volume compared to crashes
- • Requires good timing to use effectively
Zultan 08" Splash CS SeriesSplash CymbalSize: 08"Premium splash cymbal from Turkish productionCS SeriesMade...
⭐
4.6/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
6/10
Value:
10/10
Art. 281063
$87
#11
⭐
4.8/5
(3 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Paiste 08" Signature Splash
by
Paiste
General Use
Rock
Pop
Key Feature:
• Most popular and versatile splash size
✓ PROS
- • Easy to incorporate into any setup
- • Affordable entry into splash cymbals
✗ CONS
- • May lack character of extreme sizes
- • Still limited volume compared to crashes
Paiste 08" Signature Splash, 08" SplashThe Splash of the Signature line provides an explosive, warm and very...
⭐
4.8/5
(3 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 100875
$230
#12
⭐
4.9/5
(33 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Sabian 8" B8X Splash
by
Sabian
Pop
Jazz
Accent Hits
Key Feature:
• Easy to incorporate into any setup
✓ PROS
- • Affordable entry into splash cymbals
- • Great for various musical styles
✗ CONS
- • Still limited volume compared to crashes
- • Requires good timing to use effectively
Sabian 8" B8X SplashSplashSize: 08"B8X seriesAlloy: B8 bronzeNatural finishHammered bellStronger...
⭐
4.9/5
(33 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 363249
$108
#13
⭐
4.4/5
(41 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Ufip 08" FX Traditional Spl. Medium
by
Ufip
Pop
Jazz
Accent Hits
Key Feature:
• Good balance of attack and sustain
✓ PROS
- • Good balance of attack and sustain
- • Great for various musical styles
✗ CONS
- • Still limited volume compared to crashes
- • Requires good timing to use effectively
Ufip 08" Class Series Splash MediumSplash CymbalSize: 08"The UFIP Class Series always has something more to...
⭐
4.4/5
(41 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 201857
$127
#14
⭐
4.8/5
(21 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Zildjian 08" K-Series Splash
by
Zildjian
Accent Hits
General Use
Jazz
Key Feature:
• Most popular and versatile splash size
✓ PROS
- • Easy to incorporate into any setup
- • Most popular and versatile splash size
✗ CONS
- • Still limited volume compared to crashes
- • Requires good timing to use effectively
Zildjian 08" K-Series SplashSplash CymbalSeries K ZildjianRegular finishSize 8"SplashPlayed by e.g....
⭐
4.8/5
(21 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 158826
$186
#15
⭐
4.7/5
(38 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Paiste 08" 602 Mod. Essential Splash
by
Paiste
Rock
Accent Hits
General Use
Key Feature:
• Good balance of attack and sustain
✓ PROS
- • Good balance of attack and sustain
- • Easy to incorporate into any setup
✗ CONS
- • Can sound generic without careful selection
- • Requires good timing to use effectively
Paiste 08" 602 Mod. Essential Splash8" Splash CymbalModern Essentials SeriesRegular modelCuSn20 bronze...
⭐
4.7/5
(38 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 312882
$241
How to Choose the Best 8" Splash 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 8" splash 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.
