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Best 8" Splash Cymbals Under $100 2025

Affordable 8" splash cymbals under $100 - great value without compromising quality

Last updated: November 5, 2025 • Next update: November 12, 2025

PRICE RANGES: Under $100 Under $200 Under $300
SKILL LEVELS: For Beginner For Intermediate For Advanced
GENRES & STYLES: For Rock For Pop For Jazz For General Use For Accent Hits For Fills
BRANDS: Meinl Paiste Zildjian
Zultan 08" Splash CS Series - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#1

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
Buy at Thomann View Details
Masterwork 8" Troy Traditional Splash - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#2

Masterwork 8" Troy Traditional Splash

by Masterwork
General Use Fills Jazz
Key Feature:
• Easy to incorporate into any setup
✓ PROS
  • • Most popular and versatile splash size
  • • Good balance of attack and sustain
✗ CONS
  • • Still limited volume compared to crashes
  • • Requires good timing to use effectively

Masterwork 8" Troy Traditional SplashSplash CymbalSize: 8"Material: B25 bronzeFinish:...

⭐ 4.7/5 (55 reviews)
Sound:
6/10
Build:
5/10
Value:
10/10
Art. 611369
$65
Buy at Thomann View Details
Zultan 08" Splash Dark Matter - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#3

Zultan 08" Splash Dark Matter

by Zultan
Accent Hits Fills Pop
Key Feature:
• Good balance of attack and sustain
✓ PROS
  • • Good balance of attack and sustain
  • • Most popular and versatile splash size
✗ CONS
  • • Requires good timing to use effectively
  • • Still limited volume compared to crashes

Zultan 08" Splash Dark MatterSplash CymbalSize: 8"Dark Matter LineHand hammeredDark splash cymbalMade of B20...

⭐ 5.0/5 (51 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
10/10
Art. 326498
$98
Buy at Thomann View Details
Masterwork 08" Custom Splash - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#4

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
Buy at Thomann View Details
Meinl 08" Classics Cust. Dark Splash - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#5

Meinl 08" Classics Cust. Dark Splash

by Meinl
Jazz Rock Accent Hits
Key Feature:
• Great for various musical styles
✓ PROS
  • • Most popular and versatile splash size
  • • Easy to incorporate into any setup
✗ CONS
  • • May not cut through very heavy music
  • • Still limited volume compared to crashes

Meinl 08" Classics Cust. Dark SplashSplash CymbalSize: 8"Classics Custom SeriesCC08DASExplosive splash for...

⭐ 4.6/5 (38 reviews)
Sound:
6/10
Build:
6/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 455916
$75
Buy at Thomann View Details
Meinl 08" Classics Custom Splash - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#6

Meinl 08" Classics Custom Splash

by Meinl
Pop General Use Jazz
Key Feature:
• Easy to incorporate into any setup
✓ PROS
  • • Easy to incorporate into any setup
  • • Most popular and versatile splash size
✗ CONS
  • • May not cut through very heavy music
  • • Requires good timing to use effectively

Meinl 08" Classics Custom SplashSplashSize: 8”Classics custom seriesBrillant surfaceCleartransparent tone with...

⭐ 4.6/5 (15 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
10/10
Art. 261659
$79
Buy at Thomann View Details
Zultan 08" Rock Beat Splash - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#7

Zultan 08" Rock Beat Splash

by Zultan
General Use Accent Hits Fills
Key Feature:
• Easy to incorporate into any setup
✓ PROS
  • • Great for various musical styles
  • • Most popular and versatile splash size
✗ CONS
  • • Can sound generic without careful selection
  • • May not cut through very heavy music

Zultan 08" Rock Beat SplashSplashRock beat seriesClearbitinglively splash soundBrings ideal accents and roundings...

⭐ 4.6/5 (5 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
6/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 269726
$72
Buy at Thomann View Details

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.

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