My drum set did not include cymbals or a hi-hat when I bought the kit. I wanted one of the best hi hats under $200 for rock music and home recording. I used some cheap, budget Meinl hi-hat cymbals for a couple year, then found some used Paiste cymbals.
Meinl 13 inch top and bottom hi hat cymbal pairs
- MAJOR UPGRADE FROM "STOCK" STARTER CYMBALS: these are not those distractingly cheap, flimsy prop cymbals that come with most drum sets; Meinl HCS cymbals have impressive sound and sturdy feel geared toward beginner/intermediate players
- WHY IT MATTERS: playing HCS cymbals will sound more like what you hear in actual songs, making the drums even more fun to play; plus, they aren't going to fall apart, dent, or bend after a few uses like stock cymbals
- WHAT'S IN THE BOX: includes 13" top and bottom hihat cymbals; they have an articulate "chick" sound when played closed with a lower pitch sizzle played open; their sound easily transitions styles from jazz to rock, and they blend great with a cajon too
- DRIVING THE SOUND: made in Germany with MS63 brass alloy for a clean, bright, and crisp tone; substantial thickness with well-formed surface grooves and hammer marks give you a defined sound without clangy or ear-piercing overtones
- CATCH UP QUICK: HCS exceeds expectations because Meinl brings experience crafting cymbals since 1951; we make HCS and other lines in our German factory, and our top-of-the-line professional Byzance cymbals are hand hammered in Turkey from cast B20 bronze
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Meinl makes a good hi hat on a budget. There finish looks good, and they have good sound, which is somewhere between bright and trashy. There work great for playing at home or a small space. At this price, they do not include a stand.
Paiste 14 inch hi hat cymbals
- HIGH-QUALITY HI-HAT CYMBALS – Bright, warm and clear sound for a wide range. Exceptional mix of brightness and warmth ensures a great dynamic hi-hat suitable for many different music styles.
- SUPERB CRAFTSMANSHIP – Lathed by hand and made from CuSn8 bronze found in the legendary 2002 series, these cymbals are built to last while delivering a warm and clear overall sound.
- ENHANCE YOUR PERFORMANCE - Whether you're performing live or in the studio, Paiste PST7 Hi-Hat Cymbals will bring out the best in your playing. The bright, warm, and clear sound will add depth and texture to your playing with well-defined chirpy response.
- DYNAMIC HI-HAT - Perfectly balanced feel with a full open sound while maintaining a defined, clear chick sound allows for an impressive dynamic range suitable for many different situations. From soft ballads to roaring rockers!
- RELIABLE SOURCE FOR CYMBALS - Paiste brings you the best in terms of quality and craftsmanship with their cymbal range. Experience extraordinary low-end and crisp projection as you experience every nuance in your performance with professional quality results each time.
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The Paiste hi-hats are under $200 and sound good. They have a clear chick and sizzle when open. These cymbals are good value for the money.
Sabian 14 inch hihat cymbals
- B8X cymbals are hammered for more projection and complexity than any other B8
- These cymbals ensure you’ll get noticed on stage
- The SABIAN 14" B8X Hi-Hats are clean and penetrating models that deliver tight, bright sounds
- Crisp and lively stick and pedal responses are very bright and definite, clean, and penetrating
- Precision formed, hammered and lathed for pure, tonally tight sounds, B8X is the bright, cutting sound of pure Bronze
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The Sabian hi-hats have a bright and crisp sound. It includes the top and bottom 14 inch cymbals. Like all of the hi-hats listed, you have to supply your own stand.
What hi-hats should I get?
Hi-hat pitch and sound is determined by the cymbal’s size, weight, and construction.
Smaller cymbals offer a brighter tone than larger ones. A 13 inch or 14 inch hi hat will have a lot of sizzle, but a 15 inch or 16 inch hi hat will lack sound darker in tone.
If you have the time, you could use crash cymbals as a hi-hat. This gives the most flexibility when it comes to mixing and matching.
- ???? KEEP THE BEAT:. Planet Z HiHats deliver a range of sounds and respond precisely to how you play them. They’re clean and crisp when open, or short and separated when closed.
- ???? GREAT PERFORMANCE: Bright, responsive sounds, perfect for the beginner in practice and performance.
- ???? HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Designed for versatility and inspiration, Planet Z Cymbals are a great entry to the Zildjian Family. Available in HiHat, Splash, Crash, China, Ride and Band cymbals
- ???? GREAT VALUE: Make serious music at a great value for your money.
- ???? TOP QUALITY: Made in the USA by the trusted name in Cymbals since 1623.
- Tight, clean sounds when closed
- Smartly priced, SBr Brass is in a class of its own
- SBr makes your first step into cymbals an easy one
- Protected by SABIAN One-Year Warranty
- The hi-hats cymbal is made of high-quality alloy materials, the surface is copper-plated.
- Fine workmanship, the surface of the cymbal is treated with a car pattern, which increases the ductility of the sound.
- The 14"hi-hats cymbal is treated with special process, it is not easy to bend, and it is more resistant to beating
- Exquisite craftsmanship and high-quality prices provide the greatest help for beginners.
- Suitable for use in various scenarios. Thickened alloy material makes the cymbal not easily deformed during transportation
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Which hi-hat is best?
Although this does not answer which hi-hat is best, the cymbal’s tonality is relative to the sound you want.
Example: The best 15 inch hi hat may sound better to you than a top notch 13-inch hi-hat based on the cymbal’s size and characteristics.
How can I make a cheap hi-hat sound better?
- MADE IN GERMANY: Classics Custom Dark cymbals are made at the Meinl Cymbal factory in Gutenstetten, Germany; they're formed with high-tech German engineering for consistent dark tone, powerful feel, and durability across all models
- WHY IT MATTERS: these cymbals will make your kit sound and look professional; plus, the big assortment makes it easy to find your voice whether it's just one piece or a matching complete set
- WHAT'S IN THE BOX: 14" hihats (top and bottom cymbals); these hihats have definition and "chick" when played closed; their heavy "slosh" when played open punches through with sizzling dark overtones
- DRIVING THE SOUND: made of durable B12 bronze alloy weighted and shaped for loud volume; extra hammering and additional lathing dial-in overtones to give the cymbals a dark, but crisp sound and controlled decay
- THE UPSIDE FOR YOU: you'll be heard next to distortion charged guitar amps or in wide-open, large rooms without sounding crazy bright or ringy
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When buying a hi hat, consider how the high-hat is constructed.
Construction differences include a hand hammered vs machine hammered unit.
The best cheap hi hats may be machine hammered, which may not have as warm as a tone as a hand hammered cymbal.
A machine hammered cymbal has benefits. It is budget friendly and can be replicated easily.
If you find a good hi hat for recording, then go touring and damage your high hat, you can buy another cymbal that sounds identical.
A hand hammered hi hat may not be as easily replicated.
Materials make the best hi hats under 300 sparkle
Cymbals come in to flavors: sheet and cast.
Sheet cymbals may make some of the best hi hats for rock because they have a brighter sound.
Cast cymbals made the old school way: Melt bronze, pour it in a mold, hand hammer the cymbal. They are more expensive and for jazz or orchestras.
Find the best hi hats under $200 to $300 on Amazon.
Originally posted 2022-09-27 16:09:55.
