A cymbal pack bundles hi-hats, crashes and a ride in matching sizes. For rock the useful traits are projection, a bright and cutting tone and a ride that stays clear against loud guitars. The alloy and the lathing decide most of that, and bundled extras such as a bonus crash change the value of the box.
The six packs below mix Zildjian, Sabian and Meinl bronze and brass sets. Contents and sizes come from each product’s listing page, and a few listings leave out details or contradict themselves, which we flag. We have not played these cymbals ourselves. Sound and origin claims are the makers’ own.
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What to Look For
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Alloy | Bronze and brass cymbals differ in tone and finish |
| Contents | Hi-hat, crash and ride sizes plus any bonus piece |
| Weight and finish | Heavier, brighter cymbals cut through more |
| Bonus items | A free crash or splash adds range |
Specs at a Glance
| Pack | Contents | Alloy | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zildjian A Rock | Sizes not listed on the page | Bronze body | Described as made for loud, hard playing; 20.9 lb |
| Zildjian A Custom | 14 in hi-hats, 16 and 18 in crashes, 20 in medium ride | Metal | Two year warranty |
| Sabian B8X Performance Plus | 14 in hats, 16 and 18 in thin crashes, 20 in ride | Bronze | Two year warranty; 16.9 lb; Drumeo trial |
| Meinl HCS | 14 in hi-hats, 16 in crash, 20 in ride, free 10 in splash | MS63 brass | Made in Germany; two year warranty |
| Meinl Classics Custom Bonus | 14 in hi-hats, 16 and 18 in crashes, 20 in ride | B12 bronze | Made in Germany; Brilliant finish |
| Meinl Classics Custom Dark | 14 in hats, 16 and 18 in crashes, 20 in ride, 10 in splash, 12 in trash splash, 16 in trash crash, 18 in china | B12 bronze | Eight pieces; dark finish; two year warranty |
The 6 Best Cymbal Packs for Rock Drummers
1. Zildjian A Rock Cymbal Pack
A pack of cymbals from the A Zildjian series, described as the definitive set for playing loud and hard, bright, crisp and full-bodied, and built to cut through and project across a stage. The page does not spell out the sizes; it shows 20.9 pounds with a bronze body and a one year warranty, and the material field says stainless steel, which disagrees.
Suits: a loud stage setting. Strengths: a rock-focused voicing. Weaknesses: no size list on the page. Skip it if you need to know the sizes before buying.
View Zildjian A0801R A Rock Cymbal Pack on Amazon
2. Zildjian A Custom Cymbal Pack
A four-cymbal pack of 14 inch hi-hats, 16 and 18 inch crashes and a 20 inch medium ride, with bright and crisp A Custom tones the maker says suit rock, pop, worship, funk and fusion. The page lists a two year warranty but gives 16 ounces as the weight, which cannot be the weight of four cymbals.
Suits: rock with room for other styles. Strengths: two crashes and a full ride. Weaknesses: a weight entry that does not add up. Skip it if you want a dark, trashy voice.
View Zildjian A Custom Cymbal Pack A20579-11 on Amazon
3. Sabian B8X Performance Set Plus
Bronze 14 inch hats, 16 and 18 inch thin crashes and a 20 inch ride in a set the page weighs at 16.9 pounds, with a two year warranty and a 90-day Drumeo trial. The item count says four while the bullets list five pieces, so check what arrives.
Suits: a two-crash bronze set. Strengths: thin crashes and a trial lesson offer. Weaknesses: a piece-count mismatch on the page. Skip it if you want a heavier crash.
View Sabian B8X Performance Set Plus 45003XG on Amazon
4. Meinl HCS Box Pack with Splash
MS63 brass 14 inch hi-hats, a 16 inch crash and a 20 inch ride plus a free 10 inch splash, made in Germany with a two year warranty. The seller positions it as an upgrade over the stock cymbals that come with entry-level kits.
Suits: upgrading a starter kit. Strengths: a free splash and a stated two year warranty. Weaknesses: brass rather than bronze. Skip it if you want a second crash.
View Meinl HCS Box Pack HCS141620+10 on Amazon
5. Meinl Classics Custom Bonus Pack
A Brilliant-finish B12 bronze pack with 14 inch hi-hats, 16 inch crash, 20 inch ride and an 18 inch bonus crash, made in Germany. The included-components field says not included, but the title and description name the pieces.
Suits: a bright bronze set with two crashes. Strengths: a bonus 18 inch crash. Weaknesses: a thin specification table. Skip it if you want a darker sound.
View Meinl Classics Custom Brilliant Bonus Pack CC-141620+18 on Amazon
6. Meinl Classics Custom Dark Expanded Box Set
An eight-piece B12 bronze set with 14 inch hats, 16 and 18 inch crashes, a 20 inch ride, a 10 inch splash, a 12 inch trash splash, a 16 inch trash crash and an 18 inch china, made in Germany with a two year warranty.
Suits: a large rock kit with effects. Strengths: the widest range of pieces here. Weaknesses: needs stands and floor space for eight cymbals. Skip it if your kit is small.
View Meinl Classics Custom Dark Expanded Box Set on Amazon
Care and Setup
- Follow the maker’s instructions for mounting and cleaning.
- Check the sizes in each pack against your stands.
- Compare the alloy and finish.
- Note any bonus piece.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming all packs include a ride and two crashes.
- Overlooking that stands and a bag are bought separately.
- Choosing effects cymbals before the basics.
- Ignoring the listing’s own contradictions.
Cymbal Pack FAQ
What is the difference between brass and bronze?
The listings name MS63 brass for the Meinl HCS and bronze for the others. Check each page for the alloy before you choose.
Do these packs include stands?
No. Stands and a bag are bought separately.
The Short Version
For a rock-voiced pack, the Zildjian A Rock. For a bright four-piece, the Zildjian A Custom. For thin crashes, the Sabian B8X. For a starter upgrade, the Meinl HCS. For a bonus crash, the Meinl Classics Custom Bonus. For effects, the Classics Custom Dark.
