10 China Cymbals Compared - Which Is Best For You?

We’re comparing 10 of our favorite china cymbals (in-stock) head to head!

Zildjian K China Cymbal 17"

Zildjian A Ultra-Hammered China Cymbal 19"

Istanbul Agop Xist Power China Cymbal 18"

Istanbul Agop Turk China Cymbal 20" 1432 grams

Meinl Cymbals Byzance Vintage Matt Garstka 20" Equilibrium China

Meinl Byzance Dual China Cymbal 20

Paiste 2002 Novo China Type Cymbal 20"

Paiste Formula 602 Modern Essentials China Cymbal 22"

Sabian AA Holy Chinese Cymbal 21" Brilliant

Sabian AA Holy Chinese Cymbal 17"

Kit Used:
Mapex Saturn

Cymbals:
14” Sabian Artisan Hats
20” K Con Medium Thin High

Snare Drum
Canopus One of A Kind Black NOB

Follow us on:

#bestchinacymbal #top10chinas #chinacymbalcomparison #chinacymbal #drumcenternh

[kevinremsen]

True story: I see a notification that DCP uploads a new YouTube vid, I drop what I'm doing. No joke.

[pacificdrumma]

“In our never-ending quest to accommodate everyone” lol I could taste the salt on that one

[Stanley-rqvv]

ROCK
0:53 17" Zildjian K China
1:19 19" Zildjian A Ultra-Hammered China
1:44 18" Istanbul Agop Xist Power China
2:10 20" Istanbul Agop Turk China
2:35 20" Meinl Matt Garstka Equilibrium China
3:01 20" Meinl Byzance Dual China
3:26 21" Sabian AA Holy China Brilliant
3:52 17" Sabian AA Holy China Brilliant
4:17 20" Paiste 2002 Novo China
4:43 22" Paiste Formula 602 Modern Essentials China

JAZZ
5:09 17" Zildjian K China
5:40 19" Zildjian A Ultra-Hammered China
6:12 18" Istanbul Agop Xist Power China
6:45 20" Istanbul Agop Turk China
7:18 20" Meinl Matt Garstka Equilibrium China
7:53 20" Meinl Byzance Dual China
8:27 21" Sabian AA Holy China Brilliant
9:00 17" Sabian AA Holy China Brilliant
9:34 20" Paiste 2002 Novo China
10:09 22" Paiste Formula 602 Modern Essentials China

HEAD TO HEAD
10:44 17" Zildjian K China
10:55 19" Zildjian A Ultra-Hammered China
11:08 18" Istanbul Agop Xist Power China
11:21 20" Istanbul Agop Turk China
11:34 20" Meinl Matt Garstka Equilibrium China
11:46 20" Meinl Byzance Dual China
11:58 21" Sabian AA Holy China Brilliant
12:12 17" Sabian AA Holy China Brilliant
12:25 20" Paiste 2002 Novo China
12:37 22" Paiste Formula 602 Modern Essentials China

[mfxdraws]

why do I keep watching drum gear videos i'm a guitarist lmao

[ItsNotSafeSwim]

That Meinl Dual 20 is my dream China! The Agop Xist is surprisingly good too

[gabrielfrench]

That Zildjian A Ultra-Hammered sounds just as amazing as it looks... 😮

[kyleolin]

I like the Istanbul Xist and Paiste 2002. The wash on both of those 👌

[TheCymbalProject]

The 20" Novo China has an awesome wash ride.

[pfunnk]

These comparison videos from you guys are literally the best on YouTube. Cheers!

[ehsbe]

Didn’t realise how much I’d like those Istanbul’s but listening through blind those are the ones that really caught my ear, the Turk especially is gorgeous

[vanomaden]

Paiste 602 .. amazing cymbal. I remember when I was 16 and sneaked into the local drum shop just to hear this thing. You have to hear it live. Mesmerising. Than I started working at the drum shop ..

[garethbrewer]

I'm Zildjian through and through but they were a major disappointment. Their chinas were completely outclassed in this comparison. Shocked by how good the Istanbuls sound! The Sabian Holy is also sweet. Think I need to broaden my horizon!

[davidsuprenant]

The Turk for me was outstanding. By the way welcome back guys, hope all is well.Cant wait for demos from namm 2020. You picked up some beautiful gear.

[Rifle]

"We just don't agree with your opinion".... and then the goofy cracked me up. I smashed the LIKE button.

I liked the Meinl 20" Equilibrium and the Istanbul Turk 20" the best for either rock or jazz.

[georgepelekoudis]

The Zildjian Ultra-Hammered on the Jazz demo 😅

[a.proctopus]

istanbul xist is proving to be the best professional level cymbal for a mid-level price. the 20" and 22" crashes are spectacular, and this china was definitely in the running of best sounding in this comparison..

[Booskop.]

The more white noise and the less tonal quality - the better. That's my take on a "good" china cymbal. The 2 Istanbuls sounds so much better than the 2 Zildjians before it. The 2 Meinl's were pretty good aswell. First Sabian sounded fine besides a bit of low rumble, second one had too much tonal mid-range. I'm a Paiste man myself, but the Paiste china's are not what I'm looking for in a china cymbal. Far too much tonal quality. It looks like holes get rid of most of the tonal sound and/or rumble in the cymbals, which is great.

I missed Wuhan and Stagg cymbals in this comparison to be honest. I had a Stagg Traditional Lion china which was absolutely amazing.

[CiaoGibson]

I appreciate the time/effort you guys put into these comparison vids. Wonderful! Thx

[crifox]

the matt garstka signature sounds like the china on the drum kit sounds of the first keyboard i got when i was 10. also that outro cracked me up. you guys really set the standard for comparison vids!

[Ngattas]

The Sabian Holy 21’ and Istanbul Xist are sounding sweet.
Thanks for the comparison.