Updated on April 3rd, 2022
The most critical cymbals on your drum set are hi-hats. Depending on how open or closed they are, as well as where you hit them, they allow for the most speech. If you play some sort of modern musical style, you'll spend a lot of time blending your drum grooves together with hi-hat.
We have crafted a list of the best hi-hats to make it easy for you to choose one.
Best Hi-Hats – Our Reviews and Comparisons:
1. Zildjian A Series 14" New Beat Hi-Hat Cymbals
Product Highlights
The Zildjian Avedis New Beat hi-hats are among the most adaptable cymbals you'll ever come across.
Features
This model has been used on the kits of both metal and jazz drummers. They have the ideal blend of stick and chick sounds, and they sound just like hi-hats should. This makes them ideal for recording because they blend in seamlessly without being lost or overpowering the overall drum sound.
For many drummers, Zildjian's New Beat hi-hats are an excellent pick. They're bright, noisy, and long-lasting. In a cymbal setup, they have a typical finish and look really clean.
The bright bottom hat and the heavy bottom hat give these hi-hats a solid "chick" sound. Although these hi-hats are marketed as being flexible for any genre of music, they work best in a rock setup. Through a combination of distorted instruments and heavy vocals, they cut through.
What We Like About Zildjian A Series 14" New Beat Hi Hat Cymbals
Pick up a couple of New Beats if you're looking for a quality pair of workhorse hi-hats that will deliver no matter what you're playing, you won't be disappointed.
What We Don’t Like About Zildjian A Series 14" New Beat Hi Hat Cymbals
These cymbals might be too loud for some players.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Highly versatile Well-balanced stick/chick sound Sturdy |
Can be too loud for some |
2. Paiste 14 Inches PST 7 Light Hi-Hat Cymbals
Product Highlights
The PST7s are distinguished by their sparkling clarity and clear, clean tones. Paiste has always been known for its clarity, which can be viewed as a plus or a disadvantage - either a purity of tone or a lack of overtones, resulting in a one-dimensional sound.
Features
The Paiste 14" PST7 Hi-Hat Cymbals are reasonably priced, but they have the clarity and premium tonal qualities of a much more expensive collection of cymbals.
These hi-hats create a clean and established chick sound that is ideal for pop, rock, and other contemporary musical styles when closed tightly. These hi-hats roar with an enthusiastic and vibrant sound when played open.
These cymbals have a fantastic sound and are extremely adaptable. They're made of a one-of-a-kind CuSn8 bronze alloy that dates back to the iconic 2002 sequence. For a distinct and smooth sound, these cymbals are lathed to a conventional finish.
This is a wonderful collection of hi-hat cymbals that provides premium sound quality at an extremely low price. They're adaptable and articulate, making them a great choice for both experienced and aspiring drummers.
These are undoubtedly some of the best hi-hat cymbals available for the money, with such bright sounds.
What We Like About Paiste 14 Inches PST 7 Light Hi-Hat Cymbals
Invest in these cymbals if you’re looking for great value for money, pure, sweet tones on the crashes.
What We Don’t Like About Paiste 14 Inches PST 7 Light Hi-Hat Cymbals
There is a slight lack of timbral complexity.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Value for money Sweet tone |
Devoid of timbral complexity |
3. Meinl Cymbals Byzance 14" Extra Dry Medium Hihats
Product Highlights
It’s a distinct hi-hat cymbal because of its weight relation between the bottom and top. Besides, the lightweight top of this hi-hat produces a dark stick response with little wash and a fat "chick" sound.
Features
Dark and dirty are the words that describe the Byzance Extra-Dry hi-hat cymbal. The surface of the hit-hat is untreated and unlathed (crashes are lathed on the bottom). It’s just raw hand-hammered bronze--for a raw earthy sound. There is no wash. The extremely short sustain and stick definition come from the deep hammer marks layered with a more traditional hammering. Also, it has a smoky sound, buttery feel, and comes with a 2-year warranty. Besides, it can be used for studio, fusion, Latin, R&B, country, rock, jazz, and pop.
The Meinl Byzance Extra Dry hi-hats have a dry, established tone. Because of their dryness, they don't have many overtones. They wear a thick bottom hat with a very thin top hat. The light top hat produces a dark stick answer with no washiness, while the bottom hat produces a heavy "chick" tone. The top hat's raw, unlathed surface adds to its uniqueness and aesthetic appeal.
What We Like About Meinl Cymbals Byzance 14" Extra Dry Medium Hi-hats
Since the sound is distinct when played with the foot, and the dark, dry tone of the cymbals blends beautifully into a mix of instruments, these hi-hats are ideal for jazz.
What We Don’t Like About Meinl Cymbals Byzance 14" Extra Dry Medium Hihats
These cymbals might be heavy on your pocket.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Aesthetic Versatile |
Expensive |
4. Sabian SBR 13" Hi-Hat Cymbals
Product Highlights
At the Sabian plant in Canada, the SBrs are made from a "special formula brass alloy." Brass cymbals are simple to find because they are a much lighter, golden-yellow color than bronze, with a Sabian Natural finish.
Features
The cymbals' authenticity is enhanced by their medium weight and classic profile, as well as the Sabian logo. The pitch increases dramatically for the 13"s, putting the sound on the verge of becoming mildly unpleasant and thinly strident. But there's still the substantial body underneath, and the closed, steady eighths stick sound is dense, if quiet. The tone of a half-opened, shouldered mouth is also higher pitched and strident, but it is once again offset by the underlying body.
The Sabian SBR series cymbals are the company's response to extremely low-cost cymbals. They're made of sheet brass with a minimal hammering and lathing pattern. The cymbals themselves are very pleasing in terms of all the sounds you'd expect from a pair of hi-hats.
The sound of a closed stick is tight and simple, while the sound of an open stick is complete and pleasing.
What We Like About Sabian SBR 13" Hi-Hat Cymbals
At this price point, you'll be hard-pressed to find something that comes close to this level of quality.
What We Don’t Like About Sabian SBR 13" Hi-Hat Cymbals
The stepped hi-hat sound is fairly dull, and the lower quality metal and less expensive production methods result in a shorter, duller tone than more expensive alternatives.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Highly affordable Clear tone Ideal for beginners |
Dull sound Lacks volume |
5. Zildjian 14 1/4" K Custom Hybrid HiHats
Product Highlights
The Zildjian K Custom Hybrid Hi-Hat Bottom was created in collaboration with Akira Jimbo, one of Japan's top drummers, and features a revolutionary brilliant/traditional surface for a musical "darkness with brilliance" combination. It's suitable for recording and live situations because the inner unlathed portion helps monitor the wash and sustain.
Features
The bottom cymbal's revolutionary "hybrid hammering" configuration creates more surface area interaction between the cymbals and a warmer chick and wash, than standard Mastersound hammering. Akira chose the 13-1/4" size so that it could balance the strength of a 14" with the control of a 13".
The 14" HiHats have the same sound like the 13" ones, but with more volume and a wider sound spectrum. The K Custom Ride has an unlathed, brilliant finish on the inside, while the K Zildjian lathing has a conventional finish on the outside. It's perfect for recording and live situations because the unlathed portion helps monitor the wash and sustain.
What We Like About Zildjian 14 1/4" K Custom Hybrid HiHats
By hammering into the bottom of the cymbal from the opposite hand, the revolutionary "Hybrid Hammering" on the hi-hat creates reverse Mastersound grooves.
What We Don’t Like About Zildjian 14 1/4" K Custom Hybrid HiHats
These cymbals are not highly versatile in terms of functionality.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Loud sound Powerful performance Hybrid Hammering Ideal for Funk |
Not highly versatile |
Final Verdict
Zildjian A Series 14" New Beat Hi-Hat Cymbals suits the needs of different types of musicians and is highly adaptable. We think these are the best hi-hat among the wide range of models in the market. However, you’re free to choose other models that suit your needs.
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