Denis Loncaric
Electronic drums have been really popular for the last few years.
Thanks to the variety of good electronic cymbals, they proved to be very decent for all kinds of drumming.
I singled out electronic drum cymbals that currently rule the market and considered their prices and qualities.
So stay tuned, and find out more about the best electronic cymbals in this article.
Best electronic cymbals
Roland CY-12C Electronic Cymbal Pad
- Includes a choke control
- Great sensitivity
- Accurate Triggering
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Roland V-Pad VH-14D Hi-hat
- Highly detailed and articulate
- Extremely realistic
- Flawless triggering
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Roland CY-5 Hi-Hat Cymbal
- Affordable yet great quality hi-hat cymbal
- Velocity sensitive
- Dual zones and a choke function
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OVERALL WINNER Roland CY-12C Electronic Cymbal Pad
This electronic Crash Cymbal has an unbelievable triggering system with high sensitivity.
The Roland CY-12C cymbal is a crash pad that is very sustainable and can deal with hard-hitting!
Also, they are very suitable for playing all styles of music, so if you are a rock drummer or a jazz lover, you can’t go wrong.
This cymbal has many other incredible features that are totally worth the price.
BUT, before we check the details about this great Electronic Cymbal pad and get to know the runners-up
I am going to do a little helping guide.
Here’s what you need to know about the Electronic Cymbals before you make a purchase
What to Know Before Buy
1. Determine their purpose
Electronic cymbal pads have more functions. Meaning that they can be used for different purposes.
For example, if you are buying cymbals for gigging and live performance, you should look out for more durable cymbals with more triggers inside so they can mimic the real feel and sound better. But, if you are looking for practice only, get the really quiet ones, so you don’t have to deal with neighbors.
2. Check the sound quality
I know that you cannot try them before buying them but reading about your e-cymbals can really mean a lot. Reviews and opinions from other users can be highly valuable. You can even go to the music stores and try them out if they have this model.
As you play the sound assigned to each pad from light to loud, pay attention to the change in sound character. Also, pay attention to how natural they sound. Cymbals use the most flash memory when compared to other instruments. This is due to the lengthy duration of cymbal sounds.
3 Include multiple trigger zones
Multiple triggers or zones, when used with a suitable module, are critical in delivering real sound. Especially if you want that acoustic-alike sound of your cymbals. 3-zone pads, like the Roland, Lemon and Yamaha usually make, are high-quality and reasonably priced options for the casual drummer.
4. Ensure your electronic cymbals match your mounts and stands
If you don’t have the mounts and stand for your e-cymbals, ensure that you receive them in your kit box. Without them, you cannot play your cymbals. On the other hand, if you already have, ensure your new cymbals match with your existing equipment.
If not, you’ll need to make an extra purchase which will be more costly, of course. So, make sure that they are compatible, work, and sound great with the rest of your drum set.
Fill out the form, and I will hand-pick the best cymbals for you and drop you an email.
First, let’s check what do we have in the Package:
- 12” Crash Cymbal
General Overview
If you are ever in doubt of what kind of electronic crash cymbal you should get, this is the one.
Roland CY-12C has incredible features, and it’s for a reason my best pick.
Don’t worry, I am not the only one that agrees with this!
This cymbal is rated one of the best electronic pads with a most natural playing feeling.
Let’s check its features.
First thing first, this cymbal is very durable.
It means you can crash it as much as you want, and I guarantee you, it’s going to last.
Roland CY-12C has a very nice weight balance and great sensitivity, which will give you a natural playing feel.
+ it has fantastic choke control and the feature of velocity-sensitive, delivering you a most realistic drumming experience.
If we compare it to other electric cymbals, this one has it all!
With a natural swinging feature, this cymbal is perfect for playing any style and genre of music you prefer.
So, either if you are a rock star or a jazz drummer, it will suit your needs.
Maybe the best feature of Roland CY-12C is actually its accurate triggering, which is pretty much invincible.
This feature will deliver a totally precise crashing, resulting in a genuine and real-life performance.
Let’s not forget to mention that you can adjust a ball clamp however it suits you the best with your desirable height.
If we compare this 12″ crash cymbal, not only to other brands but to his ancestors as well, this one is a total winner without any doubt.
Of course, like any other electronic cymbal, it is not compatible with all electronic drum sets, so be sure to check on that before making a purchase.
When it comes to the price, we can say it is reasonable.
It is totally worth it for this quality and the features you are getting!
First, let’s check what do we have in the Package:
- 15” Ride Roland Cymbal
General Overview
Obviously, Roland is one of the leading electric cymbals distributors, and that’s very well deserved.
The Roland CY-15R is very similar to the previous one. However, it is also highly responsive with a totally natural playing feel.
This 15″ ride pad is a great choice if you upgrade your electronic drum kit.
Known for their size, the ride cymbals are usually the largest ones. That’s for a reason: they produce the loudest sounds, and the bigger the size of the electronic ride pad, the more acoustic-playing feeling you will get.
The size of this Ride V-cymbal is a perfect imitation of the real acoustic Ride cymbal.
This allows you to experience a full range of sounds.
To make things even better, Roland CY-15R has an amazing three-way triggering system, where you can crash on the edge, bow, and the bell as well.
The pad is very durable thanks to the firm rubber matter, plus it has sticks on the rubber that make the cymbal pretty quiet compared to other electronic pads.
So, if you live in an apartment or are with neighbors around, this would be your go-to choice.
A great plus for this pad is that it’s very convenient for setting up. So, you won’t have any problems when it comes to plugging it in.
As you probably already notice, all Roland’s cymbals are highly sensitive and have a great responsivity, including this one.
There is the triple-sensing feature to make your drumming authentic, making your experience as close as possible to the acoustic playing.
The price of this Ride Cymbal is a little higher, so make sure you save enough money.
But, don’t worry, I guarantee you, it’s worth every penny!
First, let’s check what do we have in the Package:
- 3-Zone 10” Cymbal
General Overview
The most incredible feature of the Yamaha PCY-100 is a 3-zone layout.
What does that mean?
Well, this 10″ cymbal pad has three zones, edge zone, bow zone, and up zone.
When these three zones are in combination, and when you are hitting them and striking with your drumstick, they will deliver unique and incredible sounds.
Made from a great quality, which I cannot doubt since it’s Yamaha, this electronic cymbal is also very accurate while drumming.
With a natural swinging capability and stick bouncing, you will feel like you are playing on real acoustic drum sets.
When you hit or choke the cymbal, it swings very nicely, making the drumstick naturally bounce off, giving you a natural feel.
When it comes to the look of the PCY-100 cymbal, it’s not only that the design looks great, it also has a protecting effect of fading.
Another great feature is that this cymbal can be used as Hi-Hats with cup switch controls as well!
So, pretty much a double win!
Of course, as I always mention, check the compatibility of this cymbal with the rest of your electronic drum set.
When it comes to the price, the Yamaha Pcy-100 is pretty affordable
A little minus that I can give to this cymbal is, setting up the rack can be quite demanding.
First, let’s check what do we have in the Package:
- 2 pads of 12” size
General Overview
We know that Hi-Hat pads are not the favorite parts of any electronic drum kit.
They usually don’t deliver the real “vibe” of an acoustic kit. But the Roland VH-11 will change your mind.
Yes, again, we have one of the Rolands cymbals in our choices. Sorry, I am just being honest with you.
If you decide to buy this cymbal, you will receive a Hi-Hat stand with two of 12″ pads attached to it.
The pad at the top is freely moving up and down, while the pad at the bottom is strictly attached and cannot move.
Unfortunately, you will not receive a Hi-Hat stand for the downside pad. So, to attach it, you need to make a purchase separately.
But, don’t forget, even if you have to buy the stand, you can definitely use it for your acoustic kit as well!
With a dual-trigger option, you will get a feeling like you are playing an acoustic kit with great response, plus its size will definitely add volume to the drumming feel.
The cymbal’s body is of top-notch quality. Therefore, you will have an amazing performance, especially if you are into metal and hard rock, or in general for aggressive drumming.
First, let’s check what do we have in the Package:
- 14” Trigger Cymbal Pad for Crash
General Overview
This is one of the most budget-friendly electronic cymbals out in the market.
NO, that doesn’t mean it’s bad, it just has fewer features, but the sound is still remarkable.
Because it is pretty affordable, it lacks the velocity-sensitive option and striking sensitivity feature.
But the Pintech Percussion TC14 cymbal is a great choice for quiet drumming.
With an accurate Triggering feature and perfectly shaped toned-down playing surface, you can easily play this pad in your apartment without worrying about neighbors complaining.
What’s so great about the series of these cymbals is that they are made in two different layouts.
The first one is made as a dual-zone, and the second is a single zone with different sizes.
This feature gives Pintech Percussion TC14 the advantage of being a very versatile pad with great qualities.
You will actually get a very good quality cymbal for the price you paid.
It’s very accurate, so you will practice different techniques without any struggle.
The produced sound is totally clear, and it will give you the vibe of natural drumming.
The 14″ Trigger Cymbal Pad for Crash is also very durable, so you can hit, choke and strike it as much as you like; it’s very persistent.
Not only Pintech Percussion TC14 14 Trigger Cymbal but other TC series are also made from sophisticated polymer.
If you are wondering what that means, the cymbal is somewhat indestructible.
And, if you are really, somehow, drumming THAT hard, and something happens…
The pad is made in America, supported by Pintech’s lifetime warranty.
So, all in all, you literally don’t EVER have to worry about breaking them.
This particular electronic pad may be more recommended for beginners with an entry-level drumming kit.
This is due to the missing features and functionalities that this pad is not owning.
Pintech Percussion TC14 is very lightweight, and because of the great Piezo trigger technology, this cymbal will trigger accurately without any problems.
If you decide to buy this cymbal, you can’t go wrong.
For such a great money value, you will receive an outstanding silent performance, great dynamics, and extraordinary endurance.
What more can we ask from an electric cymbal?
What’s included in the package?
- 14″ V-cymbal Hi-hat
- USB-A Connection Cable
- Stand-mounting hardware
General Overview
Having an electronic hi-hat cymbal that is the same size as the regular, acoustic hi-hat has an advantage itself. And when it comes to performances like this, you cannot not fall in love.
This cymbal is very sturdy and firm. Six-stroke rolls between the edge and bow sound enormously more realistic compared to other e-cymbals. You will have much more control over the hi-hat opening and closing.
The pads are just perfectly balanced. They are neither too hefty nor too light. They feel just like a set of acoustic hi-hat cymbals. You can open the hi-hat slightly for softer accents or completely for a splashier sound. The degree of detail is unparalleled in any electronic hi-hat I’ve ever played.
They are ultra-sensitive, with high-resolution sound triggering and wide-range sensors that are amazingly responsive.
Even though this hi-hat is big, don’t worry about the packaging. The VH-14D is easy to unbox. It s not too big nor too heavy.
For anyone who wants to upgrade their electronic hi-hat, I highly recommend the Roland V-Pad VH-14D Digital Hi-Hat Controller. They are worth every penny!
What’s included in the package?
- 10″ cymbal Hi-hat
General Overview
Because this is one of Roland’s cheaper electronic cymbals, just a fraction of its surface area is playable. And to be honest, I expected that.
But for such a price, it delivers a descents sound. In fact, it is velocity sensitive and works well as a hi-hat but also as a splash or crash cymbal. This electronic cymbal provides a lot of bang for your money, and you can be certain that it has the high quality that Roland drums are known for.
It’s simply a smaller version of the CY8 at 10″ in diameter, so it’d be excellent as a splash cymbal add-on. Also, it features dual zones and a choke function, which is great for this price, but in a much smaller package. Thus, it is very impact and convenient for carrying it around, especially when traveling.
The only thing to remember while using the Roland CY-5 electronic cymbal pad as a crash is that the hole is not in the center, preventing a natural cymbal swing. The pad will always be in an appropriate playing position when playing on the rubber section of the surface area.
Also, don’t expect some incredible response from this hi-hat. It is decent but not so great. Overall, I cannot stay mad about it because this is money great spent! You will get more than enough decent features for 99 bucks.
Thus, if you want a nice feeling and dependable hi-hat electronic cymbal pad, this is one of the best electronic hi-hat cymbals money can get.
Conclusion
Best electronic cymbal overall is Roland CY-12C Electronic Cymbal Pad.
This electronic cymbal pad has everything a drummer needs, plus it’s at a totally affordable price.
When we look up for runner-ups, you can see that I have picked a lot of Roland Cymbals, and that’s for a reason.
They will deliver you great sound, unbelievable quality, and diverse features, plus they have cymbals for all types of pockets.
My name is Denis. I am a drummer, percussionist, music enthusiast, and blogger. Drums have been my passion for 15 years now. My idea is to write about the things I like and I am interested in. I want to share my drum passion with fellow musicians who walk, talk, and breathe drums.
