Electronic drums have been really popular for the last few years.
Even though they were judged that they don’t deliver the same feeling as drumming on the acoustic set, they really improved over the years.
Thanks to the variety of good electronic cymbals, they proved to be very good for all kinds of drumming.
What’s so great about electronic drum cymbals is that you can easily play them and practice drumming anywhere you want.
Thanks to technology and many popular brands, we now have a lot of choices to choose from in terms of electronic cymbals.
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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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
We singled out some tips that can be useful when you decide to buy your first Electronic cymbals.
1. Make sure your electronic cymbals match with your mounts and stands.
If you buy the ones that don’t suit your existing equipment, you’ll need to make an extra purchase, which cymbals will cost more, of course. So, make sure that they are compatible, work, and sound great with the rest of your drum set.
2. Determine their purpose.
Electronic cymbal pads have more functions. Thus 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 practicing only, get the really quiet ones, so you don’t have to deal with neighbors.
It is totally up to you and your needs; just check out the features, and you are good to go.

Fill out the form, and I will hand-pick the best cymbals for you and drop you an email.

Best of Best Electronic Cymbals
- Very Durable
- Includes a choke control
- Natural swinging feature
- Has a velocity sensitivity
- Nicely balanced weight
- Great sensitivity
- Has an Accurate Triggering for precise crashing
- Not such a budget-friendly purchase consider it's only one cymbal
- Take an extra care when comes to portability
- Not suitable for all electronic kits
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!

Best for Real Playing Feel
- The size of a cymbal is the same as in the acoustic sets
- Very high responsivity
- Contains triple-sensing feature
- Great material
- The price is a little higher
- Not suitable with all electronic kits
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!

Most Versatile
- Affordable price
- 3 trigger zones
- Cymbal Choke feature
- Great quality
- Very accurately while drumming
- You have to purchase the cymbal holder separately
- It's not compatible with all electronic kits
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.

Best for Aggressive Drumming
- The quality is amazing
- Dual-trigger option
- Realistic playing feel
- Great performance
- A little bit expensive
- It does not go with a hi-handstand, you have to buy it separately
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.

Most Affordable
- With this cymbal, you will get a lifetime warranty
- Budget-friendly
- Accurate Triggering feature
- Has a piezo trigger technology
- It doesn't have a striking sensitivity
- Also doesn't have velocity sensitivity which means it has only one volume
- The quality is not so great like from other brands
- Setting up the mount rach can be tricky
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?
Conclusion
We know that looking for drumming instruments can be somewhat daunting, especially if it’s your first time…
So, this article had the aim to make your choices easier. I hope I have helped you and given you all the necessary information.
I assure you your purchase will be lightweight…Just like the cymbals!
I have to repeat our overall winner, Her majesty,
Roland CY-12C Electronic Cymbal Pad
If we look through the article and read everything thoroughly,
We can see why this is my top pick.
This electronic cymbal pad has everything a drummer needs, plus it’s at a totally affordable price.
As we look through its 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, diverse features, plus they have cymbals for all types of pockets.
Thanks to time and technology, we now have many options to choose from when purchasing cymbals.
Whether you are a pro or a beginner drummer, this article will suit your needs.
I thought about every level of drummers as well and considered your budget.
Just don’t forget to check the compatibility of the cymbal with your existing drum set.
You don’t want to make a wrong call. 🙂
Denis Loncaric
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.