That is four physical plates across three musical roles and two suspended positions, because the 18" has to cover crash and ride jobs in one cymbal.
Best Low-Volume Cymbals: Compare the Pack Before You Buy
Low-volume cymbal packs look interchangeable in product photos, but they do not cover the same positions on your kit. One of the four below gives you an 18” cymbal that has to work as both crash and ride. Another drops the 18” entirely and gives you a dedicated 20” ride instead. Before you compare hole patterns or finishes, check which cymbal jobs your practice kit actually asks for. That is the decision that keeps you from buying a pack and discovering a missing crash or an unexpected combined ride.
For a kit with one crash and one ride position, the Zildjian L80 LV468 is the cleanest fit: a 14” hi-hat pair, a 16” crash, and an 18” crash/ride that fills the ride spot and can also serve as a crash. If you practice ride patterns on a larger dedicated surface and do not need a second crash, the MEINL Practice HCS P-HCS141620 gives you a real 20” ride in a four-plate set. If your kit uses separate 16” and 18” crash spots plus a 20” ride, choose the SABIAN Quiet Tone QTPC504 or EVANS dB One ECP-DB-1. Both cover five plates and four distinct roles.
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Check the cymbal roles and existing mounts before choosing your set.
Match your practice pack.
Count the positions.
Compare cymbal roles and mounting positions before choosing your practice pack.
With four distinct roles, this pack needs three suspended positions plus the hi-hat stand.
Evans designed these to sit acoustically with its dB One drum heads; that is a balance consideration, not a requirement to swap every head on your kit.
Pick it when you want a real ride surface but do not need a second crash, or when your practice kit already covers the other crash position.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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| Pack | Included cymbal roles and sizes | Actual plates | Why consider it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zildjian L80 LV468 | 14” hi-hat pair, 16” crash, 18” crash/ride | 4 | Two suspended cymbals; the 18” combines crash and ride |
| SABIAN Quiet Tone QTPC504 | 14” hi-hat pair, 16” crash, 18” crash, 20” ride | 5 | Every common role covered, including a dedicated 20” ride |
| EVANS dB One ECP-DB-1 | 14” hi-hat pair, 16” crash, 18” crash, 20” ride | 5 | Same five-plate coverage; stainless spiral build choice |
| MEINL Practice HCS P-HCS141620 | 14” hi-hat pair, 16” crash, 20” ride | 4 | Dedicated 20” ride without adding a second crash |
Zildjian L80 LV468
The Zildjian L80 LV468 includes a 14” hi-hat pair, a 16” crash, and an 18” crash/ride. That is four physical plates across three musical roles and two suspended positions, because the 18” has to cover crash and ride jobs in one cymbal. The sandblasted finish is part of the package, and Zildjian’s care note is specific: dry cloth only, no cymbal cleaner. Zildjian describes the pack as up to 80% quieter than full-volume cymbals, but that is a maker claim rather than a measured result from this guide.
SABIAN Quiet Tone QTPC504
The SABIAN Quiet Tone QTPC504 is the five-plate option: 14” hi-hat pair, 16” crash, 18” crash, and a dedicated 20” ride. That last plate is the reason to pick it over a four-plate set if you work ride patterns on the bow and bell and want the extra surface. With four distinct roles, this pack needs three suspended positions plus the hi-hat stand.
EVANS dB One ECP-DB-1
The EVANS dB One ECP-DB-1 covers the same five-plate configuration as the SABIAN: 14” hi-hats, 16” and 18” crashes, and a 20” ride. The construction differs — nanoplated stainless steel with spiral perforations and Evans’ dBalance design — but there is no independent loudness comparison in the current source material to rank one over the other. Evans designed these to sit acoustically with its dB One drum heads; that is a balance consideration, not a requirement to swap every head on your kit. Note that a related Rock System SKU adds heads and a bag, but the ECP-DB-1 is cymbals only. Choose this when you want the stainless spiral build or already use Evans heads.
MEINL Practice HCS P-HCS141620
The MEINL Practice HCS P-HCS141620 takes a different compromise: a 14” hi-hat pair, 16” crash, and a dedicated 20” ride — no 18” at all. Pick it when you want a real ride surface but do not need a second crash, or when your practice kit already covers the other crash position. The “P-” prefix matters here: the plain HCS141620 is a full-volume cymbal pack, not this practice set. Meinl uses brass with its hole pattern and describes the sound as dry with short sustain; that is maker language, not a listening verdict. Unlike the Zildjian note, Meinl lists its own cymbal cleaner as part of care for this line.
Work out what your kit already covers
A low-volume cymbal pack replaces the metal cymbals themselves; check separately whether your stands, sleeves, felts, and hi-hat clutch are included in the package or already on your kit. Start with the roles your practice kit actually uses: a hi-hat position plus the suspended cymbal positions. That might be one crash and one ride spot, or separate crash spots plus a ride. A hi-hat pair is two plates on one stand. If a product photo shows a stacked pair, that is one hi-hat position, not evidence that the pack includes stands or that all plates are visible.
Two things will not get quieter just because the cymbals changed. Your kick pedal still hits a normal drum head unless that drum is converted, and any ordinary tom or snare heads still produce sound. Low-volume metal cymbals still make audible sound. They are designed to cut volume, not make a kit silent or housemate-proof. Keep that in mind when you choose practice hours.
| Part or role | Already have | Pack covers | Check or add |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hi-hat stand + clutch | |||
| Suspended 16” crash position | |||
| Combined 18” crash/ride or dedicated 20” ride | |||
| Optional separate 18” crash | |||
| Sleeves & felts for each suspended cymbal | |||
| Other drums & heads (kick, toms, snare) | |||
| Actual room & practice hours |
To fill the “Pack covers” column, cross-check the pack you chose above. The Zildjian L80 LV468 covers the hi-hat pair, 16” crash, and combined 18” crash/ride. The MEINL P-HCS141620 covers the hi-hat pair, 16” crash, and dedicated 20” ride. The SABIAN QTPC504 and EVANS ECP-DB-1 both cover the hi-hat pair, 16” crash, separate 18” crash, and dedicated 20” ride. If your kit uses two separate crash positions, a pack with only one 16” crash means you will need a second suspended position and a second crash cymbal unless you already own one that fits the reduced-volume setup.
Each suspended cymbal needs its own mounting position, but that does not mean you must buy a new stand for every plate. Existing booms, arms, or multi-clamps may work if the actual fit and free-swing clearance check out against your hardware.
If you are also quieting toms and snare, low-volume drum heads cover the drum side of the same problem. If you already own cymbals and want a reversible change instead, drum and cymbal mutes are removable covers that go over your current metal and come off again. If you will carry the new pack to a rehearsal space, measure the largest cymbal — a 20” ride needs a bag that actually fits 20” — before reusing or buying a cymbal bag sized for your full-volume set.
Method note: the pack contents, plate roles, and maker care notes above were checked against current official manufacturer pages for the four specific SKUs on October 22, 2026. This guide did not run our own playing, listening, decibel, durability, or neighbor-practice tests. Percentage reductions such as “up to 80% quieter” are each maker’s marketing wording; this guide acquired no shared controlled comparison and ran no independent measurements, so the percentages are not directly comparable. Prices and stock change quickly and were left out for that reason.