Detail 01
China profile with upturned flange
The reversed edge kills sustain and adds trash: fast attack, short decay, none of a crash's shimmer.
Product detailSKU #1274115064699
MEINLHCS China Cymbal 16 in.
1/7
Independent shopping perspective
The Korena take
A 16-inch china from Meinl's entry-level HCS line. A budget accent cymbal for short, trashy stabs — an add-on, not a main crash or ride.
Strong match
Who this is for
- Adding a trashy accent to a starter kit cheaply
- Rock and metal stabs where you want a short, harsh crash
- Finding out whether a china belongs in your setup
Consider the trade-offs
When to look elsewhere
- Quiet jazz or acoustic sets — a china is loud and abrasive
- Use as your main crash; the decay is too short and harsh
- Drummers ready for a hand-hammered china — this is the entry tier
What matters in use
The specifications, translated
Catalog numbers tell only part of the story. These are the details most likely to change how this product feels, sounds, or fits into a setup.
Detail 02
16 inch diameter
Small for a china. Higher pitch, faster response and quicker decay than an 18 or 20.
Detail 03
HCS entry line
Meinl's budget tier — brighter and simpler in tone than their hand-finished series, at a fraction of the cost.
Detail 04
Under eighty dollars
Cheap enough to experiment with. Replacing it costs less than most repairs or trade-ins on a pricier cymbal.
Detail 05
Usually mounted inverted
Playing it bell-down needs a stand that tilts far enough and a sleeve long enough to hold it steady.
Final check
Know before you order
- 01Cymbal only — stand, sleeve and felts are not included
- 02Plan for inverted mounting; a boom arm with wide tilt helps
- 03Strike the flange at an angle — direct edge hits crack chinas fast
Product questions
Before you decide
Straight answers to the questions shoppers most often ask about this product.
01Can a 16-inch china replace my crash?
Not well. It is short and trashy with almost no sustain. It works as an accent next to a crash rather than in place of one.
02Do I mount it upside down?
Most drummers do — bell down, so the stick hits the flange. That gives the easier playing angle and the classic trashy sound. Either orientation works.
03Is HCS good enough to gig with?
For loud rock and for practice, yes. It is an entry-tier cymbal, so expect a brighter, simpler tone with less nuance than higher-priced lines.
04Is 16 inches too small for a china?
No. 16 is a common size. It speaks fast and dies quickly, which is what most players want from an accent. Larger chinas sit lower and ring longer.
