Meinl HCS Super Set Box Pack Review: Six Cymbals for a Starter Kit

Who Should Buy It

Key Specifications

Overview

The Meinl HCS Super Set Box Pack is a six piece cymbal set built to replace every cymbal a typical entry-level drum kit ships with in one purchase. It includes 14 inch hi-hats, a 20 inch ride, a 16 inch crash, an 18 inch crash, a 16 inch china and a 10 inch splash, which the listing describes as the components needed to complete a full kit plus added effect cymbals. At a lower mid-range price for the whole set, it is positioned as an upgrade from stock cymbals rather than a step up from an existing bronze cymbal collection.

This review treats the listing's own bullets as the source of truth for what this set is made from and what it includes, rather than assuming details from Meinl's wider catalog. Brass is explicitly named as the alloy, Germany is named as the country of manufacture, and the exact piece count and sizes are spelled out clearly. What follows covers tone, build, versatility across a kit, care, setup and who this particular bundle suits best.

Sound and Tone

The listing describes the sound as bright and clean, specifically calling out that German brass delivers this character without harsh ringing. That distinction matters for brass cymbals in particular, since cheaper, unspecified brass can sometimes produce a short, tinny ring that fatigues the ear quickly during long practice sessions.

A separate bullet claims the set sounds real and feels solid compared to the flimsy cymbals bundled with most entry-level kits, which is a direct, specific comparison rather than vague marketing language. Buyers moving up from a true stock set, the thin, stamped cymbals that ship free with many beginner kits, are the audience this comparison is aimed at.

Because the set spans hi-hats through splash, the tonal character described applies across a wide range of roles: tight hi-hat chick sounds, a steady ride pattern, two crash accents at different sizes, and two effect voices in the china and splash. The listing frames all of this as sharing the same bright, clean brass identity rather than each piece sounding wildly different from the others.

Alloy, Weight and Build

Brass is explicitly stated as the alloy for this set, which places it below the bronze alloys, B8 or B20, used in most mid-range and professional cymbal lines. That is not a flaw hidden by the listing; it is stated plainly, and the set is priced and positioned accordingly as an entry point rather than a long-term professional tool.

Build quality claims focus on manufacturing process rather than raw material: precision lathe grooves and hammer marks are described as creating both a polished look and a more musical sound. The listing also states this set is built by the same team responsible for Meinl's professional cymbal lines, which is presented as a quality control claim rather than a material one.

No weight class, such as thin, medium or heavy, is published for any of the six pieces. Buyers who want to know exactly how each crash or the ride will feel under the stick before buying will need to look beyond this listing, since only size and overall alloy are confirmed here.

Versatility Across Styles

A six piece set that spans hi-hats, ride, two crash sizes, china and splash covers more musical ground than most entry-level bundles, which often stop at hi-hats, one crash and a ride. Having both a 16 inch and 18 inch crash gives a drummer two distinct accent sizes without needing a separate purchase, which matters for players still learning which crash size suits their playing style.

A bottom line description in the listing calls this a musical, durable, all-style set, and the inclusion of a china and splash supports that claim by giving a beginner access to effect sounds normally reserved for more developed setups. That range makes the set workable across rock, pop and general practice contexts without immediately needing to buy additional pieces.

Buyers can also grow into the wider HCS line over time, adding further hi-hats, crashes, rides, effects cymbals or stacks as skill and style develop. That expandability is a claim about the product line as a whole rather than this specific box alone, but it is directly stated in the listing's bullets for this set.

• Covers hi-hats, ride, two crash sizes, china and splash in one purchase
• Described as suitable for practice and regular playing alike
• China and splash add effect options most starter sets skip
• Marketed as expandable within the wider Meinl HCS line
• German brass build aimed at all-style, general purpose use

Durability and Care

Durability is addressed directly: the listing states that durable brass stands up to regular playing, framed as an improvement over the flimsy cymbals that typically ship with entry-level kits. A two year warranty is also mentioned, which gives buyers a concrete fallback if a piece fails under normal use within that window.

Brass cymbals in general are more tolerant of everyday knocks than thinner, cheaper stamped metal, though they still benefit from the same basic care as any cymbal: wiping away sweat and hand oils after sessions, using felts and sleeves on stands, and avoiding direct edge-on-edge stacking that can cause nicks over time.

No specific cleaning product recommendations are published for the HCS finish. Given the lathe grooves and hammer marks mentioned in the listing, a gentle, non-abrasive cleaner suited to lathed cymbals is a reasonable default rather than a harsh metal polish that could wear down the grooves faster than normal use would.

What Is in the Pack

The box contains six cymbals: 14 inch hi-hats as a top and bottom pair, a 20 inch ride, a 16 inch crash, an 18 inch crash, a 16 inch china and a 10 inch splash. That is the full published contents list, and it covers every standard role on a typical five piece drum kit plus two additional effect voices.

No included stands, carrying bag, felts beyond what ships standard with any cymbal, or drumsticks are mentioned in the listing. Buyers should plan to supply their own hi-hat stand, cymbal stands and any case needed for transporting the full set to practice or gigs.

Daily Use and Setup

Setting up this set follows standard drum kit assembly: hi-hats mount on a hi-hat stand with the clutch holding the top cymbal, while the ride, both crashes, the china and the splash each need their own stand position with felts above and below and a sleeve protecting the bell hole.

For a beginner building a first kit, having six pieces from one purchase simplifies planning, since every major cymbal role is covered without guessing which additional pieces to add later. The two crash sizes give a player room to use the 16 inch for quicker, lighter accents and the 18 inch for fuller, more sustained crashes during daily practice.

Who Should Buy It

This set is aimed squarely at drummers building or rebuilding a first full kit, especially anyone currently playing on the thin, stamped cymbals that often ship free with budget drum sets. The listing's own framing, an upgrade from stock cymbals, describes this exact buyer directly.

It also suits parents or schools outfitting a practice kit where durability and completeness matter more than chasing a premium bronze tone, since six pieces covering every standard role arrive in one order rather than six separate purchases.

Alternatives Worth Considering

Drummers comparing options at a similar entry price point sometimes look at Sabian XSR packs or Paiste PST 7 sets, both of which are commonly cross-shopped against Meinl HCS at this tier. None of those alternatives are reviewed here, and this is a general positioning note rather than a spec by spec comparison.

For noise-sensitive practice situations, such as an apartment or late-night session, Zildjian L80 Low Volume cymbals serve a different purpose than this set and trade tonal range for significantly reduced volume. Buyers who outgrow brass eventually tend to move toward B8 or B20 bronze cymbals, with Meinl Byzance representing a much higher tier within Meinl's own catalog.

Verdict

As a complete, German-made brass cymbal set built to replace flimsy stock cymbals, this pack does exactly what it claims to do. Six pieces covering hi-hats, ride, two crashes, china and splash arrive in one order, backed by a two year warranty and a stated connection to the manufacturer's professional cymbal team.

Its ceiling is set by its alloy: brass will not match the complexity of bronze cymbals found in higher tiers, and no weight class is published for any piece. For a first kit or a stock cymbal replacement, it is a sound, complete purchase; for an upgrade from an existing bronze set, it offers little reason to switch.

Strengths and Limitations

Alternatives to Consider

Stagg MYR-CH18RW US

Rock, metal and fusion drummers who want a cast B20 china with a dry, quick trash at a lower mid-range price.

Read the Stagg MYR-CH18RW US review →

Stagg 18"

Rock, metal and contemporary drummers who want a bright, cutting 18 inch medium crash at a lower mid-range price and are not fussy about the exact alloy.

Read the Stagg 18" review →

Stagg SH-CT19R SH

Drummers who want a large, fast opening thin crash for lower volume rock, pop, worship or jazz adjacent work at a lower mid-range price.

Read the Stagg SH-CT19R SH review →

Questions Buyers Ask