I got a couple of budget splashes a while ago and this was one of them. The sound isn't awesome, but it's definately usable. There is that typical HCS-feel to it. The HCS cymbals are good for the money you pay for them, but they've all got that "beginner's feel". Like it's not really a real cymbal that you're hitting, but a tin sheet. I'm using a couple of HCS cymbals when rehearsing, just because they're a lot cheaper to replace, and of those cymbals this is the most well sounding. So I'd definately recommend it if you're (like me) buying a cheap splash to see if you want to invest in a better one later on, or just to try different cymbal placements on your kit.