Been a musician for 25+ years. Compared these to Sabian HHX and Zildjian K series and have to say they absolutely blow the others away in terms of price vs performance. Istanbul I understand had family who originally worked at Zildjian- if that's true, you the user can deduce what you need to! I did..and am really pleased. Other's worth considering were Masterwork Troy series- also sound good, perhaps a bit on the brass/gongy side and cheaper. I am using these in a contemporary church setting and these work beautifully for everything from hymns to more modern songs. Just remember to invest in hot rods, cool rods, vater maple/hickory Jazz sticks and broom sticks or traditional jazz sticks for lighter/softer applications.