Thomann CR 400 Bb-Cornet

Pros: Excellent value for the price. It's obviously a magnitude or so inferior to e.g. entry-level Yamaha student horns, but with a fraction of their price you cannot complain too much. Pretty easy sound production, notes lock well and it plays with OK sound. The soft case does its trick.

Cons: Valves. Initially very sticky and need lots of cleaning & oiling & work to be in playable shape, and they never end up being quite smooth. Valve guides are also really flimsy. The included mouthpiece is playable, but replacing with a decent one improves playability quite a bit.

Summary: A a very usable horn, unlike those of some other super cheap brands. For a beginner I would recommend a good student range instrument from the major quality brands as it will make learning much easier. But if you just need a cornet for occasional use or just to fiddle around with, this is an excellent choice that won't blow your budget.