Rehearsing in an apartment and making your neighbors angry? Could you use a less bulky drum set but are not ready to compromise on performance, value, and durability? Used to be resistant to e-drums, but are now on a mission to dive in deep, explore, and experiment? In this post, I’ve rated some of the best electronic drums that are sure to catch your eye.
Alesis Drums Nitro Mesh Kit is my absolute favorite, and here’s why I enjoy pillaging it:
- it’s durable, lightweight, and looks awesome;
- it feels incredible and plays smooth, too;
- it showers me with a multitude of sound packs;
- it’s amazingly cost-effective, especially considering the superb build quality!
Keep reading to learn more about this pro drum kit, as well as other e-kits I’ve singled out based on their multiple perks.
Feeling kinda worried about purchasing an electronic drum set online without test-driving it first? Check the retailer’s customer service for responsiveness: contact them, ask questions, evaluate their efficiency level. If their client service managers are helpful and swift, feel free to make a hassle-free purchase.
5 Best Electronic Drum Set Reviews for You to Pick Wisely
Contents
E-drum kits occupy a special niche of instruments. They’re compact and quiet, which means they’re great for apartments or home studios. You’ll also love using a reliable e-drum set for live shows and recording. After running a slew of electronic drums through their paces, I’ve selected the 5 best electronic drum kits and reviewed them for you. Read on to decide which set could be your perfect match.
1. Alesis Drums Nitro Mesh Kit: My Top Pick
Are you on the prowl for a top-rated electronic drum set that won’t drive your neighbors crazy? This top-level Alesis drum set might be right up your street. Even though the instructions featured in the kit are pretty lame, putting the whole thing together is a cakewalk. This kit is room-saving and featherweight, as well as a breeze to carry around. Yet, it’s sturdy in terms of its build and overall durability.
The mesh heads are small, but they flaunt incredible responsiveness, and yes, they sound fantastic. Furthermore, there’s a headphone jack, which means you can rehearse without annoying a single person around you. The drum sounds are impressive, especially once you add compression and a solid mix — not as ideal as more expensive Yamahas (naturally!). Still, they’re brilliant if you take into account the price/quality ratio this unit comes with.
So, if you’re in search of the best electronic drum kit for the money, this honey is your ultimate choice. Whether you’re a beginner who’s just picked up a new hobby or a die-hard veteran drummer, this best budget electronic drum is sure to tickle your fancy.
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Specifications:
- Brand: Alesis
- Item Dimensions: 24 x 38 x 43 inches
- Item Weight: 13.4 Kilograms
- Module MIDI I/O: USB
- Color: black
What’s included:
- Alesis Drums Nitro Mesh Kit
- Slick all-black look;
- The mesh heads have a superb feel to them;
- A cakewalk to install, almost to the point of the plug-and-play level of straightforwardness;
- Tons of sound options;
- Temptingly inexpensive.
- Assembly instructions leave much to be desired;
- The high hat pedal may not be as responsive as you’d prefer.
2. Roland TD-1DMK: Outstanding Equipment & Performance
Can’t stop bombarding Google with queries like ‘good electronic drum set’ or ‘what is the best electronic drum set’? Take a browse through this kit’s specs, for it may end up fitting you like a glove. Highly customizable, boasting fantastic digital sound quality, and ideal for rehearsing ‘after dark’ without disturbing a single sleepy soul, chances are this perfect back-to-business set is going to become your next go-to.
Yep, this set might be just what the doctor ordered, especially if you’re on the hunt for solid and wallet-friendly e-drums to cut down on the noise. I like everything about this baby: the design, the feel, and the sound. It features fifteen various sound settings and gives you that breathtaking feeling of enjoying some decent acoustic drums.
This e-drum set is great for both amateurs and pro drummers, but most people agree that it’s amateurs that tend to benefit from this kit the most. Obviously, this kit is less budget-friendly than my top pick reviewed above. However, don’t forget that this particular brand equals top-class quality, which means finding a similar set that’s equally long-lasting is challenging, if not hardly possible.
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Specifications:
- Brand: Roland
- Item Dimensions: 34.53 x 19.69 x 15.87 inches
- Item Weight: 54 Pounds
- Module MIDI I/O: USB
- Color: Black
What’s included:
- Roland TD-1DMK
- Supreme build quality;
- These e-drums sound very natural;
- Top-notch mesh heads;
- A breeze to utilize and maintain;
- Great for both hobbyists and serious drummers.
- Not the most money-saving option out there.
3. Alesis Command Mesh Kit: Studio-Quality Sound
Fortunately, the electronic drum set market is no longer about the two well-known high-end Japanese brands. The US-based Alesis brand has already cemented itself as that third hot name on the scene, granting us drummers more freedom of choice. The Command kit in the Alesis lineup feels solid and plays incredibly smooth.
The set-up is fairly straightforward, the frame is robust, and the mesh padding is top-of-the-line. In fact, the mesh heads may even feel smoother and more responsive than your old acoustic set. Out of fifty preset kits that come with the set, some options sound wonderful as is. Add some tweaks to the whole thing, and you’ll make them sound fantastic.
The support bars are notched inside, which means you can hit the pads as hard as you want without even the slightest hint of rotation. All in all, you’ll love this kit. It’s a lot more compact than your typical acoustic set. It’s perfect for brushing up on your drumming skills, rehearsing, and even playing gigs. Overall, great bang for your buck!
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Specifications:
- Brand: Alesis
- Item Dimensions: 27.6 x 47.28 x 43.32 inches
- Item Weight: 50.71 Pounds
- Module MIDI I/O: USB
- Color: Black
What’s included:
- Alesis Command Mesh Kit
- High-quality build;
- Assembly is as easy as ABC;
- Excellent performance and sound adjustability;
- Solid drum head response;
- The module is fantastic and sturdy.
- Set-up instructions leave much to be desired.
4. Roland TD-17KV-S: Great Sound & Response
Are you a wanna-be drummer with a burning passion for music? Looking for solid equipment for your drumming practice routine? Perhaps, becoming one of the greatest drummers of all time is your ultimate goal? In either case, you need a good set of drums, and this Roland kit might actually be your best bet.
So, if you’re on the hunt for a low-cost, well-built, remarkably functional, customizable, and realistic-sounding e-drum set, chances are this honey is going to meet your needs effortlessly. Trust me, the nuance and dynamic range will blow you away, especially the snare.
Overall, this Roland kit excels in terms of sensitivity, dynamics, and response. The modules are a breeze to use and so very interactive. The hi-hat feels exceptionally natural. To cut a long story short, it’s a super reliable drum kit featuring a treasure trove of options for sounds, practicing, and fine-tuning. Definitely worth every dollar.
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Specifications:
- Brand: Roland
- Item Dimensions: 43.38 x 51.25 x 47.25 inches
- Item Weight: 50.75 Pounds
- Module MIDI I/O: Out/USB/Bluetooth
- Color: BLACK
What’s included:
- sound module: td-17 x 1;
- snare: pdx-12 x 1;
- Tom: pdx-8 x 3;
- hi-hat: cy-5 x 1;
- hi-hat control pedal: fd-9 x 1;
- Crash: cy-8 x 1;
- Ride: cy-8 x 1;
- Kick: kd-10 x 1;
- drum stand: mds-4v x 1
- The kit is fairly easy to assemble;
- Fantastic response, great feel, and breathtaking versatility;
- Sound and play almost like an acoustic kit;
- No more noise from your drumming practice;
- Best choice for beginners and intermediate drumming enthusiasts.
- The kit doesn’t include a throne, a kick pedal, a hi-hat stand, or drum sticks.
5. Yamaha DTX562K: Best Professional Electronic Drum Set
If you’ve been craving to get Yamaha since the very birth of your drum set passion, this kit is what could take your breath away. This awesome 5-piece drum set with 3 cymbals comes with Yamaha’s excellent Textured Cellular Silicone heads, a drum rack, as well as the incredibly sounding, advanced DTX502 drum module.
The module gives you the possibility to easily transfer your sound samples, songs, and even MIDI, Wav, and MP3 files onto the unit. Just hook this honey up to any PC and begin importing your files. Once you’re through, you can customize the sound to your liking and then save the resulting file(s) on any of the fifty preset slots.
On an additional plus side, the kit is durable, easy to move around, and overall is a great choice for a fairly quiet drumming practice. It boasts excellent sound and top-level playability. Cutting to the chase, with proper amplification, the set is sure to knock your socks off.
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Specifications:
- Brand: YAMAHA
- Item Dimensions: 77.28 x 41.34 x 26.78 inches
- Item Weight: 33.2 pounds
- Module MIDI I/O: OUTPUT / Trigger inputs / HI-HAT CONTROL / AUX IN / PHONES / USB TO HOST
- Color: Black
What’s included:
- KP65 Kick Pad“Large 1”
- ” Ride and Crash cymbals and 1″
- ” Hi-Hat cymbal (all 3-zone) with exclusive 36-degree “
- “choke”
- ” function”
- Well-constructed and sturdy;
- Powerful and versatile sound module;
- Plays beautifully, in some ways even better than your acoustic set;
- The kit comes with an app for your mobile device to help you control your drumming practice.
- Not the cheapest option out there, but solid for non-amateurs.
Tips & Hacks on Finding the Best Value Electronic Drums
So, you’ve decided to take up drumming. However, the need to stick with a highly inconvenient set of acoustic drums may feel somewhat off-putting. Yep, your typical drum kit is bulky, hard to adjust, noisy, and pretty darn costly. Luckily, as a fine alternative, you can go with the best compact electronic drum kit that doesn’t have all those nasty quibbles. Still, sticking with the best unit is challenging even when it comes to a relatively hassle-free e-drum set. Below, you’ll find some handy tips on how to solve this challenge.
Your Guide on Sticking With the Best Electronic Drums for Recording
No doubt, the very first criterion you should rely upon when choosing the best midi drum kit for your practices is your budget. Then comes the research factor. You’re probably aware that all digital drum kits differ from one another in a multitude of ways. Therefore, always study the specs of each unit before hitting the Buy Now button.
Bear in mind that many e-drum sets do not come with seats, drum pedals, headphones, or sticks (even though these items may be featured in the advertisement pictures). Therefore, in many cases, you’re going to have to buy (some of) those components separately. That being said, always research the exact number of items included in the kit prior to making a purchase.
As corny as it may sound, some digital drum sets are more compact and flexible than others. Therefore, always look at the dimensions of the kit that has caught your eye prior to buying it — and don’t forget to compare the dimensions with those of your home studio. That’s especially important if you’re seeking a compact digital drum kit.
Last but not least, remember to approach choosing your first electronic drum set with as much open-mindedness as possible. Google ‘best budget electronic drum set’, read independent reviews, evaluate trusted ratings, and make your own list of pros and cons of that very drum set model you fancy. In other words, always make a purchase after conducting your analysis and arriving at your post-research conclusions.
Rubber vs. Mesh Pads: Pinpointing the Best
Irrespective of the brand, e-drum sets rely on hard rubber- or mesh-made pads (also referred to as ‘heads’) when it comes to triggering sounds. They’re the most frequently used materials for your bass drum, side drum, and toms. Each pad material feels different during practice, as well as comes with distinctions in a variety of performance-related parameters. Below, you’ll find the main advantages and drawbacks of rubber and mesh pads.
Rubber heads come with the following perks and quibbles:
- they are more budget-friendly;
- they boast a compact design;
- they come with an inferior-quality feel;
- they are rather hard which causes hand & wrist fatigue.
Mesh heads come with the following perks and quibbles:
- they boast enhanced sound quality;
- they come with a better playing feel;
- they’re your best choice if you’re planning to use acoustic drums, too;
- they’re more expensive compared to their rubber counterparts.
Neither rubber nor mesh drum heads is completely silent. They produce quiet drumming sounds, and the strikes will be hearable. Rubber heads come with a louder sound compared to their mesh brothers, so if you’re looking for the quietest solution possible, then an entirely-mesh drum kit is exactly what you need. At the end of the day, any e-drum kit will definitely be less noisy than its acoustic counterpart.
Best E-Drum FAQ: Find Answers Here
Have questions left on the topic of electronic drum kits? Look through the answers to some of our readers’ most frequently asked questions below. Perhaps, you’ll find the answer to your question there, too. If you don’t, you’re welcome to have your say in the comment section at the bottom of this post.
Which is better: Roland or Yamaha electronic drums?
It’s all about the characteristics you’re currently focused on. Both brands excel in producing excellent electronic drum sets. To stay with the best-matching unit for your most sophisticated needs, focus on my reviews above, and maintain a laser-like focus when reading the description of each unit.
What is the best electronic drum kit for beginners?
Most of the units reviewed in my today’s post are great for beginners. Alesis Drums Nitro Mesh Kit is my absolute favorite beginner and intermediate player kit, for it has everything you’ll ever need for your at-this-stage practice: excellent sound, responsiveness, solid build, portability, versatility, and affordability.
What is the best Roland drum kit?
Roland TD-17KV-S and Roland TD-1DMK are obviously my two favorite Roland drum kits. They’re perfect in terms of value, durability, ease of use, and sound quality. Take a browse through them and focus on their specs to decide whether they suit your unique needs or not.
Can I use my regular drumsticks?
Yes, sure. But over time, you might want to invest in a pair of drumsticks specifically designed for electronic drums. Bear in mind that drumsticks with wooden tips leave bigger marks on your drum pads as opposed to the nylon-tip sticks.
Can I transport my e-drum set?
Yes. As a matter of fact, digital drums are a lot easier to transport compared to their acoustic siblings. E-drums take up less floor space and are lightweight.
So, Are You Ready to Rock?
Planning to buy the best electronic drum set for metal, jazz, or pop music? I’ll dwell upon this topic in one of my next posts. Now that you’ve studied my reviews of the best entry-level e-drums, you’re more than ready to purchase the set that’s gonna help you grow music-wise. So, whether you intend to buy your first e-drum set to become a star, train your brain, or just for fun, it’s time to make that wise knowledge-based decision. Act upon it today, have your say in the comment box below, and happy drumming!
