10 Impressive Electronic Drum Sets – Reviews and Byuing Guide

The Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit Eight Piece Set features mesh heads that closely imitate the natural. It is not a noisy set, and thus you can drum away without hearing complaints from the people around you. The mesh heads installed are of good quality providing sensitivity. The higher the sensitivity, the better the feedback you receive from the drums once hit.

The 8-piece kit features 4-post aluminum rack, 10-inch hi-hat, a 10-inch crash pad that can be choked, 10-inch ride pad, nitro drum module, 8-inch dual-zone snare pad, three tom pads measuring 8 inches, and a power supply. In addition to that, there is a kick pad tower, kick pedal and hi-hat peddle that you can use. The drumsticks and drum key are added accessories to make your life simpler.

In the list of things provided is the nitro drum module. The module possesses features that you will find useful as you progress in your musical journey. It features 40 modern and classic play kits. As a music lover, you can tweak these kits or create your own. This is done by utilizing the cymbal, percussion, and 385 superior drum features in the module.

As a beginner, you may need a few guidelines here and there. This LED display module shows 60 play-along tracks for practice. You will find the metronome feature very helpful in improving your precision. The kit also features a sequencer and performance recorder. There are several ports to plug in various electronic devices you may need. The USB, midi, 1/8” headphone jack, stereo ports are installed and ready for use.

What are our favorite features?

• Well-priced for the features offered
• Set-up takes up little space
• Extra accessories like drumsticks included
• Educational programs available
• Excellent sound quality
• You can tweak or customize kits provided in the module

What could be better?

• The hi-hat is a tad unresponsive

The TD-11KV is another great product from the Roland company. The 8-piece full-sized drum kit is fitted with mesh heads. The mesh heads are of good quality, and thus the sound will not be compromised. In the similar full-sized kit fashion, the unit is comprised of toms, kick pad, cymbal pad, kick pad, V-pads (snare and tom), crash/ride V-cymbals, a high hat controller, but lacks a kick pedal.

Able to cater to both beginners and advanced drummers, the Roland TD-11KV features a large library to work with. You can practice with the songs availed or use the coaching function to improve drumming techniques. There are open slots where you can customize the music you want to play. The module even features a quick play and quickly recorded function so that you can later assess what you played.

When you need to use more software, you can use the USB function to connect to your computer. The USB also functions as a means of backing up music or playback mp3 tunes. The drumming set comes with a 3.5mm male stereo cable, a polishing cloth, set up guide, and three pairs of drumsticks. You can start drumming as soon as you set up the kit.

Why did it make our list?

• High sound quality
• Large library available
• All necessary accessories included
• Coaching function and metronomes for skill retention
• Easy to set up and doesn’t take too much space
• Tunable and high-quality mesh heads
• Good for both beginners and experienced players

What is not ideal about it?

• Kick pedal needs to be purchased separately
• Audio cable could be of better quality

The Alesis DM6 USB Kit is a full-sized kit presenting eight pieces to play on. The kit utilizes soft rubber heads to provide high sensitivity while playing. Once you tap on the mesh heads, the sensors pick it up quickly to prevent any delays. You’ll get three toms, two cymbals, a snare drum, hi-hat, and two-foot pedals. One is to control the kick drum and the other the high hat. The snare drum has a dual zone with multiple sounds available from one head.

A well-positioned module on the aluminum rack is there to control all the features included. The LCD module has well-illustrated buttons to make sure you understand which function is at play. With the Alesis, module, expect to find 40-preset patterns that you can use to practice and 108 percussion sounds. Also, the drum kit provides 15 drum kits that help you create new sounding. Out of 15, ten are preset, and five are for you to utilize.

To connect to other devices, you have the input and output ports. For the input section, there is a 1/8″ stereo port and a 25-pin D-sub port that connects the cable snake. For output, the unit features a 1/8″ headphone jack and a 1/8″ stereo master. There is a USB port dedicated to transferring MIDI files to your computer. The kit comes with drumsticks, a cable snake, and a drum key for you to set up.

What makes it special?

• Takes up little space
• Dual-zone snare to produce multiple sounds
• Wide range of programs to choose from
• Quality mesh heads
• Can be switched around to suit left-handed users
• Accessories and user guides included
• Easy to set up

What cons did we find?

• No headphones and speakers included
• Hi-hat foot pedal may respond slowly
• Needs frequent re-tightening of joints to keep everything in place

The Alesis CompactKit 7 is a fun-size electronic tabletop drum set that can be used by both beginners and seasoned players. It comes packed with seven velocity-sensitive pads to effect timely play. The seven pads in conjunction with the two pedals work together synchronizing the play. The two-foot pads are meant to stand in for the hi-hat and kick drum.

Want to have some fun? Well, you are in luck. This electronic tabletop unit has a wide library that you can access through the control center. There are 45 pre-set kits, 265 percussion voices, five user kits, and 100+ play-along songs. The metronomes are available in the case you want to practice more. There is no limit to how you can play these. Another advantage of this kit is that you have a choice to use your bare hands or the drumsticks that come with it.

You can use this set with batteries or plug it in the socket. If you are on the move, make sure that you have six polaroid ‘c’ batteries. The batteries will provide you with about 7–14 hours of running time before dying. They, however, don’t come with the purchase, so you’ll have to buy them separately.

When you need to record some music or use additional software, use the USB/MIDI ports to connect to the relevant devices. Also. the set comes with 1/4” headphones jack to use when you want to play silently. This unit only weighs 3lbs, so you can take it everywhere you go.

Why are we impressed?

• Plays with hands or drumsticks
• Uses batteries or can be plugged in
• Lightweight and portable
• Takes up little space
• Good sound quality
• Wide range of programs
• Well-designed
• Customizable pads velocity
• Great value for money

What negatives must you be aware of?

• Pedals may have a bit of delay

The PAXCESS Electronic Drum Set gives you nine pads to work with. It relies on 3.7V batteries to work optimally. The built-in lithium-ion batteries will give 6–8 hours of play before needing to be recharged, which takes 2–3 hours. The well-designed electronic drum set comes bearing two hi-hats, three toms, one snare, one crush, two drum pedals, and one ride. The pads used on this model are highly sensitive to provide you with quality sound.

Users liked how simple this tabletop unit is to use. You’ll have an option to plug in headphones and drum just for yourself. Alternatively, you can play without the headphones and reduce the volume of the units inbuilt speaker.  The kit comes with a USB port, headphone jack, mp3 plugin, and the port to connect the pedals.

If you have been looking for a drum set for your child, this model would be perfect. It is made of non-toxic materials and has gone through rigorous testing. Also, it is waterproof and can stand a few dribbles of juice from your little one.  The surfaces are quite easy to clean, too.

It is a small and lightweight unit that you can take with you anywhere. It doesn’t take up a lot of space.

Why are we impressed?

• Rechargeable batteries
• Good sound quality
• Quickly charging and long-running batteries
• Good for children and beginners who learn to drum
• Waterproof
• Made of non-toxic materials
• Easy to clean and space conscious
• Portable

What negatives must you be aware of?

• Buttons may be hard to press after a while

The PylePro PTED01 is another great portable kit. It is not a large unit, and thus easily portable, so you can take it wherever you want. Another great thing that adds on to its portability is that you can decide to play on the tabletop with the power cable plugged in or use batteries. The kit needs six ‘C’ batteries to operate free of cords.

Configuration-wise, this model features digital foot pedals, inbuilt speakers, tom-toms, crash/ride cymbals, snare drums, hi-hats, and the all-important drumsticks. The control center is placed at the top of the unit to allow easy access to the controls. The LCD assists in navigating the various programmes available. There are 215 percussion voices, two metronome systems, 25 preset drum kits, 128GM voices, and five user drum kits. With all these programmes at your disposable, the options are limitless.

For connection purposes, there are headphone and USB outputs. It is important to know that the USB port doubles as a MIDI in/out port also. The kick, DC and hi-hat inputs are also available. Depending on your current needs, you will be able to tweak the tabletop model as you like.

What makes it special?

• Can be used with batteries or plugged in
• Wide range of sounds and drum kits to choose from
• Two metronome systems for skill training
• Light and portable
• Affordable
• High-sensitivity pads
• The USB port doubles as the MIDI port
• Excellent sound quality

What cons did we find?

• Drum heads are not sensitive enough

The Roland TD-17KV-S provides a bit more pizzazz compared to the beginner kits. The full-sized drum kit is easy to set up and comes with high-quality mesh heads that can mimic the sensitivity of well-made acoustic drums. The drum kit features nine pieces that include dual-zone snare drum, three tom drums, a hi-hat, a hi-hat pedal, one ride, one crush, and a kick drum.

Users noted that there are several awesome features that make playing it more fun. The module, for example, is manageable and provides access to different programmes. The module holds access to 50 pre-set kits and a whopping 310 percussion/drum sounds. For user customization, there are 50 slots to make use of.

The module features effects that can be integrated into the music being played. The effects include ambiance, tuning, 3- band equalizer, snare buzz, muffling, strainer, and multiple effects. You can also use wireless Bluetooth to connect your phone to the module and play along with your favorite tunes. Plug in headphones and listen to yourself play. The type B USB will connect to your laptop to access different software.

What are our favorite features?

• Wireless Bluetooth access
• Wide range of sounds to use
• Tunable mesh heads
• Metronomes and coaching function
• Produces high-quality sound
• Easy to assemble
• Can be switched around for left-handed players
• The mesh heads give an excellent response

What could be better?

• The bell is missing from the ride
• The hi-hat and the corresponding pedal are not very responsive
• You’ll need to purchase additional items like the kick pedal, drumsticks, and hi-hat stand

The Roland TD-1KV is a dependable full-sized kit with mesh pads.  There is a PDX-100 10-inch snare pad that is well supported to facilitate cross-stick drumming. It comes with all the pieces that you might need to make music. It features a supernatural sound engine that can facilitate the creation of quality sounds. The entire unit takes a small space without restricting the player’s moves.

The unit features foot pedals, tom-toms, drumsticks, drumsticks, and crash-ride cymbals.  The 3-mesh tom pads paired together with the VH-11 V-Hi-Hat and the Two CY-12C 12-inch crash cymbals, work well together.

Positioned at the top of the structure is a simple control panel with an LED display. You will be able to control the volume, engage in training sessions using the metronomes, and play along to preset songs. Also, you can record your music by connecting to a laptop by USB, and plug in your headphones or make use of the MIDI port.

If you want a unit that grows with you, this might be a good pick. As your skills improve, you can switch out some of the sections for upgraded options, like a better snare drum and cymbals, available from the manufacturer.

What are its best features?

• Takes up little space
• Easy to assemble
• High-quality mesh pads
• Metronomes and a variety of songs included
• Upgradeable
• Simple to use control center
• High-quality sound
• Good for beginners

What could be improved?

• Cannot create custom kits
• Not very responsive kick pedal

The PAXCESS Electronic Drum Set Mini is another cool-looking electronic tabletop drum set. It features pads that are sensitive to touch to ensure that the response time is as needed. The pads provided include thee toms, a snare, a hi-hat, a crush, two foot pedals, and a ride. The two-foot pedals function as the bass drum.  It is possible to switch the hi-hat and snare drum using the special button on the control panel. This is just so that you can play in a comfortable position.

This model is a great learning tool for young kids from the age of 3. It has valuable tools that they can use to expand their skill. This drum set comes with five timbres, three rhythms, and eight songs to play along. The unit has a 5-pin headphone jack so that the drumming is confined to the user only. This feature is valuable don’t want to make any noise.

If you wish to play it out loud, there are high-quality speakers installed. The speaker relays sound well without compromising mids and highs.

The model is powered by a 2400 mAh battery. The inbuilt battery is rechargeable through the USB cable that comes with the set. The batteries take 2–3 hours to charge fully. You’ll get 8–10 hours of playing time before requiring a recharge. In the delivered package, expect to find a manual, a 3.5mm audio cable, a USB cable, and the roll-up drum.

What stands out?

• Can be rolled and packed for transportation
• Rechargeable batteries with a long running time
• The battery charges quickly
• Good value for money
• Takes up little space
• Easy to clean
• High-quality speakers
• Good for children and beginners

What cons did we manage to find?

• The pads could be a bit bigger

The Pyle PTED06 is an electronic tabletop drum set that may change how you experience your music. The tabletop model weighs 11.3lbs, so it is light easily portable. This 120V model can be plugged in or use six ‘C’ batteries to work without cords. The batteries are not included, so you’ll have to purchase them.

Since it is a tabletop model, you have everything combined under one surface. Apart from the toms, snare drums, a hi-hat, and crash/ride cymbals, you will also find built-in speakers and an LED display. The LED display with well-illustrated buttons allows you to see what programmes are running. The control enter will give you access to the equalizer, volume level, beat, tempo and rhythm of the music you want to make.

The electronic tabletop’s module features seven drum pads that are highly sensitive to provide the response needed.  You can record and edit your drumming sessions.  There is a drum trainer feature and metronomes so that beginners can expand their skills. The set includes 65 drum kits and other built-in sounds, as well as an array of 120 songs to select from.

What are its best features?

• Can be used by either left or right-handed people
• Educational features
• An array of preset kits that can be customized
• Light and portable
• Additional accessories included
• Can be used with batteries or plugged in
• The pads installed have excellent sensitivity

What could be improved?

• Foot pads could be of better accuracy
• Power cord could be longer