In addition to being a private violin teacher and having a degree in music from USC, Alecia started writing music-related articles and product reviews six years ago and has enjoyed this experience greatly. She likes to learn new instruments and write new compositions in her free time.
Marcus has a vast experience in digital audio and sound design. Thanks to his knowledge, he actively helps musicians with technical problems, improving their audio quality and promoting their tracks so that thousands of listeners can enjoy really good music.
Last updated: October 15, 2024
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Electronic or digital drum sets have come a long way in recent years. Both professional and budget sets have become highly palatable and have grown considerably in their overall quality and performance. So they have become a necessary enhancement in your instruments to add more sounds to your music.
But which electronic drum sets are the best? Picking the right one out of overwhelming products can be challenging if you don’t exactly know what you are looking for.
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We have reviewed the best electronic drum sets available based on their connectivity features, portability, and performance relative to their acoustic counterparts, drum heads, etc.
Total Number of Pads: 6 x drum shell/pads, 5 x cymbal pads
Hybrid Acoustic/Electric: Yes
Shells Included: 1 x Snare, 4 x Toms, 1 x Bass Drum
Included Drum Module: Strike Performance Module
Module Trigger Inputs: 12 x 1/4″ TRS (drum triggers), 1 x 1/4″ TRS (Hi-hat control)
Module Analog Inputs: 1 x 1/8″ (aux in)
Module Analog Outputs: 2 x 1/4″ (main out), 7 x 1/4″ (audio outs)
Headphones: 1 x 1/4″
Module MIDI I/O: In/Out/USB
USB: 1xType B
Other features: 6-piece Wood Shell Electronic Drum Set with 14″ Snare, 20″ Kick, 8/10/12/14″ Toms, 3 x 14″ Crash Cymbals, 16″ Ride Cymbal, 14″ Hi-Hats, and Strike Pro Sound Module
Alesis Strike Pro drum kit is the most impressive drum set, which provides many features at a reasonable price compared to other flagship models. In addition, its drum module is one of the best in the industry, with customized sampling support.
This drum set comes with high-quality sounds, a whopping 45,000 samples, and 136 kits. Additionally, it has a LED color screen, significant effects, custom sampling, a mixer, many inputs and outputs, and much more. This electronic drum set comprises wooden drums with a 20 inches kick drum. This combination gives the ideal appearance of an acoustic, electronic drum set.
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The tightly woven black color mesh heads are not only ultra-quiet but also provide high triggering accuracy and rebound for realistic performances along with straight or DAW into a soundboard. Furthermore, this drum set comes with 80 drum kits, including 30 users and 50 presets. Plus, you get more than 700 instrument sounds. There is an inbuilt real-time recording, input, metronome, and auxiliary.
The Alesis Strike Pro Special Edition drum set is one of the most popular because it allows you to adjust its knob. So, in our opinion, this will give you the best drumming experience because you can adjust it according to your playing style. You will get 100 patterns on the onboard sequencer. Moreover, you can load MP3 and WAV samples from your memory stick to play along with this electronic drummer.
The Alesis drum kit isn’t delivering the best and most high-quality sound experience. Many sound and build quality issues are reported. The hat/ride/snare is also loud. It is ideal if you are a beginner and want to practice enhancing your drummer skills. Otherwise, it is not a great option for professionals.
What makes it stand out?
Excellent mesh head with dual bass drum pedals
Great presence and size drum set available at reasonable price
Load MP3 and WAV samples from your memory stick to play
Adjust its knob according to your style
The drum module comes with more than 700 instrument sounds and preset 50 drum kits
Total Number of Pads: 5 x drum pads, 3 x cymbal pads
Number of Drum Kits: 50 presets, 20 user
Module Trigger Inputs: 1 x 1/4″ TRS (tom 4), 1 x 1/4″ TRS (crash 2), 1 x DB-25 (cable snake)
Module Analog Inputs: 1 x 1/8″ (aux in)
Module Analog Outputs: 2 x 1/4″ TRS (main out)
Headphones: 1 x 1/8″
Module MIDI I/O: In/Out/USB
USB: 1 x Type B, 1 x Type A (WAV samples, MP3 tracks)
Other features: 5-piece Electronic Drum Set with 10″ Snare, 8″ Kick Tower with Pedal, 3 x 8″ Toms, 10″ Crash Cymbal, 10″ Ride Cymbal, 10″ Hi-Hats, and Command Sound Module
The Alesis Command Mesh kit always gives you the perfectly natural response for an impressive and immersive drumming experience. It comes with a fully 8-piece electronic kit that comprises everything the latest drummer needs for playing like a pro. It gives you MIDI and USB connectivity to enhance your drumming experience.
This electronic drummer includes an inbuilt 60 play-along tracks, a performance recorder, and a sequencer metronome. This combination makes it the ultimate tool that gives you outstanding performance. Additionally, it has MIDI I/O and USB to MIDI ports that transmit information directly into your computer and unite drum machines, synthesizers, and much more for wide performance potential.
The Alesis Command Mesh will never disappoint with its sound quality and other drumming features. A power supply, all the cabling, and other drum keys are easy to use and hassle-free setup. Moreover, a combination of cymbal sounds and more than 600 drums are expertly curated into a great collection of ready-to-play 70 kits.
This Command Mesh electronic drum set assists you get the perfect practice time. An inbuilt metronome helps to build streamlined grooves, rudiments, and chops. There is an ⅛-inch input to drum with music on your music and phone devices. You can also record more than five tracks’ performances internally. However, you can use an external USB for recording more than 99 tracks.
The Alesis Command Mesh drum kit gives you multiple customized options for giving a pro experience. For example, you can control multiple types of sounds, customize the drum kit, play sensitivity, and so on. Furthermore, we are highly impressed with the features that make it suitable for intermediate drummers, beginner drummers, studio engineers, and producers.
What are our favorite features?
The drum kit comes with a stand, module, 3 cymbal pads, and other accessories
Premium quality hardware materials make it entry-level drums
The drum module has 629 sounds, 50 drums, and 20 customized kits
Total Number of Pads: 5 x drum pads, 3 x cymbal pads
Included Drum Module: TD17 Drum Module
Number of Drum Kits: 50 Preset, 50 User
Number of Instruments: 310 Instruments
Module Trigger Inputs: 2 x 1/4″ (crash 2, aux), 1 x DB-25
Module Analog Inputs: 1 x 1/8″ (mix in)
Module Analog Outputs: 2 x 1/4″ (master out)
Headphones: 1 x 1/8″
Module MIDI I/O: Out/USB/Bluetooth
Other I/O: Bluetooth 4.2 (audio streaming/MIDI)
USB: 1 x Type B (stereo in/out)
Other features: 5-piece Electronic Drum Set with 12″ Snare, Kick Tower, 3 x 8″ Toms, 2 x 12″ Crash Cymbals, 13″ Ride Cymbal, 10″ Hi-Hats, and TD-17 Sound Module
The sound engine of the Roland V-Drums TD-17KVX has a TD-50-class with advanced developed pads. Every drummer wants hand or foot control, stick coordination, and accurate physical movement to grow their skills.
Another best thing is an inbuilt array coaching function to track all your techniques, calculate your progress, and enhance your motivation. However, some drum sets use smaller pads, but the Roland V-Drum comes with a 14-inch acoustic snare and an 8-inch rubber pad. Furthermore, this 12-inch dual-mesh snare is tension adjustable to satisfy an authentic rebound. The snare hoop is also much closer to the snare, providing a natural angle for the stick.
For some special performances, a drummer needs a specific sound. This Roland TD-17KVX module can also import samples. Thus, you can introduce complete audio phrases, vocals, or sequences. In addition, you can mix and layer this with this kit’s internal sound to create a full and powerful drum sound. This drum kit also permits you to create your signature kit using built-in onboard pitch control, effects, EQ, and much more.
The Roland TD-17KVX module consists of 50 high-quality drum kits that provide pro musical scenarios. This is equipped with a KD-10 kick pad that absorbs much noise due to a combination rubber cover with a layer of a dedicated cushion.
The Roland TD-17KVXdrum set is made with a lightweight construction that decreases its reliability and durability. In addition to that, if you use the included drumstick, then it’s too risky. It is too dangerous for your mesh heads.
Why are we impressed?
Dynamic, rich, and natural sounds due to the TD-50 sound engine
Customize the preset kit according to your drum sound
Equipped with PDX-12 pad of snare that gives you realistic rimshots
Enhance your pedal technique and foot control with a special kick pad
The drum stand has rubber feet to minimize scooting and rocking
Yamaha is creating numerous musical instruments and accessories. The snare pad is the centerpiece of any drum set in the traditional and electronic drum sets. And the Yamaha DTX6K3-X comes with an XP80 pad that gives you 3 separate zones for striking on the head, cross-stick, and rimshots. The company uses premium quality TCS (Textured Cellular Silicone) to make its playing surface that gives you a professional feeling like a truly coated drumhead. This XP80 snare comes in a pair with a trio of one-zone TCS pads for impressive expression.
This Yamaha drum set is a complete set of ease of use, responsive performance, and premium quality sound. There are also multiple training tools built-in for enhancing your skills. It has onboard 37 play-along tracks so that you can practice at home or studio for excellent performance.
This Yamaha DTX6K3-X drum set has a modifier packed with some additional utilities into just 3 knobs. There is no need to tone an electronic wizard for dialing in custom sounds. You have to spin, set, and store. The 3 knobs are effect, compression, and ambiance. The ambiance adjusts cymbals and drums according to your virtual environment. Additionally, the compression knob reduces the need for knees, thresholds, and ratios. The third effect knob provides a diverse range of expressions.
Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pr, the DTX6K3-X is packed with multiple tools for making you a better drummer. It comes with a complex programmable metronome for reining in tricky fills. It has multiple training songs, workshop pockets and grooves, and 10 onboard training functions to enhance your chops. However, the pads are a little smaller than traditional drum sets.
What do we love it for?
Onboard multiple training tools for enhancing your skills
The kick tower is wide enough to provide ideal support to double pedals
The cymbal PCY137 pads provide you edge zones, bell, and distinct bow
Comes with a solid rack stand for unflappable security and effortless setups
TCS head pads give you a natural feel for versatile expression and performance
Total Number of Pads: 5 x drum pads, 3 x cymbal pads
Included Drum Module: Surge Drum Module
Number of Drum Kits: 40 (24 presets, 16 user)
Module Trigger Inputs: 1 x 1/4″ TRS (tom 4), 1 x 1/4″ TRS (crash 2), 1 x DB-25 (cable snake)
Module Analog Inputs: 1 x 1/8″ (aux in)
Module Analog Outputs: 2 x 1/4″ TRS (main out)
Headphones: 1 x 1/8″
Module MIDI I/O: In/Out/USB
USB: 1 x Type B
Other features: 5-piece Electronic Drum Set with 10″ Snare, 8″ Kick Tower with Pedal, 3 x 8″ Toms, 10″ Crash Cymbal, 10″ Ride Cymbal, 10″ Hi-Hats, and Surge Sound Module
The Alesis Surge Mesh drum set is one of the best electronic kits to polish your skills. You can tight or lose every double-zoned drum pad for a customized play response. It has 385 percussion or drum sounds and 24 kits that simplify recording, give new grooves and perform live. Additionally, it comes with play-along 60 practice tracks, a USB to MIDI DAW connection, an onboard metronome, and a ⅛-inch music input.
This Surge Mesh kit gives your practice time extra meaning. An onboard metronome assists you in building streamlined grooves, rudiments, and chops. You can also play the drums with music connected with your theme or phone devices. Furthermore, you can save your memorable performances through the performance recorder. This module ships preloaded and selectable sounds.
In our opinion, this is one of the best electronic drum sets for song creation and practice. You can create your music by connecting this module to your mobile or music device. It comes with a headphone jack, so you can start a private practice. Furthermore, you can connect the stereo with a PA system, recording console, and amplifier. Its stereo AUX input lets you jam with your favorite tracks on MP3 and CD players.
The quality of the snare head can be improved to make it more durable and reliable. However, the mesh head delivers the best sound experience and is a much quieter option for practice at home. Moving from one place to another is difficult because it is a heavyweight drum set.
Why are we impressed?
Doubled zoned drum pads are tunable mesh heads, and quiet
Comes with an inbuilt play-along 60 practice tracks
The mesh heads provide unmatched playability and response
Suitable for intermediate level and practice at your home
Equipped with MIDI I/O ports and USB to MIDI transmit information directly
The Donner DED-300 electronic drum set has a 10-inch Hi-hat and a 12-inch Crash or Rides that can be precisely sensed each time you strike. Both Ride and Crashed support the cymbal surface and dual triggering off the edge. The rubber-made soft surface can effectively remove physical noise, giving you a better experience. The dual pedaling on the bass drum restores the kicking feel to deliver the best sound.
This beginner electronic drum set allows you to create your music. It is suitable for band training, commercial performance, teaching training, and practice at home. The USB to MIDI interface is one of the most useful features. Therefore, you can create a link with the DAW software and use it as a unique tool for music creation. There are multiple inbuilt functions such as recording performance, metronome, and song accompaniment. You can connect your sound card and record your music creation as well.
This Donner drum set has a sturdy stand for improving safety and stability. The company uses high-quality steel to construct this stand, making it more stable. The best thing is that this stand is foldable and portable, so you can easily move from one place to another.
This module has a great adjustable option that gives consistent tension to the drum pad. Additionally, the beginners sometimes feel that sounds are quickly playing a roll on the pads. This module has fewer connectivity options. For example, there is no jack for connecting headphones, so you cannot practice privately at home. The more connectivity option increases an electronic drum set’s overall functionality and performance.
What are our favorite features?
High-density bass drums remove the physical percussive or drum sound
A steel stand makes electronic drums more stable
Foldable and portable making it suitable for home practice or live performance
Create your own music with this excellent musical instrument
Adjustable design makes it easy to install
What could be better?
Few connectivity options
Play rolls on the pads fast
Things to Consider
There are different types of electronic drum sets available on the market. Picking the best electronic drum set might seem overwhelming because you don’t know what to choose. To make the right decision, you must understand your needs and requirements and choose accordingly.
We have developed this buying guide to highlight essential factors you need to know when buying the best electronic drum set.
Features to Consider Before Buying an Electronic Drum Set
Going for the features according to your demands and requirements will enable you to purchase the right option to deliver the best value. So here are some crucial features that you must keep in mind when buying an electronic drum set.
Sounds
You must choose a brand or manufacturer that has made a good effort in recording different types of drums in real-time scenarios.
You will get sounds for various playing styles if you choose a drum set from such a brand. And the best thing is that you won’t have to compromise on quality either.
MIDI triggering is the best technique for getting the best sound quality from these electronic drum sets. You can get the most out of your electronic drum sets by connecting your VST drum plugin. It can significantly outperform even the best electronic drum sets you can find on the market.
You can even go for a mid-range kit and use top-notch triggering. Electronic drum sets like the Roland TD-17KVX are the best.
You have to go for sets with different sound options and samples. With these multiple options available, you can experiment and customize your drum set and easily put any sound on any set.
Some sets even allow you to sample your sounds pretty conveniently. Options like Alesis Strike Pro, Alesis Command Mesh, and Roland V-Drums come with different sounds and samples for you to experiment with.
Head Types
The best head types are mesh heads and TCS pads. So, if you have the budget, you should go for either one of these two options.
Here are the common head types you can choose from.
Rubber Pads
These pads are conventional for these electronic drum heads, and music producers have used them for a long time. These pads might be cheap and provide a slightly poor playing experience, but they still produce a decent sound. Still, they are slightly cheaper than the TCS heads, just like in the Roland TD-17KVX.
Mesh Heads
When mesh heads entered the drum manufacturing market, this changed as these were the first synthetic materials used in the manufacturing process of these drums. These are similar to how acoustic drums are designed, like Alesis Surge.
They have a pretty sensitive trigger, so you can practice different rudiments and enhance your dynamics more effectively. These heads are also much quieter. If you are looking for mesh heads but don’t have the budget for this type, you can always go for mylar heads at first and switch with mesh later on.
Not all mylar heads are the same. The high-end options are way better compared to their low-end counterparts. You can also opt for kick towers with your mesh head. But this should be your option if you have no budget restrictions.
TCS Pads
The TCS pads are made of textured cellular silicone. They produce pretty good sound and are less bouncy and quieter than mesh heads. Choosing between mesh heads or TCS pads is just a matter of preference by different drummers.
Mylar Heads
These heads use the same type of materials used for the acoustics drums. Therefore, they are much closer to rubber heads regarding feeling. But these heads have been phased out slowly in the past few years.
They are generally much older than most other e-drum sets. But most people prefer to go for quieter e-drum kits because of these specific features as they are not very loud.
Mobility
These electronic drums are super easy to set up if you compare them with their traditional counterparts. They come with many connectivity options too. And they are smaller in size, too, so they are pretty easy to move, and you can set them up wherever you want, as in the case of Rylands V-Drums.
But most of them are pretty close to the original acoustic drum kit. Still, some models are pretty mobile because they don’t have those wooden shells that make these kits much heavier to move around.
Those metal racks also tend to add a lot of weight. Therefore, the durability and sturdiness of a drum set come at a price and make it much less mobile.
Compatibility
One of the best things about these electronic drum sets is that they are compatible with various devices. You can only connect them with your smartphone, tablets, or laptops. You can connect them with different DAW devices and even link your headphones.
Most of them come with module trigger inputs like those in Alesis Strike Pro. E-drum kits like Alesis Command Mesh come with multiple USB connectivity options. Drum sets like Roland V-Drums feature Bluetooth connectivity along with USB compatibility. Many of them also come with different headphone connectivity options too.
Overall, E-drum technologies are highly standardized, and many pedals and pads tend to work with other birds. So, you can use this mixing and matching for the best-personalized experience when creating different tunes.
If you are looking for more value for money ranging from mid-range or high-end e-drum sets, then you need to go for Alesis. You will get a lot more parts and features.
If you’re looking for more quality in terms of lower latency, pad triggering, and general high-end quality construction, then you need to go for Roland. But Roland e-drum sets are much less portable and durable.
Therefore, both these brands have their pros and cons. You just need to determine what your preferences and requirements are. But both these brands surely offer quality and performance.
There is a definite yes to this question, especially if you cannot play acoustic drums yet.
Whether you don’t want to disturb your neighbors or you or the acoustic drums are too loud for even yourself, and you wish to do some casual drumming, these sets are pretty handy and functional for creative minds.
They come with various recording capabilities that enable you to play the drums while using your headphones. You also get to experiment with a range of sound expansions. It means you can pay for your drugs with a lot more joy and have fun while banging your head.
Not many professional drummers and bands solely rely on these electronic drum sets. Instead, they use these seats to enhance their current music and drumming setup to get more samples and sounds. But they don’t entirely rely on these electronic drum sets for a few reasons.
These e-drum sets sound pretty cool in some scenarios but are not the ideal candidates for a live performance on the stage. When discussing hardware, including the shells, heads, triggers, mounts, etc., you will notice that these e-drums kits are not durable enough to work well for concert drumming.
Moreover, they are fully electronic, and the drums will be gone entirely if any failure occurs in their cables or triggers. You can’t even imagine this happening in your live performance.
If you are not looking to use them as your acoustic drums and want to use them as your enhancement or just to have fun with music creation, these e-drums sets will continue to perform for many years.
Most of them have their fabric securely glued to their hoop, and you don’t have to worry about separation. As long as you are not too extreme in your use, you can continue playing them; they will last for many years.
But these drum sets do come with their heads starting to wear out, resulting in the change of sound. Still, these drum sets are pretty good for non-professionals and if you are on a tight budget. However, these won’t impress you if you want to go for a real thing.
Our Verdict
In our opinion, the best electronic drum set available today is the Alesis Strike Pro. It has various connectivity options and is a quality hybrid drum set, including 6 drum shells and 5 cymbal pads. It’s pretty close in its sounds to a conventional acoustic drum set, and that’s why it is leading our list.
At the second spot is the Alesis Command Mesh, a slightly compact version of the Strike Pro with 5 drum pads and 3 cymbal pads with various connectivity options and module triggers.
The third spot goes to the Roland V-Drums TD-17, which has 5 drum aids and 3 cymbal pads and comes with its drum module. This drum set also has Bluetooth connectivity along with USB compatibility.
