Are you looking for the best electronic drum set for your budget?
In this article, we will discuss some of the best electronic drum sets. Electric drum kits are popular among drummers for lots of reasons. They provide a low-noise solution to practicing the drums and also they’re also equipped with tons of different sounds which give the player endless hours of fun to play around with.
Below is a list of our top 5 electronic drum sets and detailed explanations as to why we’ve picked them. We think you’ll find this one of the best, if not the best, electronic drum set reviews out there. Read on.
our best electronic drum sets picks
Image
Brand
Model
Our Rating
Our Rating
Alesis Surge Mesh
At the top of the list is the Alesis Surge Mesh.
I’m a little bit biased because I own this drum kit, but I bought it for a good reason–it’s a very good deal given its price.
This kit comes in at the lower end of the pricing spectrum at around USD $500.
At that price, it’s surprising that the kit comes with well-built mesh heads, a sturdy kick tower, 8” toms, and an extra large 10” snare drum.
While the module leaves a lot to be desired, you always have MIDI connectivity, so you can plug it into your DAW or other drum software.
I think this is a great kit for anyone who’s getting started with drumming, or who wants a quiet kit to jam on in an apartment setting.
Pros
- Great price considering it’s all mesh
- 10” snare and quality kick tower puts ahead of other competing kits
Pros
- Module isn’t the best
Alesis Turbo Mesh Kit
The Alesis Turbo Mesh Kit lets you experience mesh heads at an affordable price. Each of the mesh pads are tunable to your preference, to give you the bounce and feel that’s closer to acoustic drum heads.
For the price you’re getting 3 tom pads, a snare, and a complete set of cymbal pads which include a 10″ hi-hat, 10″ ride and 10″ crash. This kit also comes with foot controllers for triggering the hi-hat and kick drum.
Pros
- Value for money is its strong suit, with many describing it as a great buy especially for beginners and intermediate players. Playing feel is often appreciated, along with the sonic versatility of its drum module.
Pros
- There are a few complaints about build quality, with some pinpointing the input and ports as flimsy and requiring extra handling care.
Roland TD-1K
This is the Equal Highest Rated Electronic Drum Set Under $1000 along with the Yamaha DTX532K.
It’s also the Highest Rated Electronic Drum Set Under $500.
The Roland TD-1K is a compact and streamlined electronic drum kit that makes their brand of quality and dynamic sensitivity more accessible to the masses.
For the price, you are getting a drum kit with multi-zone and choke capable cymbals, along with velocity sensitive rubber pads, and quiet operation pedals.
All of these are wired to its core, which is Roland’s V-Drums technology equipped TD-1 module, with 15 kits to choose from and personalize.
There’s even a “Coach” feature that gives you scored exercises to help you improve your playing.
Wrapping it all up is the TD-1K’s compact stand that allows the kit to fit into small rooms, making it ideal for those who want to save on both money and space.
Pros
- Reviews for the Roland TD-1K are flooded with users who relish its premium feel and sound quality. Many of those who switched from cheaper kits appreciate the big jump in quality that it offers. A lot of drummers also find the size to be just right for their limited space.
Pros
- Other than a few with missing parts / shipping related issues, there are no noteworthy complaints about the Roland TD-1K's quality.
YAMAHA ELECTRONIC DRUM SET (DTX760K)
This 5-piece electronic drum set is made by Yamaha, another well-established brand.The quality that Yamaha offers with this kit can be seen in just about any of its elements, no matter how tiny they are.Because of this, it’s one of the kits professionals trust the most.A relatively high price tag brings a whole bunch of advanced features that help with sound quality, as well as feedback you experience when you play. One such feature is the DTX technology along with mesh-heads, which aim to bring the most natural feeling during use.Let’s check out what this kit has to offer.
Yamaha’s higher end electronic drums are built like tanks. You are looking at really sturdy hardware with joints and mounts which are rock solid. We expect nothing less, considering the price of this kit. Yamaha’s use of quality materials for every component of DTX750K makes it one of the most reliable sets you can get.
The quality of sounds delivered by Yamaha DTX750K is pretty impressive. They have included 50 factory presets, a whole array of effects and a very versatile EQ section that has two layers. What is great about the presets on this Yamaha, is the fact that you can edit and overwrite all of them. This gives you the full freedom to customize the sounds and samples in a way you see fit.
Yamaha used the very same DTX700 module we have already seen. The processing power of modern modules has reached a level where they have plenty of headroom for hardware to catch up. That is exactly the case with this Yamaha. DTX700 is very powerful and potent unit that will do anything you need it to do.
Pros
- Amazing engineering
- High versatility
- Organic Tone
Pros
- Some users report minor sound issues
ALESIS NITRO KIT
If you’re an absolute beginner and want to enter the drumming world at a super affordable price, this kit may be the solution you’re looking for. It’s nice to see Alesis has included some of their more advanced technology in this starter kit.
When you are dealing with beginner entry level kits such as the Nitro, quality is an important factor. Fortunately for us, Alesis has created a kit that can take a beating and keep on going. The rack is very sturdy for this segment of the market, providing excellent support to all of the components.
The Alesis Nitro brings you 40 drum kit presets in total. On top of that, you get 11 MIDI kits and 385 various instruments that include SFX and all kinds of percussion. The quality of the sounds is decent and about as good as you would hope for them to be in this price range.
The Nitro module is a basic but effective solution in the entry-level segment of the market. Its core performance is rock solid, meaning that it will keep up with you no matter what. On top of that, it comes with a decent sequencer and a built-in metronome, which is great for those who want to solidify their timing.
Pros
- Very cheap
- Great value for the money
- Strong, booming rimshots
Pros
- Beginner kit and that’s it
What Makes For The Best Electronic Drum Set?
An electronic drum kit should be compared to an acoustic kit like a grand piano is to a MIDI controller.
They have similar functions and use, but feel is completely different.
There are three primary reasons for buying an e drum kit: practicing, performing live, and recording.
Now we’ve covered a lot of ground talking about different kits offered. You may still be unsure as to which features you need and which you don’t.
We’re all in agreement that saving money is a good thing, right?
What Comes With Most E-Drum Kits?
It’s important to know exactly what you’re getting when you make your purchase, as I’m sure you’ll want to be setting this thing up and playing on day one, right?
I still have yet to see any e-drum kit that sells the mounting hardware, rack system, or the drum pads separately.
That being said, there are a couple of additional purchases you will likely have to make.
Most kits do not include the bass drum pedal, drum throne, sticks, or even headphones.
If you don’t have a set of drumming headphones / in-ear monitors, you’ll need to buy an amplifier to actually hear the sounds made from your kit.
Personally, I use in-ear monitors since I am trying to keep the noise down, but it’s really up to your preference.
Using an electronic kit enables you to practice all out, even if you live in an apartment.
This is a great way to save a ton of money on a new product instead of buying used.
conclusion-choose your best electronic drum sets
Well, there you have it. The best electronic drum set reviews for every budget bracket.
Of course, features will change at different price points, but any of the choices above are really good. This goes both for entry level users and professionals alike.
If you are not sure which route to go, we have some excellent guides about intermediate sets and the best drum set brands for acoustic drumming.
Be sure to check what customers are saying about the products and feel free to leave us a comment with any question you might have.
By the way, don’t forget to check our drum lessons section. Getting an electronic drum set is the first step. Now you need improve your skills to make it as a great drummer.
We want to hear from you. What is your dream electronic drum set?
