1. Yamaha DTX532K Electronic Drum Set

If you are looking for a drum set that can fit for professional applications, then the Yamaha DTX532K Electronic Drum Set is an excellent choice. It is using a DTX502 module that comes with 700 realistic drum sounds.

It also uses an authentic hi-hat system so that you can get a "good" feel when playing this instrument. Moreover, this drum set has a 3-trigger zone snare which offers more versatility than those units that are only using dual triggers.

Pros:

Cons:

2. Roland TD-11K-S V-Compact Series Electronic Drum Set

When it comes to premium quality, the Roland TD-11K-S V-Compact Series is a top choice. This one can produce highly realistic drum sounds, thanks to its TD-11 Drum Sound Module. Moreover, its kick pad feels really natural. It is like you are playing real drums with this one! We can also say that the hi-hat of this electronic drum set is pretty compact and ergonomic as well!

Pros:

Cons:

3. Alesis Nitro Kit Electronic Drum Set

There are a lot of good points that you can attribute to the Alesis Nitro Kit. For example, it comes with comfortable and dynamic pads. The said component allows you to get an excellent feel for this device.

Moreover, the pads are ultra responsive as well, thanks to its rubber construction! You won't really get wrong as long you keep on hitting on this drum set!

Pros:

Cons:

4. Pyle Electronic Drum Set Pad With Built-in Speakers

This all-in-one system is an excellent choice for beginners who want a compact instrument to play. Specifically, it has a table top design, which allows you to use without a mount. Despite it size, this drum set has still a huge sound library. It also has a recording feature as well.

You can make your own music through this machine, thanks to its USB compatibility. The 1/4-inch headphone jack of this drum set will let you play with it without bothering other people.

Pros:

Cons:

5. Alesis CompactKit 7

Another compact electronic drum set that you should pay attention is the Alesis CompactKit 7. The reason why it has a "7" in its name is due to its seven velocity-sensitive drum pads.

Moreover, it has two pedals as well that contributes to the realism of its performance. Since it is a compact drum set, we can understand that it only comes with 45 drum kit presets. However, it has over 100 built-in songs to compensate for such shortcomings!

Pros:

Cons:

6. Pyle-Pro PTED01 Electronic Table Digital Drum Kit

The Pyle-Pro PTED01 Electronic Table Digital Drum Kit is a versatile set. The manufacturer of this instrument gave enough capabilities to it for it to sound like a real drum. Of course, this should impress you because this drum set has a compact size! Therefore, you have the freedom to carry it anywhere you want!

This device also has an LCD screen and set of controls so that you can control and customize the sound that you are playing!

Pros:

Cons:

7. Yamaha DTX400K Customizable Electronic Drum Set

Yamaha is a giant in the music industry. All the products they produce are simply elegant but powerful. Even their drumsets imbibe a premium feel. Specifically, it is the Yamaha DTX400K signifies the quality of this brand. This particular drum set comes with a trigger module for unleashing rich and realistic sounds.

There are also ten drum sets that you can access on this compact device (e.g. oak custom, marching, maple custom, and jazz). The kit also includes professional JVC stereo headphones and a pair of drumsticks.

Pros:

Cons:

8. Alesis DM6 Nitro Kit

The Alesis DM6 Nitro Kit is a standard-size drum set that can cater various musical applications. Specifically, it has better drum pads compared to the previous DM6 models. Therefore, you can really expect the genuine quality of this set. Furthermore, it has integrated tutorial features for those who are new to this device!

Pros:

Cons:

9. Behringer XD8USB

We can never have this list completed without the Behringer XD8USB. This eight-piece drum set can sound like a real drum set, thanks to its HDS11OUSB sound module. It comes with ten presets and another five drum settings that you can configure.

Since it has a USB port, you can connect the Behringer XD8USB to any computers and mobile devices. Furthermore, it features a High Definition Sampling, which makes its performance consistent and highly realistic.

Pros:

Cons:

10. Alesis DM10 Studio Kit

The Alesis DM10 is a drum set that is well-suited for both practice sessions and live performances. We can say that it deserves a "professional" status because of its intuitive design and highly realistic performance.

Moreover, it has over a thousand sound presets of various genres, which can help you explore your musical finesse. You can also re-assign these sounds for more playing versatility. Meanwhile, it is notable that the sound library of the Alesis DM10 is expendable, thanks to its USB/ MIDI outputs.

Pros:

Cons:

We all know that an electronic drum is a replica of those traditional full-size drum sets. Initially, you can assume that they won't sound the same. After all, they don't possess the similar parts. However, thanks to technology, this issue was gradually solved.

How Electronic Drum Sets Work?

Most of the electronic drums today are using sampling and modules to mimic the authentic drum sounds effectively. Without these features, an electronic drum would sound too flavored and artificial.

Of course, you have to take account the responsiveness of the drum pads. Therefore, you have to pay attention to its "brain" or central electronic unit. This is the core where the all the triggers of the drums connect. The latter is a form of sensor that detects any strikes and translates it to the corresponding sound that it should produce.

The mesh heads and the pads are using a single trigger. Therefore, they can only make a single sound, regardless where you strike them. Meanwhile, a dual trigger can produce a nuanced sound, depending on where your strike landed.

The interaction between the brain and the trigger must be fast and efficient. Otherwise, the drum set wouldn't be responsive and sensitive enough to cater your needs. Fortunately, most of the systems today can do this in a prompt manner.

Mesh Heads or Rubber?

The pads of an electronic drum have inner covers. The latter specifically affects the overall sounding of the drum. Currently, the covers are in the form of mesh heads or rubber. When it comes to price, rubber pads are less inexpensive that mesh heads.

They are also compact and provides enough consistency, regardless of the size of the pad. Their rebound is something that you would love as well.

On the other hand, mesh heads is a modern update for electronic drum sets. They offer more realistic sound than rubbers. Moreover, they possess extreme sensitivity, thanks to their dual triggers. Moreover, you can configure a mesh head so that you can adjust its rebound. The only downside of this cover is its costs. Specifically, it is an expensive material.

Amplifiers

The electronic won't be able to produce any sound if it doesn't have built-in speakers. If the speakers are not present, then you have to connect it to an external amplifier. At this point, you should know that the amplifiers for every drum set model are different. Manufacturers create amplifiers that would match their product alone. We call them as the monitor system.

Most of the monitor systems have a wedge design. Usually, you can locate them underneath the drum kit. This particular placement enables the users to hear the sounds better.

These are some of the essential things that you should learn about electronic drum sets. Familiarizing them would give you a total advantage rather than shopping blindly! Of course, we have listed several products that could satisfy those criteria. Here are they:

The products that we featured here the candidates for the best electronic drum set. As you can see, they have unique features that could certainly improve your playing skills. By investing in any of these drum kits, you will be able to play your favorite beat and rhythm in the pace and degree that favors you.

However, we still have to say that the Yamaha DTX532K is currently sitting on the throne. It is not just because it is a professional electronic drum set. Instead, it is because of its vast sound library, responsiveness, and sound authenticity. With this one, you will be able to take your drumming endeavors to the next level!

However, if you want a compact and entry-level option, we would recommend you the Roland TD-11K-S V-Compact Series or the Alesis Nitro Kit.

Did you like this article? Which of these electronic drum sets do you want to have? Tell us your answers in the comment section below!

Because it’s made of acrylic shells for added resonance, this drum kit is amazing live. It comes with multiple configurations, especially for rock n roll and jazz. I love the toms - they are durable and easy to tune.

The frequencies are set at a higher range in the highs and lows while the midrange is softer and quieter.

Pros:

Cons:

Get it via Amazon.com

This set is made of maple, so it creates amazing sound quality. However, it is more expensive compared to the other kits already listed in this guide.

Drums made of maple wood produce warm, balanced beats, so it is perfect lighter music genres such as jazz, blues, soft rock, ballad, and soul.

Pros:

Cons:

Gammon Percussion is known for budget-friendly complete drumsets for both juniors and adults. This set already has cymbal stands, drumsticks, and stool.

Although it claims to be a perfect use for beginners and professionals alike, I would only recommend this as a starter kit.

Pros:

Cons:

Pear claims to be one of the most trusted drum set brands in the market. The RS525SCC706 is ready to play right out of the box. It already comes with hardware and accessories, so this is reasonably priced.

I have tried playing this at a gig, and they are durable. The drums do not get easily out of tune, but you have to make sure to adjust them first before playing at gigs where you will be playing music per set.

Pros:

Cons:

The Ddrum Journeyman is crazy affordable but created with such great care and quality. This is one of my favorites and mostly preferred for playing heavy metal beats for its rich, heavy tonality.

Pros:

Cons:

This four piece set may be too expensive, but you will be able to achieve a 4-piece configuration ala Ringo Starr with these. Amazing sound that is perfect for recording, I prefer this for recording rock and R&B beats.

This could be one of the most heavy duty drum sets available in the market today. It also has excellent sound quality especially the bass drum low end.

Pros:

Cons:

Now, if you are looking for a balanced price-quality ratio, this drum set is the one for you. This 5-piece set is made of good quality birch - a wood known for its heavy and loud but brighter sound.

It sounds a lot better compared to mahogany or maple made drums, in my opinion. Birchwood drums, such as this Yamaha model, have enhanced high and low frequencies that make it perfect for music that requires heavier beats.

Pros:

Cons:

This Mendini kit is complete with hardware and easy to follow instructions. By the looks of it, this is an entry level drum set perfect for beginners. My 12-year-old nephew is using this, and he loves it.

For a very affordable price, it already provides full resonance and warmth of sound.

This may not come close to drum sets made of birch or mahogany, but this is a good starter kit for learning and practicing. You can always upgrade to kits with better quality as you progress with your percussion skills.

Pros:

Cons:

This set is a complete one that guarantees incredible performance for beginners. This may have some quality issues because it is a very affordable set, but it is a good starter kit to begin your percussion journey with. You may need to replace the cymbals because they can break easily.

It surprised me that this kit has clear heads and incredible resonance. I find its sound quality satisfactory.

Pros:

Cons:

The best thing about this drum set is its sound versatility. Since it is made of maple wood, it guarantees warmth and resonance. I can play this along with other instruments in a studio or live performance, and it still cuts through the mix.

With wide dynamic range, high sensitivity, and sharp application, I must say this is perfect for professionals.

I would not recommend this for beginners because aside from the fact that it is too expensive for a starter kit, it has an overwhelming big tonality and extended resonance.

Pros:

Cons:

This Ludwig drum set only has 3 drum components but has great sound versatility. I bought this set for its quick response. But I purchased the additional parts to make a five-piece set.

Warmth and resonance are its forte and is perfect for playing live or in studio recordings. The set provides the proper dynamic range because of its size and has high sensitivity.

This is expensive but may still be perfect for beginners. Investing in high-quality drum set such as this guarantees value and longevity of use.

Pros:

Cons:

This 5-piece drum kit is very affordable and already has a complete set plus hardware for the essential parts. It even has a complete easy to follow user guide. I think this is the best for the beginner level - just the perfect size for teens.

Made of poplar wood, this drum set provides amazing resonance and warmth. Poplar is one of the most common alternative woods for birch and mahogany.

The quality of the entire set is not bad, but I recommend buying a pack of hardware because there are parts that do not have the hardware for mounting.

Pros:

Cons:

This five-set Ludwig starter set guarantees proper configuration, so beginning drummers can play it right out of the box.

The only problem I have had with the set is the cymbals. They need replacement because they tend to break easily after long periods of playing. Regardless of quality issues, it has a fair sound quality with clear heads and resonance.

Pros:

Cons:

This five-piece Gammon Percussion set already comes with various hardware for easy and convenient mounting of the essential drum parts. It also has a comfortable drum throne and wooden drum sticks.

I like playing this starter drum set and is pretty easy to tune. It also has a drummer’s key for adjusting the tone. But beginners may need the help of a professional tuning to avoid difficulty.

Pros:

Cons:

This set has five essential drum components, which is definitely for the money - not to mention the brand is very popular. Pearl RS525SCC706 5-piece drum set is ready to play when taken out of the box.

Known for its durable construction, this is a heavy duty drum set and is perfect for playing in gigs. But this is also ideal for beginners.

Pros:

Cons:

Probably the coolest drum set for all skill levels ever in my opinion. I love its perfect quality-price ratio, and it is already a complete 5-piece set. It is also made of birch wood which is perhaps one of the best drum wood in the world.

It produces heavy but bright and loud tones, so it is versatile and can adapt to different genres.

Pros:

Cons:

This super affordable drum set is perfect for beginners. The manufacturers did a careful quality work on this despite its low price. It’s almost too good to be true, but I have tried one, and it is an amazing set.

It has a huge bass drum, so it is preferred by the metal heads. It provides rich, heavy tones.

Pros:

Cons:

Made of Catalina Maple wood, this drum has great sound quality. It provides warm beats perfect for playing power ballads. It does not feel too heavy nor too light - just the right flavor for me.

This drum set has a walnut glaze finish, which I find fascinating. The set looks so vintage, so I think this is one of the best looking drums I have tried playing. Plus it has amazing balanced tones too.

Pros:

Cons:

For beginners, this set is too expensive but has excellent quality. It is only a 4-piece set with a configuration similar to The Beatles’ Ringo Starr.

I like using this when I am playing R&B beats and rock n roll. This set is also perfect for recording with its amazing frequency and resonance.

Pros:

Cons:

This Pearl drum set is made of acrylic shells with multiple configurations. The best part I have tried in this set are the toms. They are so in tune and durable. This heavy duty drum set is perfect for practically any type of music.

I love its resonance and emphasis on the high and low frequencies. The mids are controlled, so they sound a nit quieter and softer.

Pros:

Cons:

Here are the features you should be looking for in a drum set before you buy one.

Durable Drum Wood Construction

Although I would highly recommend a drum set made of birch wood, it can be very expensive. But if you can afford one, by all means, do buy a birch wood make.

Maple and mahogany are next in line in the most recommended drum woods, but there are also other good options.

Here are some of the characteristics of birch, maple, mahogany, and other alternatives. Read through to figure out how each type of wood affects the tonality of the drum set.

Complete Drum Set Components

All drum sets may seem the same to a non-professional drummer’s eye. Bigger sets are certainly not always better. You should always go after the quality of sound.

Other differences include the number of cymbals, percussion instruments, type of shells, and hardware.

You may opt for a four-piece, five-piece, or six-piece set. Let’s go over the basic components of a complete set first to help you pick the set that suits your needs.

Basic Component Set

There are three types of toms namely, high tom, mid tom, and the floor tom. They produce hollow sound with different pitches. The high tom is mounted close to the snare and over the bass drum. It produces the highest pitch.

The mid tom is mounted beside the high tom and sounds a bit lower in pitch. Finally, the floor tom, the largest Tom, is mounted on the floor near the leg of the drummer. The sound it produces is a lot deeper than the high and mid toms.

Also known as the kick drums, this is one of the essential components of a drum set. It is the biggest in the set and is positioned at the center. It produces the most significant, deep sounding downbeats.

This is the main drum that delivers sharp and loud sound. It is also called a side drum and is the one responsible for creating marching beats.

This is usually played separately in marching bands and orchestras. But in a drum set, it produces the essential rhythms required for various music styles.

The hi-hat is composed of two cymbals placed on top of each other. The pair is mounted on a stand and placed beside the snare drum.

A complete set also consists of two other cymbals aside from the hi-hat. The first one is the ride cymbals, which is larger but produces a gentler sound.

These cymbals produce the loudest sound in the set, and they may come in different sizes.

A complete drum set should include a height adjustable stool or throne. It should also be portable and padded for comfort even after hours of practicing.

The essential hardware a complete drum set should include are bass drum pedal, a snare stand, a hi-hat stand, and at least one snare stand. Check if these are already included in the package before you buy a set.

Proper Drum Depth

Drum depth refers to how shallow or deep the sound of your drum is. Depth produces deep boom sound while a shallow depth produces more snap.

The secret to achieving either sound is tuning. Some drum kits already have a tuning key, but beginners may not know how to use them yet. When buying a drum kit, it is recommended to have it tuned properly by a technician.