Which brand is better for your needs? We asked 3 drum experts for their opinion:
1. Simon Lyon – Editor of The Sound Junky
The two good brands for electronic drums are Yamaha and Roland; both of these brands provide unique powers to professional percussionists. A huge array of various drum pad choices are available on both the brands at various price ranges. However, for a player who is in need of generic-sounding, Roland is the right choice because it does not offer acoustic drumming and gives you actual samples.
On the other hand, Yamaha is all about acoustic as well as some of the electronic drum set. Sampled acoustic lines are incorporated into the e-kits to provide a fresh and new feeling. Still, Roland is better in sound, easy to upgrade, and has better resale worth as compared to Yamaha.
2. Rex Freiberger – CEO of Music Minds
This is going to depend a lot on where your current skill level is. I’m not sure I would suggest either to beginners as they can both be pricy and include more bells and whistles than a beginner needs to worry about. But for intermediate to professional level drummers, for my money the best bet is Yamaha.
Yamaha is a trusted brand. Their kits are pricey but absolutely worth every penny. The sound quality is crisp and it has a depth to it that’s difficult to replicate with other brands. The design and quality of the kit is
top-notch, too. You won’t find any cheap parts here. Everything is built to last, so you can rest assured that a Yamaha product will be worth the investment.
3. Giorgio Passalacqua – CEO of Sounds Wow
I will say that both Roland and Yamaha electronic drums have a high-quality and professional sound. If you want to save a little money or you are on a tight budget, you may go for a set of the Yamaha, usually cheaper than the Rolands. Now Yamaha also offers real samples and many musicians often prefer those to the synthesized ones from Roland.
As both sound and feel are very subjective, it would be always ideal to try them both before purchasing. That will eliminate any doubt between the two brands, that are whatsoever both great.
Best Roland Electronic Drum:
Roland TD-17KVX-S V-Compact Series Electronic Drum Kit
This is a 5-Piece electronic drum set with mesh heads, 4 x cymbals, and TD-17 sound module. It’s an awesome set. Great response, great feel, extremely versatile. The set actually came from Total Music Source and was made by Roland. If you have more questions, check out the Roland FAQ Page.
Sound Quality:
Combining natural, rich and dynamic drum sounds inherited from the flagship TD-50-class sound engine with newly developed pads results in an affordable electronic drum kit that’s authentically close to playing acoustic drums. It accurately mirrors the physical movement, stick coordination and hand/foot control that every drummer needs.
What you also need to buy:
17KVX-S SET:
-A kick pedal
-A hi-hat stand
-A Throne
-Either Headphones or a monitor (if using a monitor you need the cable to connect it)
-Drum sticks
Roland V-Drums Overview
Roland V-Drums are built to be reliable — from the sound module, to the pads, right down to the pedals; each component must deliver, across every scenario and in every performance. The pads and pedals used in the TD-17 series are engineered to take a beating, but their playability also endures. And as your skills and ambitions grow, you can expand your TD-17 by adding an extra crash cymbal or second snare — safe in the knowledge that you’re using the same durable components favored by pro drummers.
Best Yamaha Electronic Drum:
Yamaha DTX562K Electronic Drum Set
This is an awesome set! I’ve played a Roland and the response trigger is better on the Yamaha. This is a good mid level set for someone between the beginner and expert level. This set has a great professional sound quality. Yamaha electronic drums use real samples & sounds as opposed to synthesized sounds.
Sound Quality:
The DTX562K Electronic Drum Set by Yamaha features all DTX-PADs for snare and toms plus a large hi-hat pad with included stand and large 3-zone cymbal pads for outstanding playability. The response of the DTX-PADs has been precisely tuned to provide a natural feeling and playability around the entire kit and to integrate comfortably into a hybrid acoustic-electronic kit. The DTX502 module includes 691 drum, percussion and effect sounds for any musical situation and offers comprehensive training functions, practice songs, and easy MIDI recording.
Yamaha Drums Overview:
This Yamaha DTX52 module comes with over 691 high-quality drum sound. It comes with a real hi-hat system for an authentic feel. This drum also includes a KP65 Kick Pad, Large 1″” Ride and Crash cymbals and 1″” Hi-Hat cymbal (all 3-zone) with exclusive 36-degree choke function.
Cheaper Roland Electronic Drums To Consider
1. Roland TD-1DMK Dual-Mesh Kit Entry-Level V-Drums Set ($699)
2. Roland TD-17KL-S V-Compact Series Electronic Drum Kit ($999)
Cheaper Yamaha Electronic Drums To Consider
1. Yamaha Electronic Drum Set, DTX402K ($499)
2. Yamaha Electronic Drum Set, DTX432K ($599)
