8 Best Electronic Drum Kits (Review) In 2021

The Alesis Drums Nitro Mesh Kit is easily one of the best electric drum kits for beginners. We could have featured a much more expensive, professional standard kit as our Best Choice, but we figured that most of our readers will be looking for something entry-level. If that sounds like you, we highly recommend this kit. There are loads of great things about it, but one of the main things is the size of the kit. A lot of beginner practice kits only have a couple of cymbals, a snare, and a bass drum, but this one has everything.

It’s a slight upgrade from their last model – the only difference being the mesh heads. This might not seem like much, but it makes the drums feel much more natural. We also like the fact that it’s portable and easy to store, which is one of the main features of an electric drum kit. It comes with an Alesis Nitro Module, which controls the kit. You get 40 different kits, 60 play-along tracks, a sequencer, a metronome, and you can even play along to your own MP3s. It makes a superb gift for music lovers.

The Alesis Surge Mesh Kit is the step up from the last kit we featured. It’s more expensive, but you get a few features that could benefit you if your drumming is moving on to the next level. It’s a similar 8-drum configuration to the Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit, but everything is a step up. One of the first things you’ll notice is the shiny metal frame, which both looks better and is sturdier than the plastic one.

It also has similar mesh heads, but everything has been upgraded to give a more authentic feel. Probably the biggest upgrade is the 8-inch mesh kick drum tower. This is the main problem that people have with the cheaper model, so it might be worth spending the extra money if you want it to feel like an acoustic kick drum.

Roland is the biggest name in the electric drum set market. That’s why their Entry-level Electronic V-Drum Set costs nearly $500. It might seem like a lot of money for an ‘entry-level’ kit, but they benefit from the same technology as the professional standard drum kits. This kit is designed for practice, teaching, and generally learning how to play drums. They’ve specifically made it small, so it doesn’t take up anywhere near as much space as an acoustic kit. The control panel – or module – is based on Roland’s flagship TD-30 and features 15 different drum kits, a metronome, coaching function, and more. It’s nowhere near as advanced as the Alesis modules, but you’re paying for the quality and feel of the kit itself. For more great products for musicians, check out our top picks of the best headphone amplifiers.

The electronic drum kits we’ve featured so far have been relatively expensive. That’s why we wanted to include this RockJam Eight Piece Electronic Drum Kit. From a distance, it looks pretty similar to the Roland or Alesis kits, but underneath the hood, it’s not as impressive. Having said that, it’s still a pretty good way for kids to get into drumming. It has everything you’d expect from a kit like this – mesh heads, 30 drum kit sounds, as well as AUX cable, USB, MIDI, and headphone inputs. But you can’t expect the same quality for this price. It’s perfect for beginners, but not for seasoned musicians. For more amazing equipment for musicians, check out our comprehensive guide to the best keyboard stands.

The Roland TD-11KV Electronic Drum Set is a huge step up from the electronic kits we’ve featured so far. If you look purely at the features, it can be pretty difficult to tell these products apart, but the difference is in the quality. Each drum has Roland’s Dual Triggering technology that provides an accurate and even feel. It’s, without doubt, the closest thing you can get to an acoustic drum kit. Your drumstick bounces back of the drum, just like it would on a drum skin.

The other thing you’re paying for is the Supernatural sound engine. It’s a more advanced version of what we saw in the Roland TD-1K. On top of that, the control module has seemingly endless drum kit sounds and backing tracks, as well as a coaching function and all of the inputs you’ll need. Be sure to also check out our top picks of the best earplugs for concerts that will help you protect your ears while playing.

The Roland TD-17KVX-S V-Compact Series Electronic Drum Kit is definitely the best electric drum kit on this list. It’s the closest thing you can get to an acoustic kit without getting the real deal. But that quality is going to cost you because it’s also the most expensive kit on the list. The mesh headed drums are pretty much the same as the Roland TD-11 kit, but the kick drum and hi-hat drum are a huge improvement. The hi-hat, in particular, is set up like an acoustic kit, which means you get the same sort of feel.

The TD-17 module is one of Roland’s most advanced control system ever. In addition to all of the normal sounds and built-in tracks, it has an impressive coaching function. In their words, you can ‘track your technique, measure your progress, and increase your motivation.’ For more amazing instruments, check out our reviews of the best mandolins.

The cheapest electronic drum kit is this Carlsbro CSD120XXX Electronic Drum Set. Carlsbro has always been one of the big names in music equipment, but now they’ve tried their hands at electronic drums. You can tell that it’s not as advanced as the newer Roland kits, but it’s still great for practicing and learning. It’s very compact and relatively easy to set up. The drum pads aren’t mesh pads, but they still have a semi-realistic feel. And, you get a pretty advanced drum module with 250 different sounds, 30 preset kits, and 20 built-in songs. To enhance your experience while listening to music, pick your favorite pair of open back headphones.

Our last drum kit is the Yamaha DTX402K Electronic Drum Set. Yamaha is a big name in many industries, and they’ve always been praised for their high-quality music gear. This kit is one of the most modern and advanced kits on this list, especially in terms of connectivity. As well as the normal inputs (AUX, MIDI, USB, etc), it comes with a corresponding app to help you practice and learn. Essentially, it does a similar job to the high-end Roland and Alesis kits, but you can control it all from your smartphone. If you are looking for some great audio products for your home, check out our guide to the best soundbars.