These include compression and ambience, as well as an effect level dial - which can help to bring your drums to life in a live or studio scenario. With the Alesis Nitro MAX being so affordable, it’s no wonder why it’s one of the top-selling electronic drum sets online. In the vast majority of cases you shouldn’t have any problems, but if something does feel off, you can use a bit of sandpaper to gently remove the sharp edge and make the stick tip smooth. Yamaha’s DTX10K utilizes textured cellular silicon drum heads, offering a quieter and more natural playing experience when compared to regular mesh heads. If you want convenience, then headphones win every time - but if you want a more ‘live’ experience, a speaker (also known as an electronic drum amp or monitor) is the way to go.

A lot of higher-end kits come with extra drums or cymbals too, the rack will be chunkier and the module larger. To me, this electronic drum set is much better than the previous generation Nitro Mesh—that electric drum kit was one of the best selling kits online and I assume MAX will follow in its footsteps. Of course, you never want to have to worry about dropping a stick – so drum companies have created a number of designs which increase the friction between your hand and your stick. This isn’t an example of great value for money, but an example of what the future of electronic drums looks like. The Alesis Nitro Mesh electronic drum kit includes an 8" dual-zone mesh snare, three 8” single-zone mesh toms, a 10” dual-zone crash (choke-able), two additional single-zoned cymbals (one for hi-hat and ride cymbal), hi-hat controller pedal and a complete four-post drum rack.Now, the Alesis kit isn’t going to hurt as much as a high-end Roland kit, but you’re still going to shell out a considerable amount. In 2023, I still the think the TD-50KV2 is a great option, but the VAD series is giving these drums a run for their money (but really, it’s just because of the look of the shells). While Yamaha's music instrument manufacturing is only a small aspect of their wider business, it has consistently made some of the very best acoustic and electronic drum sets on the market. You'll find a link out to a full review at the bottom of each kit entry if you want to go into more detail.

It feels and plays like an acoustic kit (to a certain extent), sounds great, and the hardware is of great quality. Any surface you bang against with these musical gadgets will instantly create notes, ideal for the beginner who wants to play around with the feel of a drum stick before diving deep into the world of drum kits, or the professional who wants to hone their drumming skills in a different way.Trusting you can’t just make as much noise as you want with an acoustic set, an e-kit is as close to the real thing as you’ll get while keeping your neighbours or family happy. The Strike SE may have improved on the hi-hat issues, but I have no firsthand experience with this drum set. The latter boasts an additional tom pad and a KD-180, 18-inch bass drum, while the former comes with a weighty KD-140 pad. It would be nice if all the cymbals had this feature, but this is where the budget may have been cut.