Introduction: A Foreword about the Best Electronic Drum Sets Under $1000

QUICK RUNDOWN

If you are in a hurry here is a quick comparison:

1. Roland TD-11K V-Drums Electronic Drum Kit

OVERVIEW:

The Roland TD-11K V Drums are an ideal blend of quality and price. This amazing E-Kit can stand toe-to-toe with more expensive gear. If you want an electronic kit that has a natural feel to it and offers amazing sounds, then you might be looking at your next instrument.

QUALITY:

Roland kits generally have high quality standards. The TD-11K V-Drums are pretty sturdy, durable and they feel very refined. In addition to that, the kit is quite easy to assemble (less than 30 minutes for seasoned players, maybe a bit more for beginners and intermediates).

SOUNDS:

Like the TD-25KV and TD-30 models, you’re getting the SuperNATURAL sound engine, which offers extremely realistic sound modeling. Each SuperNATURAL instrument, like the piano, flute or timpani, has its own dedicated sound engine because the sounds of a piano, flute and timpani are completely different, so their related modeling needs are different, too. Each SuperNATURAL engine is based on pristine studio samples of the original instrument – that is also the case with the SuperNATURAL drums by Roland.

MODULE:

The huge sound library covers a wide variety of musical genres for both performance and practice. The high-end backing songs onboard are ideal for play-along practice, which is a great feature for beginner drummers, while pros will know the value of the USB function for MIDI/AUDIO and data storage.

For more about the Roland TD11K check out customer reviews on Amazon.    

2. Yamaha DTX532K Electronic Drum Set

OVERVIEW:

Barely making the cut for the “Under 1000$”, the Yamaha DTX532K is a fabulous set with a module containing nearly 700 high-quality drum sounds. Like most mid-range sets it contains very decent hardware and it includes a real kick pedal. This is a real bargain as the kit is a fantastic alternative to some higher-end drum sets and thus a perfect backup kit or for home recording.

QUALITY:

The kit weighs a little bit more than comparable kits by Roland, for example, but the kit is very stable and durable. With the helpful instructions, you can assemble this professional and greatly engineered kit with ease. You can also effortlessly connect an additional cymbal pad to the base kit in case you want even more tonal versatility. A double kick configuration is also possible.

SOUNDS:

The preset sounds are numerous! You will probably spend days trying out all of them. These drums are definitely a far better choice than most 500 USD kits as the DTX532K offers a very natural and realistic sound. The DTX heads are very responsive and sensitive and the 3-zones configuration offers a great emulation of acoustic drums, especially when performing rim-shots.

MODULE:

The brain functions very well and produces great sounds, but some of them do feel a bit synthetic. Luckily you’ll be able to figure out the right configuration and find a natural sound which will, thanks to the natural response of the drums, result in an overall great tone. This Yamaha set is a really technologically advanced kit that will be fun to play and experiment with.

For more about the Yamaha DTX532K check out customer reviews on Amazon.    

3. KAT KT3 Advanced High Performance Digital Drum Set

OVERVIEW:

Another kit that just barely makes it on the list because of the price, but there was no way to not include the amazing KT3 model. This KAT Digital Drum Set comes with a Bass Drum Pedal and Headphones. The combination of 70 Drum Kits, 45 Factory preset and 25 additional user kits, this is a real performer’s dream. And the white/red combination is extremely hot for live-performances!

QUALITY:

This kit is fairly easy to assemble as it is very standardized. As such, it is very beginner-friendly, but there are not a lot of customization options available. It is kinda the I-Phone of electronic drums – it does what it needs to do very well and it is durable, but you either like it the way it is or you don’t like it at all. This can be an upside if you’re a beginner, but advanced players might be annoyed by it. Also, it’s quite heavy.

SOUNDS:

The available kits sound great and the instrument has a generally good feel to it. The kick has good tension, but you can decrease it for some styles. The numerous sound and tone options can be confusing for a beginner, but luckily there is an instruction manual, so if you want a great sounding entry or need some guidelines, this kit might be the right thing.

MODULE:

As mentioned, the kits are very good, but not all of them are exactly great. That being said, you can completely customize any kit, so you should be able to overcome any shortcomings you might notice. This is a big advantage compared to other kits that don’t have this feature.

For more about the KAT KT3 check out customer reviews on Amazon.    

4. Alesis Forge Kit

OVERVIEW:

Alesis electronic kits are fairly good and we’ve already talked about the amazing ALESIS DM6, which we think is the best beginners model on the market. The Alesis Forge Kit is a big upgrade from the beginner-friendly DM6 and also functions as a great studio tool despite being the most cost-friendly kit on this list.

QUALITY:

This kit is really on the heavier side, weighing 50 pounds. On the bright side, it’s one of the sturdiest kits available. Because of that it is especially good if it’s standing in a studio or if you need a kit for your local cafe that won’t get damaged for a long time.

SOUNDS:

While the presets are quite decent. This model has Mesh heads, which are much better than the rubber pads on the cheaper models. Generally, the 70 presets are very satisfying and there is a total of 20 user-presets that can be used, so you have a great balance of different tones.

MODULE:

The customization of the kit allows you to have countless different kits in a single device. It comes with an aux-cord input, which means that you can download real instrument backing tracks and play them through the module. This feature is great for practicing songs with headphones on. For this price, it’s a great module that will get you on the right tracks if you’re a beginner.

For more about the Alesis Forge Kit check out customer reviews on Amazon.    

Main advantages and features of good electronic drum kits:

The first big advantage (and an important thing you have to consider when choosing a kit) is that an electronic kit is not simply a substitute for an acoustic kit, but a different musical instrument. As such, your expressive abilities on an e-kit are different from what you can do on an acoustic one. For example, you will have the possibility to tap into new genres like house, techno, electronica and hip-hop. But if you’re a beginner trying to get into rock, blues or metal, you can still play those genres, as well. It’s important to remember a few things that will help you maximize the advantages of electronic drums. Because of the nature of the instrument, an electronic drum kit’s module is the main part of the whole instrument. While a more expensive module might limit your budget even further, it is an important investment that will leave you with a useful tool that you won’t have to change later on. Generally, you want to avoid rubber heads and look out for mesh heads, especially if you’re already used to acoustic drums. The feel of the drums will in turn impact your sound. And speaking of sound – electronic instruments naturally need to be connected to an amplification system. Different brands offer different types of amps, speakers and monitoring systems. If you’re using an electronic kit simply for practice, make sure to get decent headphones.

These are the most affordable solutions if you need a good kit for a moderate amount of money. Generally, sets that are under 500 USD are more toy-like and while they might act as a practice alternative for small apartments, they neither behave nor sound like real drums. If you are searching for more cost-effective alternatives, check out our earlier guide and compare the different sets. But if you are ready to invest a little more, we suggest taking a look at kits in the range of 1000-2000 dollars. Do you agree or disagree with our list? Let us know in the comments below so that we can compare our opinions! Until next time!