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With all the top electronic drum kits on the market costing thousands of dollars, it can easily make drummers with a low budget feel a bit discouraged. Thankfully, each major electronic drum company offers several kits under the $1000 mark.
These kits may not be as technologically advanced, but most of them have all the features needed for beginners and drummers simply looking for a small practice set.
I’ve picked out six of the best affordable electronic drum kits available. I’ve compared them according to their sound quality, module quality, features, pads, and overall value.
Contents
- What are the Best Electronic Drum Sets Under $1000?
- How I Tested and Selected the Best Electronic Drum Sets Under $1000
- In-Depth Electronic Drum Set Reviews
- Best Electronic Drum Kit Under 1000 Buying Guide
- What Makes an Electronic Drum Kit Under $1000 a Good Buying Option
- Features to Look Out for in the Best Electronic Drum Sets Under 1000
- Best Electronic Drum Set Under 1000 FAQs
What are the Best Electronic Drum Sets Under $1000?
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Best Quality Pads
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Best Kit for Kids
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Best Drum Module
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Best App Integration
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How I Tested and Selected the Best Electronic Drum Sets Under $1000
I went through a rigorous testing process when choosing these kits. I’ve played on several affordable e-kits that I didn’t feel were up to scratch, so I made sure to only select the best possible options.
The first thing I looked at with each kit was the drum module. I made sure there were at least 10 good preset drum kit sounds, as that offers enough variety to keep the kit interesting.
I then looked at the drum and cymbal pads. I played around each pad to see how many trigger zones there were, and I played a few patterns with various dynamics to see how responsive everything was.
Lastly, I checked to see what each kit came with. Some kits don’t come with needed accessories like a throne or bass drum pedal, so I just wanted to make sure that I knew exactly what was included so I could recommend good options.
In-Depth Electronic Drum Set Reviews
Roland TD-07KV
Roland TD-07KV Review
The Roland TD-07KV has been one of the best affordable kits in Roland’s product line for a few years. This is the perfect kit for experienced drummers to get, as it offers extensive playability in its design.
I’ve always found this kit to be the starting point in recognizing Roland’s quality. It has all the good playability features, giving you a great playing experience.
It’s powered by the TD-07 drum module, which has 25 preset kit sounds that are inspired by the ones that come on the TD-50 module. This means you get great sound quality in a smaller and more affordable package.
The Bluetooth connectivity is a standout feature on this module that you won’t find on too many others in this price range. You can connect a device to stream music through the module, allowing you to hear both the music and your drums through whatever sound source you’re connected to.
The kit has incredible build quality. Each mesh pad is highly responsive to different dynamic levels, and you’ll be able to play with varying intensities without the drums sounding too electronic.
The cymbal pads are thin, but they’re weighted to sway like acoustic cymbals when you strike them. Those, along with the mesh pads, are what give this kit excellent playability.
The drawback of this kit is that the tom pads are quite small. They’re only 6”, which is the smallest diameter you’ll find on electronic drum pads.
Pros
- Full set of musical mesh pads
- High-quality sounds inspired by Roland’s flagship drum module
- Weight-optimized cymbals that feel very natural to play
Cons
- Drum pads are a bit small
Alesis Nitro Mesh
Alesis Nitro Mesh Review
The Alesis Nitro Mesh is arguably the most popular affordable electronic drum kit. It has an incredible reputation amongst beginner drummers, as it’s the go-to option for people buying their first kit with a somewhat low budget.
This is undoubtedly the best-feeling cheap e-kit that I’ve ever played. The pads just feel so solid and responsive.
This kit’s strengths lie in its physical structure, and its weaknesses can be found in the drum module.
Starting with the good, the mesh drum pads are incredible. They’re all eight inches in diameter, making them feel very comfortable to play on. The snare pad has two trigger zones, meaning you can strike the rim to play a different sound from what you hear from the center.
The cymbal pads are solid and reliable. You just don’t have the option of playing the bells. However, you won’t find that with most kits under $1000.
The great thing about the drum module is that you get a whopping number of preset drum kit sounds. There are 40 in total, and shifting through those will keep you very entertained for a good few hours.
As with the other Alesis model, the preset kits just don’t have the best sound quality. However, beginner drummers don’t seem to mind, which is why this kit is such a hit with people just starting out.
Pros
- Very popular beginner drummer set
- Large number of preset drum kit sounds
- Large mesh pads
Cons
- Sits a bit low for very tall people to feel comfortable
Roland TD-02KV
Roland TD-02KV Review
The Roland TD-02KV is one of Roland’s latest additions to their product lineup. The previous version of this kit was the TD-1K, but this one was created to make that kit feel a bit closer to what regular-sized kits feel like. It also has a superior drum module.
This is one of the best electronic kits for kids for a few reasons. Firstly, it’s the most compact set on this list. It has the smallest footprint, and that will allow kids to keep it with them in their bedrooms quite easily.
I have a nephew who loves playing this kit, thanks to its small size, various module features, and attractive appearance.
It also has a neat fold-up design that makes it easy to push out the way whenever you need the space.
The other reason is that the black and white coloring of the pads looks very intriguing and a lot more exciting than what most other e-kits offer.
The TD-02 sound module offers 16 factory kits that all sound amazing. The module also offers a few coaching functions that are very useful.
If there was one thing to add that would make this kit much better, it would be a regular kick drum pad. The kick comes with a trigger pedal, which doesn’t offer the same response as a normal bass drum pedal. Using one of these for too long can often lead to bad playing habits.
Pros
- Simple drum module interface
- Great sound quality
- Very small footprint, but it still feels like a regular kit
Cons
- Rubber tom pads
- Trigger bass drum pedals aren’t ideal
Yamaha DTX6K-X
Yamaha DTX6K-X Review
The Yamaha DTX6K-X is a fantastic option for drummers looking for a highly extensive drum module. The true strength of this kit is the sheer number of sound editing options offered.
You get three main sound editing knobs, and they control ambiance, compression, and effects. Working with these will allow you to customize your drum sounds a significant amount.
You also get a range of sounds that Yamaha have sampled from their top-tier acoustic drum sets, making the factory kits sound fairly authentic.
Yamaha offers the same DTX-PRO module with several of their higher-end kits, so it’s amazing how you can get it with a kit in this price segment.
The DTX-PRO module is undoubtedly the best one I’ve used on any kit that costs under $1000, making this kit a standout option.
The other standout parts are the triple-zone snare and ride cymbal pads. The ride cymbal pad has excellent playability, and it’s what you wish all electronic cymbals would feel like after playing it.
The snare drum has Yamaha’s famous silicone drumhead, which makes it feel very lifelike compared to a typical acoustic snare drum.
It’s just a bit disappointing that this kit has rubber tom pads. It would be the number one kit under $1000 if not for that aspect. However, it more than makes up for it with the drum module provided.
If you’re happy with rubber pads, you’ll love this kit more than all the other options on this list. Those pads just don’t offer the same playability as a good set of mesh or silicone ones.
Pros
- Impressive amount of sound control
- Arguably the best playability out of all the kits under $1000
- Best drum module in this price range
Cons
- Rubber tom pads are a bit disappointing
Yamaha DTX402K
Yamaha DTX402K Review
The Yamaha DTX402K is another affordable electronic kit that works wonderfully for kids. The best part about it is that the module is seriously easy to navigate and control, so even the youngest kids will be able to figure things out quickly.
With that being said, you can expand on the module fairly significantly by connecting it to the DTX402 Touch App on your phone. That gives the module more of a draw for older people.
The app integration was what drew me to this set. It feels like you’re getting awesome value for your money, as the app allows you to expand on things quite a bit.
The kit comes with 10 stock drum kits, but you can use the app to change how all of those sound. Unfortunately, you can’t keep those and create new kits to save, but you can always factory reset the module to get those original kit sounds back.
Compared to the other beginner kits with the same price, I’d say the DTX402K has very strong sound quality. It also has plenty of good training features to help beginners improve their skills.
The drawback of this set is that it only has rubber pads. With so many modern electronic kits offering mesh pads at low prices, it’s disappointing that Yamaha hasn’t gotten to that point yet. However, this kit is still a compelling option to consider.
Pros
- Great kit for kids
- Lots of potential with the integrated phone app
- Very small footprint
Cons
- Rubber drum pads
- Trigger kick drum pedal
Best Electronic Drum Kit Under 1000 Buying Guide
As the years go by, more and more companies have started creating top-quality electronic drum kits that fall under the $1000 mark.
When looking for a kit in this price segment, you need to accept that there are a few things that you’ll miss out on. However, there are a surprising number of excellent features that you can find on kits in this area.
I’d recommend sticking with the kits from Alesis, Roland, and Yamaha, as those tend to have the best reputations for reliability and durability. However, there are a few other brand options that pop up from time to time, and you’d benefit from looking into those as well.
What Makes an Electronic Drum Kit Under $1000 a Good Buying Option
- Electronic drum kits in this price range are inexpensive, but most of them are good enough to last you years of heavy usage.
- Most kits in this price range are aimed toward beginner drummers.
- It may be a better alternative to buying a full acoustic drum kit that will end up costing more for all the shells, hardware, and cymbals.
- Electronic drum kits are excellent practice tools to use when you can’t play your acoustic drums, and getting one in this price range won’t require a huge investment.
Features to Look Out for in the Best Electronic Drum Sets Under 1000
Drum and Cymbal Pads
The drum and cymbal pads are always important parts to look at when checking out electronic kits. With the drum pads, you’re going to find ones that are made with mesh, silicone, or rubber material.
Ideally, you want to get a kit that has as many mesh or silicone pads as possible, as those are the ones that feel the most authentic and responsive. You can also tighten the lugs around them to change their responsiveness.
Rubber pads are less ideal, as they have more rebound than you’d ever get from an acoustic drum, making them feel less authentic. However, a lot of kits that cost less than $1000 will have rubber pads.
It’s not the end of the world if you have them on your kit. They just don’t offer as good of a playing experience.
With the cymbal pads, you just need to check how many playable zones they have. On the more affordable electronic kits, the cymbals won’t have striking zones on the bells. Higher-priced kits will mostly allow you to play cymbal bell sounds.
The other thing to check out is the bass drum pad. Some kits will have them, while others will just have a foot controller that triggers bass drum sounds. Foot controllers are far less ideal, as they don’t offer the same playing experience as what you get with an acoustic kit.
Drum Module
The drum module controls how the drums sound and how they perform, so it’s arguably the most important part to look for in electronic kits.
Different drum modules will offer various features, but you’ll find that most in this price range offer very similar ones when it comes to play-alongs and coaching functions.
However, some drum modules have far better sound quality than others. If you want the best sound quality possible, you’ll need to get a kit from Roland or Yamaha. Alesis kits have poorer sound quality, but they have much lower prices, often offering more value for money.
Certain drum modules also have extensive sound editing tools. Utilizing those is the best way to make the factory drum kits sound even better. You can sit for hours with a drum module and tweak little things to make a massive difference.
You’ll mostly find these sorts of sound editing tools on kits that cost closer to $1000.
If you’re someone who wants to add drums and cymbals to your kit, you should also look at how many external inputs a drum module can take. Typically, they offer one or two. You’ll only find more on higher-priced electronic drum kits.
Hardware
One of the best things about getting an electronic drum kit is that you don’t need to worry too much about hardware. You don’t need to purchase separate cymbal and drum stands for most e-kits, as they come with a rack that everything attaches to.
It’s important to check out the maximum height of that rack, as some sit much higher than others.
You may find yourself buying a shorter e-kit, not realizing that it will force you to play down at the drums instead of feeling comfortable with every pad at a reachable length. This is an issue that many drummers find themselves having when getting the Alesis Nitro Mesh kit.
With electronic kits costing under $1000, you’ll need to check whether they come with a bass drum pedal or not.
Some more affordable kits come included with bass drum pedals, while others will require you to buy one separately. As a rule of thumb, most Alesis kits come with pedals, while most Yamaha and Roland kits don’t.
You’ll also need to purchase a drum throne to sit on, as most electronic kits don’t come with one. Make sure to get a good one, as using a poor-quality one isn’t good for your back.
Best Electronic Drum Set Under 1000 FAQs
Which Brand Makes the Best Cheap Electronic Drum Kits?
Alesis is the best brand to go for if you’re looking for an expensive electronic drum set. While the kits don’t sound amazing, they all have mesh drum pads that feel incredible to play. They also have excellent value for money, considering all the tools and features that come on the drum modules.
Is it Okay to Learn on an Electronic Drum Set?
Yes, it’s perfectly fine to learn on an electronic set. I’d just suggest playing on an acoustic kit as much as you can, though, as a lot of techniques needed to play can’t be accurately practiced on an electronic kit.
How Long Do Electronic Drum Kits Last?
It depends on what brand they’re from and how well you treat them. Roland kits are known to last over a decade, while the cheaper Alesis kits are only known to last about five years before they start giving triggering issues.
Just make sure to dust your kit off as often as possible, as dust and grime are what get into the internal wiring and cause damage.
