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Roland is the leading company on the market when it comes to electronic drums. Their Roland V-Drums have become the standard to which all other brands aim to match. If you’re looking to get a new e-kit, you can never go wrong with Roland.
There are several excellent quality Roland electronic drum kits on offer. In this article, I’m going to give you a quick rundown on five of the best Roland electronic drum sets for different budgets and I’ll explain all that they have to offer.
What are the Best Roland Electronic Drum Sets?
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Best full-size kit
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Best V-Drums set
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Best professional kit
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Best practice kit
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Best beginner kit
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How I Tested and Selected the Best Roland Electronic Drum Sets
Roland has always been the best electronic drum kit brand, and I’ve mostly owned Roland kits throughout my life. With each Roland drum set in this list, I ran them through a series of tests to establish the overall quality.
First and foremost, I paid close attention to the sound quality. I wanted to make sure each drum pad and the module could deliver realistic and dynamic drum sounds. This involved checking how well they responded to different playing techniques and ensuring the overall fidelity of the electronic kit.
Playability and feel were also key factors. I wanted to see how well the drum pads and cymbals replicated the feel of acoustic drums, offering a comfortable and immersive playing experience.
Dynamic response and sensitivity to playing nuances were crucial aspects of this evaluation.
I also examined the construction materials, hardware, and overall sturdiness of the electronic drum sets to ensure they could withstand the demands of both practice sessions and live performances.
Roland Electronic Drum Sets Reviews
Roland VAD706 Electronic Drum Set
Roland VAD706 Electronic Drum Set Review
The Roland VAD706 is quite possibly the best electronic kit that you can get. Roland changed the game when they introduced the VAD Series, and this latest addition basically gives you an acoustic drum set with all the benefits of an electronic one.
This is one of the most impressive kits I’ve ever played. It just has a level of responsiveness and depth that I’ve never felt on any other e-kit before.
The main feature of the set is the wood shells with a maple finish. They have the full diameters and depths of standard acoustic drums, giving you the full drum kit aesthetic. You also get full-sized cymbals with a pair of 14” hi-hats, two 16” crashes, and an 18” ride cymbal.
The kit is powered by the Roland TD-50X module which is Roland’s top drum module. There seems to be an endless number of things you can do on the module. It includes 70 pre-made drum kits and about 900 onboard sounds.
Lastly, the pads on all the drums felt incredibly authentic and responsive. I felt that whatever I play on an acoustic kit will come out the same on these pads thanks to their responsiveness and tunability.
Pros
- Incredibly high-quality sounds from the Roland TD-50X drum module
- Digital snare, ride, and hi-hat pads provide a seriously realistic playing experience
- Looks and feels like you’re playing an acoustic drum set
- Unbeatable quality compared to every other e-kit available
Cons
- Most expensive electronic drum set on the market
Roland TD-50K2 Electronic Drum Set
Roland TD-50K2 Electronic Drum Set Review
The Roland TD-50K2 is the brand’s second flagship drum set. It has most of the same playability as the VAD706, but the pads and shells are a bit smaller due to the kit being part of the V-Drums line.
I’m also a huge fan of this kit, and this was initially my favorite drum set before I tried the VAD706.
The digital snare, ride, and hi-hat pads feel amazing to play, and they made all the patterns I performed on this kit sound incredibly lifelike and realistic.
The TD-50X drum module offers all of the same features as above, including 70 preset drum sets and over 900 sounds to mess around with.
I’ve seen this kit being used on live TV shows plenty of times due to how good it sounds and how easy it is to mix with an electronic drum module.
If you want the best drum kit available but don’t want to pay the high price for the VAD706, this is the next best option.
Pros
- Very similar sounds and playability to the Roland VAD706, but this kit costs less
- Roland TD-50X is the best drum module on the market
- Seriously sturdy rack included that holds everything together
- One of the best compact electronic kits
Cons
- Still quite expensive compared to acoustic kits and other electronic drum sets
Roland TD-27KV Electronic Drum Set
Roland TD-27KV Electronic Drum Set Review
The Roland TD-27KV has been the industry-standard electronic drum kit for the longest time. It provides all the sounds and qualities that you need in a professional e-kit, yet it’s not as expensive as the higher-tier kits from Roland.
The kit is centered around the TD-27 drum module. It has dozens of features, yet I found it very easy to understand and learn how to use.
The layout is fairly streamlined as opposed to the more expensive modules from Roland. Some notable features are the tone and tuning functions, the practice features, and the Bluetooth connectivity.
The TD-27KV is the most affordable kit that still offers Roland’s Prismatic Sound Modeling technology. It makes the sounds on the module so customizable that you can even choose how close or far the drum mics are to the kit.
In terms of drum pads, the TD-27KV also has the PD-140DS snare pad. However, it doesn’t have the fancy kick pad from the TD-50. Instead, it has the KD-10 kick tower which is still fairly decent.
I’ve always been impressed with this kit, and I think it’s one of the better options for professional drummers to own.
The larger 18” CY-18DR ride cymbal pad is another great addition to the kit. Since the kit comes at a relatively affordable price, it’s my pick for the best Roland drum kit that won’t break the bank.
Pros
- Costs the same as many professional acoustic drum sets, whereas higher-end e-kits cost a lot more
- Often referred to as the industry-standard electronic drum kit, meaning it’s the go-to option for professional players
- Quite compact, so it fits into tighter spaces than most acoustic kits do
Cons
- Expensive option for anyone who has never purchased a pro kit before
Roland TD-17KVX Electronic Drum Set
Roland TD-17KVX Electronic Drum Set Review
The TD17-KVX is another popular option on Roland’s product list. While it’s not as popular as the kits we’ve already gone through, it’s definitely a kit that is worth mentioning.
It’s powered by the TD-17 sound module, which is a powerful module from Roland that lends many qualities from the flagship TD-50. You get 50 preset kits and 310 onboard sound to play around with. If you’re not a fan of the preset kits, you can make your own and save them with the 50 open slots.
I own this kit myself, and it’s always been a great set with top-quality playability that allows me to practice without feeling limited.
It’s one of the only kits from Roland to come with the PDX-12 snare drum pad. It’s a dual-trigger pad that allows for tight buzz rolls and strong rimshots. Unlike the previous kits, it mounts onto the hardware instead of having a dedicated snare stand.
The Roland TD17-KVX is also one of the most affordable Roland e-kits that still have a dedicated hi-hat stand. The hi-hat pads mount onto the stand the same way a pair of acoustic hi-hats would. This is fantastic for maintaining the feel of playing an acoustic set.
If the bells and whistles of the higher-tier kits don’t excite you, the TD17-KVX is a fantastic option to consider.
Pros
- Hi-hat pad requires a full hi-hat stand, which is a preferable setup to having a separate pad and pedal controller
- Plenty of room to make your own custom kits on the TD-17 drum module
- PDX-12 snare drum feels fantastic to play
- If you purchase a Generation 1 version of the kit, you can upgrade the module for free to get 20 more preset kits with the Generation 2 update
Cons
- Positioning the kit can be tricky at first, especially when you try to put the module in place without it being obstructed
Roland TD-1DMK Electronic Drum Set
Roland TD-1DMK Electronic Drum Set Review
The final kit to talk about is the budget option. If you want everything that Roland offers in an affordable package, the Roland TD-1DMK has got you covered. It’s still a very high-quality drum set, it just has smaller pads and a stripped-down drum module.
The TD-1 drum module has 15 preset drum kit sounds, 15 jam tracks to jam along with, a recording function, a metronome, and a coaching tool that will help you practice. Simple, and very easy to get a good hold of.
The main selling point of this kit is the fact that you get a full set of Roland mesh heads on a kit that is less than $800. Most other electronic drum brands don’t offer the high-quality mesh heads that Roland does, so it’s a huge bargain.
When playing this set, it still has the top-quality responsiveness and playability as all the other kits on this list.
The hi-hat only has a trigger pedal instead of a full stand and the bass drum pad is connected to the legs of the hardware. However, those features are very common in an e-kit at this price.
Pros
- Great value-for-money compared to other Roland electronic drum kits
- Very small footprint, meaning you can easily fit it into tight spaces in a room
- Several useful features on the TD-1 drum module that help with practicing
Cons
- Kick pad is small and not very maneuverable
Things to Consider When Buying Electronic Drums
If you’re looking to buy an electronic drum set, there are a few things that you should take into consideration. These things could be the deciding factors of whether you’re going to get the drum set or not.
Mesh Heads
One of the biggest things to check on an electronic drum kit is whether the pads have mesh heads or not. Mesh head pads are the better alternative to rubber pads as the mesh material feels a lot more authentic.
You can also tighten the mesh pads to give you the same amount of rebound that you’re used to on an acoustic drum set.
Luckily, most of the kits on Roland’s product line have mesh head pads including the Roland TD17-KVX, the Roland TD-1DMK, and the Roland TD50-K2. However, always be on the lookout as you may be buying a kit with rubber pads. It won’t be the end of the world if you do. The pads will just never feel as good as mesh head ones will.
Module
The module is the heartbeat of every electronic drum kit. It’s typically what most of your money is paying for whenever you buy an e-kit. So, you should always check out the features on the module when you’re thinking of getting a specific kit.
It’s very common for a module to offer several features that some drummers may never use. Those drummers can then buy a cheaper e-kit that doesn’t have those features to save on costs.
However, many drum modules offer excellent features that can be highly utilized. This is especially true with Roland drum modules. It’s always a good idea to be aware of everything the module offers before buying an electronic drum kit.
Price
Electronic kits have a reputation for being expensive. While that’s quite true, all the brands have managed to provide affordable e-kits that still produce fantastic quality. If you are buying an electronic kit, though, it may be better to invest a bit more than you’d initially think.
Remember that the price you pay directly determines the quality you get. This is even more true than with acoustic drums. You can easily swap out and upgrade with an acoustic setup. You can’t change the responsiveness of an electronic drum pad.
So, even though all these Roland kits such as the Roland VAD706 and the Roland TD-27KVseem expensive, know that they’re some of the best kits out there.
Add-Ons
None of the above kits are beginner kits, meaning they don’t come with drum sticks or a drum throne. Those are extra purchases that you’ll need to factor in.
The kits also don’t come with a set of headphones or an amp. You’ll need one of those two things to connect to the drum module to hear everything that you’re playing.
Roland Brand
While Roland is the top brand of electronic drums, they’re also arguably the most expensive. You won’t find a higher-priced e-kit than the Roland VAD706.
The other popular electronic drum brands are Alesis and Yamaha. They have some kits that are more affordable. Check this guide out if you want to see some of those.
Final Thoughts
The great thing about Roland drum kits is that they are built to last. Even the lower-priced ones tend to last years and years. Roland creates their samples from scratch instead of sampling sounds from acoustic drum kits. This allows you to have more customization with the sounds on the modules.
It’s one of the biggest reasons many drummers stick with Roland. If you buy a Roland e-kit, you’ll undoubtedly find many more reasons to stick with them.
