The Best Electronic Drum Sets for Noiseless Play

Bothering a family member or disturbing your neighbors — two things that acoustic drums are bound to accomplish. If you are looking for a quieter alternative, electronic drum sets will let rock out without interruption.

Aside from quieter drumming, electronic drums have numerous other advantages over traditional acoustic drums. They allow access to a range of different sounds, are typically more compact than their acoustic counterparts, and offer MIDI connectivity. If you are going the electronic route, here are the five best electronic drum sets you can get.

Purchasing an Electronic Drum Set

Before you buy, take some of these basic factors into consideration:

• Feel: The feel of the drums can depend on the type of head in the drum. Most commonly, drum heads are made with either rubber or mesh. On the one hand, rubber pads are more budget-friendly and have a consistent rebound to each hit, which may be more appealing for those looking to record their playing as a MIDI controller. On the other hand, mesh heads have an authentic feel similar to an acoustic set and have different responses and rebounds.
• Level of Expertise: Any person of any age can learn to play the drums, but your skill level might determine the drum set you look to use. A full-scale set may not be the best option financially for uncertain players or young children, so a compact alternative is an optimal solution. For beginning and intermediate drummers, a starter-level kit will be your best bet. For advanced players, a premium set allows for higher-quality play and more configuration for adding preferred pieces and other features.
• Included Pieces: It is important to be aware of what is included in each set. This way, you will be informed if you need to purchase a supplemental piece before you can start playing.

Top Pick: Alesis Drums Nitro Mesh Kit

This is an eight-piece electronic drum set complete with an 8-inch dual-zone snare, three 8-inch toms, a 10-inch hi-hat, a 10-inch crash, a 10-inch ride, and kick and hi-hat pedals. Additionally, the set includes 40 kits and 385 different sounds to configure for your drums. The kit also comes with 60 play-along backing tracks and MIDI connectivity via USB or 5-pin MIDI. The drums are equipped with low-noise mesh heads that closely mimic the feel of acoustic drums.

Best for Kids: PAXCESS Electronic Drum Set

If you are reluctant to invest in a full-scale drum set for your young one, this roll-out drum mat may help you and your child test the waters. The drums have up to 10 hours of play per charge and are designed with a built-in speaker with high-quality sound. The drums also have an integrated 5-pin and USB MIDI jack, as well as a headphone jack for undisturbed playing. The drums include a snare, three toms, a hi-hat, a crash, a ride, and two foot pedals.

Best Premium Kit: Roland TD-17KVK-S V-Compact Series Electronic Drum Kit

If you are an experienced drummer that can afford a higher-end kit, this one from Roland is one of the best you can get. The set includes a TD-17 sound module that comes with a variety of sounds and coaching tools to improve your drumming experience. The drums emulate the dynamic sound of an acoustic set and also mimic its feel with mesh heads. The kit includes a PDX-12 snare, three PDX-8 toms, a VH-10 hi-hat, two CY-12C crash cymbals, and a CY-13R ride cymbal.

Authentic Feel: Alesis Command Mesh Kit

Electronic drums don’t feel the exact same as an acoustic set, but this kit from Alesis is as close as you can get. The mesh kit includes a 10-inch dual-zone snare, three 8-inch dual-zone toms, three 10-inch cymbals, and an 8-inch kick drum tower and pedal with double-kick compatibility. In addition, you will gain access to 70 kits, 60 play-along backing tracks, over 600 different sounds, and customized sample loading through its USB port. It also includes a built-in sequencer for aux input and comes with MIDI input and output.

Most Portable: Pyle Portable Tabletop Drum Set

Pyle’s tabletop drum kit is great for fun on-the-go play. The kit functions as a MIDI controller through USB and can connect to Mac and PC. It is powered from a plug-in AC adapter but can be used wirelessly with batteries. The kit is equipped with integrated speakers but also comes with a headphone jack for private playing. You will be able to play pre-recorded songs and record your own beats with its highly configurable LCD control center as well.