Top 7 Best Electronic Drum Kits Under $1000
We may also earn commissions on purchases from other retail websites.
Top 7 Best Electronic Drum Kits Under $1000
| Image | Electronic Drums / Rating | Summary | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|
+ -  | Yamaha DTX500K Total of 4.82/5 | A compact kit that hides one of the best sample libraries available. | |
+ -  | Roland TD-17KL Total of 4.80/5 | Features one of the best sound engines available and extremely good hardware. | |
+ -  | Yamaha DTX532K Total of 4.74/5 | A really authentic kit which gives you a great sensation during use. | |
+ -  | Kat Percussion KT3 Total of 4.65/5 | A very attractive kit that offers an additional drum pad and more. | |
+ -  | Roland TD-11K Total of 4.60/5 | One of the best bang for the buck options in this segment. | |
+ -  | Alesis Command Mesh Kit Total of 4.70/5 | A great value for those who need authentic feedback on a budget. | |
+ -  | Vault ED-10M Total of 4.45/5 | The taste of mid range at a price that is quite affordable. |
Yamaha DTX500K
| Design: |  |
| Features: |  |
| Interface: | |
| Sound: |  |
| Value: | |
Yamaha's higher end models often time meet niche requirements. Their DTX500K isn't as niche as they can get, but it does fill a very specific role. This is a very capable higher mid range kit that offers a pretty compact footprint to its users.
The RS40 rack really belongs in the compact section. With that said, you are getting all of the customization and pad positioning you need. Speaking of which, this Yamaha features great rubber pads and two compact cymbals.
DTK500K module is the cherry on top with its extensive library of samples. These hold recordings of Yamaha's top tier acoustic sets, divided into 50 different drum presets. That alone makes the DTX500K one very special piece of kit.
Roland TD-17KL
| Design: | |
| Features: | |
| Interface: | |
| Sound: | |
| Value: | |
TD-17KL sits somewhere in the middle of the lineup and arguably offers the best bang for the buck right now. At the core of the kit we find the TD-17 sound module which blasts just about everything else out of the water in this price range.
One reason for this is the fact that Roland has used the TD-50 sound engine which runs their flagship models at the moment. That makes this rig very powerful.
The entire package is made complete by the PDX-12 snare which gives you that authentic stick response and a really natural feel to it. Truly an awesome rig.
Yamaha DTX532K
| Design: | |
| Features: | |
| Interface: | |
| Sound: | |
| Value: | |
Even though it belongs to the same family of kits as the model from the top of our list, Yamaha DTX532K is different in a number of ways. Yamaha actually ships these with a mechanical hi hat and a very authentic kick drum pedal.
With this kit the accent is on the sensation of playing, the response of the sticks and how everything feels. In addition to that, you also get the already awesome DTX502 sound module that is packed with almost 700 different sounds and a massive amount of actual drum kit presets.
Most of those are from Yamaha's acoustic series. The XP80 snare is a great addition as well. It's a three zone pad that just feels great.
Kat Percussion KT3
| Sound: |  |
| Value: | |
KAT Percussion has always had a knack for aesthetics. Their KT3 definitely comes in as a breath of fresh air in a pretty monotone gray and black market. Instead of those boring colors, KAT went with white and light gray with red details.
Aesthetics aside, this kit really packs a mean punch. You have four triple zone cymbals and a set of 6 drum pads. That's right, aside from the kick pad there is an additional floor tom pad in there. One thing you don't get is a kick pedal.
That's something we're used to seeing from KAT Percussion. The module itself represents a more advanced version of the KT2 module and features a wider array of presets and samples.
Roland TD-11K
| Sound: |  |
| Value: | |
Another model from the Roland's famous TD series that has found a way onto our list is the Roland TD-11K. Aside from the flagship TD-30, this is arguably the most popular model from this entire family.
What you get here is a very well balanced set of hardware and software which offers great bang for the buck value. The kit features a PDX8 snare paired with a KD-9 kick pad, an FD-8 hi hat, PD Series toms and a CY-8 as well as CY5 cymbals.
The module on this unit is a simplified version of the flagship module that Roland offers. Even so, it comes with their SuperNATURAL sound engine, awesome drum presets and a library full of awesome samples.
Alesis Command Mesh Kit
| Sound: |  |
| Value: | |
Alesis Command Kit is definitely redefining the type of performance and hardware you can get at a reasonable price. It may not be on the same level with a Roland or Yamaha when it comes to samples quality, but this kit definitely pushes the boundaries of value for the money hardware.
What we have here is a fairly standardized rig in terms of layout. Alesis ships these with five Mesh drum pads and three awesome cymbals, all of which sit securely on a robust rack.
Their mesh pads are a blast to work with and tend to emulate the real kit quite well. The module comes with 70 different drum kits, over 600 sounds and samples and so much more.
Vault ED-10M
| Sound: |  |
| Value: | |
At the very last spot on our list we find a slightly less known brand that still does a great job at offering quality sound on a budget. Vault ED-10M is geared towards those who are working with limited finances but still want a taste of the mid range segment.
It features four great pads and a large kick pad. The cymbals include a full set. That means a ride, two crash pedals and a hi hat. Surprisingly enough, all pads feature mesh heads that work very well compared to more popular brand name solutions.
Lastly, the module packs a mean punch with almost 700 sounds and samples built into it as well as a very capable and functional EQ.
What Investing In a $1000 Electronic Drum Kit Gets You?
One of the ways you could describe kits from this segment would be as true mid range. Electronic drum kits under $500 are the affordable segment, but there are much more expensive models out there which would fall into the top tier professional segment. The question that gets asked often is what do you get for $1000 and how is it different from the stuff found in the category below and above it? Is the upgrade worth it, or should you save up for something in the top tier segment?
In our opinion, it is very much worth it. These are no beginner electronic drum kits. When you shop for something higher tier such as the models on our list, you get to choose advanced features, gain access to better hardware and more. What makes it all worth it is the fact that performance gap between $1000 and higher tier of kits is much smaller than that between a $500 and a $1000 kit. In other words, getting a model from this segment offers best bang for your buck. With all that said, lets see what some of the tangible improvements are compared to cheaper kits.
Better Hardware
One of the most noticeable upgrades is going to come in form of hardware. You will start seeing much more refined designs which were developed to offer better performance, but also to feel more authentic. This is a big one for those who want to apply their skills on both acoustic and electronic drums. One of the main reasons why so many traditional drummers are so reserved about electronic kits is exactly because they simply feel different. The stick doesn't always bounce the way it does on an acoustic drum and that can easily throw a drummer off. The more money you invest in a kit, less of a problem you will have with this. Right around $1000 we start seeing actual improvements in this regard.
Another thing to note about pads and cymbals is that you will run into more three zoned models compared to dual zone units which are prevalent in the lower tier sets. That additional zone means a lot when you're trying to nail that perfect finesse. It adds to a better technique development in the long run and simply gives you more freedom of expression as a drummer.
Better Modules And Software
Aside from hardware, software is definitely one area where you will see most tangible improvement. The cool thing about electronic kits is that you ca completely transform the way a unit sounds simply by installing new software to it. Modules found in sets in this segment of the market aren't exactly flagship, but they are pretty close. In many cases you will see the same or very similar modules being used between the models we are talking about and top tier units a brand has to offer.
The only real difference between them will be the quality of samples but even that is not all that noticeable. Sound engines tend to be more or less the same between these two categories. In essence, you are getting plenty of additional flexibility and quality drum presets to work with. If you are a performing artist, that will definitely mean a lot for you.
Conclusion
At the end of the day $1000 electronic drum kits make a lot of sense. especially if you are looking to get something that will last you a while and be a good platform to learn proper drumming technique on. The models listed above were selected due to their proven track record, good performance and proven hardware. As you can probably tell, we have included a variety of price ranges for you in an effort to make it easy to find something that works with your budget. The fact is that all of these drum kits are absolutely impressive overall.
