Having an electronic drum set can help to add an entirely different element to how you think about drumming. Beyond practicing at home, electronic drums allow you to utilize sounds that people had never thought possible before.
The biggest problem, the wide variety of different kits out there can confuse new buyers. Worrying about zones, “choke” ability, drum materials, and the plethora of other features can be pretty daunting.
Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best electronic drum sets for under 1000 dollars, so that you can find the perfect set for your practice or performance needs while still staying within your budget.
1. Alesis DM10 MKII
Best Overall
When it comes to a professional feel and sound for under a grand, the Alesis DM10 MKII is the best around. From the sleek, high-quality look to the undeniably realistic playing feel, it's an excellent drum kit for the studio and stage.
One of the best things about the Alesis DM10 MKII is that all of the drum heads are made of mesh from the toms to the snare to the kick.
This means that not only is it great for playing in smaller spaces where you need to keep it quiet, but it also provides more realistic feedback and responsiveness when compared to rubber heads. The mesh is also completely adjustable too.
All of the drums are mounted on a chrome rack that is both sturdy and durable, great for being out on the road.
With 74 preset kits that include over 670 instruments, you have an entire world of sounds to play with right out of the box.
Bottom Line: From the responsive mesh drum heads to the durable, chrome frame, to the insane number of sounds built-in to the electronic module, you get a world of experimentation wrapped up in a professional electronic drum kit. The Alesis DM10 MKII is easily the best kit out there for the money.
2. Roland TD-11K
The Runner Up
When it comes to having a high-quality, all-round set, the Roland TD-11K takes the cake. From the stage to the studio to the practice room and beyond, you can do just about anything with this bad boy.
One of the coolest features is the Roland superNATURAL technology, which allows you to create different sounds by hitting a pad in one spot vs. another.
Beyond that, you truly can’t beat the Roland fidelity. The sounds of the 25 preset kits are insane. You can even modulate, tune, or effect each sound with Roland’s easy-to-use electronic module.
Beginners will dig the coaching mode that is available with the Roland TD-11K, as it can help you to work on your timing and control while giving you feedback. There are also a variety of backing tracks built-in for you to drum along with. All of this comes packed with a few sets of drum sticks, a hi-hat pedal, and a 3.5mm audio cable for recording and playback.
Bottom Line: From the studio to the stage, the Roland TD-11K is perfect for a drummer who is stepping into the pro world of electronic drums. If it weren’t for the fact that the Alesis DM10 has mesh drums, this would probably be number one.
If you like Roland, though you want to go all-mesh, you should look into the Roland TD-1DMK. It’s the least expensive mesh kit from Roland.
You get an 8” dual-zone mesh snare, three choke-able cymbals, and 6” single-zone toms.
The rack on this drum set is nice, as they built it to be a bit more portable than the ones listed above. It forms around the drummer in an “H” position instead of spreading wide.
Instead of a bass drum pad, you get a trigger pad. The cool thing about it is that it is two beaters wide, giving you the ability to use a double pedal if you do so choose.
While the kit may seem lacking with only 15 built-in preset kits, they are each extremely high-quality, giving you a more realistic experience when playing. They also vary pretty widely, giving you a little something for each genre.
Bottom Line: You just can’t beat the responsiveness of Roland’s mesh V Drums. If you’re looking for the ultimate in simplicity and realism, then look no further than the Roland TD-1DMK.
The Alesis Command Mesh Kit is an all-mesh electronic drum kit with over 600 sounds for you to experiment with, giving you almost limitless combinations to work with.
You can even import some of your own sounds as well. It’s as simple as inserting a USB stick and loading up some of your own drum samples. You get one 10” dual-zone, mesh snare pad, three dual-zone “tom” pads, three choke-able cymbals, a mesh kick pad, and two pedals.
We really dig the fact that Alesis has begun upgrading their racks to chrome, as it gives the kits a more professional feel and sturdy design. You can easily adjust the clamps on the rack for perfect playability.
There are 60 built-in play-along songs for practicing at home, though you can 100% take this bad boy to the stage thanks to the pro look.
Bottom Line: It’s hard to find a professional, all-mesh kit within this price range. With the massive library of built-in sounds and responsive feel, there is no doubt that the Alesis Command is one of the best intermediate electronic drum kits around.
Yamaha is no stranger to electronic drums either, and with the high-quality DTX-PAD snare, triple-zone cymbal pads, and a real hi-hat stand, the Yamaha DTX532K gives you an incredibly realistic feel.
The pad included for the kick is also just large enough so that you can use a double pedal with it.
There are 691 sounds built-in to the DTX module, which might seem overwhelming to many, though each of them is top-notch, allowing you to explore for years to come. Thanks to a gathering of sounds from top-tier VST developers, you can trust that the sound quality is the best you can get.
Yamaha has even left space on the drum module for you to build 50 custom kits.
The module is the star of the show, allowing you to record and playback, play along with built-in backing tracks, and use the metronome. If it weren’t for the rubber pads, this would likely be closer to the top of our list.
Bottom Line: For the sheer number of high-quality sounds and the fact that this provides a wildly realistic feel with triple-zone cymbals and a hi-hat stand unlike most electronic drum kits, the Yamaha DTX532K deserves a spot on our list.
Drum Off!
So the real question remains, “Which electronic drum set should you buy?”
With so many high-quality sets out there and manufacturers continuing to innovate, it can be a difficult decision.
The choice is made even harder considering the fact that many of these kits are affordable now.
Overall, we recommend the Alesis DM10 MKII. With the wide variety of built-in sounds and the all-mesh build, it’s unbeatable within the $1000 price range.
Hopefully, our list has helped you to find an electronic drum set for all your needs!
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