While the shape is a little funny looking, the TD-17 does pack a lot of features into an affordable drum module. Being that this an electronic drum kit that’s pretty affordable, I didn’t expect the sound to blow me away. And if you're in the market for a new e-kit, we've got all the best offers in our Black Friday electronic drum set deals hub.

The MusicRadar electronic drum set review process is editorially independent and not influenced by any third parties. I highly recommend new drummers play along with songs they enjoy to keep them engaged when learning. The built-in sounds are just fine for practice, especially if you spend some time tweaking with the trigger settings and built-in EQ.We’d expect nothing less from a Roland flagship, which takes cues from companies such as Pearl, Alesis and ATV by housing electronic pads in full drum shells. Mesh heads have not always been available on Yamaha e-kits, so this is a welcome option for anyone who wants that realistic, physical feedback while playing. Quick note — the TD-27KV does notcome with either the hi-hat stand, snare stand, or the kick pedals. More recently some brands have been including wireless Bluetooth connectivity in their modules so you can connect to a device cable-free. The drum brain has 16 preset kits, giving you a well-rounded selection of styles and USB connectivity with a computer for drum VSTsor recording to a DAW.

If you are first learning the drums, take advantage of the drumless tracks included with your drum module! If you own a laptop, you can use the USB MIDI connection to connect to your laptop or desktop computer. The Alesis Nitro Max is another budget-friendly all-mesh kit, that boasts a sleek new module that features 32 drum kits from BFD, the leading drum sample library for Mac or PC. They may have less history in the e-kit world but there are some truly impressive Alesis electronic drum sets on the market. MusicRadar's got your back Our team of expert musicians and producers spends hours testing products to help you choose the best music-making gear for you.The DTX8 series is no different, and especially when it comes to this e-kit - the DTX8K-M - which is, in our opinion, one of the best Yamaha electronic drum sets to date. Another giant upgrade from its predecessor, the drum module also features Bluetooth connectivity for connecting your phone to play along to your favorite tunes.

High quality and highly configurable sounds aside, the main draw for us is the ability to import your own samples. In the vast majority of cases you shouldn’t have any problems, but if something does feel off, you can use a bit of sandpaper to gently remove the sharp edge and make the stick tip smooth.While I’d normally recommend a lighter stick for electronic drums – if you’re hoping to become a heavy rock or metal drummer – it’s good to have some practice with a heavier stick too. Low-quality sticks sometimes splinter at the tip or have sharp edges, which can, given enough time, rip into your mesh heads and damage your lovely drums! The Roland TD-27KV is one of the most impressive entries from the e-kit giant — I just wish the pads were bigger.

Electronic drum sets are designed to be hit, so often their build quality is strong, sturdy and durable. Chris has been a drummer for 20+ years and has worked in the music gear industry for 19 years, including 7 of those as Editor of the UK's best-selling drum magazine, Rhythm. With smaller CY-5 cymbal pads, and a bass drum pad (capable of taking a double bass drum pedal) attached to the right hand central leg of the frame, the TD-07DMK won’t get in the way when set up in your bedroom or studio space. You can easily switch through presets using the rotary knob located in the middle of the drum module.

As long as you’ve got no volume limits, an acoustic drum set wins over a speaker for us, every time. If you're looking for the the right Yamaha e-kit for you, then we think you may have found it in the DTX10K-X. When playing (or watching) a live show, you want to feel the music as well as hear it - and an acoustic drum set has a much greater presence, meaning that your live shows will probably benefit from using an acoustic kit. Most e-kits at this level come with mesh heads (or a worthy equivalent in the case of Yamaha’s TCS silicone pads), meaning you’ll have a fairly realistic feeling e-kit to cut your teeth on.