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The original TD-20 module remains a phenomenal music-making tool and the expanded TD-20KX simply builds convincingly on that foundation

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Even given the pace of change in the electronic drums market you might be surprised to see a 'new' Roland TD-20 kit. It is, after all, only a year since we played host to the last TD-20 related review, that of the TDW-20 expansion card. Well, don't get too carried away - this latest incarnation (unveiled at NAMM 2010) does indeed boast some significant new features, but at its heart lies the existing TD-20 module, albeit upgraded with all that the TDW-20 has to offer.

So is this a case of simply tarting up an old kit to squeeze the last few sales out of it, or a really worthwhile improvement on what always has been a truly superb set-up?

Build

There's never been anything to complain about as far as the construction of the TD-20K is concerned. The flagship V-Drum rig has always been robust enough for demanding professional use - from regular studio gigs to the rigours of the road.

"It's the quality of the 20 'series' that impresses most, but the quantity of sounds and functions is not to be sniffed at"

But there is, evidently, always room for improvement, and one of the most noticeable new TD-20KX features is the really rather sexy MDS-25 rack on which everything is built.

The new rack does away with the two-tier front section of the original, instead mounting the tom pads on traditional ball-and-socket tom mounts. It's an immediately cleaner looking set-up, thanks enormously to its chrome finish. It's funny, but in comparing the new kit to the rest of the (admittedly accomplished) V-Drums range, the impression is one of less 'gadget-y-ness'.

We'd never demean the rest of the line-up by describing them as gadgets - from the TD-4 up they all feel like modern instruments - but there's something about that 'proper drum kit' chrome look that really lends presence to the 20KX.

Also impressive is the huge and weighty new KD-140 V-Kick bass drum (pictured above). The new 14" pad replaces the 12" KD-120 of the standard set-up and contributes a very anchored feeling to the kit as a whole. This is a truly hefty piece of gear, and suitably serious looking legs mean that even the weightiest foot isn't going to move it anywhere. Unsurprisingly, that extra couple of inches also has an effect on the general feel too - if you're someone who tends to bury the beater, there's a little more 'real feel' to enjoy.