Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • Seven Nation Army
  • Avril Lavigne
  • Prince and The Beatles
  • 95k+ free music samples
Don't miss these
Cose up of external hard drive sitting on a laptop
Tech Best external hard drives for music production 2025: Back up your music and boost your computer's performance
Man playing Roland TD716 electronic drum set in a studio
Electronic Drums Best electronic drum sets 2025: Top picks for every playing level and budget, tested by drummers – plus video and audio demos
Sennheiser in ear monitors on a lit up dj controller
Studio Monitors Best budget in-ear monitors 2025: My pick of cheap in-ears for every type of musician
Yamaha CSP-255 review
Keyboards & Pianos Best digital pianos for beginners 2025: 8 beginner-friendly pianos handpicked by a professional piano and music gear reviewer
Man sits behind a Roland digital piano in a white room
Keyboards & Pianos Best Roland digital pianos
Harley Benton ST-80 FR MN
Electric Guitars “Some might say a guitar at this kind of price point has no business resonating so well”: Harley Benton ST-80 FR MN review
TC Electronic Polytune clip-on tuner on a Martin acoustic guitar headstock
Guitar Tuners Best clip-on guitar tuners 2025: Top headstock and soundhole tuners to buy right now
Man in orange shirt playing drums with a guitar player
Drum Gear Best drum thrones 2025: my pick of budget-spanning stools for comfort behind the kit
Yamaha PSR-E360
Keyboards & Pianos "Despite being aimed at beginners, the keys offer a surprisingly nice bounce and tactile response, making the instrument accessible and enjoyable for new players": Yamaha PSR-E360 keyboard review
The t.bone RB 500 ribbon microphone in front of a guitar amp
Microphones Best cheap microphones for recording 2025: Budget microphones for the home studio
Rhodes Stage 61
Keyboards & Pianos “A classic Stage Rhodes, which plays like a dream and sounds every bit as classy as its timeless heritage would suggest”: Rhodes Stage 61 review
Kids hands on a beginner keyboard
Keyboards & Pianos Best keyboards for beginners 2025: Get started with our expert pick of beginner keyboards for all ages
Electronic drum set pioneers: Neil Peart
Electronic Drums 11 trailblazing players who raised the bar for electronic and hybrid drumming
Roland V-Drums VAD 5 series
Drums Roland's big V-Drum 3 and 5 series drop adds 6 kits to its e-drum range, including V71-lite modules and on-trend acoustic-look options
Zildjan Alchem-e Kit
Drums Zildjian Alchem-e Kits at Drums Week 2025: The feel of real drums meets limitless electronic expression – redefine your sound
  1. Drums
  2. Electronic Drums

4 best electronic drums and pads in 2014

News
By Rhythm published 13 December 2014

2014 reader poll results are in

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Nord Drum II

Nord Drum II

The Rhythm Best of drums 2014 polls have received over 34,000 votes, and we're now ready to roll out the winners. The nominees were what we considered to be the drummers and gear that have excelled in 2014. Here, we present the electronic drum gear launched this year. First up we have Nord's excellent Nord Drum II.

We say: The upgraded features of the new drum synth means it is now a serious musical instrument.

Read the review

BUY: Nord Drum II currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 1 of 4
Page 1 of 4
Alesis DM10-X mesh kit

Alesis DM10-X mesh kit

We say: The DM10 X Kit Mesh is a comprehensive yet cost-effective set-up with the ability to load new sound sets, offering future-proofing and great value.

Read the review

BUY: Alesis DM10-X Mesh Kit currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater

Page 2 of 4
Page 2 of 4
Yamaha DTX522 electronic drum kit

Yamaha DTX522 electronic drum kit

We say: The DTX502 and its accompanying kit offers so much as a practice tool at home and maybe even for gigging too.

Read the review

BUY: Yamaha DTX522 Electronic Drum Kit currently available from:
UK: DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 3 of 4
Page 3 of 4
Roland TD-1KV electronic drum kit

Roland TD-1KV electronic drum kit

We say: The TD-1's flexible pedal positioning, upgradeability and solid construction mean that, unlike other budget set-ups, you're unlikely to damage or outgrow this kit in a hurry.

Read the review

BUY: Roland TD-1KV Electronic Drum Kit currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Each month Rhythm Magazine features expert reviews of the latest drum gear - just like the products listed in this poll - alongside the very best video drum tuition, practical tips and tricks and exclusive interviews, all designed to make you a better, more versatile player.

Rhythm is available in print and digitally (or as a handy bundle combining both). Check out the latest amazing Rhythm subscription deals where you can save up to 59%.

Page 4 of 4
Page 4 of 4
Rhythm
Read more
Man playing Roland TD716 electronic drum set in a studio
Best electronic drum sets 2025: Top picks for every playing level and budget, tested by drummers – plus video and audio demos
 
 
Electronic drum set pioneers: Neil Peart
11 trailblazing players who raised the bar for electronic and hybrid drumming
 
 
Roland V-Drums VAD 5 series
Roland's big V-Drum 3 and 5 series drop adds 6 kits to its e-drum range, including V71-lite modules and on-trend acoustic-look options
 
 
Zildjan Alchem-e Kit
Zildjian Alchem-e Kits at Drums Week 2025: The feel of real drums meets limitless electronic expression – redefine your sound
 
 
Futuristic image of a drum set covered in neon lights and a drummer looking at a large screen
Where might electronic drums go next? Here are 9 of our predictions
 
 
Alesis Nitro Ultimater
Alesis's new 9-piece Nitro Ultimate electronic drum kit is its new flagship, and the hi-hat is the star
 
 
Latest in Electronic Drums
Roland V-Drums VAD 5 series
Roland's big V-Drum 3 and 5 series drop adds 6 kits to its e-drum range, including V71-lite modules and on-trend acoustic-look options
 
 
Alesis Nitro Ultimater
Alesis's new 9-piece Nitro Ultimate electronic drum kit is its new flagship, and the hi-hat is the star
 
 
Yamaha DTX6K5-M
"Remarkably the DTX Pro is capable of layering up to four individual samples - one more than Roland’s flagship V71 module": Yamaha DTX6K5-M review
 
 
Drum Machine collection
How the drum machine grew into a viable alternative to real drummers
 
 
Man with beard playing an Alesis Nitro Pro drum set
“Many of the Pro’s advantages are less towards sound, and more on the side of enhanced playability”: Alesis Nitro Pro review
 
 
Electronic drum set pioneers: Neil Peart
11 trailblazing players who raised the bar for electronic and hybrid drumming
 
 
Latest in News
HENLEY-ON-THAMES, ENGLAND - AUGUST 17: Glen Gregory of Heaven 17 during Rewind South Festival 2025 on August 17, 2025 in Henley-on-Thames, England. (Photo by Mike Prior/Redferns)
“When we wrote the piece, it was a warning": Heaven 17 to release new version of Fascist Groove Thang
 
 
Gibson Custom Kirk Hammett Raven: the Metallica lead guitarist's new signature acoustic is a Halloween-friendly take on the Hummingbird that's limited to 100 units worldwide.
Enter, the Raven: Kirk Hammett’s Custom Shop Gibson acoustic dresses up the Hummingbird for Halloween
 
 
synthi
Florian Schneider's Kraftwerk instruments go up for auction – including an EMS Synthi AKS likely used on Autobahn
 
 
Steve Morse plays live with Deep Purple and takes a solo on on his signature Ernie Ball Music Man, with the band's logo visible in the background
Steve Morse on the time he took power tools to his guitar so he could play a Deep Purple show with a broken wrist
 
 
EDITORIAL USE ONLY
Singer Sophie Grey and Trevor Horn perform an exclusive live rendition of ‘Video Killed the Radio Star’ during her support set for Sting at the O2 Forum Kentish Town in London. Picture date: Friday October 24, 2025. PA Photo. The performance follows her newly released cover of the song, which was originally released by The Buggles in 1979. Photo credit should read: Doug Peters/PA Media Assignments
Trevor Horn joins rising star Sophie Grey for a performance of Buggles hit Video Killed The Radio Star
 
 
mg4
Antelope Audio drops free EQ plugin to celebrate the release of individual perpetual licenses for 75+ plugins
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...