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
  • Cyber Monday
  • 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
Don't miss these
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
Drum kit with a red overlay and blue text saying 'best Christmas gifts for drummers'
Drums Best Christmas gifts for drummers 2025: my pick of affordable festive gifts they'll actually use
Walrus Audio DFX-1 Percussion Processing Unit next to a cymbal
Drums “For percussionists who want to take matters into their own hands”: Walrus launch the DFX-1, an effects unit built for drummers
Zultan Raw Clap Clap
Cymbals “Offers a very useful solution for clap emulation without needing to use electronics”: Zultan Raw SlapClap review
Roland VAD316
Electronic Drums “Roland has always been extremely good at marrying the playability of its samples with the physical feel of its hardware - this kit is no exception”: Roland VAD316 review
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
Roland TD-02K and TD-02KV V-Drums electronic drum sets
Drum Kits Best electronic drum set for kids 2025: child-friendly electronic drum kits
A PRS McCarty 594 on a hard case
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars 2025: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets
Alesis Nitro Ultimater
Electronic Drums Alesis's new 9-piece Nitro Ultimate electronic drum kit is its new flagship, and the hi-hat is the star
Yamaha DTX6K5-M
Electronic Drums "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
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
beatbuddy
Tech Singular Sound’s BeatBuddy 2 is here, your drummer just got an upgrade
A Fractal Audio VP4 Virtual Pedalboard multi-effects pedal on a concrete floor
Guitar Pedals Best multi-effects pedals 2025: Our pick of the best all-in-one guitar FX modellers
Roland TD313 with Black Friday logo
Electronic Drums Missed out on Thomann's Roland TD313 Cyber Week deal? Here's how you can still get one of the newest electronic drum sets on the market at a bargain price before Black Friday becomes Cyber Monday!
Roland TD716 Black Friday
Electronic Drums Roland's TD716 electronic drum set is designed to be a VST killer. Now it's had a massive $1,800 wiped off the price at Sweetwater for Cyber Weekend – you’ll get a drum rug and throne worth nearly $500 for free, too!
More
  • Cyber Monday plugin deals - LIVE
  • JoBo x Fuchs
  • "The most expensive bit of drumming in history”
  • Radiohead Daydreaming
  • Vanilla Fudge
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Drums
  2. Drum Gear

New drum gear of the month: review round-up (April 2016)

News
By Rhythm published 29 March 2016

All of the latest drum gear

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

Alesis Nitro E-Kit

Alesis Nitro E-Kit

Our drum boffins team have been inundated with the finest that the drum and percussion world has to offer this month. Here, we look back on all of the reviews that appeared on the site in April. We start with a spanking new budget e-kit from Alesis, the Nitro.

MusicRadar's Verdict

"Yes, the Nitro is a rebranded, slightly abridged, version of the Alesis DM7X kit, it nevertheless retains an incredible spec at an impressively competitive price tag."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Alesis Nitro review

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

BUY: Alesis Nitro currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Full Compass

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of 6
DW John Good Tuning Table

DW John Good Tuning Table

MusicRadar's Verdict

“The table looks smart and functions more or less as expected. Without doubt, higher quality than the majority of DIY jobs but comes at an astronomical price.”

FULL REVIEW: DW John Good Tuning Table review

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

BUY: DW John Good Tuning Table currently available from:
US: Full Compass

Page 2 of 6
Page 2 of 6
Tama Iron Cobra

Tama Iron Cobra

MusicRadar's Verdict

“Tama has once again excelled itself with the upgraded Cobra family.”

FULL REVIEW: Tama Iron Cobra review

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

BUY: Tama Iron Cobra currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater

Page 3 of 6
Page 3 of 6
PDP Classic Wood Hoop Drum Kit

PDP Classic Wood Hoop Drum Kit

MusicRadar's Verdict

“This set is a great sounding cost-effective alternative to DW's flagship drum range.”

FULL REVIEW: PDP Classic Wood Hoop Drum Kit review

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

BUY: PDP Classic Wood Hoop Drum Kit currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music

Page 4 of 6
Page 4 of 6
Roland PowerPly Mesh Heads

Roland PowerPly Mesh Heads

MusicRadar's Verdict

“Roland gives any drummer the choice of easy hybrid conversion.”

FULL REVIEW: Roland PowerPly Mesh Heads review

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

BUY: Roland PowerPly Mesh Heads currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann
US: Sweetwater

Page 5 of 6
Page 5 of 6
Tama Speed Cobra

Tama Speed Cobra

MusicRadar's Verdict

“Tama has once again excelled itself with the upgraded Cobra family.”

FULL REVIEW: Tama Speed Cobra review

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

BUY: Tama Speed Cobra currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 6 of 6
Page 6 of 6
Rhythm
Deals not to miss
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
 
 
Drum kit with a red overlay and blue text saying 'best Christmas gifts for drummers'
Best Christmas gifts for drummers 2025: my pick of affordable festive gifts they'll actually use
 
 
Walrus Audio DFX-1 Percussion Processing Unit next to a cymbal
“For percussionists who want to take matters into their own hands”: Walrus launch the DFX-1, an effects unit built for drummers
 
 
Zultan Raw Clap Clap
“Offers a very useful solution for clap emulation without needing to use electronics”: Zultan Raw SlapClap review
 
 
Roland VAD316
“Roland has always been extremely good at marrying the playability of its samples with the physical feel of its hardware - this kit is no exception”: Roland VAD316 review
 
 
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
 
 
Latest in Drum Gear
Zultan 25 series
“A versatile set with dry and dark tonal qualities”: Zultan 25 Series Cymbals review
 
 
Millenium Drums Legendary Drumbook
“An extremely well-thought-out and all-encompassing piece of drum education”: Millenium Drums Legendary Drumbook review
 
 
Man jams with a guitar player and bass player on an electronic drum kit
These huge drum deals at Sweetwater are about to disappear – here’s your last chance to bag up to 60% off electronic drums, cymbals, sticks and more
 
 
Sleep Token drummer II Drumeo
“I’ve taken inspiration from the UK dance music scene": Mixwave put Sleep Token’s drummer in a plugin
 
 
DW SonicPly
Neil Peart called him 'the Wood Whisperer' and now he's blended metal and timber in DW's new SonicPly shells
 
 
Zultan Cymbals
"Crafted from Heritage. Tuned for Tomorrow": Zultan Cymbals celebrate their 25th birthday with a new high-end 25 series
 
 
Latest in News
Victory The Duchess Deluxe MKII Head
Get the most out of your pedals and save £422 on one of the best pedal platform amps I've played - the Victory V40 Duchess Deluxe MKII Head
 
 
Yamaha PSS-A50
I love the Refaces, but at just £59, the Yamaha PSS-A50 is the best Cyber Monday ‘couch keyboard’ deal I’ve seen - and it’s perfect for kids, too
 
 
An Epiphone Dave Gorhl DG-335 semi-hollow guitar lying on a guitar case
Who needs the £10,499 Gibson Dave Grohl signature DG-335 when the excellent Epiphone version is just £777 today?
 
 
A pair of Sennheiser HD 490 Pro studio headphones on a light purple background
I’ve tested 13 studio headphones this year and my top choice just landed a serious Cyber Monday deal - save $110 on the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro
 
 
user18081971, aka Aphex Twin, on Souncloud
“Got many requests for this one from a few years back”: Aphex Twin uploads new tracks to his Soundcloud page
 
 
Jeff Beck 1954 Epiphone Oxblood Les Paul
Jeff Beck's 1954 Oxblood Les Paul is the most expensive Les Paul of all time. This Epiphone version comes in at a fraction of the price, and with a further 20% off at Thomann, it may be an irresistible deal for the Jeff Beck aficionado
 
 

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...