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
  • Sly and Survivor
  • In My Life
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • One chord Diamond
  1. Drums
  2. Drum Gear

New drum gear of the month: review round-up (November 2015)

News
By Rhythm published 4 November 2015

All of the latest drum reviews

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

DW Mini Pro

DW Mini Pro

The Rhythm reviews team has been hard at work once again, casting their expert eyes over the cream of the drum world in the last month.

It really has been a bumper month for the team, with everything from mini DW and PDP kits to Steve Smith-approved Remo heads getting the review treatment. Everything you see in this round-up originally appeared on Musicradar in October, and we start with that small-but-perfectly-formed DW.

Musicradar's Verdict

“With excellent build quality and playability, the Mini Pro has everything that you might expect from a top-end DW kit, except of course the dimensions!”

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: DW Mini Pro

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

BUY: DW Mini Pro currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 1 of 10
Page 1 of 10
Remo Powerstroke-3 Black Dot Bass Drum Head

Remo Powerstroke-3 Black Dot Bass Drum Head

Musicradar's Verdict:

“Combining the perimeter Powerstroke-3 damping ring with the Controlled Sound CS Black Dot centre reinforcement is a smart combination that was just waiting to happen.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Remo Powerstroke-3 Black Dot

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

BUY: Remo Powerstroke-3 Black Dot Bass Drum Head currently available from:
UK: Thomann

Page 2 of 10
Page 2 of 10
Meinl Byzance Nuance ride

Meinl Byzance Nuance ride

Musicradar's Verdict:

“This incredible looking ride is best suited to jazz, and is an acquired taste.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW:Meinl Byzance Nuance ride

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

BUY: Meinl Byzance Nuance ride currently available from:
UK: Thomann

Page 3 of 10
Page 3 of 10
Sakae Drums Pac-D Drum Kit

Sakae Drums Pac-D Drum Kit

Musicradar's Verdict:

“There's much more to this little set than meets the eye. It's versatile and convenient for smaller (or even bigger) gigs, and would make a fantastic starter set.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Sakae Drums Pac-D Drum Kit

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

Page 4 of 10
Page 4 of 10
Rockett Drum Works Snare Drum

Rockett Drum Works Snare Drum

Musicradar's Verdict:

“Buy this drum and you've not only bought a killer custom snare, but have helped raise money for a good cause too!”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Rockett Drum Works Snare Drum

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

Page 5 of 10
Page 5 of 10
Meinl Byzance Big Apple Dark Ride

Meinl Byzance Big Apple Dark Ride

Musicradar's Verdict:

“This ride is a true work of art.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Meinl Byzance Big Apple Dark Ride

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

BUY: Meinl Byzance Big Apple Dark Ride currently available from:
UK: Thomann
US: Sweetwater

Page 6 of 10
Page 6 of 10
Zildjian K Constantinople Renaissance (right)

Zildjian K Constantinople Renaissance (right)

Musicradar's Verdict:

“The 20" Constantinople Renaissance ride is a gorgeous ultra-fine instrument – as good as it gets.”

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Zildjian K Constantinople Renaissance

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

BUY: Zildjian K Constantinople Renaissance currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 7 of 10
Page 7 of 10
Zildjian K Custom Organic (left)

Zildjian K Custom Organic (left)

Musicradar's Verdict:

“The 21" Organic is a bright but dry all-rounder that will beguile your sonic taste buds.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Zildjian K Custom Organic

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

BUY: Zildjian K Custom Organic currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 8 of 10
Page 8 of 10
Meinl Byzance Symmetry Ride

Meinl Byzance Symmetry Ride

Musicradar's Verdict:

“Another well-performing jazzer from Meinl.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Meinl Byzance Symmetry Ride

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

BUY: Meinl Byzance Symmetry Ride currently available from:
UK: Thomann

Page 9 of 10
Page 9 of 10
PDP New Yorker

PDP New Yorker

Musicradar's Verdict:

“The New Yorker is perhaps a little rough around the edges but certainly a lot of fun. It would make a cracking little club kit or an great first set for a younger player.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: PDP New Yorker

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

BUY: PDP New Yorker currently available from:
UK: Thomann
US: Full Compass

Page 10 of 10
Page 10 of 10
Rhythm
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
Joe Satriani and Steve Vai perform onstage during the Satch/Vai Tour.
“I’m watching this genius develop right in front of me”: Joe Satriani on what it was like to teach a teenage Steve Vai
 
 
Eric Clapton performs onstage during Day 2 of Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival
Hello Old Friend: Clapton heads out to Midwest for September tour
 
 
PinkPantheress and Basement Jaxx
How PinkPantheress’s meteoric rise has been aided and abetted by Basement Jaxx
 
 
Paul Gilbert wears a tricorn hat and tan button-up waistcoat as he embraces the Washingtonian aesthetic with his signature Ibanez Fireman.
“A couple of the lyrics turned out to be AI-generated… I thought, ‘Okay, I’ll go for it’”: How Paul Gilbert accidentally wrote a song using an AI hallucination
 
 
General view as Colombian singer Shakira performs during a free concert at Zocalo square in Mexico City on March 1, 2026. (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP via Getty Images)
“This is a love and friendship story I have with Mexico”: Shakira plays largest gig in Mexico City’s Zócalo
 
 
Billy Joel performs during soundcheck at Mohegan Sun on February 22, 2025 in Uncasville, Connecticut. (Photo by Myrna M. Suarez/Getty Images)
“If they want to jump on stage, great”: Could Billy Joel make a live comeback at his own tribute night?
 
 

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...