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
  • Black Friday
  • 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
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
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
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
An Alesis Strata Core electronic drum set on a yellow background
Guitars I’ve seen a lot of Black Friday sales, but this one’s next level - Sweetwater just dropped thousands of discounts of up to 80% off guitars, drums, keys, and more
Akai MPC Live III
Tech “A truly go-anywhere production box that’s determined to keep you away from a laptop”: Akai MPC Live III review
Drum Kits Where to start with a drum kit
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
Zultan Raw Clap Clap
Cymbals “Offers a very useful solution for clap emulation without needing to use electronics”: Zultan Raw SlapClap review
Zultan 25 series
Cymbals “A versatile set with dry and dark tonal qualities”: Zultan 25 Series Cymbals 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
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
TAMA STAR Drums
Drums TAMA STAR at Drums Week 2025: Unmatched craftsmanship, iconic sound — the strongest name in drums just got even stronger
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
Sleep Token
Drums “We tried it as a laugh and now it’s our standard setup”: The secret sauce behind Sleep Token’s live drum sound
More
  • Pete Townshend on smashing - and fixing - his guitars
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • AI slop hits #1
  • The pain that birthed Don't Speak
  • Europe vs AI
  1. Drums
  2. Drum Gear

New drum gear of the month: review round-up (February 2017)

News
By Rhythm published 9 February 2017

A kit, cymbals and a 'sound kit'

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

Sabian Sound Kit

Sabian Sound Kit

An intriguing Sound Kit from cymbal giant Sabian and a cracking kit from Pearl are among the new drum gear highlights this month.

Here's a digested look at all the rhythmic releases that were reviewed on MusicRadar in January, starting with that Sabian set…

MusicRadar's verdict:

“With the Sound Kit, Sabian has branched out from cymbals, and delivered one of the most useful products of 2016. Just add cables and stands!”

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Sabian Sound Kit 

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm).

Page 1 of 4
Page 1 of 4
Pearl Decade Maple Drum Kit

Pearl Decade Maple Drum Kit

MusicRadar's verdict:

“Drummers looking to step up a gear will love the bright, lively sound of the Decade Maple with its thin, even-ply, all-maple shells and slick lacquer finishes, guaranteed for life.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Pearl Decade Maple Drum Kit

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm).

Page 2 of 4
Page 2 of 4
Paiste Ride Cymbals

Paiste Ride Cymbals

MusicRadar's verdict:

“These are top quality hand-made cymbals. Relatively dry and heavy, they suit bright and powerful music.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Paiste Ride Cymbals

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm).

Page 3 of 4
Page 3 of 4
Evan Calftone '56 Drum Heads

Evan Calftone '56 Drum Heads

MusicRadar's verdict:

“With Calftones you enter a different sonic world, one with many fans in today's music which encompasses world-jazz-folk-acoustic elements.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Evans Calftone ’56 Drum Heads

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm).

Page 4 of 4
Page 4 of 4
Rhythm
Read more
Where to start with a drum kit
 
 
Zildjan Alchem-e Kit
Zildjian Alchem-e Kits at Drums Week 2025: The feel of real drums meets limitless electronic expression – redefine your sound
 
 
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
 
 
Zultan Raw Clap Clap
“Offers a very useful solution for clap emulation without needing to use electronics”: Zultan Raw SlapClap review
 
 
Zultan 25 series
“A versatile set with dry and dark tonal qualities”: Zultan 25 Series Cymbals 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
 
 
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
Close up of a person playing guitar
With a massive 89% discount, $99 for a year's worth of Guitar Tricks online lessons is the best way to upgrade your guitar playing this Black Friday
 
 
A Squier Tele and Squier Paranormal Offset Telecaster on a yellow background
Fender just launched its Black Friday sale and I can't believe the Player II Stratocaster is this cheap - save up to 30% off a range of Squier and Fender guitars
 
 
Gary Numan
“Very worrying to see him so emotional”: Gary Numan breaks down during gig after hearing "worst news ever"
 
 
ValhallaDSP ValhallaFutureVerb
“As close to perfect as we have ever heard”: ValhallaDSP’s new plugin is the product of eight years R&D
 
 
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 03: (L-R) Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons attend Operation Smile Los Angeles Smile Fiesta at Candela La Brea on June 03, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Simon/Getty Images for Operation Smile)
"Why don't we take a moment, think about him looking down on us”: Kiss pay tribute to Ace Frehley in Las Vegas
 
 
Tidal Upload
Tidal’s new artist-aimed upload service is currently offering ten independent artists $100,000 for publishing directly to the platform
 
 

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...