The 7 Best Drum Sets for Adults (2024)
The most common question among drummers, whether young or old, is what drum set should you get? There are many options to choose from and depending on if you’re after a full set or shell pack, the answer may vary. For adults, however, a full set takes the edge of looking for independent cymbals.
If you’re looking for the best adult drum sets, then you’ve come to the right place. There are plenty of options out there, but not all are created equal! I took into consideration quality and affordability when picking these top seven drum sets.
My top recommended drum set for adults is the Tama Imperialstar, which is one of the best beginner-to-intermediate kits out there. It includes very decent cymbals and hardware, which is a big selling point for this drum set.
My second recommended drum set for adults is the Alesis Nitro Max. This is a good e-drum kit for beginners and intermediate players with an affordable price tag.
Contents
The 7 Best Drum Sets for Adults (2024)
Let’s compare them in more detail.
1. Tama Imperialstar
Tama Imperialstar is the ideal starter kit that is bound to accompany you through your transition to the intermediate level. The kit offers pretty much everything you need to get started with drums.
Pros
- Includes very decent cymbals
- Sturdy and durable hardware
- Suitable for all drumming levels
Cons
- Factory drum heads are not amazing but can be easily replaced
Although the stock drum heads are certainly fine to start with, if you put a good set of Remo, Evans, or Aquarian heads on this, you’ll get a really super-sounding drum set.
The shells are made of 6-ply poplar wood. Tama’s hardware speaks for itself and with Imperialstar, you get quite nice and durable chrome hardware. On top of that, the kit is easy to install.
The set includes a 22” bass drum, 14” snare, a 10” and 12” tom-tom, and a 16” floor tom. With this kit, Tama also takes care of your cymbal needs. There are 14” hi-hats, a 16” crash, and a 20” ride. The hardware includes a snare stand, a hi-hat stand, a cymbal stand, a boom stand, a bass drum pedal, and even a throne.
| Full Set or Shell Pack | Full set |
| Material | Poplar |
| Number of Pieces | 5-piece |
| Number of Cymbals | 3 |
Honestly, the Tama Imperialstar may have the price tag of a beginner kit, but it works well for all levels. It’s the ultimate value-for-money drum kit.
2. Alesis Nitro Max
The Alesis Nitro Max is an excellent entry-level e-drum kit that surpassed its predecessor – the Nitro Mesh. This is a great kit for practice sessions and a quality-made one as well. The 4-post metal rack system offers stability and adjustability if needed.
Pros
- Great beginner kit
- Included BFD Player
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Built-in play-along tracks and lessons
Cons
- Too compact for some
- Practice features need some getting used to
What makes the Nitro Max beginner-friendly is the free Melodics drum lesson subscription you get as well as the 90 free days of Drumeo courses.
The Alesis Nitro Max has a kick tower, a snare pad, three tom pads, and three cymbal pads. There is a rack and a pair of drumsticks as well. The kit comes with 32 preset kits and allows you to add 16 more. There are 60 play-along songs in the kit along with a metronome.
| Full Set or Shell Pack | Full set |
| Material | Mesh |
| Number of Pieces | 5-piece |
| Number of Cymbals | 3 |
For beginners especially, this electronic drum kit has an excellent value-for-price ratio and is quite versatile with different sounds, presets, and songs.
3. Roland TD-27KV2 V-Drum
Roland has been producing top-tier electronic kits for a few decades now. The TD-27KV2 is one of the best they have to offer (and arguably the best electronic drum set based on value).
Pros
- Multi-sensor pads
- Offers a wide range of sounds
- Has Bluetooth connectivity
Cons
- Pricey
It’s a great e-kit to practice for hours without disturbing anyone. However, you can also record music on it. The kit comes loaded with 75 preset kits. The sound technology is top-of-the-line, including wireless streaming.
It includes a 14” snare pad, three two-zone tom pads, a 10” bass drum pad, a two-zone hi-hat, a two-zone crash, and a three-zone crash/ride.
| Full Set or Shell Pack | Full set |
| Material | Stainless Steel, Mesh |
| Number of Pieces | 5 |
| Number of Cymbals | 3 |
With multi-sensor pads, the TD-27KV2 has more than 770 sounds to offer. The kit is quite expensive but is definitely one of the better e-kits money can buy.
4. Gretsch Drums Catalina
The Gretsch Drums Catalina kit is not only gorgeous-looking but also sounds gorgeous. It features warm and sweet 7-ply maple shells that give the kit nice sonic dynamics. With its earthy sound and fast response, the kit is ideal for jazz, funk, and rock settings. You could just unpack it and start recording with it and it would sound perfect.
Pros
- Sonically vibrant
- Brilliant 7-ply maple shells
- Looks and sounds elegant
Cons
- Shell pack
- A bit pricey
This kit is a shell pack, which means there are no cymbals and accessories included. It does, however, feature 30-degree bearing edges and a double lacquer finish. The hardware is high-end and pretty decent.
The shell pack includes a 14” snare, a 20” bass drum, 10” and 12” tom-toms, and a 14” floor tom. It comes preinstalled with decent Remo drum heads.
| Full Set or Shell Pack | Shell Pack |
| Material | Maple |
| Number of Pieces | 5-piece |
| Number of Cymbals | None |
The Gretsch Drums Catalina is a great starter kit for drummers who see themselves as groove masters. The price tag may be a bit higher than other kits on the list, especially for a shell pack, but it’s a kit that’s worth it.
5. Pearl Roadshow
The Pearl Roadshow is a well-made beginner kit by one of the biggest drum brands in the world. This is another acoustic kit on this list that is the complete thing. It also has drumsticks and a stick bag that comes with it.
Pros
- Loaded with accessories
- Nice-sounding poplar shells
- Quite durable
Cons
- Stock cymbals and drum heads might need an upgrade
The Pearl Roadshow drum shells are made of 6-ply Poplar shells. They’re great for all kinds of music. The kit sounds nice both in recording and on the stage.
The 5-piece kit includes a 22” bass drum, 14” snare, 10” and 12” tom-toms, and 16” floor tom. The cymbals include a pair of 14” hi-hats and a 16” crash/ride. There’s also a pedal and a throne.
| Full Set or Shell Pack | Full set |
| Material | Poplar |
| Number of Pieces | 5-piece |
| Number of Cymbals | 2 |
The kit sounds quite nice and picks up intricacies as a high-end kit does. The hardware also stacks up well, making this kit a great option for both beginners and intermediates.
6. Ludwig Element Evolution
The Ludwig Element Evolution is a complete, 5-piece drum set that comes fully equipped with Zildjian cymbals. For adults, this drum kit screams value for money!
Pros
- Versatile sound perfect for any genre
- Super value for money
- Full set with Zildjian cymbals
- Sounds great out of the box
Cons
- Factory heads are decent at best
- Wooden kick drum hoop prone to damage
This drum kit comes with a 20-inch kick, a 14-inch floor tom, a 14-inch snare drum, and 10 and 12-inch rack toms. On the cymbal side, it comes equipped with quality Zildjian cymbals that include a 20-inch ride, 16-inch crash, and 14-inch hi-hat cymbals.
Additionally, you also get a drum throne and the hardware which brings so much value to the table and eliminates the bonus costs of purchasing these separately. The poplar shells are amazing and the only letdown might be the wooden kick drum hoop which will probably get damaged easily due to the clamps.
| Full Set or Shell Pack | Full set |
| Material | Poplar |
| Number of Pieces | 5-piece |
| Number of Cymbals | 3 |
Factoring in the included stands, tom holders, drum pedal, and double-braced drum throne, this kit is about as ideal for any adult as you could get.
7. Yamaha Stage Custom Shell Pack
The Yamaha Stage Custom Birch 5-piece shell pack is a classic drum set from a renowned manufacturer. Even though it’s just a shell pack, if you invest in quality cymbals and hardware, you’re looking at an intermediate-to-pro level drum kit.
Pros
- Quality, Birch shell pack
- Versatile-sounding kit
- Quite the remarkable tone and sustain
- Air Seal System
Cons
- Shell pack
The Yamaha Stage Custom shell pack includes a 22-inch kick drum, a 16-inch floor tom, a 12-inch rack tom, and a 14-inch snare drum. The Birch shells ensure that quality Yamaha sound that is sought-after by many and the Air Seal System provides great tone and adds durability.
One of the main points of this shell pack is the quality of sound. It has a remarkable sustain and tone with low-mass lugs that ensure good vibration.
| Full Set or Shell Pack | Shell Pack |
| Material | Birch |
| Number of Pieces | 5-piece |
| Number of Cymbals | None |
In a nutshell, the Yamaha Stage Custom shell pack is a classic, quality, great-sounding choice. With the right cymbal choice and hardware, this kit will sound amazing!
Full Set vs. Shell Pack
It can get confusing when comparing a full set and a shell pack. On one hand, a complete set has a lot to offer which is the full package while a shell pack focuses more on the drums.
A full set is better suited to beginner drummers who have no hardware. In such cases, full sets save time and resources as you get all you need in one place at a modest price.
Shell packs are more likely to be picked by drummers who have good, quality hardware and cymbals. They want to focus on getting high-quality drums rather than decent-quality everything.
Acoustic or Electronic?
You can’t replace the sound and feel of an acoustic drum kit. So, if you can, go for that. However, if circumstances dictate that you can’t make too much noise, electronic kits are a great alternative.
You can get more detailed insight from our article on acoustic vs. electronic drum sets.
Verdict
Big drum manufacturers have upped their drumming game in the past few years. Now, there are plenty of incredible options for drummers of all levels to choose a drum kit.
My top pick is the Tama Imperialstar, which is one of the best beginner-to-intermediate kits you will find.
My budget pick is the Alesis Nitro Max, a good, affordable e-drum kit for beginners and intermediate players.
