What to buy

[jamsop]

Hi all, looking at buying a Alesis DM8 or 10 or a Roland TD4 all second hand or a Yamaha
DTXpress 3, or DTX 550 out of those which do you think has most bang for buck/reliability/ sound quality which is probably the most important many thanks don

[hairmetal-81]

Welcome to the forum, jamsop!


Focused on the three criteria's you've given (1. most bang for buck, 2. reliability, 3. sound quality) I'd focus on the Roland TD-4, the Yamaha DTX-550 and the Alesis DM-10. Let me explain my thoughts....

Reliability:
The first product not to consider any further would be the DM-8. It looks rather flimsy, especially the rubber-pads and cymbals. The DM-10 fares a bit better, due to including the sturdy chrome rack. Leading the field are Roland's TD-4 and the Yamaha kits, which, apart from the plastic clamps on the rack, are built to last you. Both companies haven't earned their reputation for no reason: Solid, reliable stuff.

Sound Quality:
Here, the next product to scrap from your list would be the DTXpress III. It's the oldest module of the bunch (introduced in January 2004). You can clearly hear quality-differences in Yamaha's 10-year-old factory-sounds. I wouldn't waste any more thoughts about the DTXpress III, not least because you also have the more recent DTX-550 on the list. The Alesis DM-10 module would offer the ability to load in new, updated sound-sets, however the support or continuity by Alesis in this regard is rather lackluster. You can ask for opinions on this subject on the Alesis-forums to see what I mean! Leading the pack with regards to internal sounds is the DTX-550. It's the most recent of the bunch (introduced at Summer-NAMM 2010), very closely followed by the Roland module (2009), which offer cool sounds, though could offer a bit more in the way of editing, apart from simple tuning- and muffling-parameters.

Most Bang for the Buck:
In this category, the TD-4 - if bought new - would have a disadvantage, as it is generally said by the vdrums-community that Roland's prices are a bit too step. Things get a lot more flattering for Roland's used prices, though. The Alesis kits are thought to offer a lot for your money. This is maybe diminished slightly by the reliability of the lower-end Alesis-parts and the overall sound quality. The most bang-for-buck, or the best Price/Performance-ratio, belongs without a doubt to Yamaha. No matter if you talk new or used - I feel a lot can be had for your money with Yamaha's entry- and midprice-level kits! The DTX-550 is a prime example here, only surpased by it's latest successor, the various kit-configurations based around the newest DTX-502 module.


In conclusion, the one kit out of your list that has the best overall value in my opinion, would absolutely be the Yamaha DTX-550, which can bring you lots of joy. Only contested (at hopefully a good second-hand price) by the Roland TD-4, which isn't to be sneared at either!



HTH

[jonm42]

Don't you mean "snared" at (ducks)? Sorry.

[jamsop]

Thanks for the welcome and awesome advice!! the TD4 is selling on an auction website like ebay in new Zealand for $NZ 1150 reserve and the DTX 550 $NZ 2000

[jamsop]

Thanks very much for ur advice the TD4 is selling for $1150 reserve new Zealand dollars, and the DTX550 $2000

[hairmetal-81]

Do both kits come with rubber-pads as toms and include a two-cymbal-plus-hihat setup?
(I'm asking because it is hard giving further advice without knowing the exact kit-configuration or 'scope' of the auction...!)


HTH

[theimageofall]

I have an Alesis DM8 Pro & couldn't be happier with it. I converted the pads to mesh and they feel really good and it reduces the volume quite considerably.

I use it to trigger Steven Slate Drums however, as I didn't think the in built sounds were too great, so that is probably the biggest weakness in it.

If you have any questions, just ask & I'll try my best to help out!

[TheYardbird]

I'd say it's between the Roland and the Yamaha 550 kit for sure. Do both kits come in standard setups? ie snare, kick, 3 toms, hi-hat, crash, ride? Or does one kit sell with some extra stuff? And is the Roland kit all rubber pads? I guess the Yamaha kit comes with atleast one silicone pad? And the Yamaha comes with the 135HH hi-hat (the one you mount on a real hi-hat stand), right?
Alot of questions but we need as much info as possible ;P

//Mike.

[jamsop]

Hi the 550 ~~Comes with:
-DTX500 sound module
-Hi-hat stand
-Hi-hat pad
-DTX-PAD snare (3 zones)
-3xTP65 Tom pads
-KP65 Kick drum pad
-PCY135 and PCY155 3-zone chokeable cymbal pads used as crash (13 inch) and large size ride (15 inch) cymbals
TD4 looks like basic kit 3 toms kick/snare/hihat 2 crash/ride
DTXpress 3 again probably basic kit 3 toms/snare/2 crash/ride/ hi hat/kick
DM8 3 toms/acoustic type hi hat with pedal/clutch kick/snare etc all appear to have rubber pads none have mesh

[hairmetal-81]

Links to the auctions would help, or maybe pictures, but as it stands, if the DTX550 looks anything like this here....





...then you can't go wrong picking it up!




HTH

[TheYardbird]

Yeah I would totally go for the Yamaha-kit, those silicone pads seem great and I'd strongly advice on upgrading the rubber pads to silicone in the future. I don't know if Yamaha has done any real changes to their rubber pads in the last couple of years, but before I graduated from Continuational School with music as my main studies we had this DTXplorer kit we had to practice on when the mole-people (the people studying media like photography and editing) on the floor below our practice rooms complained too much when me and my friends were jamming a bit too loud and those rubber pads gave me and most other drummers there some serious wrist-pains.

[Kenster]

Just curious....you've narrowed down your kit choices but I was wondering what you actually plan on doing with your kit? If you ever plan on gigging or semi serious recording or upgrading then you *may* want to get the best used kit you can find. Best as in latest/largest module so it will grow with you. You never can account for GAS or when or why it may strike! Post some pics when you get all sorted out.

K ;-)