Yamaha DS9XPSII DTXPRESS II Drum Kit

Feature:
This is the cheapest all-inclusive e-drumkit out there, so you can't fault it for not having every bell and whistle. I haven't begun to explore all the features in the brain, but I'm an electronics idiot. I like the II series upgrades: the double-braced rack, the big bass pad, the 2-zone cymbal pad and, in particular, the 3-zone snare. I only wish the other cymbal pad was dual-zone.

Quality:
I'm judging again based on price point. For $999, you'd be hard pressed to find something better. Of course, the rubber pads will crap out over time. They work fine right now. Fit and finish on the rack is great-very sturdy. The hihat pedal looks like it comes from Yamaha's more expensive kits. The brain looks fragile, but don't they all. Watch those sticks.

Value:
Hey, it's $200 cheaper than the V-club and has a better rack. Rubber pads are rubber pads. If you're in an apartment with thin walls like me, you should check it out.

Desirability:
The orange accents are sexy.

Sound:
Most of the basic acoustic/rock/jazz/funk sounds are usable out of the box, though some of the kits are ludicrous. There's plenty of tweakability, though, so if you don't like something (head tension, decay, detuning etc.) you can fix it. I like the pad feel just fine, though I'm not an expert as to how real drums should feel.

Support:
No comment

Overall:
Yamaha seems to have heard people's complaints about the first DTX and made the appropriate changes (esp. headphone output volume), without raising the price. Kudos. For the III series, may I recommend another 2-zone cymbal pad?>

all the rehearsal space in my town either @@@@@ or has closed up, so I had to take things into my own hands. Living in a two story house with three different residences, it would be impossible to have a full acoustic kit in here, so I decided to give this a try. It works great!!! I put a couple of layers of carpet beneath it and the kit is as quiet as it gets. I play it through headphones and also through my PA. Going through the various sounds is a blast and although the feel is very different from acoustic drums, I am still able to work on my fundamentals without worrying about disturbing the neighbors. Only thing I would recommend is to make sure everything is tightened after adjusting the position of your set. If not, it tends to really shake and move!!!