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Yamaha DD55 Digital Drum Kit

This package includes a pair of drum sticks, 2 footpedals, a power supply, a pair of stereo headphones, plus an extended 2-year warranty. Learn More...

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Overall User Ratings

Overall:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10

Individual User Ratings

Overall:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10

Feature:
What sold me on this was that I could use my hands instead of the sticks. I was considering buying a Roland HandSonic, but the Yamaha DD55 did everything I needed at a fraction of the price. A shared ouput/headphone jack kind of sucks, but this doesn't matter to me. I get great sound running this through my regular system and playing through my studio monitors. This unit runs on batteries, but it can also run through a 12V adapter (not included).

Quality:
Ok, I guess. The foot pedals look cheesy, but they work.

Value:
I bought this barely used from someone for $100. Saved me from spending over $500 on a Roland Handsonic.

Desirability:
Other than the annoying problem I have with the drum kit dial, I like it. I wouldn't even mind gigging with it as a novelty.

Sound:
I am a keyboard player, not a percussionist, and I use this for latin percussion effects, and the sounds are very adequate for what I need. Of course, the pads aren't as responsive or dynamic as a true conga set, but I find it much better and a lot more fun than my workstation.

Ease of Use:
Very easy to use. My only real complaint is where they put the dial that controls which drum kit to use. I have a tendency to move that dial when I play using my hands. Nothing earth shattering, but it does get annoying.

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Overall:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
Quality:
* * * . . . . . . . 3 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Support:
* * . . . . . . . . 2 out of 10

Feature:
Good features, lacking in total control.

Quality:
Mine still works, i think. Cheap pads and pads are to small for me.

Value:
Good value for a starting drummer or practice kit.

Desirability:
I have it.

Sound:
Has some cool sounds, nothing to write home about.

Ease of Use:
Just plug in and play, cool.

Support:
Haven't had to send it back... so i don't know.

Overall:
Good for a kid who wants to start getting the fundamentals of drumming. Not a pro item.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10

Feature:
I am giving this a slightly low rating because although it comes with foot pedals (the key to allowing you to play it with the same skills an acoustic kit requires) they are really, really poor. You can use all sorts of third party pedals in place of the ones it comes with. I bought a Roland KD-8 kick trigger and a quality acoustic kick pedal and the difference was absolutely massive. Has a very solid feel on the right foot now. I am looking for a replacement for the hi hat pedal now.

Quality:
Mine has held up really well over time.

Value:
I'd say it's a decent value, but as the technology on electronic drum kits improve this will lose value over time. Considering that this has been around for quite a few years already, back in the day it was impressively before its time.

Sound:
It sounds decent. I play through a bass amp. It has nice variety with tons of unusual sounds like whistles and woodblocks. Obviously inferior to a well-miked acoustic kit, but I fool tons of people with it. I think the crash symbols are the weakest sound.

Ease of Use:
It really is easy to use. I record with it and it just goes directly into the sound card with very little noise. Just turn it on and start hitting stuff.

Overall:
I am a guitarist and I use this in place of software or a drum machine to get drum sounds on my home recordings. It's brilliant in that you can build up a ton of actual drumming skills while playing it, and it's incredibly easy to record with compared to an acoustic kit. It can also be extremely quiet (can play with headphones) which is a really nice feature. It helps that I am not a drumming looking for massive expressiveness... I am a guitarist looking for basic, solid drum rhythms on standard rock tunes.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10

Feature:
This thing is loaded with all sorts of features. If you're considering buying this unit, keep in mind different websites/retailers sell this unit bundled with different accessories. Some retailers sell it with a power cord and some don't. Some retailers sell it with headphones, sticks and a power cord. Just make sure you check the product desription to see what comes with it. Also, even though there are two foot pedals included, I replaced them with the Yamaha KP65 kick tower and Yamaha FC4 sustain pedal to give the kit a more realistic feel. However, if you don't want to spend the additional money, the foot pedals that come w/ the unit will do. A stand for this unit is a must. Either a snare stand or the Quiklok DS55 Drum Machine stand will suffice.

Quality:
Upon first glance it may appear to be a toy. However, I can assure you it's not. The outer casing is very sturdy and the pads can take a beating. I've had my unit for over a year and it's holding up well. My four year old son has beaten the tar out of it and the unit is still standing.

Value:
I think it could be a little cheaper but you won't find anything else on the market that has all the features of the DD55 for anything less. I think it's a great value.

Desirability:
Own it and plan on buying another one.

Sound:
The speakers on the unit are ok. It actually sounds better through the headphones. If you take it anywhere to play, I recommend an amplfier or speaker. Overall the sound is decent.

Ease of Use:
Easy to use and the manual is very user friendly. It may take a while to go through everything but it's worth the time.

Support:
Haven't had the need for any support.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10

Feature:
The only reason this got an "8" is slight lack of routing; headphone jack doubles for recording output.

Quality:
Sturdy enough for home studio work; I read a review where a teacher said they bagged the pedals to keep dirt out...I would recommend this.

Value:
ABSOLUTELY the best value in a usable, affordable electronic drum set: small footprint, some great sounds!

Desirability:
I own it!

Sound:
As usual, Yamaha comes through with propriety modeling; a number of great sounding, USABLE kits!

Ease of Use:
Really improves stick control, foot control!

Support:
I dunno...haven't needed it for my keyboard or this product; guess that says it all!

Overall:
Even down the road, it's still going to be a great supplimental kit.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
Cross-faded drum samples with level of impact. Ease of use with outside systems - via 1/4" jack; MIDI jacks. My only complaint might be that there is only one 'custom' kit available, and setting these features is sometimes a little obscure - keep the manual close by.

Quality:
This little unit is indestructible. I had it at a summer camp to teach some of the kids the basics. It took loads of hard knocks and downright abuse from some very enthusiastic kids - and never missed a beat. One idea if anyone does something similar. The ladies at the camp put plastic baggies over the pedals to keep the sand out. That probably helped! ;-)

Desirability:
Now that I bought a snare drum stand for it and a proper drummer's throne - it looks very nice. I'll play it anywhere with anyone (assuming I have a good speaker/monitor output for the setting.) I personally find a 'real' snare drum stand looks much nicer and is probably more solid than the one sold by Yamaha specifically for the DD55.

Sound:
It's a great tool for the studio or for jammin' - so portable. I'm currently looking for a good powered monitor to use when jamming. Any suggestions? Something that can handle the highs and lows without distorting?

Ease of Use:
Very similar in concept to Yamaha's other 'professional' level Digital drums like the DTX series. Of course, due to the small pads, and constrained size of the unit, it does not have the dynamic 'physicality' of moving around a full-size kit. And the small pads mean that stick-accuracy must be right on to get a good 'hit'/trigger. Some sounds seem more critical than others. Since I reset the sensitivity up, this is better.

Support:
No support needed is the BEST support.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
The possible pad assignments are unbelievable and easy to do. I'm not sure the pads are in the best configuration. I would like the crash cymbal further to the right. The reach is a little cumbersome.

Value:
Easily worth the price.

Sound:
Cymbal sound is great but pads don't respond like cymbals.

Ease of Use:
Very easy to start using. All the features can be adjusted and used as desired.

Support:
Haven't needed any support so far.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
Too many to mention, but here are a handful: 1) I've always been jealous of guitarts, because they can bring an acoustic to a campfire and jam away, and I'm stuck with just some lame ass bongos. This thing is very compact, and it runs on batteries. 2) So many digitally recorded actual drum sounds, your head will explode. Hand percussion sounds excellent, too. 3) You can plug it straight into a recorder, just like a guitar, and it sounds awesome on the recording. Not fake at all. 4) Get creative! I plug it into my guitar effects pedal for insane sounds. 5) This is the biggest one for any drummer... PEDALS FOR THE HI-HAT AND BASS DRUM!!! The ONLY reason I bought this is because I didn't have to hit a pad to get a bass drum sound. Plus, if you don't like the feel of the pedals it comes with, or if you want to play double bass with ease, you can buy and use the foot pedals that Yamaha sells for their full size electronic drum sets, and use those.

Quality:
I'll keep it short. It's a ten. It would be embarrassing to play on stage with this, just because it can never duplicate the look of a real drumset in the minds of rockers. But, every drummer that has busted my balls while I was plugging this thing in for a quick jam, has dropped their jaws when they see how realistic this thing sounds and feels.

Value:
You want the feel and sound of a real set, with the ability to take it anywhere and jam with your guitar buddies, now you can. Buy this.

Desirability:
Couldn't care less about the "sex appeal". I'm a drummer.

Sound:
The sound on my 4 track recorder sounds like a perfectly mic'd drum. My only complaints are minor. There should have been more cymbal sounds. If you listen through headsets, they sound great. I personally agree that the sound is a little weak through the built-on speakers, but what can you expect from those things. I own a bass amp, and I plugged my DD-55 right into it like a guitar, and the sound is shockingly realistic. No buzzing or anything. Through the headphones or amp, the sound is a 10.

Ease of Use:
Plug 'n' play, baby. Manual is easy to understand. Move any drum to any pad. Adjust each pads volume, if you want. Very user friendly.

Support:
I haven't needed any, which is a good thing. I've beaten the hell out of it for going on three years now, and still haven't had anything go wrong.

Overall:
If there was a 20 to vote on this, I would have. One word of advice that I cannot emphasize enough, though. People always complain about the sound out of the on-board speakers... give it a rest! Spend $50 - $75 on a bass amp, you cheap bum, and you'll never complain again. Before, if I wanted to jam at my friends house, I had to lug my entire set over, only to have to play very quietly, because it was too late at night. Now I pick up and go in a flash, and can play as hard as I want, and all I have to do is turn the volume down. I love this thing.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
It included sticks, pedals and the power source but it didn't come with headphones

Quality:
I've only had it for 6 months but i play very hard metal and i can assure ut lasts very long

Value:
I think it is the best electronic set you can buy for this price and the relation price-value is great

Desirability:
I got it as a present but when i saw it on the internet i thought it was awesome

Sound:
I have owned this drumset for about six months and it is indcredible. It sounds like a real set and you can modify it so you can put reverb and loud volume and you can make your custom kits and change like over 200 sounds.

Ease of Use:
It is easy to play and you can modify the features, sounds and even kits very easily, you can have the best sound easily

Support:
never used it

Overall:
It is the best set you can buy for this price!!

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Overall:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10

Feature:
I would not expect this YAMDD55 to have anymore accessories and features than it has because of the low listing price. I wish I had one of these when I first started out learning drums because of the headphone feature. I started out playing the drums but my mom made me give them up because of the noise. YAMDD55 cancels out all the problems with noise with its headphone feature.

Quality:
This product appeared to be especially well made,and put together to withstand some rugged use. Unlike some other units I have seen and used, this is not toy!

Value:
Yes, see above comments

Desirability:
Guys, I don't mean to be redundant but,if you see the above comments, Yes, I want this unit.

Sound:
This product sounds incredible for it's price range. I found it to be a marvelous instrument for practice when I didn't have my full set with me. Of course each drummer has his own sound on the acoustic traps that is unique but that aside,this unit sounds like real drums! I borrowed from a friend's little brother to check out when I loaned him my keyboard. I play funky-jazz,gospel and neo-soul and I even see myself recording with this unit because it sounds so authentic.

Support:
Not applicable.

Overall:
Yes, I would be satisfied with this product for a good while, I could use this for writing and recording with my own instrument. The thing I liked most about this unit is the fact I can carry it anywhere.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10

Feature:
nice bundle with headphones and a DVD

Quality:
nothing special here. for the money however, fairly nice

Sound:
a slight step up from GM drum sounds

Support:
NA

Overall:
The pedals blow and the pads are not as sensitive as I would have liked but it is a servicable midi drum controller for those hard to program tracks (it also doubles as a portable practice kit).

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
The features will fit to your needs

Quality:
I've had mines for five years and it still works like it is brand new

Sound:
The sound is clear

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10

Feature:
yes you get aset of sticks and of course the moniter that has over 100 sounds to play along to.You can also record.

Quality:
Yesmade nice and simple and is bound to last up to about 2-5 years.

Value:
Worth it.

Desirability:
A lot

Sound:
good for practicing pro or begginer.

Support:
No.

Overall:
Anything up to about 10 years.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * *