Yamaha DTXplorer Electronic Drum Kit User Reviews at zZounds

"I like it a lot" submitted May 29, 2010

By a customer from hotmail.com

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Musical Background: Active Musician

Music Style: Power/Death Metal

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Sound: The different sounds on this kit is of amazing quality for this price. The built in 32 kits sounds awesome, but there is 10 slots for your own customized kits too, if you don't like the kits that are in the module already. You can mix with a lot of sound settings such as reverb, cutoff and such, and of that you can make a really good sounding kit. If you're still not satisfied with the sounds (though you should be, it sound awesome), it's really easy to hook up to a drum program of some sort, like Toontracks Drumkit from Hell Feature: Everything you need for the drums itself is included (exept drum throne and stick) and it's pretty much just set it up and play, shouldn't take more than 30 minutes. Ease of Use: The module is really simple to navigate and it's very basic and easy to compose the existing sounds. Quality: The pads are of rubber, with suprisingly realistic feel, maybe not as good as more expensive drums, but they do the job very well. The kit looks great and blends nicely into most environments like your living room, bedroom etc. At first you might feel that the bass drum pad will break if you hit it too hard, but don't worry, I've had the kit for almost 6 months now, and it haven't broken, nor has it lost any sensitivity, even with the beating it has sustained from my double bass playing. Don't worry, the kit will hold up very good. Transportation is really simple, as you can fold it to at least half it's size without removing any parts. It's not something I would use on stage, but for home practice it's really good. A downside is that it doesn't have chokable cymbals, but you can add those easily, and you can also add another pad to the kit by plugging it in at the bass drum. Value: For the price I kinda wish there would have been chokable cymbals, but considering the sounds compared to other kits in this price class, it's totally worth buying. It holds up great and can take A LOT of beating. If you think of buying it, just do it, it's really great. Manufacturer Support: I haven't had to call the support yet, which I think is worth a ten. The Wow Factor: It looks really good, feels really good and sounds really good, what's not to want? Overall: I will probably buy an acoustic kit in a few months for band practice, but for home use I think will have this kit for atleast 5 years more.

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"Great for the novice, but quickly outgrown." submitted August 19, 2010

By a customer from gmail.com

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Musical Background: Somewhere between Hobbyist and Active Musician :)

Music Style: Alternative, Rock, Blues

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Sound: The snare sounds are actually quite good. Toms sound artificial, though. The hi-hat sounds are decent enough, as well. The crash cymbals are not the best, and there is a noticeable "tinkling" sound artifact that can be heard on many of them. The ride cymbals are absolutely bland and lacklustre. I have yet to find a ride sound out of this kit that I find acceptable. Nobody will be fooled into thinking you're playing a live kit, but it sounds alright. As more of a gimmick than anything, the kit also includes a variety of amusing sounds that will probably see very little use if you don't perform anything in the electronic/techno genre. Feature: Includes kick and hi-hat control pedals, which is handy. Most kits require you purchase a kick pedal separately. The most useful features are the built in metronome and the ability to build custom kits. There is also a headphone output, but be prepared to tinker with your volume settings every time you move from headphones to speakers. The floor tom and kick drum will *very* easily overdrive your headphones. Also, the headphone output seems to be able to handle significantly fewer individual sounds before it becomes an overdriven, jumbled mess. As far as a feature wishlist, you can't really justify asking for more than what you get for the price of this kit. Multi-zone pads and chokeable cymbals would be awesome, but let's be serious, this is an entry-level kit that provides entry-level performance. If you want something higher end, look elsewhere. Ease of Use: Simple, easy to use user interface on the control unit. Kick pad output control knob is inconveniently placed at the back of the kick pad itself, and is ridiculously tiny. Extremely annoying to adjust it for switching between headphones/speakers. Control-unit front face-mounted knobs would be a *much* better design choice. Nice big jog wheel on the front panel of the control unit, and big well-labelled buttons alongside it. Quality: The kit itself is built well enough. I wouldn't trust it for any sort of live performance or touring, but again, that's not what this kit is for. Be advised, however, that the kick and hi-hat control pedals are *terrible.* The hi-hat is next to impossible to get a reliable foot splash out of, and only has three degrees of open/closed to it. You get wide open, half-closed, and fully closed. If you're playing anything that requires a gradual opening of the hi-hat, it will sound awful, plain and simple. The kick pedal is probably the worst of the pair, though. Though the spring tension on it is adjustable, the spring itself is far too flimsy to be of practical use if you plan on playing much more than eighth notes (which you will). Even adjusted for maximum tension, the beater doesn't swing back with quite enough force, making quicker kick drum strokes frustratingly difficult. It just feels mushy, sloppy, and unresponsive. Additionally, the cymbal pads have a nasty habit of rotating around their mounts when you hit them (The crash pad, notably). Since they are wedge-shaped, and not a completely round pad, this requires you engage in periodic fiddling while playing, which is maddening. Value: Compared to the equivalent Roland V-Drum kit, this is a steal. Kick pedal (shoddy as it may be) is included, and for the same price. Fantastic value for the beginner. Manufacturer Support: I really can't comment, as I've never needed to contact Yamaha, and have no idea what their support or customer service is like. The Wow Factor: This is definitely not a sexy beast. It's a few aluminum pipes and some black plastic. It's function over form, and there's nothing wrong with that. If you're buying a musical instrument solely because of how "cool" it looks, you're buying it for the wrong reason. Overall: Bottom line, this is an entry-level kit. If you expect a performance-quality piece of equipment, you will be disappointed. This is a kit designed for the beginner, or at best, the hobbyist. If you are wanting to learn drums, and aren't sure if you have the ability to play, I can't think of a better option. However, if you show any aptitude for the instrument, I strongly suggest you save for something nicer, or be prepared to replace it within a short timespan. I've had mine for less than a year, and am already looking at replacing it.

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"Great set of E drums, I recommend these to any parent that has a child learning to play, it will help them out better than a set" submitted February 28, 2011

By a customer from oilus.net

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Musical Background: Active Musician

Music Style: Pop, Rock, Jazz, Blues, Alternative, Country

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VERIFIED BUYER

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Sound: These electronic Drums have come a Long way since the 80's! With so much to choose from and midi piping them into a computer and triggering different sounds they are just awesome. Feature: Each Drum is tuneable for pitch and you can either tune them to be dry sounding or reverb and a delay to down to Milliseconds! Very robust sytem and well worth the money. Ease of Use: You don't have to be a rocket scientist for NASA nor do you have to be Marco Minneman or Neal Pert or carl Palmer to get high quality sounds out of these drums, immediately out of the box they sound great many kits to choose from to your liking. You don't have to be a computer GURU either to set them up. It does help if you know how to play the drums though! Quality: Quality seems to be good I had no issues or problems with anything. I did use some loctite on the threads for the pad anchors just as a measure of security. I figure I might bang on them pretty hard and they might not like so much vibration after awhile. Use the Blue if you use the loctite don't use the red. Value: Great value for the price and the quality. Yamaha has always made quality items and this is no exception. Manufacturer Support: Didn't need any support but they have a ton of support numbers and web videos and manuals to use. The Wow Factor: pretty incredbile looking, small and compact with large sounds and endless configurations! Overall: Each maker has the one thing that the other doesn't have so it's up to you to figure out what is important. I read reviews on all of them for months and figured out Yamaha had the best reviews for all levels.

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"Slammin Jammer" submitted January 28, 2011

By a customer from gmail.com

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Musical Background: Recording Artist

Music Style: Electronic Pop

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Sound: Well, I am not going to be too picky about the sounds. Eventually I'll use MIDI to send to my akai s5000 sampler and have whatever kits I want. I will say that the reverb was a little grainy, but I think while you're having fun playing the drums your not listening so closely to dwell on little details like that, hence also the sounds don't have to be amazing. They sound good and the unit puts out a good volume too. Feature: It was pretty easy/fun to put together although I didn't read the manual too closely and also did not find the T shaped tightener tool until I had already fumbled with tightening the bass drum with plyers :(. The manual is good but the assembly instructions were not my favorite. The hand operated tighteners were easy to use and functioned well. I didn't exactly figure out how to do the best cable management but that is periphrial. Ease of Use: I haven't played with it enough but I hear you can alter the drum sounds individual pitch as well as filter and decay, which will be useful. Quality: seems very sturdy. I don't like how the pedals on the floor utilize points to keep in place. I would rather see rubber used. Value: super sturdy and solid structure, good sounds and I think I will really enjoy owning this. A good deal considering the company and the low price. Manufacturer Support: N/A The Wow Factor: pretty cool to just see an electronic drum set that doesn't look like a real one. Overall: I may buy a 3 zone snare eventually. I also prefer yamaha because of their other products and high quality. I wish I knew more about how to keep the vibrations and sound lower because I set it up on the second story of my house and we have wood floors and thin walls. I might end up setting it up in the basement.

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"Great bang for your buck" submitted April 25, 2007

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Musical Background: Active Musician

Music Style: Rock

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Sound: The drum voices are pretty good for an entry level e-kit. I was pleasantly surprised being a long time Roland user. Nice attack to some of the snare sounds, reasonable body to some of the kick sounds, crisp hihats. Ease of Use: Very easy to use, great for those just starting out. The manual is fairly easy to understand also. Quality: Quality seems OK at this stage. The aluminium rack seems sturdy. Actually what I really like about this kit is how little space it takes up. It's also a dream to transport as it folds down to fit in the back of (most) wagons with everything still attached. Value: Excellent value for money in the entry level market Manufacturer Support: Haven't had to deal with customer support yet Overall: I also have a Roland TD8kv kit which I use for home practise. This Yamaha kit was for my wife (she's right handed, I'm left handed). It's a fantastic entry level kit for those learning or whose kids want to "have a bash". Actually, I've been playing for many years and I love it too !

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"Very glad i bought it" submitted January 4, 2009

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Sound: Good response to playing and ive got several acoustic drumkits and this sounds very good! Feature: I would like the hi hat to be more open/close set up but its quite good for an electronic kit. Ease of Use: Very good Quality: Great looking and durable electronic drumkit. Value: Yes quite good value Manufacturer Support: Havent needed to deal with customer support The Wow Factor: See comment on quality

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"Great for begginers and awsome for pro's" submitted March 8, 2007

By a customer from gmail.com

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Musical Background: Starting drummer.

Music Style: Heavy/Power Metal

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Sound: The sound is very good, great responsivity, compatible with lots of styles of music. Yamaha simply put a lot of its best sounds in the little brain on the dtxplorer, so no problem here Feature: The great thing is that it includes oa foot pedal, cables but unfortunately it doesent have headphones and drumsticks but you can buy these very cheap.I really wished it had chokable cymbals but i will add another 2-zone cymbal zone. Ease of Use: All sounds can be changed at a flick of a button on the module, you can even tune the drums select the volume for every part and many many more. Quality: As always quality comes first for yamaha and this product is not less then the rest. THe rack and everything feels the best quality and it has long life. Value: This drumset is how i like to call the cheapest from the BEST that yamaha offers. so the price is very good. Manufacturer Support: Yamaha are very friendly with customers i went for a battery change on the module and i was out of there in 15 minutes. The Wow Factor: It definetly looks absolutely gorgeus just like all the dtx. From the minute i layed eyes on it i was in love. Overall: I really think that I will not get bored too soon of this drumset. i will add some dual zone cymbals and a double bass pedal and maybe later in time a 3 zone snare :)

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"Fantastic build quality, good sound quality, but a bit basic" submitted April 3, 2011

By a customer from googlemail.com

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Musical Background: Student / Drummer

Music Style: Rock, Electronic

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Sound: The quality is pretty good but the samples are quite simple, there's very little variation on anything (although this is to be expected on a fairly low-mid end kit). Roland kits sound better for acoustic-type sounds, but these are probably better for electronic sounds. Feature: Everything you need in one package, you can add one more pad, and there is EVERYTHING in the menu. Just wish it had some variation on the sounds depending on how hard you hit it, and more complex 2/3 zone pads for the cymbals and snare, and a different pad for the hi-hat. Ease of Use: There is a learning curve in the menu, but it's fine once you get used to it. It's playable, but doesn't feel like a real kit, and while I find the bass pedal alright, the hi-hat is pretty horrible, there's an incredible delay, noticeable compared to an acoustic kit. Quality: Like anything Yamaha, it's of good quality, it's never gonna break (hell, I've broken sticks on these pads) Value: Pretty good value, except for the simple pads and sound range. Manufacturer Support: Been fine ATM, the site works well. The Wow Factor: Not the most desirable, but not the least. Overall: I like my DTXplorer, and while I want to get a Roland V kit one day I can't see myself getting rid of this. Fantastic quality and perfectly good for a beginner or someone who can't have an acoustic kit at home (like me).

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"Great value for money" submitted July 3, 2007

By a customer from gmail.com

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Musical Background: Hobbyist

Music Style: Drum and Bass

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Sound: Sound is good. Can hear a lit bit of ringing with strong hits. Otherwise the whole kit is pretty sensitive..which is good. The crash symbol could have a louder sound, coz i can hear the stick hit the rubber and that is kind of irritating. ..btw i used yamaha headphones with this kit. Feature: They gave a kick pad and the brain unit..what else could you ask for..I also bought a saddle and drumsticks coz I sold my old drumkit stock and barrel. Ease of Use: I was initially irritated with the hihat adjustment..just could not get the open hi hat strokes right, this is the first time im using an electronic kit so it is kind of annoying not being able to see the hi hat open and close...atleast when ur playing slowly..but with some practice and proper adjustment as written in the manual it works pretty much as i want..still need some work here thou Quality: Cant comment as i have not used any other electronic drumkit.. Value: In the competition this is probably the best.. Manufacturer Support: Never had to deal with them so im neutral on this. The Wow Factor: Most of my friends are very impressed but then they are not drummers..i think this is very good for someone who can't afford to wake up the neighbours..i played on an acoustic drumkit for 3 years so i feel that was way better...also with this kit you cant play rim shots(you wont be able to play samba for eg :D)...or any other innovative things you can do with the acoustic kits. Overall: Will get a good amplifier and good speakers...and also cables so I can connect it to my laptop and play along.. :D woohooo..

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"Worth the money." submitted October 21, 2008

By a customer from yahoo.com

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Musical Background: Casual Rocker - Intermediate Skill Level

Music Style: Rock, Hard Rock, Christian Rock, and whahtever else I feel like at the time.

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Sound: The sound it pretty good. It has the standard midi sets and a few extra's tossed in. The tune feature is nice but some of the tunes sound really crummy when you mess with the tuning much. Feature: The features are what you'd expect with any e-kit. I like the customizing of the kits though. It is easy to do and understand and powerful enough to make pretty much whatever kit you wish to create. The Groove Check however is pretty broke. I do simple quarter notes trying to get it to work and check it and it wont even pick up those regardless when I hit it. Ease of Use: The product is a plug and play for beginners. Some of the abreviations used on the console screen get annoying/confusing in the advanced stuff however. Quality: The pads are decent, the can take quite a beating. The plastic bracings on the support part of the set could use some work. I travel with my kits a lot and one of the corner T-Braces broke a week after getting my set. Value: Definitely was worth the money. If given the option to go back in time I'd buy it all over again. Manufacturer Support: I called Yamaha and told them about my broken piece and they immediately offered to send me a replacement one (which is what I wanted as sending the whole kit back would of stunk). Overall: It should last me quite well until my band starts touring a lot more or does bigger venues, then I may want to get an acoustic set just because it looks better to beat on at shows then an e-kit.

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"Excellent Yamaha Drum Kit!" submitted June 20, 2011

By a customer from yahoo.com

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Musical Background: Hobby/Private Amusement

Music Style: Rock/Pop

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Sound: It sounds wonderful! Clear, crisp, loud, and strong. Also, it was incredibly easy to assemble! Many of the parts were already assembled on the stand when I took it out of the box! Feature: It has 32 pre-programmed kit settings to choose from. I rate this an 8 out of 10, because I wish it had more Rock-n-Roll settings that could be applied to each drum head. It has settings that make the heads sound like bells, DJ scratches, and other odd beeping noises that I can't imaging ever being useful to a drummer. I haven't used the kick pedal much because only 2 of the many settings actually sound like a drum. Ease of Use: Easy to change from one kit setting to another, and easy to program a kit of your own, using the options that are available. Quality: Well-made, sturdy, and the drum heads are thick enough to take a beating, yet sensitive enough to be played quietly with a soft hit. I really like the fact that all of the heads are sensitive to how hard they are hit! Value: I'm a very happy amateur drummer, and I'll certainly make future purchases from ZZSounds. Manufacturer Support: I love the fact that ZZSounds has free customer service for prospective customers. I sent several questions (which some people would have labeled as "stupid questions") but the ZZSounds staff are knowledgeable, polite, and patient! The Wow Factor: It's exactly what I imagined. I don't know about the "sex appeal" of a drum kit, but it looks great and looks professional. I have no other musical gear, but if I did, I don't think that this kit would look out of place in any way. Overall: I love it. I'll be banging away at it for as long as it lasts. I'm not in a band (and likely never will be) so I can't rate portability nor endurance under touring conditions. I bought it for my own amusement; I'm "playing by ear." I compared this to others like it, and I read reviews on several company websites. This led me to wait until this Yamaha set went on sale. Luckily, Yamaha released a much fancier kit, so this one went on sale ($600) at just the right time!

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"Double DTXplorer review" submitted April 3, 2008

By a customer from sploink.dk

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Musical Background: multi instrumental

Music Style: ALL

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Sound: In fact I own 2 of those - merged into one drumset!... Overall - very good sounds. There can be some mechanical crosstalk from one pad to another here and there - that may be compensated though adjustments etc. Feature: It was hoping for MIDI in - so that one could edit custom drum sets from external source etc. Otherwise it's just YAMAHA. Ease of Use: Very easy. Simply said. Quality: Find it very robust. Value: hmmm ;-) Manufacturer Support: I don't need that... but it could be an issue if you want to upgrade a pad or something... The Wow Factor: Compared to my old "analog" drums it find this so much more fresh... Overall: Actually I bought one - and then aften about 6 weeks... (while I was looking for more pads ets.) I decided to look for yet another one ... and I did that!!!!! And it works out very well... I have much more sound color here and there with 2 sets combined, I can mix up whatever I like and everything is just right ... BTW the latency between audio and MDII out is fractions of a beat - So there are plenty af drum sound expansions available though MIDI etc.

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"DTX= Good with drum software, by itself it sucks!" submitted September 18, 2010

By a customer from hotmail.com

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Musical Background: Active musician

Music Style: Funk, rock, pop, fusion

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Sound: No dynamic samples, just using single samples played back louder or softer depending on how hard you hit the pads Feature: Probably has most futures you'd ever find in a $599 drumset; not only in the module, but also dual zone pads and a triple zone ride (usually only found in drumsets from $999) I wish it had midi mapping for connecting it to drum software. Ease of Use: The small screen and many feats make this drum not very easy to handle. There's a learning curve involved. but once you get the hang of it, you can do much more with this than most other drumsets of $200 more! Quality: The pads are made of the best possible quality. I don't expect them to break not even when playing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 5 to 7 years in a row! The head and drum frame could use a facelift. The frame could use aluminum instead of steel, and the head could be made much smaller, with a larger screen. Value: If you buy this drumset to use with SuperiorDrummer, then go ahead! There is no better value out there! If you plan on using this set without external samples (just use the internal ones) this drum head is old, the internal samples are less than inspiring. Go for Roland or Alesis! Yamaha also doesn't have great looks on their drumsets! If you had to choose between a Yamaha DTXplorer, a Roland HD1, and a Alesis DM5, it would be the same as: The Yamaha DTXplorer: A beetle car with a porche engine (2600cc) The Roland HD1: A porche car with a beetle engine (1600cc) The Alesis: A toyota (2000cc) Yamaha: looks ugly, has much under the hood (except for samples, they sound bad). Roland : looks good, had nothing under the hood (except for samples, they sound the best) Alesis: looks ok, has something under the hood and samples are ok. Manufacturer Support: Yamaha is said to have a bad reputation for customer service. though they can do so, because their products are very well made, made to last a long time! The Wow Factor: Could use a face lift! Larger LCD, slimmer head, better and more userfriendly menu structure Could use a mesh snare. Could use a bit wider cymbals, I'm not fond of pizza cymbals... I know they save on material this way,but they need to place something in the back to make the cymbals balance a bit better! Overall: This is good enough when using it with other drum sample software. By itself this drumset is worthless.

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"I LOVE MY DTXPLORER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" submitted February 17, 2011

By a customer from yahoo.com

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Musical Background: none

Music Style: smooth jazz

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SPOTLIGHT REVIEW

Sound: I researched e-drum kits for over a year before finally purchasing the Yamaha DTXPlorer. I even tried the DTXplorer, and one of the other DTX models, at a local music shop, back in January 2010. I have read reviews that indicated that the sounds of DTXplorer weren't "natural, too electronic, etc..." Phooey and bah humbug!!!! The sounds are great!!!! Friends and family alike all agree with me. The DTXplorer sounds fabulous. Okay, so it's not a Roland TD-20. I am not a professional drummer, and it's works perfectly for me. Feature: You get everything that you need to play, excluding sticks and a throne. To be honest, I use my computer chair and it works wonderfully. Their are so many features on the DTXplorer that it's hard to name them all. Included in the module are play-along songs that allow you to turn off the drum tracks, so you can hear how your drumming compares to that of the actual song. It also includes a built-in click track so that you can tell how close you are to keeping time with the songs. Another feature is the metronome, which is great for practice. I have two practice pads that I have been using for over a year, and it has really been nice to have the metronome, instead of relying on one of the online versions. There are no built-in speakers or amps, so you will need headphones, speakers or an amp, or all three!!! I use headphones and computer speakers right now, and they sound great but will sound better when I invest in an amp. Additionally, you can hook up your mp3/IPod to play along with your own music playlists. I use my mp3 hookup wire and plug it into my pc speaker headphone jack, and play along with songs on YouTube. The set is so versatile, it's unbelievable. It a variety of pre-programmed drum kits... acoustic, studio, vintage, hip hop, techno, jazz, etc... It also allows you to program your own drum kits into the module, and save them. For all of you real electronic geeks, you can even get into the module and super-tweak each individual sound for echo, vibration, etc... It has a stroke counter... I have had my set for 3weeks and 1 day and I have "hit the heads" so to speak, 432,000 times. Yes, that's right 432,000. I have been a busy little bee. Ease of Use: My kit arrived at 6:30 in the evening, while I was at work, and two hours later my nephew had it set up and working. When I arrived home, voila!, it was drumming time! I am trying to teach myself to play drums, and with the ease of use, of these drums, it makes my task that much easier. I am not sure that it could be any easier to use a set of drums. The hardest part is deciding which sticks to buy. I do recommend the nylon-tipped sticks. Wooden tips can splinter and tear up the heads. It's easy to clean. Easy to fold up and take along with you to friends and relatives. It's a dream! Quality: Absolutely top-notch construction!!!!!! I cannot overemphasize this enough. I tend to play jazz/smoothjazz but I also wail on this kit to songs like "Stairway to Heaven." It takes a licking and keeps on ticking(credit to John Cameron Swazy and Timex for that little ditty. For those of you who have no idea who JCS is, well, that's your loss. Sorry!). Solid construction, and great balance. I did have a problem with the hihat pedal, called Yamaha, talked to a tech... bottom-line... they sent me a new pedal that arrive in 3 days and I didn't even have to send the old one back!!!!! Genuine customer service, in this day and time? Almost gave this old man a heart attack!!!!!!!!!!!! Value: As I stated, I waited over a year to purchase. I looked at everything... Yamaha, Roland, Alesis, Simmons, Yoki, DD Drums... you name it I read every review, at least twice; watched every video from company-produced to everything on YouTube. Literally, I put several thousand hours into my research. I am the type of person who rarely spends money on myself, and to be honest, I have NEVER spent this amount of money for anything, excluding cars, homes, doctors, etc... I finally took the leap last month, and now I own the DTXplorer, with absolutely no regrets. Yamaha makes a top-quality product and backs it up with support and service that is rare these days. Kudos to Yamaha, and ZZOUNDS for making the product available!!!!! Manufacturer Support: As I alluded to previously, the support folks at Yamaha, and ZZOUNDS, for that matter, are first-rate!!!! No questions asked, no blowing smoke up the proverbial skirt, they are top drawer, captain! The Wow Factor: I am not sure how you can make e-drums any sexier. I have read great things about mesh heads, and this set comes with the rubber heads. Maybe that would be an attraction, I am not sure? However, the rubber heads are great and have a pretty realistic feel, at least they do for me. I have played my brother-in-laws Pearl set, in the past, and though there is a difference, it's not that much. Plus, I won't be stepping into the studio to record anytime soon, thought I can see where these drums would be great in a gig setting. Why not?!?!?!??! Overall: I am sure at some point that I will replace the pads on this kit, simply because I play them so much. It has nothing to do with quality, just plain wear and tear. You can expand the kit, add a 3-zone snare pad and a 3-zone cymbal kit, so what else can you ask for? The DTXplorer is awesome!!!!! No, I don't work for Yamaha, and the enthusiasm that I have exhibited in this review is absolutely 100% genuine. I am in love with this drum kit, well, not IN love, but I like them a whole lot. Oh, by the way, I have failed to mention that I am 54 years young. I have never played a musical instrument in my life though I have always wanted to learn to play drums. Now, I am doing just that. I really like playing along to songs, but I am trying to learn how to play... you know, quarter notes, eighth notes, triplets, flams, paradiddles, etc... I want to be able to PLAY, not just play-along. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with playing along, but I want to be able to do more. I hold no grand illusions... I won't be gigging, recording signing autographs or getting my own stick contracts with Vic Firth... I just have a passion for wanting to learn how to play drums. Period. Thanks to tons of encouragement from my wife, and this wonderful drum kit, a lifelong dream is coming true. I can never be Buddy Rich, Don Famularo, Steve Gadd, Billy Kilson but I can be me. Just an average guy, who knows a little about playing drums and is having the time of his life. Thanks to my wife, Yamaha and ZZOUNDS!!!!

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"Great for urban drummers" submitted April 18, 2009

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Music Style: Rock and Metal

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Sound: The pads are sensitive and the sound is generally good. Feature: It has everything you need for the beginner and is worth it's price Ease of Use: Incredibly easy and enjoyable Quality: Very good quiality Value: Great product Manufacturer Support: N/A Overall: Great beginner to intermediate set, as well as a great alternative to anyone living in an urban situation because of its volume control and small size. Remember though, it's always good to also practice on acoustic drums as well

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"Great for begginers" submitted January 30, 2008

By a customer from aol.com

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Musical Background: Hobbyist

Music Style: drum and bass

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Sound: it;s pretty nice it just i can kind of hear the stick hitting the pads and i need to get a better amp. Feature: I wish the hi-hat was more like acoustic set cuz u can't open and close the hi-hat alone, only control it while hitting it which is annoying in drum solos as i would like to be able to use it. you can't have rim shot or cross stick sounds on the pad they give you(tp65), you will have to upgrade it to a tp65s or any other ones if you don't mind paying even more cuz the tp65s costs 90 bucks. also you will have to upgrade the cymbals if you want to do the choking technique and etc. on the cymbals. i like the module though as it was very easy for me to begin playing the drums as there are beats and song to play along with and you can create your kits Ease of Use: in general, pretty easy Quality: i've only played acoustic drum sets before even starting to play the drums so i'm not to sure what would be good or bad, but nothings broken so far for the past 2 years and i think it's made very well. only thing i kinda get annoyed at is tthat i keep having to mess around with the power cord in the module until it can turn sometimes. Value: i'm sure the pads are very sophisticated and the module is nice, but there are much more better e drum sets out there that can sound and play just like an acoustic. Manufacturer Support: never used support but i would like to buy the tp65s for the same drum and buy a double pedal for the bass drum The Wow Factor: the triangular cymbals look really odd and it looks like there is no hi-hat cuz it is just a tp65 pad which was really for the tom toms. the wire do look a little odd but i guess it is an electronic drum set so.... Overall: becuz this drum set belongs to everyone in my family, i'll have to buy one when i move out and it definitly won't be this one, but most likey one still in the dtx series.

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"Best set-up for the money!" submitted January 28, 2010

By a customer from hotmail.com

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Musical Background: hobbyist

Music Style: rock, pop

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VERIFIED BUYER

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.

Sound: For the money this set up has well met my expectations. Sounds work well for the hobbyist and practice. Feature: I have not yet begun to tap into all the features of the brain because I am just having to much fun playing along with my favorite tunes of or the brains included patterns. From what I have read their is alot of adjustability for user kits. Ease of Use: Again having to much fun playing this kit to get into the groove check and other features. Value: Set up feels pretty solid. Overall: I think I'll be quit happy with this set up for sometime.

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"Awesome Drums" submitted March 23, 2011

By a customer from hotmail.com

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Musical Background: Hobbyist

Music Style: All

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VERIFIED BUYER

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.

Sound: I love all the sounds available to me. They are awesome Feature: Great features and very easy to operate.. Ease of Use: Very Very easy.. Quality: Excellent quality very affordable... Value: GRAT VALUE..... Manufacturer Support: Excellent support and customer service to this point. The Wow Factor: Practical addition. Overall: I love the drums and they are VERY userfriendly. Sound great and an awesome value.

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"Finally an honest made set at the right price." submitted May 24, 2010

By a customer from yahoo.com

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Musical Background: Retired professional drummer.

Music Style: classic rock. Country, and Blues

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SPOTLIGHT REVIEW

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Sound: Sound is impressive. responds very quickly. Have had no echoing of any kind. Everything I am looking for. Accomplishes all the musical style's I enjoy. Some sounds are better than others but I guess thats a matter of taste and desire. Sounds great with or with out music. Great live. During recording this set compares with any out there. The rim shot is the only thing that needs improvement. After tuning and calibrating it still needs a little work. Feature: Accessories? Only the kick pedal is included which is more than other sets come with. But hey you gotta start some where. The most useful feature of this set is the "tuning". It makes it easy to get the pitch, tone and resonance you want with ea. pad. Very cool. Second best is you can run your mp3 player directly through it and play along with any song you own. Ease of Use: Very easy to get the sound you want. Just takes a little time and patients, but the instructions are very easy to follow step by step. Very user friendly. After playing for 40 years on accoustic sets, it takes a little adjusting to the pads. But every drum kit takes a little adjusting. After just a few days I am jamming pretty good. Quality: I believe this kit is made well. I mean there is some plastic parts but very heavy hard material. Dont over tighten and beat the hell of out of them. They will last ya a long time. I dont see this set letting me down. Of course at first you wonder when something will break but after a while you realize its really pretty well made. Dont get me wrong this is not a road set by any means. We musicians put our instruments through all kinds of hell on the road. I think the rack might survive "if" it had metal rack mounts and actual rubber rack floor pads. I dont really know how much abuse these trigger pads will take. I am not an abusive drummer and this is my first e-drum set. Only time will tell how long they will last. Also a road kit would have to have 3 zone cymbals and at least dual zone snare. The module probably wouldnt survive the beating on the road. But for me it will last years im my home studio and at this small club where I play. Value: Money's worth and more.......... Manufacturer Support: I have and own a lot of yamaho products, but never have I dealt with tech support. All the instruments I have has lasted years so I figure if it does break or fail, I've gotten my money's worth. The Wow Factor: This set is very cool looking. It's silver and black scheme catches the eye everytime. Other major brands in this price range look cheap, flemsy, and out of porportion. I dont 'lust" for this set but I sure am glad I bought it. Its just practical, affordable and very cool. Overall: At first I was leary about purchasing this set. But after just a couple of weeks I was soooooooo relieved that I bought it. I will add a two zone snare and a three zone cymbal as my budget allows. But overall I am satisfied with the whole thing. Its just right and really you dont need anything else. I mean if I had $8,000.00 to just throw away, I might buy the new XTreme model but hey being realistic, this set is really everything you "need". I considered and researched for a month about all major brands. Different features, price ranges, quality etc. You know the best thing about this set is? Its an honest made kit at just the right price. The thing I would have liked to know while researching this product is. The fact that you can tune each pad. No one, no where ever mentions that capability. If I had known that, it would have made my decision to purchase a lot easier.

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"Very Impressive, and just plain Cool!" submitted May 19, 2010

By a customer from yahoo.com

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Musical Background: Retired professional drummer.

Music Style: Rock, Classic Country, and Blues

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SPOTLIGHT REVIEW

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Sound: The sound is very, very good. I dont know what everyone is complaining about when they say the sound has a lot to be desired. The "pre-set" kits are pretty good, and they are great starting points for you to tune and adjust them to a kit you prefer. I have played drums since I was seven (42 yrs.) Professionally for 21 years. I was impressed the moment I played them. I was leery of buying this set because of some the "nightmare" reviews I've read. After just 4 hrs of tuning, adjusting, and creating my own kit, I loved this thing. It achieves what I want to hear, weather its country, rock or blues. It has all the sounds I want. It sounds great at home or if Im jamming with my musician friends at this little club. They cant believe the quality I am getting from this set. Take some time to tune it. Get the sound you want and save it as a kit. Feature: This set comes with the bass kick pedal. Most dont. The most useful feature is the tuning and volume of each pad. It lets you tune the pitch up or down until you have the sound you want. Excellent feature!!! The pads are all pressure sensitive. The snare and cymbals are 1 zone only, (meaning no rimshot or choke capabilities), but upgradable which I can afford a little at a time. That fits my budget. Even if it had everything in the universe, I guess we would want something extra. Ease of Use: If your not a total idiot, you can "run" this thing. It has great step by step instructions. Simple directions if you just take some time. It took me about an hour to put together and I was playing it a few minutes later. If you are a drummer, you know where things go. If its your first time, it even has pictures to show you general location of each item. The rack is a lot sturdier that I thought it would be. As soon as you turn it on you hit the drums and Wha-La!!!! After playing accoustic drums all my life there is a slight adjustment, but no big deal. You play from the pre-set kits for a while adjusting your pads til you like where you have them. As I said, modifying the sounds of each pad is so easy. The instructions take you step by step tuning and choosing the sounds you want. Quality: I feel this product is made reasonable well. I am not a drummer who is going to beat the hell out of it. Although occasionally I do get wild, but I will have it a long time. It is no means a set to take on the road. The way we treat instruments on the road is crazy. The rack connecting unions are made of heavy, hard plastic I think it would need a liitle more beef to survie. But it is plenty tough enough for the studio, or small club. Hey,,,,,,treat it right and it will be around for a long time. Of course you wonder from time to time when something will go wrong, but hey that goes for everything right? I feel pretty good about this kit not giving me trouble. I dont worry about it breaking. I play it and enjoy it. It came looking brand new like it should. Quality control of this factory is very good. No scrathes, blemmishes etc. Nothing really all that bad about it. Value: This set is well worth the price. Anyone who says otherwise is expecting to get waaaaaaaaay too much for this price range. It does tons more than I thought it would at this price range. Manufacturer Support: I have dealt with yamaha products before. Keyboards and I even have a drum machine with six pads and two foot pedal pads. Never any trouble with them. I guess there are times when things could go wrong but mostly that is because its being mistreated. Never used tech support. I have had both probucts for over 10 years. The Wow Factor: It looks really good. I have seen other brands that are twice the price and they look flimsy and cheap. Not set up in an appeling manner. This thing has a very cool look. Like the silver and black colors. It feels good. I'll tell you what, everyone thinks I paid a lot more for it. thats how good it looks. Its impressive and practical at the same time. Overall: I am on a limited budget and I will keep this set for years. Its upgradable so I will add on. Like 3 zone snare for rim shot and at least a 3 zone cymbal for choking. Really the only thing that wears out in time will be the pads and they are very affordable. So I will have this set a very long time. It meets all the critirea that I expect. If it got stolen, I would probably replace it with the same thing, or the upgraded model. Or if I had $5000.00 plus, I might get the brand new Xtreme model. I wish I knew more about the module capabilities before I bought it. No one ever tells about the tuning each pad capabitlity. Or that each pad can be programmed in pitch, reverb, tint-i-ness, volume etc. These things would have helped me on the purchase decision. The thing I like least is, I wish the cymbals had a rotate, or "tilt side to side" ball joint adjustment. It only has a sliding mount that limits location. But I can deal with it. I know at this price range ther are limitations.

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"Anybody having second thoughts about buying this kit....." submitted December 7, 2009

By a customer from Yahoo.com

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Musical Background: Actice Musician

Music Style: Rock, Country

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Sound: I was very surprised at how good this kit sounds. If your looking for a quiet kit to practice with or a kit to play in church, this would definetly be a kit to consider. I wouldnt recommend it for a true gig. If you hit the toms hard, it will set off the cymbals and the hi hat sometimes opens when you do not move your foot which are things that I can deal with. I would recommend looking into a piano amp as far as speakers go or you can plug in computer speakers also. Feature: The only reason i am not giving it a 10 is because you do have to buy a throne, headphones, and sticks. Like i said the sound is awesome. The drum sets you can choose from are awesome and to create a custom kit couldn't be easier. Ease of Use: The rack comes completly put together. The only thing you have to put on are the drum pads, cymbals, the module, and the wires which took all of 15 minutes to complete. Quality: You won't find a nicer electric drum set for the price. I have played on many different sets and this is by far the nicest set for $600. If you have any doubts about this kit, just go with your gut instinct and buy the set. Its well worth it and you won"t be disappointed. Value: Like I said before, theres not a better electronic drum set on the makret for $600 Manufacturer Support: I haven't dealt with the customer service myself but i have had friends that have and they are always quick to respond and known for their great customer service. The Wow Factor: I wouldn't say this kit will get you chicks, BUT its a very practical kit. It looks cool and serves its purpose. Overall: I would say this product will be used for years to come to practice on. I'm still going to upgrade my acoustic set but I will keep this set.

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"Good entry level kit" submitted November 5, 2007

By a customer from larrcontex.com

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Musical Background: Musician - weekend band

Music Style: Country and Rock

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Sound: Drums are GREAT - cymals need to be improved. It would be great if Roland Cymblas could be used on Yamaha set Feature: Would like to be able to use a hi-hat similar to nicer models with stand on the DT Explorer unit Ease of Use: Real EAsy to set up and move from one gig to the next. Quality: Holds up to all kinds of abuse - playing - moving - playing - moving, etc... Cleans easily Value: Was a bit disinchanted about resale value - retailer offered 1/3 of oeriginal cost less than 6 months after purchase. The Wow Factor: Pretty bland - the roland set actually looks like drums - yamaha should follw in this direction. Overall: As soon as I can afford a Roland kit I will abandon or sale the Yamaha and go to a Roland. Cost more but worth it.

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Yamaha DTXplorer Customer Review submitted March 16, 2009

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Sound: Awesome sound for what I paid. Feature: Except for the fact you can't add more cymbals or pads, It's like a Mac, you get everything you need in one package. Ease of Use: SOOOOO easy to use. Quality: This is so much better quality than units more expensive, except for maybe Roland, but you're paying more for Roland. Value: Pricier than some of the bargain brands but you're getting better quality for an entry level unit.

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