Roland TD-50KV Electronic Drum Kit Review

Electronic drums are, without a doubt, the best models in terms of being able to play silently. Sound is generated electronically through a sound model, giving you better volume control than you would find with acoustic drums. This set is one of the best electronic drum sets in the market today.

It is a flagship electronic drum set by Roland that comes with the latest technological advancements. The playability of this set differs in many ways from the Roland TD 50, mostly from the pads and cymbals. Also, it is 50% more expensive.

There are a few things to know before you click “add to cart”.

In this review, I will be looking at the best features of the Roland TD50KV as an elite drum set.

Who is the TD-50KV for?

As stated above, this is the company’s flagship e-drum kit that comes with improved features. They are a brand dedicated to discovering new frontiers in the e-drumming industry. As such, you can expect the most advanced technology from this kit. Please keep in mind that they offer a wide variety of products, but we will be sticking to their electronic drum sets for this review.

Based on its size and price, this kit is designed for professional touring and advanced drummers. It comes with the capability for recording and studio production as well.

And because you can switch the sounds and alter their quality, this set is perfect for any modern drummer seeking different textures for studio mixing.

However, I would not recommend it for beginners. You don’t need all the complexities of this set if you are just starting out.

Besides, it’s a bit costly for a beginner. This means one should invest only when they are sure this is the kit they need. Advanced drummers can use it for live performance, home practicing, and studio recording.

Also, if you are looking for a drum that offers you a smooth transition to acoustic models, I would suggest you try out this set. It comes with a beautiful setting to provide a similar feel you would expect from traditional drums.

About the Roland TD-50KV

It’s one of the latest models that comes with improved features.

In the box, you will get:

• One TD-50 V-drums sound module
• One PD-140DS digital snare pad
• One PD-108-BC digital tom pad
• Two PD-128 tom V-pads
• One VH-13 Hi-hat
• One CY-18DR digital ride Cymbal
• One CY-14C Crash
• One CY-15R ride/crash pad
• One KD-140-BC Kick drum
• One MDS-50KV drum rack

The drum-tec “silent Pack”

This set comes with noise-absorbing components that dampen the transmission impact of the noises. This makes the drum quieter. The drum-tec pack in the TD 50KV includes:

• A sound-absorbing beater newly developed and patented. It uses the combination of special dampening materials the drum heads.
• The pedal mat sound-absorbing features reduce noise in the pedal by a considerable amount.
• RackFeet sound absorption that replaces the normal rack-feet-stoppers. They come with newly developed and patent stoppers that reduce noise transmitted through the Drum Rack greatly.

These are the features that make you want to “add to cart”.  Only that the company has greatly focused on making better adjustments.

Features

Drums and Pads

The TD50KV is a five-piece electronic drum set. It comes with four cymbal pads, a hi-hat, a digital ride, and two crash pads.

The digital snare is the same size as you would find on the TD-50K, which is Roland’s best. It has a PD-140-DS, measuring 14 inches and fully mesh. So it looks and works just like a real acoustic kit. It is also free-floating, which is quite applicable alongside a conventional snare stand.

I like how Roland has improved the response well in the TD-50 module. It has more triggers than previous versions.

Also, there is a great improvement on the rim, now able to produce a huge range of different rim sounds. You play variations from low and deep, depending on where the stick lands.

Even better, the PD-140-DS can pick the difference between a normal stroke and a buzz roll without changing.

The toms are a significant improvement from the TD-50K too. It has one PD-108-BC, a 10-inch super sensitive pad. It features in the same category as the PD-140-DS snare.

This allows for many different sounds on the super-realistic rim. Therefore, rolls feel more realistic than what you get in many e-sets in the same price range. It has improved triggering that alternates between the same samples, eliminating the overly consistent machine-gun-like noise.

Two PD-128-BC pads work as floor toms. They are 12 inches and stand to each side of the digital snare. They are on a whole new level compared to other toms by Roland.

The importance of a wide tom pad will allow you to rigorously beat the drum with immense accuracy. Previous kits I tried just lacked the right tom pad I was in need of. Now I never need to worry about the size of my tom pad. I can just play the way I want.

The bass drum is another upgrade you will love. It is bigger than the KD-120-BK of the TD-50K. Although heavier, it feels more like any other model from Roland.

The cymbals

The TD50KV features a VH-13 hi-hat, the older brother of the VH-11 in the TD-50K. This hi-hat is a wonderful piece of technology that sounds more realistic. It is fully mountable, and its sensors are stronger.

I enjoyed playing the cymbal as it’s comfortable. For those who love realism, this is one feature you will enjoy.

Along with the hi-hat, the ride cymbals are another expressive and versatile instrument that comes with this kit. It is wonderful that Roland invested greatly in upgrading this kit.

The TD 50KV comes with bigger crash cymbals. They come as CY-14C and CY-15R,  and all are two inches bigger than what you get in most other kits.

The player can also benefit from the CY-18DR V-Cymbal ride. It has a realistic feel to it and increases performance.  There’s no doubt your drumming will be amazing with the CY-18DR V-Cymbal rides.

The crashes offer an excellent response, which includes sensitivity and playing, more like acoustic cymbals. As such, one can create genuine sounding cymbal swells. This is something that has never been achieved before in any electronic drum set.

On the CY-15R is an additional cymbal bell response. This was built to work as a ride cymbal. With these features, you get a more realistic sound than you would in earlier versions.

Hardware

The TD 50KV comes with great and sturdy hardware. You will discover that everything has been designed to meet the needs of modern drummers.

Since the drum bass is heavier and feels more like an acoustic, you would expect to get a stronger hold. This is why the kit comes with two large and solid legs on either side. They keep upright and in place.

The pads rack is strong enough to ensure everything stays in place while you play. So you can enjoy long hours of beating without feeling strained. If that doesn’t make you want to click “add to cart”, I don’t know what will.

Sounds

The TD-50 drum module has been widely commended for its exceptional looks and performance. It is the same one you would find with the TD-50K.

However, it comes with ultra-sensitive drums. This helps it produce better sounds than the earlier versions.

Because of the multi-zone triggering on the drum and cymbal pads, the module can pick and select the most appropriate sample for every occasion. You don’t have to change manually.

Also, the module is equipped with prismatic sound modeling, so you can enjoy all of the sounds in the kit with ease. Prismatic sound modeling is by far one of the most impressive additions to this drum kit (other than the digital ride).

The snare is quite punchy which I love, it’s great for producing hip-hop or LoFi tracks. The snare pads feature a multi-element sensor that gives you full control over the sounds coming from the kit.

What can you do with a high-resolution multi-sensor system? Well, there are a number of options that will improve your performance.  With a high-resolution multi-sensor system, you have full control of the vast array of presets that come with the kit. You can intertwine different layers, giving depth to your songs. The high-resolution multi-sensor system is what racks up the price of this kit, but trust me it’s worth it.

The internal storage in the module is quite impressive. It is three times larger than what you find with the TD-30. Also, it features a card reader that can support up to 32GB SD-HC.

Even better, the drummer can layer the samples with built-in samples. This is a feature that can create a beautiful studio production

The module features an LED display and buttons that can change color as you play.

Other notable features

One of the greatest things I enjoyed with the TD 50KV is optimum control and connectivity. And this is the feature that makes it great for professional use.

There are large faders on the sound module to control the level of each drum. This means you can work with each pad independently.

Also, you get a host of other control knobs for altering effects as you wish.

In addition, there is a USB and MIDI connection port. You can hook the module to your computer and capture your performance for editing later.

Alternatives

If you feel like the TD 50KV is not the e-drum set you are looking for, there are alternatives.

Roland TD-30KV

Roland TD-30KV is a great kit to consider. It comes with almost similar traits as the TD 50KV. Although it is not any less expensive, it offers a great approach to electronic drumming. Besides, the TD-30 module is highly applauded as it comes with tons of impressive sounds.

Also, the Yamaha DTX60K e-drum is another competitive kit. It comes with almost the same features, only perhaps a bit on the expensive side. Besides, it has larger and more natural three-zone pads. However, it is more expensive.

Alesis Strike Pro

Alesis is another brand that makes high quality affordable e-drum sets. So, you may want to check out the Alesis Strike Pro as well. The kit is a huge improvement from earlier versions, featuring better sounds.

Just make sure that before you click “add to cart” you are aware of the features of each kit. Make sure that they align with your goals. The Roland TD-50 series seems to meet the needs of most professional drummers.

Verdict

In the electronic drum industry, I find TD 50KV extremely competitive. It has all the features and elements a drummer would expect in a drum set, combined with beauty for an excellent performance.  

The best part about purchasing drums online is simplicity. You just browse through the endless options, select “add to cart” and your new set will arrive right to your doorstep.