The Sonor ProLite drum kit came as a replacement for S Classic and Delite series. It came first aired at the NAMM in 2012. Before this, the Delite series had already received a full upgrade with new finishes. I am not sure why Sonor decided to end its production.
Anyway, it allows the new ProLite line to enter directly into the second position in Sonor ranks. It comes as a combination of the features from the Delite and S Classic.
Hence, you can expect all the best features from a standard drum set. Which is will be reviewing here.
Sonor ProLite Review
Sonor’s ProLite offers the best features from its predecessors. The series stands as the second-best in the Sonor lines, making it one of the best drum kits you can find out there.
Construction
For this review, I will be referring to the Tribal Red finish five-piece kit. From the first impression, you can already tell that it is a drool-worthy kit. It contrasts with cavernous deep, shiny chrome plating against a red background. Besides, the black abstract pattern creates a sublime finish from any angle.
It is not only on the outside where you find the appealing aspects of the kit. Vintage maple shells carefully selected and sourced from Canada and North America creates a good view of a high-quality piece.
Creating the Red Tribal finish is not very easy. It is considered one of the most labor-intensive processes. But this is veer, not a wrap.
The standard configuration may come with a 10-inch, 12-inch suspended 14-inch floor toms and an optional 14-inch snare. It all depends on what you are looking for.
Most important, ProLite comes with the Dual-glide or D.G.S. snare throw-off mechanism in and butt-end. Looking at it for the first time, you might think it’s an overly complex kit. But after some time, you will realize it is not that complicated.
A smooth lever defines this kit too. You can turn the snare with your knee as you continue playing your drums with your hands.
The kit comes with the newly designed Total Acoustic Resonance (T.A.R.) suspension mounts for the toms. They provide full isolation to the mounting hardware from the shell wall. They are metal brackets made of three individual pieces of metal. Shaped and designed for maximum strength and minimum weight.
Large rubber grommets are used to hold the upper and lower portions in place. Sonor calls these A.P.S. (Advanced Projection System) isolators. And they do exactly what their name suggests.
The sleek design of the TuneSafe lugs has been maintained. They come with a single-ended type bass drum and toms and a double version on the snare.
Each lug is made with nylon inserts. This makes them easily grip around the threaded part of the tension bold, which ensures no detuning will affect your performance.
The Sonor ProLite series offers beautiful and highly functional drumming solutions for the modern drummer. Even though they are highly-priced, you still get to enjoy beautiful sounds.
Hands-on
ProLite is a perfect name for these drums because they come with Sonor’s ultra-thin light Vintage Maple shells. They are also found on the SQ2 series.
This is a production line, but it comes in nine different finishes. You can find the bass drum from 18-inches to 24-inches, snare from 12 to 14-inches, and any size of toms you want.
My package came with a bass drum without installed heads. This gave me a chance to run my fingers along the edges, and the bearing edge was smooth. It is a quality you can only find in higher-end drum kits.
I liked the finish on these drums as they revealed a greats sense of detail. Every part seemed to have been carefully selected, offering a perfect solution for top sounds. Setting up the kit was no hustle.
The toms and the snare get Power Hoops measuring 2.3mm. However, Sonor also provided die-cast hoops for the snare. These might choke the toms due to their thin shells, which is why the flanged hoops are more applicable.
Every other hardware was well intact, include mallet-shaped tune lugs, which have an impeccable chrome. Also, the kits come with square-head tension rods that are common in many other brands.
Eight lugs on each side of the 20-inch bass drum with die-cast claws on the tension rods make it easy to set. There is a rubber between the claw and hoop as well as between the tension rod and claw. They all contribute to the beauty of this kit.
Sound and feel
The thin-shell toms have a unique sound. They begin with a well-pronounced attack and then a clear, focused open sound. It does not resonate too long before decaying quickly. Tune them lightly, and you will have a woody sound, or too tight, and they begin to choke.
The bass drum does not disappoint either. I like playing my bass drum wide open, which is why I muffle it with something that sounds overly boomy. The ProLite bass is a bit thicker compared to other shells on this kit, giving it just enough controllability to play open. It gave out a pleasant and focused boom.
Sonor ProLite Snare
The ProLite snare is perhaps the most inspiring piece of this kit. It comes with a newly designed Dual-glide or D.G.S. throw-off mechanism and butt-end. Its lever is so smooth that you can easily turn with your knee. The strainer attachment is made with an easy-to-remove design, letting you quickly change the heads.
It gives out a comforting woody sound, which is incredibly musical. And the coolest feature is the spring-loaded quick-release mechanism on the strainer and the butt. Simply push the button to change.
Sonor ProLite Price List
The ProLite series comes in three distinct price tiers. This pricing is based on the size of the drums and on the type of finish you choose.
They all feature in the mid-range price level. Sonor did not disclose the exact price, explaining that the ProLite kits are sold exclusively at its Certified Plus dealers.
Verdict
I was not the only one who liked and played the ProLites. A few of my friends also tried it out, and we all agreed they were a great deal for the modern drummer. This is a kit you can buy and keep forever.
