No one can doubt the superior quality of the Yamaha DTX700 series. The Yamaha DTX720K is one of my favorite electronic drum kits in this category, apart from the DTX760K.
Come with me, and I will show you my experience with this set. I will talk about the different sounds and features this drum kit has to offer.
Furthermore, I will further review Yamaha as a company and some of its best products.
About the Yamaha DTX720K
The Yamaha DTX720K is a standard professional kit. It offers a combination of the superior playability of the DTX-PADs, real hi-hat controller, and superior sounds.
Summary of the features:
- A subtle, more responsive head
- Simple controls within a free App
- Single zone DTX XP70 tom pads, RHH135 hi-hats
- 64MB Flash memory
- USB port
Configuration
- DTX700 module
- One XP80 snare
- 3 XP70 toms
- 3 PCY135 Cymbals.
- One RHH135 and one HS749A hi-hat
- KP100 Kick
- RS502 rack
This kit is excellent for training acoustic drumming skills. You will not have any problems transitioning to acoustic drumming after practicing on the dtx720k.
It comes with the newKP100 features that present a softer, more responsive head. With it, you get an improved and more realistic feel, enhancing the overall sounds and performance.
Also, it comes with a free App that makes the module easy to use. The electric drum is easily operable, even if it’s your first electric drum experience.
The toms feature DTX XP70 technology that provides an excellent feel. Besides, there is the RHH 135 hi-hat with a Yamaha hi-hat stand, giving you the best balance for your sounds.
It comes with up to 64MB FLASH memory for samples. Therefore, you can load extra kits and presets with ease.
This set is perfect for both experienced and professional drummers.
Top features
Pads and Hardware
The Yamaha DT720K is a five-piece drum set that comes with three cymbals. The pads are made with textured cellular silicone, making them sound like real acoustic drums. The bass feature is a KP100 mesh, which is equally as fantastic to play and has reduced noise production. This drastically improves the quality of the sounds.
Depending on your preference, you can connect either a single or a double bass pedal to the bass drum, as it has a large playing surface. It can handle any size of a pedal on the market. The pad feels quite strong for easy playing and is extremely quiet. Also, the bass is more heavy-duty compared to the one on the DT502 series. The best part is,that it’s super stable, you can be sure no wobble or lateral movements while playing.
The stand-mountable hi-hat is another feature to enjoy on this set. It has an RHH135 pad that resembles a real hi-hat even in the way they sound. You can mount it on a common hi-hat stand and enjoy your playing. But Yamaha has given you a free HS740A hi-hat stand with the set. That’s why I love Yamaha! Whether it’s a new drum heAD or stand, they’ve got you covered.
One thing I love about this hi-hat is its responsiveness. Also, it comes with a nice range of positional-based sample triggering. You can, therefore, play it open, closed, or in any variety you wish. It has a quick response to downward foot pressure so that the player can hear the actual sample pitch as it rises.
Again, the hi-hat is widely responsive on the surface and the rim. Playing on the edge and top brings out different sounds. This feature is very important because it makes it sound closer to an acoustic drum. This means playing DTX720K is more enjoyable and immersive.
The new and improved pads feel great to play on. This gives the player a chance to produce a beautiful mix of hi-hat sounds. It is built with a rubber-like material, which softens the pad, yet offers a wonderful bounce with each strike. It is so sensitive it can pick even foot splashes.
The XP80, silicone snare pad has three zones-of-trigger. It measures 8 inches in diameter, therefore bigger than the toms. With it comes a variety of sounds, depending on the intensity and location of the strike.
You can, therefore, play the snare on the head, rim, or put your hand down to play a rim click. A rim click comes out when the performer places the entire stick over the drum, creating contact with the rim in two points at the same time.
With the XP80 silicone head, you get a nice and quiet bounce with each play. This feature allows you to practice quietly in a busy home or apartment block. Also, the XP70 toms pads are made with silicone, though they are slightly smaller than the snare.
The tom pads are quite amazing to play, even on the rims. This is a useful feature when a drummer plays several background percussion sounds at once.
There are three cymbals, the hi-hat, crash and ride. But you can expand them as you wish. They also feature three-zone triggering, which sounds natural with every strike.
Are you looking to play staccato mutes during or towards the end of each song? Well, the PCY135 choke-able cymbal pads allow you to do so.
The whole set comes with a solid Yamaha RS502 drum rack. It’s strong and flexible for easy setup and uninterrupted playing.
Sounds
Yamaha builds an extensive acoustic range for drum kits. It’s here where the motivation for the samples on the DTX700 module comes from. You care exposed to 1396 sounds and enough room to store your own. Therefore, you can import samples from the USB directly to the module.
It also features high-quality built-in sounds that work nicely with the pads. A player can adjust each drum individually and store their own customized kits.
Who is the Yamaha DTX720K for?
The DTX 720K is a quality electronic drum set. It comes with many high-end features found in most professional standard e-drums.
It can work just fine for a beginner, but it’s more suitable for experienced drummers.
It comes with qualities that make it a mile above the entry-level. This makes it way more costly than other start-up sets. So it might be a waste of resources for someone in the beginner class.
The DTX700 drum module features better technology than the DTX502. For instance, the unit gives the player full control over the volume.
The fader controls the hi-hat, bass drums, snare, toms, and the cymbals. Also, there is a volume control button that is easily accessible.
The set is extremely suitable for gigs, and the controls can be set comfortably for easy reach. This helps you set the volume right as you play.
Also, the DTX700 module offers accessibility to a home studio setup where you can use it with your DAW. You can record your work as MIDI to Cubase, Pro Tools, and any other music tool. Also, the DTX720K is compatible with virtual instruments like DFD or EZ drummer. Using these tools offers access to a vast amount of sounds and kits, and the chance to explore your creativity.
The kit comes at a more reasonable price, compared to other e-drum sets in the same category. But it is still expensive for beginners and mid-level players. You may need to invest more than $2k in the kit, which isn’t bad for professionals.
Overall, the DTX720K is one of the best e-kits on the market today. I personally like it because it brings out the feel and sound of a quality acoustic set.
The sound of the drum is unmatched by any other product in this price range.
Other notable features
The drum module has a built-in sequencer. You can use this with the DTX720K by assigning the control on the pad you choose. For instance, you can use them to initiate a song sequence. This is extremely useful for live gigs.
The coach function on the module is another notable feature. They carry different modes created to challenge your skills, therefore helping you improve. For example, the ‘Groove Check’ and ‘Rhythm Gate’ both offer a fun approach to improving your timing.
The DTX700 module is very compact too. You can connect to your computer, PC, or Mac to function as a MIDI controller for your DAW. This allows you to have full control over your drum sounds, and gives you the ability to create new ones.
Features
Technology is, without a doubt changing the way we drum. Every electronic kit that comes out promises the best features.
You should check out the pad material, the quality of the cymbals, and the functions of the module. This way, you can easily tell what your drumming future looks like.
The brand
There is no better way of knowing an e-drum quality than by the manufacturer. Some brands have established themselves as market leaders, and you can never get anything wrong with their products.
Like in the case, Yamaha is a reputable company. They have been on the market for a long time not, creating drum sets with cutting edge technology.
Roland is another wonderful drum company. They focus on innovation and creating a solution for drummers around the world.
Your budget
Unfortunately, the best e-drum technology is costly. You may have to invest more than $3000.
But if you think money is not a problem, then you are in a better position to get everything you require. Fortunately, some electronic sets look and sound just like acoustic sets.
They even have better features. For instance, they are more portable and allow you to record from your home studio.
How to buy electric drum kits
When it comes to buying the best electronic kit, many people think it is just a walk in the park. After all, you only go online, hit “add to cart” and select the products you want to get.
However, you will realize there is a lot to it than meets the eye. And if you want to get the best out of your drumming, then you should consider the kit you buy very seriously. Here are a few things to look out for.
Your drumming needs
There are drum sets for every level of experience. If you are a beginner, it may not be a good idea to invest in heavy equipment. What you need is something easy to get you started and for practicing purposes.
This means one must consider the features that come with their kit.
For beginners, all you need are the essential components. These may include the drum pads, the cymbals, and a few training songs.
A mid-level player will require something extra. They may need to practice making and recording their own music. Therefore, it is vital to keep in mind what the drum set offers.
For experienced players, you want to look for a fully compatible drum kit. Because, perhaps, you may wish to transition to an acoustic set.
A pro will need additional features like home recording, live stage performance capability, and much more. This is why they need something that can hold more water.
Again your level or playing expertise will determine how much you should invest in the drum sets. In other words, drumming requires a good budget if you want to be successful. For beginners and mid-range players, you have options. But for professionals, you will be compelled to invest heavily in the kit.
They say a drummer is only as good as their equipment, and it all makes sense because appearance speaks volumes.
Other Kits You May Want To Look At
Roland TD-17KVX Electronic Drum Set
If you feel like this is not the kit for you, then you should consider other alternatives. The Roland TD-17KVX is one such kit. This kit is the best medium price model of the TD series and yet, it has the same features as the Yamaha DTX720K.
Roland TD-25KV Electronic Drum Set
But if you well loaded, you may want to check out the Roland TD-25KV. It has the same size as the DTX720K, but with an extra crash cymbal pad. Also, it features high-quality mesh heads as well as TD-25 module.
Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit Electronic Drum Set
The Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit is another great alternative from Alesis. It is a mid-range kit with a full mesh setup and one of the most popular models. It’s totally worth giving it a try!
Alesis Strike Pro Electronic Drum Set
Another incredible model and this is one of the top ones from Alesis, is the Alesis Strike Pro is another wonderful kit worth investing in. It has bigger drum pads than the Yamaha DTX720K.
Verdict
The DTX720K electronic set by Yamaha is a very impressive kit. But it is not revolutionary just yet. I find the kit a bit overpriced considering other brands offering better features. However, it may be more superior, considering the brand.
After you’ve been drumming for a while, you’re going to want to look at a whole bunch of qualities when choosing a drum set. You’ll have a demand for newer sounds, which are only offered on a specific electronic drum set.
Both the dtx700 module and the dtx720k electronic drum kit are suitable for beginners but are optimal for experienced drummers.
Yamaha is one of the most trustworthy brands in the music industry. From their unique sounds to high-quality hardware, they constantly release impressive drum kits every year.
