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In this review we will discuss some of the best amps for electronic drums in 2024. There are many different monitors out there to choose from, so it’s important that you get the best for your electronic drum set.
The speakers on our list range in price from around $150 to under $500. We will review some of the best electronic drum monitors in all price range and go into detail as to what their pros and cons are. Read on.
Here are the best electronic drum amps / monitor speakers 2024:
- Alesis Elevate 5 MKII
- KAT Percussion KA1
- Roland PM-100
- Coolmusic DM100
- Roland PM-200
- Behringer F1220D
- Peavey KB 2
- Ddrum DDA50
- Coolmusic DK-35
- KAT Percussion KA2
1. Alesis Elevate 5 MKII – Most Versatile Electronic Drum Monitor Speakers
Best stereo monitors for electronic drums
If you’re looking for speakers for your electronic drum set and want something a bit more versatile, then perhaps you should consider a pair of studio monitors. There are a number of advantages to a pair of monitors over a standalone wedge-type monitor.
Firstly, you get the option of stereo sound. Most top electronic drum sets come with lots of presets which work in stereo. This is a nice feature that expands the soundscape and allows you to place different drums across your mix.
Image credit: Alesis
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The Alesis Elevate 5 MKII is a good set of home studio speakers which will work well for home practice on electronic drums. There is 80 watts of power in total between the two speakers which makes for a decent play-along volume.
The nice thing about the Elevate 5 MKII’s is that they’re very versatile, so not just restricted to electronic drums. You can use them for home recording, gaming or for your home cinema. The sound is crisp and full and the small size means they can be positioned on a shelf, so as to take up the minimum of room space.
2. KAT Percussion KA1 – Multiple Input Electronic Drum Amp
Best value drum amp for the money
KAT Percussion’s KA1 is a 50-watt wedge monitor with multiple inputs and EQ. There is room for 3 inputs in total, so you can plug your electronic drums in along with another instrument and an MP3 player or similar. 50 watts is a nice amount for rehearsal purposes and for small gigs too. The monitor weighs 30 lbs, so it’s not too much of a chore to carry around either.
Image credit: KAT Percussion
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The KA1 is a handy little monitor with a variety of uses. The three inputs make it versatile and the sound out of the KA1 works well with most electronic drum sets. There’s a 3-band equalizer which can be used to tweak the main input, but doesn’t work on the auxiliary input. Price-wise this monitor retails online at around $200 and represents great value for money.
3. Roland PM-100 – Electronic All-in-One Drum Monitoring System
The Roland PM-100 is available in 3 sizes. There are 30-watt, 80-watt and 180-watt versions of this drum monitor. Naturally the wattage here refers to the power and volume that these speakers can produce.
Looking at the 80-watt version, this is a convenient all-in-one monitoring system. It retails for around $300 online and for the money you get a powered speaker with some sound shaping controls. There are knobs for volume and global EQ. EQ lets you adjust the high and low frequencies to your liking.
The cabinet is designed with drummers in mind as it’s nicely angled to suit positioning to either side of the drum set. There is a dedicated input for your V-Drums and also two more inputs which can be used for MP3 players or additional drum pads. These inputs are ¼ inch and mini-jack.
Image credit: Roland
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The Roland PM-100 is a good electronic drum amplifier and has been specifically designed to cater to such drum kits. Roland are world famous for their electronic drum sets and so they have shaped the PM-100 to complement their line of drums.
This monitor will work well with any brand of electronic drums and there is enough volume to get you through most club-size gigs. The 10-inch driver means this is not the most heavy monitor out there, but certainly not the lightest either.
4. Coolmusic DM100 – 2-Input Cheap Drum Monitor
Affordable drum monitor with Bluetooth
When it comes to connectivity, Bluetooth is a simple and fast way to get yourself connected. This 100-watt monitor from Coolmusic has built-in Bluetooth capabilities, so you can stream music and play along with it instantly. This eliminates the need for bothersome cables which can get tangled in your setup.
Besides the benefit of Bluetooth this electronic drum monitor is quite loud, should you need the extra volume. There is 100 watts of power going through the 10-inch driver and 1-inch tweeter. This makes for an impressive sound and you have further options with the 3-band equalizer. This allows you to tweak the sound a little more, post your module mix.
Image credit: Coolmusic
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The Coolmusic DM100 is an inexpensive drum monitor, but don’t be deceived by the price tag. It has two inputs along with a Bluetooth connection. This means you could in theory have 3 signals going through the device at once: drum set, backing track and bass guitar or keyboards. Overall, it’s a great little drum monitor which has plenty of volume and is quite cheap at just around $230.
5. Roland PM-200 – Best Bass Monitor For Live Shows
Best amp for Roland V-Drums
The Roland PM-200 is a high-end professional drum monitor which retails for around $500. This monitor consists of a 12-inch woofer and an additional tweeter. It has a 2-band equalizer for sound control and packs a punch when it comes to volume. There is 180 watts to play with here, so that makes it one of the loudest electronic drum monitors on our list.
You get two dedicated 1/4-inch inputs which you can use for a variety of instruments or playback devices. This is a robustly built monitor which should put up with the rigors of touring and transporting. It’s a little on the heavy side though and comes in at just under 50 lbs in weight.
Image credit: Roland
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The Roland PM-200 is designed in the classic ‘wedge’ shape. This makes it ideal for use as a drum monitor as the sound is naturally directed upwards to your ear while sitting on the throne.
It has a convenient carry handle which helps with transportation. Weight-wise this monitor is a little on the heavier side, but that’s down to the 180 watts of power contained within. If you’re looking for something to keep up with loud guitar amps on stage, then this might be for you. It’s one of the best-rated drum monitors online and that stands to reason.
6. Behringer F1220D – Proffesional Electronic Drum Monitor
The Behringer F1220D is a professional-level monitor with 250 watts of power. This is a loud wedge monitor with two inputs, 3-band EQ and a feedback filter control. This is a general use monitor, so it’s ideal for all musicians for use in rehearsal or on stage.
When using with an electronic drum set you will need a suitable connecting cable. In most cases this will be a 1/4-inch jack to XLR connection. There are 2 inputs, one line in and one mic, which can be used to monitor your sound. With an electronic drum set the line input is a better option.
Image credit: Behringer
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If you’re after volume then the FD1220D will suit you down to the ground. This monitor is aimed at professionals, so there are no entry-level features such as 1/8-inch jack inputs. This is by far the loudest monitor on our list.
7. Peavey KB 2 – Small but Loud Electronic Drum Monitor
This keyboard amp from Peavey is a great little versatile monitor. It can be used for a variety of purposes from guitar playing to keyboards and electronic drums.
This amp has no less than 4 inputs, which means you could even use it to amplify a whole band. Channels 1 and 2 are 1/4-inch inputs. Channel 3 has two inputs, one XLR, and one 1/4-inch input. There’s also an FX loop on the back of the KB 2 which allows you to introduce additional effects into the sound chain.
Image credit: Peavey
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Peavey are well known for producing reliable and robust products. Their guitar amps are total workhorses and will put up with a lot of abuse in transit while touring on the road. The KB 2 is no different in that respect and is built to last.
The only downsides are the shape which is not ideal for typical monitoring situations. You could position the amp on a chair or a hard case to raise it up to ear level while playing the drums, but in most situations, you won’t struggle to hear this amp.
It’s loud and proud and produces a cracking sound for such a small amp. It works well with practically all instruments and is a perfectly good electronic drum speaker.
8. Ddrum DDA50 – Best Sounding Drum Monitor
Sound does not get better than this
DDrum are famous for their electronic drums and triggers. With the DDA50 they have created a portable wedge-type drum monitor which packs a punch while not being to bulky to handle. The DDA50 is 50 watts which makes it ideal for rehearsing with.
There’s a 10-inch driver with a 2.5-inch tweeter to provide the perfect mix of bass, mid and treble. On the front panel are two 1/4-inch inputs along with one 1/8-inch input for external devices.
Image credit: Ddrum
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The DDA50 produces a great sound with impressive lows and crisp highs. The tweeter is bigger than most competitors, so you can really hear the clarity in your mix, especially if you boost the high end EQ.
This is a solid product from DDrum and is keenly priced around the $220 price point. You may run into extra charges with shipping depending on where you are delivering to, so watch out for that.
9. Coolmusic DK-35 – Drum Amp For Starters
Good cheap drum amp for beginners
One cheap option, if you’re searching for the best way to amplify electronic drums on a budget, is to opt for a Coolmusic DK-35. This monitor is a basic and affordable drum monitor which is ideally suited to electronic drum sets.
The 10-inch speaker produces 35 watts of volume which is more than enough for personal practice sessions. This is not the loudest monitor out there, so if you’re looking for something on the quieter side then this might be for you. Not everyone needs a lot of volume when practicing the drums. If you’re buying for a child then this is a very suitable solution.
Image credit: Coolmusic
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The DK-35 has several sound options, such as EQ and volume, and has been sound shaped for electronic drums. This means that bass drums sound fat with definition, snares are crisp to the ear, and cymbals shine through this monitor. On the control panel you’ll also find inputs and outputs.
There is a designated D.I. output on the DK-35 which can be used for connecting to a PA system. Also there is an input which can accept auxiliary sound sources such as MP3 players or laptops. The built-in 2-band EQ lets you fine tune your drum mix to your liking. All in all this is a competitively priced drum monitor and perfect for beginners.
10. KAT Percussion KA2 – Electronic Drum AMP With AUX Input
The KA2 is a full-range amplifier built with drummers in mind. This is a great monitor for any type of V-Drum kit and even has additional inputs for other instruments too. If you do plan on sharing the inputs it’s nice to know that KAT Percussion has included an additional volume control for the second input also.
The 3-band EQ lets you control low, mid and high frequencies with the turn of a knob. There’s also the inclusion of a ‘presence’ knob which is for adding clarity to the mix. You might feel the need to use this feature in a loud rehearsal room or at a gig for more definition.
Also on the front panel of the KA2 is an AUX input for connecting external devices such as MP3 players and iPods.
Image credit: KAT Percussion
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The KA2 is the bigger brother of the smaller KA1 digital drum amplifier. It has 200 watts of power versus the KA1’s 50 watts, which makes it a lot louder and more suited to the gigging professional drummer.
Conclusion
We hope that you’ve enjoyed reading about our list of the best electronic drum monitors. There is a good range of drum amplifiers out there, so keep your eyes peeled for the latest special offers online. Some of the most popular drum monitors on our list have reductions of almost 50% and prices are changing all the time.
Be sure of the type of monitor that you require when it comes to size and volume. Some drummers will require a monitor for use in rehearsal and on stage while others will need a fixed solution for one room only. In the latter case, it’s fine to restrict your spending to under $300.
You shouldn’t need a lot of volume for home rehearsal. For gigging professionals aim for monitors around the 100-watt mark or above. You’ll be glad to have the extra power when competing to be heard on stage with other band members.
If, on the other hand you would prefer something small and versatile then maybe a set of studio monitors would be the way to go. The nice thing about studio monitors is that they can be stored away easily and used for many other purposes like watching TV or gaming.
Whatever the case may be, we hope you’ve found a few ideas on our list to help you choose the perfect electronic drum monitor for you.