A quiet drum set is an important musical instrument for anyone who wants to practice in environments that require silence- for example in apartments, during non-plugged performances, and of course during music lessons.
Unlike acoustic drums which can be quite noisy, electronic drum sets will are much quieter and much preferred for those who enjoy practicing music at home.
Not many neighbors will appreciate the news that a drummer has moved next door. But you can always prove them wrong- that not all drummers are noisy by equipping yourself with the quietest drum set on the market.
In this article, I’m going to look at some of the most noiseless electronic drum sets, and include some of the tips you can incorporate in your room to reduce unwanted noise from leaking outside. (I also wrote a guide on 11 DIY methods to soundproof a room for music practice)
Electronic Drums Versus Acoustic Drums: Which One Is Noisy?
Did you know that acoustic drums and electronic drums are no different from acoustic and digital pianos? Electronic drum sets are designed to minimize noise- to be quieter- than acoustic drum sets. (Source)
The sound produced by electronic drum sets is usually pre-recorded- unlike in acoustic drums- where the sound produced is as a result of how hard or soft you hit the drum head. The sound in e-drum sets is pre-recorded and stored into the drum kit brain and it’s often controlled by sensors installed under the drum heads and the cymbals.
These pre-installed sensors are capable of detecting how fast or how slow you hit the drum head. They are also capable of detecting the velocity of the stick and in response they assign an exact pitch and volume according to the stick velocity. Ideally, electronic drum use mesh heads for their cymbals and have quieter rubber heads instead of the drum heads found in acoustic drum sets.
These are the major differences- they are the only distinguishing factors between electronic drums and acoustic drums- and these factors make e-drums much quieter. (See my guide on noiseless cymbals)
Quiet practice drum set comparison chart
| Image | Name | Price | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
  | DW Drum Workshop CPPADTS5 Go Anywhere Pad Set with Stand | $$$ | See Price on Amazon |
  | Roland TD-25KV-S Electronic Drum Set | $$$$ | See Price on Amazon |
  | Roland V-Drums TD-1DMK Drum Set Bundle with Drum Sticks | $$$ | See Price on Amazon |
  | Alesis Drums Nitro Mesh Kit | $$$ | See Price on Amazon |
  | Roland V-Compact Series Electronic Drum Kit | $$$$ | See Price on Amazon |
  | Pyle Pro Electronic Drum kit | $$$ | See Price on Amazon |
Quiet Drum Set For Apartment Practice Reviews
1. DW Drum Workshop CPPADTS5
If you want a drum set that allows for ultra quiet practice anywhere- in apartments or unplugged performances, then the DW Go Anywhere electronic drum set is perfect for you. This piece of musical instrument offers the functionality and practicality for silent drumming experience.
If you’re worried about a drum set being too bulky and heavy, you might want to check out the DW Go Anywhere. Like its name suggests, this set is ultra-lightweight making it highly portable and you can easily move it from one room- or from one apartment to another with ease. In addition the setup is pretty straightforward hence making it ideal for beginners.
Most of the drum sets you’ll get on the market today feature several stands, and countless number of screws- which can be quite confusing for an average drummer or a beginner. If you will be practicing at home, my advice is pretty simple. Pick something easy to assemble- something you can setup in less than five minutes in the evening and practice for the next hour or so. It can be quite frustrating wasting an hour or so setting up your set.
The DW Go Anywhere consists of 5 pieces- so assembling the drum set will be a breeze. In addition the drum kit is ultra quiet allowing you to practice anytime of the day or night.
Pros:
- The drum pad is wide enough- it can accommodate two pedals and compatible with Mapex Falcon double pedal.
- It’s ultra quiet- making it ideal for apartment practice
- Lightweight and portable
- Affordable
Cons:
- Doesn’t come with kick drum pedal- though there’s a spot for it though. You need to purchase the pedal separately
- It doesn’t include a music stand regularly
2. Roland TD-25KV-S Electronic Drum Set
The Roland TD-25KV is a noiseless electronic drum set for anyone with limited storage space. Its sleek design makes it a super space saver. It’s enhanced hi-hat and cymbals make it have a tactical feel.
This e-kit is super silent and great for anyone who wishes to practice at home without disturbing the neighbors or those living in adjacent rooms. It comes with 3 pairs of sticks, an Austin Bazaar Polishing Cloth and audio cable. The only downside to this kit is the fact that it’s much expensive compared to other drum kits in my list of reviews.
3. Roland Electronic Drum Set (TD-11K)
If you’re an avid drummer looking for a quiet and multi-purpose e-drum kit, the Roland Electronic Drum Set won’t disappoint. You can use it on different occasions either during a live performance, practice at home, recording, teaching and much more.
It uses mesh heads making it a quieter option for those looking for quiet drum sets. In addition, the kit includes professionally recorded backing songs which are perfect for play along performance or practice. It’s diverse music library covers different music from different genres.
The Roland TD-11K is perfect for drummers of all levels. Its practice features include quick record and quick play and a unique COACH function to help drummers of all levels to master their drumming skills effectively.
One notable and outstanding feature is the large LCD & icon-driven user interface that makes it easy for the user to operate. It’s a modern drum set kit with USB functionality to help you connect to your computer.
Just FYI, it important to note that this set doesn’t include a throne, a kick pedal, amplifier/speakers and the headphone port is only compatible with a stereo jack. So if you’d want to play it out of the box, I would recommend you to buy throne, sticks, pedal and a pair of headphones that have a stereo jack adapter.
Pros:
- The pads feel good to hit
- The kit is lightweight and very adjustable
- Great modern features on the device
- Its user friendly, easy to navigate- features a USB thumb drive which allows the user to load full MP3 tracks and loops which you can play along with.
Cons:
- It doesn’t come with a bass kick- you need to buy separately
- The cymbals lack diversity of sounds you can get with acoustic ones which can be annoying for advanced users
4. Alesis Drums Nitro Mesh Kit
If you want an electronic drum set that gives the natural feel of an acoustic drum set and at the same time allows for an ultra-quiet session, then Alesis drums nitro mesh kit is perfect for you. It gives an ultra-quiet response and this makes it for late night practice sessions to sharpen your skills.
It comes with 10″ cymbals, 8″ dual-zone mesh snare drum, custom-designed Alesis hi-hat and kick pedals, (3) 8″ mesh toms, and a durable 4-post aluminum rack. In addition the drum kit features a core sound-set that’s ready for any genre thrown at it- with 385 cymbals and drum sounds that are expertly curated into a collection of 40 ready to play kits. In addition the electronic drum kit comes with 60 built in play along tracks, a metronome, a sequencer and a performance recorder.
The best part is that Alesis drums nitro mesh kit is compatible with a variety of PS3 and PS4 musical video games such as Rock Band right out of the box using the default drum setup. However a correct midi adapter is required for your game console.
Pros:
- It’s ultra-quiet
- Compatible with PS3/PS4 music video games
- Comes with 385 drum and cymbals sounds
Cons:
- Customers have complained that Alexis customer service isn’t the best
- Instructions manual could be better
5. Roland V-Compact Series (TD-17KV-S)
When you are serious about music, you will need a kit that will “grow” with you from step one until you reach expert level. I strongly believe that every drummer should go for a drum set that matches their ambition.
The V-Drums TD 17 series is one that will grow with you in your drumming career backed up by high quality training tools to push you even further. It includes a Coach Mode to help you with your daily practice regime with a score that tells you how you’re progressing.
To play the TD-17 series out of the box, you will need to purchase below items in addition to the actual drum set:
- A hi-hat stand
- A kick pedal
- A throne
- Either a monitor or headphones
- Drum sticks
The sounds and play are nearly to that of an acoustic drum set. When it comes to functionality, Ronald V-Compact can’t be compared to other cheap e-drums you’ll find on the market. If you’re a beginner, you’ll soon catch up with the intermediate and pros thanks to the wide array of accessories ideal for beginners and pros alike.
6. PylePro Portable Drums
If you’re looking for a quiet drum set that’s highly portable, the PylePro Portable Drums is the perfect choice for you.
It’s a digital drum set that’s not only portable but also versatile with sounds that are nearly to an original acoustic drum kit. Equipped with a USB port, you’ll be able to plug it to an external computer.
For convenience when you want to practice anywhere, this digital drum set is powered by both AC power and 6 C” size batteries. Essentially it allows you to practice anywhere anytime, either at the office, home, on a road trip or camping.
The large LCD screen and different configuration buttons will allow you to create some truly outstanding and customizable music.
Pros:
- It’s compact and portable
- Has different selectable drum sets
- It’s electronic- you can adjust the volume and wear headphone when practicing at night
- It’s cheaper and costs less than high end digital drum sets
Cons:
- Its sound quality can’t be compared to premium digital drum sets.
Quiet Drum Set Buyer Guide
Noise Levels
The first and the most important factor in this case is noise levels. Because you’re buying something you’ll often be using for practice at home, you will want one that’s won’t be a nuisance to your neighbors.
By default, most e-drum sets are quieter compared to acoustic drums. Because of the sensors installed, you can adjust how quiet or loud you want the kit to be.
There are different strategies that manufacturers use to address noise levels in an e-kit. One of these techniques is the use of rubber pads and mesh heads on the cymbal and drums heads respectively.
Unfortunately the kick pedal creates sound vibrations. the vibrations are absorbed in the walls and travel through walls to your neighbor placing you on a collision course with your neighbor.
To counter this problem, most drummers build DIY tennis ball raisers that cushion the drums and the floor. Most manufacturers have designed – acoustic sound isolation boards like this Roland Noise Eater NE– that significantly reduces pedal vibration and acoustic noise.
Final thoughts on quiet drum set
As we’ve seen above, a quiet drum set will not only be great for apartment practice, but can also be the perfect instrument for non plugged performances and for musical classrooms. Not only should the set be quiet but should also be compact to save space and also portable for easier transportation.