Alesis Drum Kit roundup
Alesis Drum Kit: A Complete Buyer's Guide
A practical buyer's guide to the Alesis range — understanding what each tier delivers, what used kits to look for, and what else you need to play.
Buying an Alesis drum kit well means understanding which features matter for your playing level, which trade-offs are acceptable at each price point, and what accessories you will need beyond the kit itself. The range runs from basic practice kits under £200 to fully professional rigs above £1,000, and the differences between them are substantial.
Choosing the Right Tier
The Alesis line organises clearly by tier:
- DM Lite (£100–£150): rubber pads, basic module. Acceptable only for young children or extremely casual use. Not recommended for anyone who wants to develop real drumming skills.
- Nitro Mesh (£200–£280): mesh snare and toms, 40 kit presets, solid rack. The first tier worth buying for a genuine beginner or practising drummer. Good value for the price.
- Nitro Max (£300–£380): improved module over standard Nitro, more cymbal pads. A worthwhile step up if budget allows.
- Surge Mesh (£400–£600): improved pad quality and module over the Nitro range. Suitable for intermediate players. A noticeable performance step above the Nitro.
- Command Mesh (£600–£900): 4-post rack, advanced module, professional-grade feel. Appropriate for serious home practise, performance use, and home studio recording.
New vs Used
Used Alesis kits are widely available and can represent good value at the Nitro Mesh level and above. When buying used, check:
- Mesh head condition: holes or tears in mesh heads reduce sensitivity and feel. Replacement heads are available but add cost.
- Module function: test every pad input on the module. Failed input channels are common on heavily used kits.
- Cable condition: drum kit cables are subjected to constant bending. Check for fraying at connectors or intermittent signal.
- Hi-hat controller: the hi-hat pedal mechanism wears more quickly than pads. Test for consistent open/closed response.
What You Need Beyond the Kit
A standard Alesis kit does not include everything you need to play:
- Drum throne: not included. Budget £30–£80 for a basic round-top throne.
- Drumsticks: not included. Nylon-tip or wood-tip; any standard 5A or 7A stick works.
- Headphones: required for silent practice. Any closed-back headphone with a 6.35mm jack adapter works; a dedicated monitoring headphone (Audio-Technica ATH-M20X, Sony MDR-7506) gives better low-end response.
- Noise isolation mat: strongly recommended. Reduces floor vibration significantly.
- Amplifier (optional): only needed if you want to play at audible levels in a room. A dedicated drum practice amp is preferable to a general audio monitor.
Where to Buy
Gear4Music, Thomann, and PMT carry the full Alesis range in the UK. eBay and Reverb are the best sources for used kits. Alesis itself sells direct through its website but UK pricing is often higher than retailer pricing including VAT. Always buy from a retailer with a returns policy for a first electronic kit purchase.
For a breakdown of the range and features, see the Alesis drum kit guide. For specific model picks, the best Alesis drum kit recommendations covers the shortlist.
Comments