The ddrum DDA50 50W Electronic Percussion Amp is our best drum amp and this amazing drum amp is perfect for electronic percussion but also good for other types of drum sets as well. It comes with all of the necessary 1/4 inch inputs at 3 slots on this amp monitor for drums and it also has an output for the headphones so you can practice in a quiet way without disturbing the neighbors. The drum amp has a driver speaker which measures 10 inches across and you can customize the sounds easily using the EQ with 3 bands. It consumes 50 watts as a helpful drum amp and it has an input slot for an mp3 player so you can easily play backing tracks while practicing and also has a line out for XLR to connect your condenser microphone to the drum amp.
Our step-up pick is the ddrum DDA200 200W Electronic Percussion Amp and this drum amp has a total of three 1/4 inch inputs on its interface so you can connect a wide source of music gear. This item is like our step-up pick except for the very fact that it has been rated for 200 watts of power as a powerful electronic percussion drum amp. The tweeter of the drum amp measures 2 1/2 inches in its diameter and offers clear highs in its sound quality and the durability of this drum amp is very unmatched compared to its other competitors such that it is made from heavy duty equipment for longer lasting durability.
The budget pick is the Coolmusic DK-35 40watts Electric Drum Amplifier and this budget pick for the best drum amp can also be used for other purposes such as PA systems and the like. It comes with a main equalizer for easily toning up or down your sound source using the bass and treble controls and the elegant yet simple design makes this drum amp very attractive in its build and hassle-free to move around. The coaxial speakers measure 10 inches in its diameter and can deliver you the most powerful sounds possible and it has a 2-channel configuration in its cabinet much like all speakers and monitors out there. Compared to our two previous picks, this one consumes only 40 watts of power so it is more for the minimal users.
A Little Background
A drum amp is basically any kind of amp that is able to power up electronic drums and other instruments that are also MIDI capable. But compared to regular amps, drum amps are a bit hard to find because only a few amps carry over exceptional features that are meant for drums, especially electronic drums. This is why they are a bit rare, nonetheless they are very helpful.
How We Picked
When it comes to choosing the best drum amp, here are some guidelines:
The drum amp should be versatile such that it can also be used to power up other musical instruments.
It should have a lot of ports such as for mp3 players and headphones for utility and practice purposes.
The drum amp should have a good EQ and other effects to add beauty and clarity to your drum sounds.
Our Pick
ddrum DDA50 50W Electronic Percussion Amp
The ddrum DDA50 50W Electronic Percussion Amp is our best drum amp and this amazing drum amp is perfect for electronic percussion but also good for other types of drum sets as well. It consumes 50 watts as a helpful drum amp and you can customize the sounds easily using the EQ with 3 bands. The drum amp has a driver speaker which measures 10 inches across and it also has an output for the headphones so you can practice in a quiet way without disturbing the neighbors.
It comes with all of the necessary 1/4 inch inputs at 3 slots on this amp monitor for drums and the tweeter has an adjacent design and measures 2 1/2 inches across. It has an input slot for an mp3 player so you can easily play backing tracks while practicing and also has a line out for XLR to connect your condenser microphone to the drum amp. The XLR line out can also be connected to another amp, a PA system or a mixing board for fine tuning your sounds for a band setup or a recording setup.
As this is rated for use in 110 volt systems, you will need a converter for the outlet if you want to use it for 220 volts. You can also use it as a helpful guitar amp and it will give you a lot of crisp and clear high sounds even on low volumes.
Flaws but Not Dealbrakers
Some things to note about the ddrum DDA50 50W Electronic Percussion Amp that may not be that satisfactory but not very threatening include the fact that it is not rated for 220 volt systems but you can just easily use a converter for that.
Step-up Pick
ddrum DDA200 200W Electronic Percussion Amp
Our step-up pick is the ddrum DDA200 200W Electronic Percussion Amp and this item is like our step-up pick except for the very fact that it has been rated for 200 watts of power as a powerful electronic percussion drum amp. This drum amp has a total of three 1/4 inch inputs on its interface so you can connect a wide source of music gear and there is an input for mp3 players as well as CD players for your convenience and playing backing tracks.
There is a line out for the XLR so you can connect things such as condenser microphones for professional style recording without fail. The durability of this drum amp is unmatched compared to its other competitors such that it is made from heavy duty equipment for longer lasting durability. The tweeter of the drum amp measures 2 1/2 inches in its diameter and offers clear highs in its sound quality. The subwoofer measures 10 inches in its diameter and delivers great bass and mid sounds in its quality and the EQ with 3 bands can help you mix the sounds according to your desire.
There is also an output for your headphones so you can mix or play quietly without interruption and noise for the neighbors. It is rated for 120 volts so you would have to use a converter for 220 volts systems. It can also be a great amp for other instruments such as guitars, bass guitars and classical instruments like the violin or cello. Also, the bass quality is excellent because it is a drum amp and it will give additional bass to other instruments as well.
Budget Pick
Coolmusic DK-35 40watts Electric Drum Amplifier
Our budget pick for the best drum amp is the Coolmusic DK-35 40watts Electric Drum Amplifier and this budget pick for the best drum amp can also be used for other purposes such as PA systems and the like. It is made to be a drum amplifier but can also work for acoustic guitars and other similar instruments. Compared to our two previous picks, this one consumes only 40 watts of power so it is more for the minimal users.
It has a 2-channel configuration in its cabinet much like all speakers and monitors out there and the coaxial speakers measure 10 inches in its diameter and can deliver you the most powerful sounds possible. The elegant yet simple design makes this drum amp very attractive in its build and hassle-free to move around. It comes with a main equalizer for easily toning up or down your sound source using the bass and treble controls.
There is also a unique reverb control for this drum amp which you can also adjust the levels to so you can achieve an echoing sound without getting it too muddy and you can also listen privately to your drum sounds or chosen instrument or tunes using the built-in headphone socket so you do not disturb the neighbors while playing the drums. There is also a DI output so you can use it for recording or PA systems. Unlike the EQ of our other picks, this one has only 2 bands but can provide ample amounts of adjustability for the deep bass as well as the bright snare drum.
The cymbals and the toms as well as the hi-hats will all sound crisp and clear with this awesome amplifier for drums. And also, drop resistance is very good because of the way the cabinet has been shaped and styled with an irregular yet effective format. It is very versatile because it can go from a PA system to your music room or live set or gig and you can also use tons of instruments such as guitars, keyboards and bass or even vocals due to the versatility of this drum amp.
There is also a way to listen to instrumentals or backing tracks using the CD or mp3 jack so you know how to follow the rhythm and practice smoothly and the bass blows at 60 Hz at +/- 15 dbU while the treble blows at +/- 15 dbU at 10 Hz. The microphone port has an input impedance of 2k and the line in has an input impedance of 10k and it is rated for use on 110 volts AC at 50 Hz / 60 Hz but you can use a converter for 220 volts system. Its rated power is 40 watts RMS into 4 ohms and its general power consumption is 50 watts.
At dimensions of 15 by 17 inches, it is very handy to carry around and yet bring superb high driven music to your ears. If you simply want to practice at home or in a small to medium sized room then this drum amp is a great solution to your problems.
Ideal Drum Amp for Gigs
NUX DA30 10″ Speaker Drum Amplifier
The NUX DA30 10″ Speaker Drum Amplifier is great for gigs and this drum amp can allow you to play backing tracks with its various connections and external sources. The drum amp consumes 30 watts of power giving you the best kind of performance possible and the speaker in this drum amp measures 10 inches in its diameter. You can use it for any kind of gig for your digital drums as well as other instruments and the durability of this speaker is superb due to the very fact that it is made only from heavy duty components.
The speaker in its build is also very compact so you can take it to live shows and gigs without straining yourself or your crew due to its compact size yet powerful music power and it gives you a very clear and crisp sound using the full frequency response because of the low frequency and high frequency quality of this drum amp. The drum amp monitor is also has multiple facets in its build and is also very portable in its design so it is very versatile no matter what the situation is and its input impedance for channel 1 is 68k while its input impedance for channel 2 is 68k as well.
Its bass is at 15 dB at 60 Hz while its treble is at 10 kHz and the coaxial speaker is made up of one high frequency at 1 inch and a low frequency at 10 inches. At 30 pounds, it is not a bad drum amp for its weight so you can take it to live shows and gigs without many problems. It has a CD input with two RCA ports at -10 dBv and its power output is 30 watts while its power consumption is 40 watts.
Best Electronic Drum Amp
Carlsbro CEDA50XXX Electronic Drum Amplifier
The Carlsbro CEDA50XXX Electronic Drum Amplifier is a great drum amp for electronic drums this due to its superb design and unmatched power. It has a tweeter that delivers highs with a clear and crisp sound overall and there are two channel inputs at 1/4 inch each. There is also a bass drive or subwoofer at 10 inches in size and the drum amp can be able to deliver you up to 50 watts of power for blasting great music coming from your drums or instruments.
It has an EQ with 3 bands for you to thoroughly mix well your drum sounds or instrument sounds and this EQ tool also lets you set it up for different kinds of instruments as well. There is also an AUX input that measures a standard 1/4 inch for recording or playing music and such. The portability of the drum amp is excellent because of its small size at 19 by 16 inches.
If you have a music home or a home space that is very small or a venue that is not very spacious then this drum amp is a great solution to that. It can deliver great and high quality sounds, producing rich toms, high snare drums, rich bass drums and full cymbals with its amp quality and the ability to reach further in its frequencies and it works on a standard 110 volt outlet but can also be used with a converter for 220 volts.
Drum Amp with Headphone Input
Kustom Amps KDA50 Electronic Drum Amplifier
The Kustom Amps KDA50 Electronic Drum Amplifier is a great drum amp with a headphone input. This drum amp is very useful in a lot of situations but you can also use it for home practice for your electronic drums and this drum amp consumes 50 watts of power like most standard drum amps out there.
It has an input slot for the headphones so that you can practice your drum skills without the excessive worry that you might disturb the neighbors as you play your instruments. There is also an audio and mp3 input slot so you can plug in your favorite music player for you to play a backing track and start practicing virtually any song or tune you like.
You can also use it for gigs and far away events because it is very reliable on the road due to its unmatched quality thanks to its heavy duty build that will not take its toll on the weight and the performance on the big stage. This drum amp was made and designed for drummers and instrumentalists with great manufacturing expertise in its hands and it is quite loud that it does not let you hear the stick sounds, which is important for any drummer when they perform. It is also very easy to set up due to its straightforward components and controls and it can also be used with the iPhone using cable connectors.
You can get rich tones and vibrant signals and music coming from this high quality amp. It also has a ton of features such as a standard EQ like most drum amps so you can tone down your music to your best suited preferences so you can be at your best while performing on stage or recording things at home or in your local studio.
Best Stereo System Drum Amp
KAT Percussion 400-Watt Stereo Drum System
The KAT Percussion 400-Watt Stereo Drum System is one of its kind because it already comes with two additional stereo speakers and each of them has been thoroughly equipped with sturdy stands to form a great entertainment system to connect your drums with. This drum amp consumes 400 watts of power so it is meant for live gigs with bigger venue sizes due to its power and capability and this drum amp uses advanced 2.1 stereo system so it is one of a kind when it comes to delivering power and quality.
You can power up any digital instruments due to its versatility and one of a kind adaptability and you can use it for a wide range of studio and live gear such as electronic drums, DJ controllers, keyboards, guitars, computer software and much more.
You can even use it for PA systems due to its versatility and you can achieve great tone using its dials and controls. The high shelf plus the low cut helps you achieve a balanced sound for the toms and the cymbals and the range for the highs, the mids and the lows are all superb.
Ideal Drum Amp that also works on Different Instruments
BEHRINGER ULTRATONE KT108
The BEHRINGER ULTRATONE KT108 can be used for drums as well as other instruments such as keyboard, guitars, bass guitars and many more and the amplifier has two channels which are very versatile in giving you a high quality stereo sound overall. The speaker is a dual cone in its design and measures 8 inches and the speaker is also rated at 20 watts of power and it delivers a frequency response unlike any other.
Each channel of this awesome drum amp can also be tweaked in its volume levels for superior control over your live band set, gig set, home practice set or recording set. There are also two instrument inputs other than the drum input so you can enjoy playing in a live band session without overloading the amp and sound shaping is superb because of the very fact that it has an EQ that has 3 bands and is dedicated to help you achieve the perfect sound for your gear.
It also gives you a tube like sound using the VTC or virtual tube circuitry which is made for guitars and other instruments and there are also inputs for the CD in for listening to your favorite tunes or backing tracks using an mp3 player or CD player. There is also a port for connecting your headphones for adequate and quiet private listening and practice so you do not have to disturb the neighbors while practicing or playing your music.
The EQ has low, mid and high controls for its built-in equalizer to make the sound clearer and crisp and the speaker used is a BUGERA speaker which adds versatility and durability to the whole unit. You also get a warm sound using the VTC feature which allows you to emulate oldies sounds from the ’60s and ’70s. Also, vinyl material is used to cover up the wood cabinet and the wood is of high grade and the vinyl is made from durable material so the whole cabinet stays intact even while on the road or while setting it up. At only 10 pounds of weight, you can easily carry it anywhere. It has a user’s manual and the needed power cable.
Ideal Drum Amp for Practice Sessions
Simmons DA50 Electronic Drum Set Monitor
The Simmons DA50 Electronic Drum Set Monitor has a power consumption rating of 50 watts so it is able to deliver a loud sound without distorting the quality and the tweeter adds the best high frequency sounds to the trebles and the cymbals and the like are heard clearly in your use of an electronic drum set. There are also 5 different knobs with a soft touch feel so you can adjust on the fly without getting distracted. In fact, two of the drum amp’s knobs are for the AUX volume and the drum input volume and three of the drum amp’s knobs are for the EQ, at low, mid and high frequencies, so you can fine tune your current sound based on what you think is great for a perfect mix.
There are two drum inputs (stereo) as well as an AUX input and there are also ports for the headphones and the line in. The headphones port allows you to practice quietly without disturbing others and the line in connection allows you to listen to your favorite music or backing track and the AUX port also allows you to record things using this amp. The mp3 line in input measures a standard 1/8 inch. Also, the AUX input is a standard 1/4 inch and the EQ has three separate bands to allow the best musical tweaking possible.
The woofer measures 10 inches in its diameter and is built for the most heavy duty uses possible and the tweeter measures 1 by 2 inches so it delivers very clear high frequency sounds at the best quality. The ribbed handle also adds to its portability and the ability to take it on the road towards your next gig or live performance and you can also plug in guitars on this drum amp especially if you want to also use it for an acoustic live set.
Ideal Drum Amp with Multiple Inputs
Roland PM-10 Personal Monitor Amplifier
The Roland PM-10 Personal Monitor Amplifier has a coaxial speaker which is two-way in its design and measures a standard 10 inches across in its diameter. Despite the small build, it is a very good drum amp and drum monitor for your personal use or for an acoustic live session. You can definitely use it for electronic drums such as the V-drums due to its input ports for such drums.
It consumes 30 watts of power despite its small build so you can enjoy power on the go without having to bring bulky drum sets and you also get a ton of inputs to connect other instruments and audio gear with so you can use it for the studio in recording as well or with vocals and microphones. You can also definitely use it on the road due to its large handle and there is also a mix input for a variety of instruments and audio sources out there.
Its EQ has two bands that have straightforward functions of tweaking your drum amp’s sounds and you can also connect any mp3 player or CD player to the line in jack so you can listen to your favorite backing track and jam along and practice playing the drums. It is also very compact so it can be used at home or in any small space or venue and it is dual voltage such that it can be used for 120 volts and 240 volts. It can be also used for keyboards and guitars other than V-drums.
The Competition
There weren’t really a lot of drum amps out there that are made specifically for drums, particularly electronic drums, but in general, a lot of amplifiers and studio monitors out there do have the capability of also amplifying electric drums and not just keyboard, guitars and much more.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the benefits of electronic drums?
A: According to Roland US , electronic drums are capable of MIDI input so you can use it to record music on the go due to its ability to input notes onto your computer and on your DAW or digital audio workstation for musical arrangements. You can also connect it to an amp or use its port for connecting a CD player or mp3 player for practice modes with backing tracks and you can also easily adjust the volume levels and not disturb your neighbors also with the use of a headphone jack port.
You can also choose from a myriad of drum presets with electronic drums so you can adjust to your musical styles, especially if you want to use it on live stage performances or even for recording. Electronic drums are also super lightweight and easy to assemble compared to bigger drum sets.
Q: What tips should I consider for electronic drums?
A: According to Roland UK , recording with digital drums is a lot more cost-effective since you will just have to use MIDI notes instead of the actual sound (although you can also record direct from the module and yet you still get separation of channels and instruments to mix them all just fine). It is also advantageous over acoustic drums wherein you have to place condenser microphones here and there and do some acoustic scientific work. Make sure the latency of the drum kit is good.
Wrapping It Up
Overall, the ddrum DDA50 50W Electronic Percussion Amp is our best drum amp especially if you have electronic drums to power up for your performance, practice or recording session.
Jen Miller is a former electrical engineer and product specialist with more than 20 years of product design and testing experience. She has designed more than 200 products for Fortune 500 companies, in fields ranging from home appliances to sports gear and outdoor equipment. She founded Jen Reviews to share her knowledge and critical eye for what makes consumers tick, and adopts a strict no-BS approach to help the reader filter through the maze of products and marketing hype out there. She writes regularly and has been featured on Forbes, Fast Company, The Muse, The Huffington Post, Tiny Buddha and MindBodyGreen.