Best electronic drums for intermediate players

Once you are past the basics, the things that matter are pad feel, dynamic response, and a module you can grow into. These are our top picks for intermediate players developing their technique.

Ranked by DrumReviewer score. We may earn a commission on links to retailers - see our affiliate disclosure.

Top pick

Roland TD-17KVX2

Strong value at its price tier — you pay for the larger pads and floating hi-hat, both of which meaningfully improve playing feel over cheaper TD-17 configurations.

Read the review
1
Roland TD-17KVX2

Roland TD-17KVX2

$1,9999.2DR

Roland's most complete TD-17 kit — a polished mid-priced choice for serious home players.

Standout Floating 12-inch VH-10 hi-hat mounts on a real hi-hat stand

Trade-off Three small 10-inch tom pads (no graduated sizes)

Best for Intermediate players

2
Roland VAD307

Roland VAD307

$2,7999.0DR

Compact V-Drums Acoustic Design kit with real wood shells.

Standout Real shallow-depth wood shells in chrome hardware

Trade-off Smaller-diameter rack toms (10 inch)

Best for Players wanting an acoustic look

4
Roland TD-17KV2

Roland TD-17KV2

$1,5999.0DR

The most affordable way into the TD-17 platform.

Standout Full PDX-12 mesh snare like the more expensive KVX2

Trade-off CY-5 hi-hat is rubber on a fixed mount, less realistic than VH-10

Best for Intermediate players on a budget

5
Alesis Strike Pro SE

A four-tom, wood-shell kit with a 20-inch acoustic kick - huge hardware for the money.

Standout 20-inch acoustic-shell kick for real kick feel

Trade-off Hi-hat stand and kick pedal sold separately

Best for Intermediate and advanced players

6
EFNOTE 3X

EFNOTE 3X

$1,9998.7DR

EFNOTE's expanded compact kit with full-size cymbals and 2-piece hi-hat.

Standout Real 14-inch two-piece hi-hat with multi-optical sensing

Trade-off Smaller dealer network than Roland or Yamaha

Best for Players seeking acoustic-style cymbal feel

How we choose: picks are ranked by our editorial DrumReviewer score, which weighs build, sound, feel, features, and value for the price. Kit contents and specs are listed in full on each product page so you can compare apples to apples.