Best Electronic Drum Amp
If you want to take your electronic drum kit to the stage, you need to invest in a drum-specific amplifier. Drum amps reproduce the broader frequency range found on electronic drum kits, a task that guitar amps (and any other electronic amp, for that matter) aren’t equipped to handle.
With thousands of drum amps in the market, choosing the right one for your drum kit can be a bit challenging. To help you with your search, I’ve reviewed some of the best electronic drum amps you’ll find out there. I’ve also included a buyer’s guide to lead your way to your purchase.
Let’s dive right in!
With hundreds of electronic drum amps to choose from, buying the right model for your drums can be a bit tricky. To help you with your buying journey, keep these factors in mind to find the best electronic drum amp:
E-DRUM AMPLIFIER BASICS
Electronic drum amplifiers are much like bass amps, so they’re often used in place of the other. But if you want to make the best out of your electronic drum kit, you need to purchase a dedicated electronic drum amp.
Unlike bass amps (or any other electronic amp, for that matter), electronic drum amps can easily withstand the pressure produced by digital drums. Other amps can create unwanted distortions and unclear sounds that’ll greatly hinder the quality of your performance.
PRICE RANGE
Digital drum amps come in a wide range of prices, from as low as £/$50 to as high as £/$5,000.
You can get a decent amp in the £/$300 price range, but it won’t be the loudest or produce the most high-quality sound. If you’re searching for a high-end drum amp, you’ll likely need to spend over £/$500.
EQ
On a drum amp, the EQ is responsible for adjusting and sculpting the frequency and quality of your sound. Most drum amps come with three EQ knobs: Low/Bass, Mid, and High/Treble.
IS IT SUITABLE FOR YOUR NEEDS?
If you intend to use your amp to practice or record your drumming in an enclosed area (i.e., bedroom or garage), an amp with a low power wattage of 20 to 300 is suitable.
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If you want to use it in large venues, open-mic performances, and busking in a crowded city, you’re better off with a large amp with a power output of at least 500.
HOW MANY INPUTS & OUTPUTS DOES IT HAVE?
Most drum amps come with at least two input and output connections. If you’re planning to connect multiple external devices to the amp alongside the drum, make sure it has enough inputs and outputs for your intended use before committing to it.
WHAT’S THE OUTPUT POWER?
The output power of drum amps is measured through watts, which determines the amount of power an amplifier can convert into sound. Usually, the higher the watt, the louder the sound produced by the amp.
If you’re planning to use the amp to play in large venues, search for a model with a high wattage of at least 500 watts.
HOW BIG ARE THE DRIVERS AND SPEAKERS?
Ultimately, the physical size of the amp will determine the loudness of the drumming feedback. The larger the speaker, the greater the sound outputted by the amp.
You’ll also have to look at the amp’s internal drivers, specifically the woofer and the tweeter. The woofer’s size dictates the amp’s ability to produce low-pitch sounds, while the tweeter conveys high-pitch sounds. In both cases, the larger the driver, the clearer and better sound it’ll produce.
WEIGHT
If you’re planning to take your drum amp in multiple gigs, search for an amp you can easily lift and drag around. A drum amp is considered “lightweight” if it’s around 6.5 to 10 kg.
Electronic drum amps provide cleaner, more powerful sound, which improves your drumming performance overall. It also enhances your and the audience’s listening experience, as well as your equipment’s headroom.
Most importantly, it gives you the ability to adjust the quality, tone, and volume of your electronic drum set.
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