Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
Three pairs of in-ear monitors and their cases lying on top of a bundle of instrument cables
Studio Monitors Best in-ear monitors 2026: IEMs for stage and studio
Harley Benton NAMM 2026 releases include left-handed options on its V-style electric and offset bass guitars, fresh finish options for the SC single-cuts, and new colours for its HSS S-style
Guitars Harley Benton’s 2026 mega-drop: Metallica makeovers, fresh colours and a baritone SC Custom III, all-solid acoustics for under $250 and more
Universal Audio Volt 876
Audio Interfaces Best audio interface 2026: For home recording, podcasting, and streaming - tested by experts
Man wearing black hat playing the Roland TD716 electronic drum set
Electronic Drums Best electronic drum sets in 2026: Top picks for every playing level and budget, tested by drummers – plus video and audio demos
Nord Piano 6
Keyboards & Pianos Best stage pianos 2026: Our pick of the finest keyboards for live performance
Arturia KeyStep mk2
Midi Controllers Best MIDI keyboards 2026: Find the perfect match for your studio workflow
An Asus ProArt P16 laptop on a desk with music production gear
Computers Best laptop for music production 2026: For home studios and mobile music-making - tested by experts
A boy with brown hair playing the keyboard
Keyboards & Pianos Best keyboards for beginners: Get started with our expert pick of beginner keyboards for all ages
A selection of PA systems in out testing studio
Speakers Best portable PA systems 2026: Lightweight and mobile PA solutions for musicians and events
A pair of Audio-Technica in-ear monitors on top of a carry case
Studio Monitors Best budget in-ear monitors 2026: My pick of cheap in-ears for every type of musician
Earplugs being tested at a loud band rehearsal
Tech Best earplugs for musicians 2026: my fully-tested pick of hearing protection, for the practice room to your next gig
Aston Microphones Spirit
Microphones Best condenser mics 2026: My expert picks for home recording, no matter your budget
NAMM 2026
Tech NAMM 2026: rolling news from the world's biggest music-making gear show
An SSL BiG SiX mixer in a studio
Recording Best home studio mixers 2026: analogue and digital mixing desks for all budgets
Neural DSP Quad Cortex
Guitar Pedals Best multi-effects pedals: Our pick of the best all-in-one guitar FX modellers
More
  • NAMM 2026: as it happened
  • Best NAMM tech gear
  • Joni's Woodstock
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Drums
  2. Drum Gear

New drum gear of the month: review round-up (November 2016)

News
By Rhythm published 10 November 2016

All of the latest drum reviews in one place!

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Pearl Midtown Drum Kit

Pearl Midtown Drum Kit

We have once again welcomed the great and the good of the drum world onto MusicRadar over the past month.

A mini kit, a selection of stunning snares and some eye-catching accessories were among those products to get the review treatment in the month of October.

Here's a digested look at all the drum gear that was reviewed on MusicRadar in October, starting with that kit...

MusicRadar's verdict

"Does pretty much what it says on the tin but lacks projection and volume. Takes up very little room and looks good, especially for the price."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Pearl Midtown Drum Kit

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm).

Page 1 of 5
Page 1 of 5
Istanbul Agop Xist ION Cymbals

Istanbul Agop Xist ION Cymbals

MusicRadar's verdict

"The Xist IONs bring a modern sound to the table at a reasonably modest price-point. Bold and glassy FX sounds across the board and infinitely stackable."

3 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Istanbul Agop Xist ION Cymbals

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm).

Page 2 of 5
Page 2 of 5
Big Fat Snare Drum Pad

Big Fat Snare Drum Pad

MusicRadar's verdict

"We are sure hard hitters and any fans of '70s drum sounds will love the sound produced with the aid of this product."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Big Fat Snare Drum Pad

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm).

Page 3 of 5
Page 3 of 5
Sakae Black On Brass Snare Drums

Sakae Black On Brass Snare Drums

MusicRadar's verdict

"Great sounding, superbly made snare drums but they come with a rather hefty retail price."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Sakae Black On Brass Snare Drums

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm).

Page 4 of 5
Page 4 of 5
Slapklatz Pro

Slapklatz Pro

MusicRadar's verdict

"Perhaps not everyone will get excited about a pot of goo, but this package certainly contains a plethora of choices for quick and hassle-free dampening."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Slapklatz Pro

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm).

Page 5 of 5
Page 5 of 5
Rhythm
Read more
Man wearing black hat playing the Roland TD716 electronic drum set
Best electronic drum sets in 2026: Top picks for every playing level and budget, tested by drummers – plus video and audio demos
 
 
Music technology gear of the year 2025
Music technology gear of the year 2025: Our favourite new synths, drum machines, plugins and more
 
 
Roland TD716 Black Friday
Roland's TD716 electronic drum set is designed to be a VST killer. Now it's had a massive $1,800 wiped off the price at Sweetwater for Cyber Weekend – you’ll get a drum rug and throne worth nearly $500 for free, too!
 
 
Slingerland Radio King 3-piece drum set
“Not the most thunderous of kits. Not particularly loud, but sophisticated, rounded and darkly inviting": Slingerland Radio King drum set review
 
 
A pair of Audio-Technica in-ear monitors on top of a carry case
Best budget in-ear monitors 2026: My pick of cheap in-ears for every type of musician
 
 
Full view behind Roland TD516 electronic drum set
“Not having to reach for a USB cable feels like the advent of a new era for electronic drums, and we might be about to see a lot more e-kits out in the wild as a result.” Roland TD516 review
 
 
Latest in Drum Gear
Zultan 25 series
“A versatile set with dry and dark tonal qualities”: Zultan 25 Series Cymbals review
 
 
Millenium Drums Legendary Drumbook
“An extremely well-thought-out and all-encompassing piece of drum education”: Millenium Drums Legendary Drumbook review
 
 
Man jams with a guitar player and bass player on an electronic drum kit
These huge drum deals at Sweetwater are about to disappear – here’s your last chance to bag up to 60% off electronic drums, cymbals, sticks and more
 
 
Sleep Token drummer II Drumeo
“I’ve taken inspiration from the UK dance music scene": Mixwave put Sleep Token’s drummer in a plugin
 
 
DW SonicPly
Neil Peart called him 'the Wood Whisperer' and now he's blended metal and timber in DW's new SonicPly shells
 
 
Zultan Cymbals
"Crafted from Heritage. Tuned for Tomorrow": Zultan Cymbals celebrate their 25th birthday with a new high-end 25 series
 
 
Latest in News
vape synth
Hack your disposable vape into a mini wind synth with this DIY guide
 
 
Clyde Lawrence and Greg Phillinganes
Greg Phillinganes schools Clyde Lawrence on how to play the piano part in Toto’s Rosanna correctly
 
 
ring stinger
Behringer clones the Lovetone Ring Stinger, a cult classic ring mod/fuzz pedal heard on Radiohead's Kid A
 
 
Concert crowd arms raised in mosh pit
“What kind of ecosystem do we want for live music in Europe?”: New research shows the grip four companies have on live music
 
 
Gibson Custom Shop Aged Greenybucker Set: with the nickel housings given the Murphy Lab treatment, these are exacting replicas of the pickups found in the Gibson Custom Kirk Hammett “Greeny” Les Paul, complete with the out-of-phase middle position sound.
Gibson unveils the $449 Murphy Lab aged humbucker set that will make your Les Paul sound like ‘Greeny’
 
 
Guitarist Greg Brown is shown performing on stage during a live concert appearance with Cake on November 12, 1996
His creative contributions were immense”: Greg Brown, co-founder of 90s band Cake has died
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...