7 Best Electronic Drum Set Amps and Monitors

Roland PM-200: Overview

If you have the budget, this is another great model to pick up, along with most monitors in the $500 price range. The PM-200 boasts 2 channels at 180 watts with a 12″ woofer and a 1″ onboard tweeter. It has two 1/4″ inputs, one 1/8″, and 2 XLR outputs.

Many great reviews claim the sound has excellent lows and crisp highs. For half a grand, it better sound pretty good—the next step is a PA!

Electro-Voice ZLX-15P-G2: Overview

Suppose you have the money to start getting a decent PA system. In that case, this traditional wedge monitor will also work great as a drum amp. While not marketed directly as an e-kit amp, I can't think of a better, more versatile option than the EV.

We used these for stage wedges for years with my band—after upgrading from the terrible Mackie Thumps (we had the older model, can't recommend those, they cannot handle much volume and distort easily).

The Electro-Voice features a 2-way powered speaker with a 15″ woofer and high-performance tweeter. It also uses digital signal processing and Class D amplification.

Roland PM-100: Overview

The Roland PM-100 is a high-resolution sound monitor. It fits my V-Drums system well.

First off, this 80-watt amp is small but powerful. My V-Drums sound great owing to a 10-inch speaker and tweeter. The angled shape gives me the best sound even when I'm sitting to jam.

It's not just for drumming, which is cool. This bad boy's mixer lets me connect my iPhone and other devices. I can jam to my favorite songs with the V-Drums and line inputs' independent volume settings.

And that top full-width bar handle? Very useful for positioning and carrying the monitor. No problem.

The PM-100 elevates my V-Drums to pro level. It's my perfect partner for home practice or jamming with friends.

I originally purchased the Roland PM-100 after debating between the 100 and 200. Before writing this roundup, I wanted to avoid constant reliance on using my headphones while playing. The unit has pristine sound quality and has a high maximum volume.

The 1/8" input is very convenient for connecting devices for music playback while playing. The speaker has a small footprint and is perfect for use at band practices.

Alesis Strike Amp 12: Overview

This is, of course, the next step after the Alesis 8 we mentioned above. As far as powerful drum amps go, the Alesis Strike 12 is one of the best. It lets players make their sound sound completely unique.

This bad boy puts out a huge 2000 watts of bi-amplified power, so no matter where you play, the sound will be loud and clear.

Your kick drum gets extra punch from the 12-inch low frequency driver, and your snare drum and cymbals get more shine and snap from the high-frequency compression driver.

The Strike Amp 12 gives you full freedom because you can set it up vertically or tilt it back horizontally like a stage monitor.

Want to send your sound somewhere else or add another Strike Amp 12? There’s an XLR output for that. Want to make sure your tone is just right? Use the EQ setting.

And with two XLR/TRS 1/4-inch combo inputs, you can connect anything without thinking about distortion.

Alesis Strike Amp 8: Overview

The Strike 8 is our budget option for compact personal drum monitors. It has just an 8" woofer and high-frequency compression driver. Despite its price and size, it does have a lot of power. 

The 8-inch woofer provides great kick drum sounds, and the high-frequency compression driver pops snare drums and cymbals.

The catch—it's not simply power. This amp has several features. It may tilt back like a stage monitor or stand vertically. With an XLR output, you may connect another Strike Amp 8 or send sound to another device. Contour EQ lets you perfect your tone.

There are two XLR 1/4" inputs and one output the same size. It's not going to be the most incredible amp in the world but will make do if that is what you have.

The Alesis does include an output for daisy-chaining, which was unnecessary for my needs. Additionally, it offers mounting alternatives that are not available with the Roland model.

ddrum DDA50: Overview

This 50-watt amp has a 10″ woofer and .25″ tweeter. It is roughly at the $300 range where it can work as a practice amp and maybe even for light gigging.

What’s cool about the DDA50 is that it now comes with Bluetooth connectivity. So, if you want to jam along to your favorite tracks, you can just connect your device wirelessly and play your tunes through it. No more hassles with cables!

The amp features a 10-inch woofer that delivers a powerful punch and a crystal-clear 2.5-inch tweeter for those crisp highs. Plus, there’s a 3-band EQ to fine-tune your sound, so you can dial in the perfect tone.

There’s also an 1/8-inch input for music playback from your device. This amp isn’t just for practice, either. It’s got the power to handle rehearsals and small stages too.

KAT Percussion KA1: Overview

This KAT percussion monitor is also another low budget option for those who cannot wait to save another $100. This amp has a 10″ woofer and 1/4″ tweeter with 50 watts of power.

The amp sounds incredible for the money. The KA1 easily handled low-end frequencies with no buzzing or distortion. And I could see people using this amp at gigs with no issue.

The on-board 3-band EQ makes it easy for us drummers to crank the high and low end (which we all do).

It has two 1/4″ main inputs with an added 1/4″ and 1/8″ aux. And it is only a floor wedge model. Nothing spectacular, but it works for the price.