Avatar by HXW SD201-C Review

Presets are serviceable for a beginner but overall quality is lackluster, and the cymbals sit far too loud in the mix out of the box. I am cynical about module sounds, so newer drummers may rate these higher.

The drum module is the disappointing part of the kit. It carries 346 sounds with 20 presets and 30 user kit slots, and the samples get the job done without being good. Take that with a grain of salt: I am cynical about module sounds in general, and a newer drummer will likely be happy with the presets.

The bigger problem is the mix. Out of the box the cymbals are far too loud, and balancing the levels is not easy. Saving changes to a user kit was unreliable for me. I eventually got some kits to save but never worked out a repeatable way to do it. For playing along to music I would skip the built-in songs and use an aux cable from a phone instead.

Mesh pads feel great, less bouncy than Roland or Alesis but closer to a real head, and pick up the lightest taps. Rim triggering is the weak spot, unfixable in the module.

The mesh pads are the highlight. They remind me of actually playing a drum head. They are not as bouncy or responsive as Roland and Alesis pads, but that gives them a particular feel I liked right out of the box, and you can adjust head tension if you want more rebound. The kit is compact and feels a little constrained to play, which is normal at this size. The snare mounts to the frame rather than a stand, which most e-kits do but I am not a fan of.

Dynamic response is excellent. I was surprised how well the module picked up the lightest taps. The rims are the weak spot. Circling a pad and playing fast double strokes on the rim, triggering accuracy varies and no module setting fixed it. For practice this is a non-issue, since you rarely need fast double strokes on a rim, but it is a real limitation.

The cymbals feel cheap but trigger well, and at 12 inches they are larger than what the Alesis Surge Mesh shipped with. The hi-hat genuinely surprised me: it works better than the one on my nearly $2,000 Alesis Strike. Doubles, fast six-stroke patterns, and half-open positions were all no problem across the edge and bow sensors.

Compact and sturdy enough, though it feels a little constrained to play, normal for the size. The cymbals feel cheap, the kick tower is rubber where rivals use mesh, and the snare mounts to the frame.

The kit is compact and sturdy enough for what it is. The build compromises are the cheap-feeling cymbals and the rubber kick tower. I would rather see a mesh kick pad here, especially since Alesis manages a mesh kick for less money. The snare mounting to the rack rather than a dedicated stand is a minor annoyance, and I might experiment with a real snare stand to see if it improves the feel.

A clunky, oversized module with finicky saving and no modern conveniences. One line out, no Bluetooth, but USB drives VSTs once you remap the GM kit.

The module is where the kit feels dated. It is physically large and clunky in design despite not needing much processing power, the menu workflow is awkward, and saving custom kits is finicky. The included practice songs are skippable. There is enough here for a beginner to get started, but nothing that makes the kit pleasant to live with day to day.

Connectivity is bare. There is a single line output, and the manual did not even make clear whether it is stereo. There is no Bluetooth. What saves this section is USB. The kit works well as a MIDI controller once you remap the drums, since the GM mapping is not standard out of the box. It only took a few minutes to set the correct values, and after that, playing my Addictive Drums 2 libraries through it was a blast. If you plan to use a VST, that is the way to get the most out of this kit.

Mesh pads are relatively quiet for apartment practice. The cymbals are on the louder, cheaper side, and the rubber kick tower adds some thump.

The mesh pads keep things reasonably quiet for apartment practice. The cymbals are on the louder and cheaper side, and the rubber kick tower adds some thump, but overall it sits in the same quiet range as other mesh kits of its era.

At its original price it cost more than an Alesis Surge Mesh while delivering less in sound, feel, and features. It only makes sense now if found used and cheap.

When it was on sale, the SD201-C cost more than an Alesis Surge Mesh while delivering less in sound, feel, and features. That made it hard to recommend at the time, and now that it is discontinued the only reason to consider it is if you find one used for very little. As a cheap practice kit or a USB controller for a VST, at the right price, it can still make sense.

Verdict

I came away liking the SD201-C more than I expected from a brand I had never heard of. The mesh pads are stellar for the money, the hi-hat is good, and as a USB controller into a VST it punches above its name. The module is what holds it back: the user experience needs work and the rim triggering needs fixing.

The kit is discontinued now, so this is not a buy-it-new recommendation. If you can find one used and cheap, it is a usable beginner or practice kit, especially paired with a VST. The broader takeaway still stands: do not write off a company just because you have not heard of it. Sometimes you end up pleasantly surprised.