Avatar HXW PD708 Sample Pad review

The HXW PD708 is a budget-friendly sample pad that introduces some compelling features but also comes with notable limitations. With advanced trigger technology, customizable LED lights, and robust connectivity options, it has the potential to be a versatile tool for drummers. However, real-world performance reveals certain drawbacks that might make some reconsider its suitability for professional or gigging use.

One particularly intriguing feature is its ability to wirelessly sample audio via Bluetooth—a function we’ve never seen before on a sampling pad. We’ll explore this in greater detail later in the review.

This unit was sent to Drum Spy from HXW for review, but we remain committed to providing an objective assessment. Here’s an in-depth look at the PD708, covering its strengths, weaknesses, and overall performance.

Build Quality and Design

The PD708 has a nine-pad layout similar to high-end competitors like the Alesis Strike MultiPad and Roland SPD-SX Pro. One of the biggest improvements over HXW’s previous PD705 model is the inclusion of high-visibility LED lights, making it much easier to see pad assignments in dark environments. This is a useful feature for live performance situations.

The pad sensitivity is solid, and I didn’t experience any noticeable crosstalk issues, which is impressive for a pad at this price point. However, some reviews mention crosstalk problems, so it’s possible that build quality varies between units. The rubber feel is comfortable and responsive, comparable to the Alesis Strike MultiPad.

The outer shell is made of plastic, which feels a bit cheaper than some competitors, though the pads themselves feel solid. The control knobs are plastic, and the LCD screen feels quite dated—think old-school calculator graphics.

The UI is slow, and kit changes take some time to load. Additionally, the user interface can be quite confusing, especially for those who have never used a sampling pad before.

Sounds, Triggering, and Sampling Features

HXW has packed the PD708 with a lot of sounds and sampling capabilities. It comes with 30 ready-to-play kits, and while the presets are decent, they aren’t groundbreaking. The unit also includes 1,000 built-in percussion sounds, which sound good but lack multiple velocity layers.

It seems like softer hits just lower the volume of the same sample rather than switching to a different recording. This is pretty standard practice for drum pads in this price range, and most users will not be able to tell the difference in having multi-velocity samples.

Drum & Cymbal Samples

The toms stand out as the best-recorded drums, while the kick drums are solid. However, the snare drums are a weak point, sounding basic and reminiscent of entry-level electronic drum modules. There are about 14 different snare sounds, though it’s unclear whether they are unique samples or variations of the same core sounds.

The cymbal samples are just okay, with some ride cymbals in the presets being noticeably too loud. Overall, the kit presets are poorly mixed—requiring manual adjustments. The snare drums in many presets are significantly quieter compared to other instruments.

One issue I noticed was a slight machine-gun effect when playing fast sixteenth notes at high velocity—expected, given that the unit doesn’t provide multiple sample layers for dynamic variation. At maximum velocity (127), some samples distort, and even lowering the volume doesn’t entirely eliminate the harshness.

Responsiveness

Playing fast patterns like hertas can sometimes lead to misfires, meaning precise technique is required for consistent triggering. Additionally, lower-velocity notes occasionally don’t register, which can be frustrating when playing ghost notes or dynamic rudiments like paradiddles (this was corrected when adjusting the sensitivity and threshold of each pad).

The PD708 includes a selection of hip-hop and electronic samples, and while the loops are a nice addition, they feel somewhat generic. For example, the rock music preset contains raw DI-recorded guitar and bass loops that lack amp processing or effects, making them sound unfinished. While these loops might be fun for beginners, most users would likely prefer importing their own.

Despite these shortcomings, the PD708 is designed primarily for sample triggering rather than functioning as a full drum module. Its 32GB internal memory allows users to load 48kHz, 16-bit WAV files, and HXW’s SoundKit Editor software simplifies the process of importing custom sounds. Navigating the built-in menu is cumbersome due to the outdated LCD screen, but the ability to manage sounds via computer software is a major plus.

Crosstalk

Triggering-wise, I didn’t experience any crosstalk issues, but the pad sensitivity seems set too high out of the box. After adjusting the sensitivity and threshold settings, I was able to perform fast rudiments like paradiddles and six-stroke rolls without missing notes.

Lowering these settings significantly improved playability, and it’s worth tweaking them to achieve a more responsive feel. It’s possible HXW intentionally set the sensitivity high to avoid crosstalk, but even on the lowest settings, I had zero issues.

One small issue I noticed was the headphone jack connection, which felt loose and occasionally caused audio to cut in and out.

I didn’t experience any noticeable latency when playing standalone. The pad feels good to play and could be a great option for drummers looking to add extra sounds that work well right out of the box. You don’t necessarily need to bring your own sounds, as the included kits sound solid and should meet the needs of most users.

Playing fast patterns can be challenging, especially if you’re not used to playing a multipad. It does feel a lot more compact, so you’re really not going to play this like a regular drum set.

It does trigger quite well, but it does seem like dynamics are a little lost at low volumes and it’s challenging to play consistently fast and quiet at the same time.

The 32GB internal memory is on par with premium models like the Roland SPD-SX Pro and Alesis Strike MultiPad. Users can load 48kHz, 16-bit WAV files directly onto the unit and even record audio in real-time using a mic, phone, or computer.

HXW also provides a downloadable SoundKit Editor, making it easier to import custom sounds to the unit.

Connectivity, Expandability, & Wireless Sampling

Wireless Bluetooth Sampling

One of the more interesting features of the PD708 is its ability to wirelessly sample audio directly from a device, thanks to its Bluetooth 5.0 capability. No other pad, to my knowledge, has this functionality.

This means you can connect your phone, tablet, or computer, play a sound source like a YouTube video, and sample it directly into the pad without any cables. This is a standout feature and arguably one of the most innovative aspects of this unit.

Adding More Pads

The PD708 is also very expandable. You can connect up to eight additional single-zone pads using Y-splitters, which is on par with the SPD-SX (also 8), and more than the Strike MultiPad, which only allows for 6.

Two pedal inputs make it possible to connect a hi-hat controller and kick trigger, making the PD708 a viable alternative to a traditional drum module, assuming you are not relying on external MIDI.

That said, this is a DIY approach and your results may vary depending on how you set this up. Since it’s very compact, it won’t feel like an electronic drum set per se, but you could add a kick and hi-hat trigger pedals to get that drum set feel.

For the money though, you might be better off just picking up an entry-level used electronic drum set instead.

Performance and Usability

For live performances, the LED lights are a nice touch, and the trigger response is solid with no crosstalk. However, menu navigation is slow, and preset loading takes longer than I’d like. The UI refresh rate is painfully slow, even for a liquid crystal display, making it frustrating to navigate settings.

USB MIDI Performance

While the PD708 offers MIDI in/out ports and USB integration, its performance varies significantly. The MIDI in and out ports work well, though they are labeled incorrectly—reversed from what they should be.

The USB connection suffered from extreme latency issues when we first plugged the PD708 into a 2019 Macbook Pro running Ableton Live. When connecting with a standard Type B to Type A USB printer cable and a Satechi Pro Hub, there is about a three-second delay when sending a simple Control Change message to switch Ableton scenes. There was also severe delay when playing virtual instruments over USB.

Next, we tested a second Type B to Type A USB cable—same result.

My next thought was that this was potentially a firmware issue with USB, so we updated the firmware.

We had to order flash drives just to update the unit, but at least now we have a few extras on hand for future updates or other uses.

With the unit now updated, I didn’t notice much of a difference. The menus were still laggy, the USB delay was still present, and overall, I’m not really sure what the update actually addressed. The readme file provided little useful information beyond instructions on formatting the USB drive.

The only way I could get this unit to work lag-free, at first, with my Ableton Live session was to use an old Mio MIDI to USB adapter I had laying around. This device converts traditional 5-pin MIDI connectors to USB, allowing your computer to properly interpret the signal.

I also noticed that the MIDI In and MIDI Out ports on the PD708 are labeled incorrectly—they are actually reversed, which adds to the overall frustration of setting up this unit.

The Mio worked flawlessly, and I can now use the PD708 with my Ableton session to either control virtual instruments or manage playback.

It’s great that I can finally use this with a digital audio workstation without issues, but it’s slightly problematic that I needed to add an adapter to the mix—something most drummers getting their first sampling pad won’t have lying around.

Picking up a MIDI to USB adapter is a relatively affordable, but still an added expense—something a simple printer cable should have solved.

My last idea was to connect directly to the Macbook with no adapter. A Type B to Type C cable worked flawlessly with Ableton Live. It really seems like USB dongles and hubs may cause issues when using a MacBook Pro with the PD708. Your mileage may vary depending on your setup.

While it’s not a major flaw, it would be great if HXW could address this issue in a future update, as musicians often have multiple devices connected to their laptops. Additionally, allowing firmware updates directly via USB cable instead of requiring external storage would be a significant improvement.

Who Is the PD708 For?

This sample pad might be a reasonable option for beginners or drummers looking for an affordable, entry-level pad with built-in sounds. For gigging drummers looking to trigger external sounds via USB with a modern laptop, you will have to pick up a MIDI to USB adapter or order a Type B to Type C USB cable. I tried to find a local store who sold one, and had no luck. This type of cable is a little uncommon, so you’ll need to grab one online most likely.

Additionally, this could be a decent option for drummers who want to create a compact, “micro e-kit.” If you don’t have a lot of space, this could be perfect—if you are using only internal sounds. However, if you want to use it with a DAW or an external module, something like the Alesis SamplePad 4 might be a better choice, especially if you’re solely triggering playback systems or backing tracks like I do.

Final Thoughts

The SPD-SX PRO and Strike Multipad both destroy the PD708 in terms of the user interface, build quality, and robustness, but the sounds they offer aren’t much better to my ears. Sure, you’ll get more pre-loaded samples in either the Roland or the Alesis, but the included sounds in the PD708 are decent and sound better than a lot of entry-level electronic drum sets.

While the MIDI In and Out ports work fine (despite being mislabeled), the USB connection suffers from extreme latency when using a dongle, so make sure you connect directly to your computer if it has USB C ports.

For around $400, the HXW PD708 offers some good internal sounds and features, especially its wireless sampling capabilities.