The Roland VMH-D1s, designed for electronic drummers, might be a superb option compared to the Alesis DRP100, Vic Firth’s SIH2, and other models on the market. Today, we’ll look closer at these to see how they compare to the other drumming headphones I’ve already reviewed.
Key Takeaways
- Tight, punchy bass, warm mid-range, smooth high-end—ideal for drummers
- Comfortable to wear for extended periods
- Isolates the sound of your e-kit pads
- High-quality drivers tuned by V-MODA
Presentation
The box looks fantastic. The headphones are housed nicely in a cardboard sleeve, held firmly by the box design. Everything is packaged securely and screams the Roland quality we all expect.
In the hands, the VMH-D1 feels luxurious. The white plates on the outside are metal, giving the headphones more weight and a higher-perceived value in my mind (metal objects feel nicer to me!).
In the box, Roland includes a 3-meter drumming cable, a 1.5-meter listening cable, and a 1/4″ adapter. You also get a travel pouch, cable restraint, and a simple headphone hanger (which I will use immediately).
The carrying pouch is elegant yet simple. The 10ft long cable provides plenty of slack without an extension cable (which many drummers frequently use with headphones). The included headphone stand clamp easily attaches to most drum hardware stands.
The outside metal plates are stunning. They take the quality from a visual standpoint up another notch. The plates are attached to the ear cups that hold the cushions.
The all-metal headband is firmly secured to the cups, allowing for around 45 degrees of rotation (more than enough).
The headband is also wrapped with a similar-feeling synthetic leather for added comfort. Overall, a fantastic-looking set of cans anyone would enjoy sporting around.
Isolation
The VMH-D1s are slightly noise canceling but won’t provide enough isolation for playing an acoustic drum set. In-ear monitors are much more suited for that purpose.
These headphones work far better when playing electronic drums when compared to my usual go-to, the Audio Technica M50Xs. They isolate better and sound much more pleasing—my TD-50 sings when I wear these.
Even though electronic drums are quieter, the sounds of the pads typically still leak into my ears when I use my M50Xs unless I crank ’em up loud. The VMH-D1s allow me to practice quieter and more comfortably than ever before.
Sound
I tested the VMH-D1s on two flatter mixes: Ride Like the Wind by Christopher Cross and Kid Charlemagne by Steely Dan.
The bass sounds excellent, not overhyped, but more present than my MM-500 mixing headphones. These reference headphones serve as a helpful control when comparing headphones offering a flatter frequency response and greater detail.
Compared to my Audio Technica M50Xs, the bass tone sounds tighter. In addition, when playing electronic drums, the kick drum pops out more, offering a much more pleasing monitoring experience than any other headphones I’ve used while playing.
Compared to my GK UltraPhones, which use the Sony MDR7506 components, Roland’s headphones win out. The only reason for me to keep using the GKs is for noise isolation when playing acoustic drums, but I still prefer in-ear monitors since they put such a strain on my head.
Isolation values are not listed on Roland’s website or the product itself, but they did isolate well when I tested them on my TD-50K-S kit.
The drivers on the VMH-D1 are punchy, making these cans perfect for electronic drum sets (especially any V-drum kit). The mid-range is present and clear—I can hear everything in the mix with no issue, especially all the auxiliary percussion. The hi-end is a little hyped but not harsh; it sounds fantastic.
The VMH-D1 easily gets loud, with no distortion or harshness in the high-end. The highly-tuned 50mm drivers create the perfect sound for any electronic drummer.
For these headphones, Roland collaborated with V-MODA, the leading name in headphones for DJs and electronic musicians, to create the ultimate experience for electronic drummers. I’m largely unfamiliar with V-MODA, but they make popular headphone models like the M-100, LP2, and Crossfade 3.
Comfort
The VMH-D1 sits a little tighter on my head compared to my M50X. I also use GK Ultra Phones, especially for playing my acoustic drum set. Those, on the other hand, really clamp down on my head, and they start to hurt after a while. However, I don’t foresee that being an issue, as I’ve been wearing the VMH-D1 the entire time I’ve been writing this review.
The VMH-D1 accommodates the smallest-headed people and large noggins with its adjustable headband. The earpads are made of synthetic leather and feel fantastic while wearing. I assume they can handle the sweatiest of heavy drummers.
Conclusion
Are the VMH-D1s the best headphones for electronic drums available? Well, they’re certainly the best I’ve used compared to the Alesis DRP100, Vic Firth’s SIH2, Audio Technica M50x, GK UltraPhones, and Direct Sound EX-29s.
The tight bass frequency response, warm mid-range, and smooth top end make these the perfect headphones for electronic drummers. Even if you don’t play a Roland kit, you’ll still be pleased when playing with the VMH-D1s on your drum set.
Have you tried these headphones out yet? Let me know what you think down below in the comments. Thanks for reading.
