Roland Unveils the VQD106 V-Drums Quiet Design E-Kit
Just days after launching their flagship V-Drums 7 Series, today Roland announced the release of the V-Drums Quiet Design. The new tech built in to the kit supposedly makes this drum set one of the quietest on the market—perfect for drummers who need to avoid disturbing family or neighbors.
Kit Overview: Roland VQD106
The Roland VQD106 kit uses innovative sound-absorbing materials to reduce in-room volume by up to 75%. Here’s what’s included:
- Kick Drum: KDQ-8, an 8-inch kick pad designed for low noise, featuring a triple-layer cushion and housed in a floating frame to isolate vibrations.
- Snare Drum: PDQ-8S, an 8-inch snare pad with noise-absorbing honeycomb rubber insert and mesh head, designed for a quieter yet responsive playing experience.
- Tom Pads: Three PDQ-8 pads, also 8 inches, with similar noise-dampening features as the snare.
- Cymbals: Three CYQ-12 pads (for crash, ride, and hi-hat), each equipped with a honeycomb rubber insert and mesh covering for reduced stick noise.
- Hi-Hat Control Pedal: FD-9, an ultra-quiet pedal designed to minimize foot stomps and vibration transfer.
- Kick and Hi-Hat Pedal Bases: NEQ-K and NEQ-H bases designed to further reduce noise from pedal strikes.
- Drum Stand: A sturdy four-post rack stand that includes rubber isolation feet to prevent vibration transfer through the floor.
If you already own a V-Drums module, the VQD106PADS version of this kit offers the same configuration, excluding the TD-07 module, so you can simply connect your existing module.
Revolutionary Noise-Reducing Technology
The V-Drums Quiet Design address the main pain points drummers face when practicing at home or in shared spaces—noise and vibration. The VQD106 dramatically lowers the in-room volume of the pads and cymbals while maintaining the feel and responsiveness of their traditional electronic drums.
- Honeycomb Rubber Inserts: All pads—including the snare, toms, and cymbals—have honeycomb rubber inserts that absorb impact and reduce stick noise. These inserts are covered by Roland’s signature mesh heads, giving the drums their classic feel.
- Vented Pads for Air Dissipation: Specially designed vents on the underside of the pads allow air to escape when struck, further reducing noise generated by stick hits.
- Ultra-Quiet Kick and Hi-Hat Pedals: The FD-9 hi-hat control pedal and KDQ-8 kick pad are built with smooth, near-silent operation in mind. The kick pad features a triple-layer cushion to muffle the impact of the beater, while the dedicated pedal bases (NEQ-K for the kick and NEQ-H for the hi-hat) use rubber feet to minimize vibration transfer.
- Isolated Drum Stand: To further reduce noise transfer, the four-post rack stand has special rubber isolation feet, which absorb pad vibrations before they can travel to the floor.
Roland says the VQD pads reduce noise by up to 75% compared to conventional V-Drums models. Despite the heavy focus on noise reduction, they ensure that the V-Drums Quiet Design kit still delivers the same level of playability that drummers expect from their electronic drums.
The PDQ-8S snare and PDQ-8 toms are equipped with Roland’s mesh heads, providing that natural stick response and rebound that drummers love.
The CYQ-12 cymbals feature independent bow and edge triggers and is chokeable. The cymbals’ mesh covering and honeycomb insert minimize stick noise, but you still get a natural swinging motion.
TD-07 Drum Module
Roland has also included their TD-07 module in the VQD106 kit, offering high-quality drum sounds and customizable kits. Users can adjust settings like tuning, muffling, and EQ.
While the TD-07 is Roland’s smallest drum module in their current lineup, it certainly doesn’t fall short in terms of capability. Borrowing several features from the larger TD-17, this module offers a highly customizable experience for drummers who want more control over their sound. With up to 50 kits, including 20 presets made from over 143 different sounds, the TD-07 provides plenty of variety.
Bluetooth connectivity is included on the TD-07 module, allowing drummers to stream audio from devices, making it easy to play along with songs, backing tracks, or even video lessons from platforms like YouTube, without the hassle of cables. The USB port allows for seamless audio and MIDI integration with a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation).
Ins and Outs
- OUTPUT/PHONES jack: For monitoring through headphones or sending sound to an external speaker system.
- MIX IN jack: Lets you plug in an external audio source, making it easy to jam along with a music player or another sound source.
- TRIGGER INPUT connector: A DB-25 type connection that links the pads and cymbals to the module, providing reliable, responsive triggering for the entire kit.
- USB computer port: Lets you transmit and receive MIDI and audio data
The Roland V-Drums Quiet Design kit promises to be an exciting new option for drummers looking to keep the peace at home without sacrificing playability. The design looks impressive on paper, and while we haven’t had the opportunity to test the VQD106 yet, we’re hopeful that Roland will give us the chance to put this kit through its paces soon. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Availability & Pricing
For availability & pricing, please visit our partner retailer Sweetwater for more information.
- VQD106 Kit (includes TD-07 module): $1,799.99
- VQD106PADS Kit (without module): $1,599.99
