Please note, if you click and make a purchase through links on our site, we may receive a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
Our Verdict

The Strata Prime is a better option, in this instance, since the features it offers come at a much more affordable price compared to the TD-50KV2. It appeals to drummers who prioritize a vast sound library and a larger kick drum for a more traditional drumming feel. That being said, the TD-50KV2 is an excellent set for those who value advanced sound modeling technology, extensive connectivity, and recording options.

Alesis Strata Prime vs Roland TD-50KV2 Head to Head

vs
Roland TD-50KV2 V-Drums

The Alesis Strata Prime and Roland TD-50KV2 are both high-end electronic drum sets designed for professional drummers, offering a wealth of features tailored to enhance the playing experience. The choice between these two sets depends on the drummer's priorities.

Key Differences

The Alesis Strata Prime boasts 1532 sounds while the Roland TD-50KV2 features Prismatic Sound Modeling and 900 sounds, offering a different approach to sound quality and realism.

The Strata Prime includes a 20-inch kick pad, offering a more realistic feel while the TD-50KV2 comes with an 18-inch pad, which is still slightly smaller than the Strata Prime's.

The Strata Prime supports Bluetooth, a handy feature for wirelessly streaming audio while the TD-50KV2 does not have Bluetooth.

The TD-50KV2 offers audio over USB capabilities for direct recording, and additional pad/cymbal inputs, making it more versatile in studio settings.

Both sets allow custom sampling, but the Strata Prime provides more options (onboard, SD card, USB drive), offering more flexibility in sound customization.

The Strata Prime is equipped with the Prime Drum Module, while the Roland TD-50KV2 V-Drums uses the TD-50X.

Kick Pad Size
20-inch
18-inch
Number of Sounds
1532
900
Drum Module Name
Prime Drum Module
TD-50X
Bluetooth Connection
Yes
No
Audio over USB (for recording)
No
Yes
Custom sampling
onboard-samplingsd-cardusb-drive
sd-card

Key Features in Common

Both sets have a full-sized kick drum, enhancing the realism and playability for drummers.

Both feature 14-inch snare pads, providing a standard size that's responsive and feels closer to an acoustic snare drum.

Both support MIDI-over-USB and MIDI-5-Pin, ensuring compatibility with various music production setups.

Lastly, both kits offer high-quality cymbal pads like the triple-trigger ride cymbals and dual 16-inch crash cymbals with choke functionality.

Kick Type
Full-Sized Kick Drum
Full-Sized Kick Drum
Snare Pad Size
14-inch
14-inch
MIDI Connectivity
MIDI-over-USBMIDI-5-Pin
MIDI-over-USBMIDI-5-Pin

Check out the Strata Prime in action.

And here's a video of the Roland TD-50KV2 V-Drums.

Price Comparison Between The Strata Prime and Roland TD-50KV2 V-Drums

Use the below to get up-to-date prices for both the Strata Prime and Roland TD-50KV2 V-Drums

vs
Roland TD-50KV2 V-Drums
We have included a head-to-head comparison of the features and specs on both the Strata Prime and Roland TD-50KV2 V-Drums.

Hi-Hat

Hi-Hat Size (Inches)
14-inch
14-inch
Hi-Hat Type
Acoustic-style hi-hat stand
Acoustic-style hi-hat stand
Hi-Hat Model
ARC Hi-hat 14 Active
VH-14D

Cymbal Pads

Ride Cymbal Pad Size (Inches)
18-inch
18-inch
Ride Cymbal Zones
Triple-Trigger
Triple-Trigger
Ride Cymbal Pad Model Number
ARC Cymbal 18
CY-18DR
Number of Crash Cymbal Pads
2
2
Crash Cymbal Sizes
16
16", 16"
Crash cymbal choke
Yes
Yes
Crash Cymbal Pad Model Numbers
ARC Cymbal 16
CY-16R-T

Toms

Tom pad sizes
8", 10", 12", 14", 14"
10", 10", 12", 12"
Number of Tom Pads
5
4
Tom Pad Material
Mesh
Roland Mesh
Tom Zones
Dual-Zone
Dual-Zone

Drum Module

Number of Sounds
1532
900
Drum Module Name
Prime Drum Module
TD-50X
Additional Features
-
Prismatic Sound Modeling, Roland Digital Pads
Display
-
Graphic LCD 256 x 80 dots
Bluetooth Connection
Yes
No
Metronome
Yes
Yes
On-Board Recording (of internal sounds)
Yes
Yes
Additional Pad/Cymbal Inputs
2
4
Audio Outputs
2 Main (Left and Right), 4 Assignable
2 Main Outputs(Left and Right), 8 direct outputs
Audio Input (Auxiliary Input)
1/4" inch
1/8" inch
Effects and Sound Editing Capabilities
High
High
MIDI Connectivity
MIDI-over-USBMIDI-5-Pin
MIDI-over-USBMIDI-5-Pin
Audio over USB (for recording)
No
Yes
Custom sampling
onboard-samplingsd-cardusb-drive
sd-card
Number of Kits
75
100

Snare

Snare Mount Type
Snare Stand
Snare Stand
Snare Pad Size
14-inch
14-inch
Snare Pad Material
Mesh
Roland Mesh
Snare Zones
Dual-Zone
Triple-Zone
Snare Pad Model
Strata Drum 14
PD-140DS

Kick

Kick Type
Full-Sized Kick Drum
Full-Sized Kick Drum
Kick Pad Material
Mesh
Roland Mesh
Kick Pad Size
20-inch
18-inch
Kick Pad Model
Strata Kick 20
KD-180

Verdict

vs
Roland TD-50KV2 V-Drums

Both the Alesis Strata Prime and the Roland TD-50KV2 offer outstanding value but cater to slightly different preferences within the high-end e-drum set market. Your decision should be guided by which set of features aligns better with your playing style, performance needs, and how you plan to integrate the drum set into your broader musical setup.

Matt Taylor

Matt Taylor

I'm Matt Taylor, a guitarist with a genuine love for music. I've had the pleasure of playing in a few bands and collaborating with some amazing artists along the way. As a music journalist, my goal is to share my passion and learnings with you while keeping my finger on the pulse of emerging trends and talents.