Choosing between the Roland TD-17KVX2 and the VAD506 depends heavily on your personal needs, budget, and skill level. If you're looking for an affordable, feature-rich electronic drum kit that can support your growth from a beginner to an intermediate drummer, the TD-17KVX2 is an excellent choice. However, if you're a professional drummer or someone who aspires to be, and is ready to invest in an advanced, realistic drumming experience, the VAD506 is clearly the better option.
Roland TD-17KVX2 vs Roland VAD506 V-Drums Acoustic Design (2024) Head to Head
Roland is a leading name in the electronic drum set industry, with diverse offerings for novices and pros alike. Two distinct products in their lineup, the Roland TD-17KVX2, and the Roland VAD506 V-Drums Acoustic Design, offer unique features and cater to different user needs. We're gonna take a closer look at both drum kits today to find out which one is ultimately better.
Key Differences
The VAD506 offers a full-sized 20-inch kick drum, whereas the TD-17KVX2 has a compact 5-inch kick tower. Ultimately, a larger kick drum opens the door for double bass pedals as well as a more realistic playing experience.
The VAD506 has a larger, triple-zone (14-inch) snare compared to the TD-17KVX2 dual-zone (12-inch) snare. A larger, triple-zone snare captures the nuances while playing as well as produces realistic rim shot sounds.
The VAD506 contains a significantly larger sound library with 728 sounds compared to 310 in the TD-17KVX2, meaning if you value versatility, the VAD506 is a better choice.
The TD-17KVX has three 8" toms while the VAD506 has a 10", 12", and 14" tom so it offers a more complete, realistic setup for drumming and fills.
When it comes to cymbals, the VAD506 has a larger ride (18 inches) as well as larger crash cymbals (14 and 16 inches).
The kits also differ in hi-hat size. The TD-17KVX has a 10-inch hi-hat while the VAD506 has a 14-inch one which is the optimal size of a conventional drum kit.
The VAD506 also excels when it comes to additional pad/cymbal inputs with 4 slots compared to the 2 slots of the TD-17KVX.
The Roland TD-17KVX2 is equipped with the TD-17, while the Roland VAD506 V-Drums Acoustic Design uses the TD-27 Drum Module.
Key Features in Common
Both sets offer Bluetooth connection and MIDI connectivity for streaming backing tracks and working with your DAW of choice to get MIDI sounds.
Both sets offer audio-over-USB for recording as well as include the onboard recording feature (for internal sounds) so studio sessions are quite similar.
Both allow for custom sampling via an SD card for importing external drum samples and sounds for increased creativity.
Both sets feature 100 drum kits, high sound editing capabilities, and have the same metronome function for practice sessions.
Check out the Roland TD-17KVX2 in action.
And here's a video of the Roland VAD506 V-Drums Acoustic Design.
Price Comparison Between The Roland TD-17KVX2 and Roland VAD506 V-Drums Acoustic Design
Use the below to get up-to-date prices for both the Roland TD-17KVX2 and Roland VAD506 V-Drums Acoustic Design
Hi-Hat
Cymbal Pads
Toms
Drum Module
Snare
Kick
Verdict
In summary, both the Roland TD-17KVX2 and the VAD506 offer exceptional value, but in different ways. The TD-17KVX2 is the more accessible and affordable of the two, perfect for those looking to experience electronic drumming without breaking the bank. The VAD506, while a significant investment, offers superior quality, a larger sound library, and a more acoustic feel that is perfect for professional drummers.
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