Drumming on an electronic kit is not something everyone wants to do, but not everyone has a fully sound-proofed place to enjoy smashing sticks on an acoustic drumset. Personally, I love electronic drums; mastering precision and control on such a responsive instrument was made quite simple with digital technology. They also make for a great gift for your drummer friend!
However, electronic drums aren’t really made to be loud. In fact, it would be fair to say they were designed as an alternative to the untameable acoustic kits.
With a proper amplifier, you’ll feel much more comfortable at live gigs and performing in bigger venues, but you’ll also get to fine-tune your sound to perfection. That being said, I want to introduce you to some of the best electronic drum amps I’ve found, so let’s start with:
What Are the Best Electronic Drum Amps?
Here is my personal list of the best electronic drum amps in 2022.
1. Donner DDA-35 AMP
Overview
Marshall, Peavey, and Yamaha gear is not something most beginners can afford. Musicians searching for a decently good-sounding amp with a good wattage typically flock to Donner’s store.
Donner’s DDA-35 features 35 watts, an angled design, a simple 3-band equalizer, a Bluetooth feature and two inputs. Starting with wattage, 35 w isn’t much, but it’s enough to give your electronic drum kit the strength it needs to follow the rest of the band in a small concert venue or for jamming at home.
There’s an 8-inch main woofer on the right and a 2-inch dome tweeter on the left side of DDA 35, both of which are protected by a mesh wire.
Donner’s DDA-35 is angled at 50 degrees, sending the sound upward. If you’re accustomed to playing in pubs on a stage with practically no elevation, this will help the back lines hear you better.
You can connect your headphones and your electronic drum set to DDA 35 directly with the two provided inputs. There’s another D.I. (direct in) output in the back, which allows you to connect your amp to another amp, a mixer, or a DAW if you want to record.
The Bluetooth feature is also great for jamming and practice. Simply pair the DDA-35 to your phone and you can start playing music directly out of the amp. Control the volume and even skip tracks using the Bluetooth knob. It’s easy, convenient, and a super cool feature for playing along to your favorite tunes.
Key Features
- 35 watts
- Two speakers (8 and 2 inches in diameter)
- 50-degree angled design
- Microphone (headphone) and line inputs
- Two modes with individual settings
- Bluetooth connectivity
What I Like / Dislike About Donner DDA-35 AMP
As a drum amp that’s on the less expensive end, DDA-35 offers quite a few unique benefits. The elevated speakers, a sturdy mesh guard protecting them from physical damage, two channels with individual controls, and two inputs are just some of the things I liked the most about DDA-35. I also love that it connects to Bluetooth.
Donner’s DDA-35’s sound-tweaking capabilities are fairly limited. Unless you have excellent hearing, you’ll mostly be using this amp to amplify the raw strength of your electronic drum kit.
Who Is This For?
Donner’s DDA-35 is an excellent drum set for drummers that want a reliable, strong, and good-sounding amp at a relatively affordable price. It may not be the loudest amp for drummers, but it’s quite versatile and well worth the money.
2. Roland Compact Electronic PM200
Overview
Roland’s PM200 is a powerhouse with unsurprisingly great sound quality. Beginners may think it’s similar to Donner’s DDA-35 simply because both feature an angled design, but PM200 is significantly stronger and more versatile.
As a dedicated drummer’s amp, Roland PM200 features a special V-Drums input with very low impedance as well as a line in with exactly the same specs. It features a 12-inch woofer and a horn tweeter, which were specifically designed to handle absurdly loud volumes with relative ease.
Speaking of loud, PM-200 features 180 watts of strength, meaning this is not an amp you should toy around with at home.
Key Features
- 180 watts
- 12-inch woofer and a horn tweeter
- 3-band EQ
- V-drums 0.25-inch input
- Line input
What I Like / Dislike About Roland Compact Electronic PM200
Roland’s PM-200 is more than powerful enough for musicians accustomed to playing on the biggest of stages, which is objectively one of its main benefits. With a knob for pretty much everything from tweaking line volume, bass, and the V-drums input, there’s hardly a better-rounded drum amp on the market.
Although PM-200 is amazing by all accounts, it works best for drummers that are using Roland’s V-Drums series kits. Some of its features can actually only be used with these drums exclusively (all V-drums features, if you’re using any other kit, use the line input).
Who Is This For?
I mainly recommend Roland PM-200 to experienced touring drummers that need a strong, reliable electronic drum amp. It’s too pricey for intermediates and a bit hard to control for beginners, but it’s practically always a good choice if you can afford it.
3. KAT Percussion KA1
Overview
If Donner’s DDA-35 is the average home practice amp and Roland’s PM-200 is great for big tours, KAT’s Percussion KA1 is somewhere in the middle. It’s a decently strong amp with simple, highly responsive tone controls, and the monitor-style angled design we’re all familiar with by now will help you be prepared for any stage.
This is a 2-channel, 3-band EQ amp with 50 watts of power, a 10-inch woofer, and a 2.5-inch tweeter. Unlike Roland’s massive PM-200, this amp is fairly light, weighing around 31 pounds.
What separates it from most of its similarly priced counterparts is the fact that you’ll get two individual volume control buttons to play around with. If there are certain songs you need to play louder (or quieter), simply tweak these settings beforehand and you’ll be set to go.
Key Features
- 50 watts
- 10-inch woofer and a 2.5-inch tweeter
- 3-band equalizer
- Two channels with individual volume controls
- Aux line input & line output
What I Like / Dislike About KAT Percussion KA1
I like to think of Percussion KA1 as the middle-ground option for drummers that can’t decide between high wattage and tone control. With this amp, you don’t have to trade one for the other, as you’ll get to benefit from a decently loud amp that can be tweaked in more ways than one.
The obvious drawback of this “Jack of all trades” is that it doesn’t excel in any particular field of performance. It’s just “decently” strong and “decently” versatile, in my humble opinion.
Who Is This For?
KAT’s Percussion KA1 is an excellent choice for drummers that are looking for an upgrade from their old practice amp. It does the job and doesn’t cost a fortune.
4. SubZero DR-60 Drum/Keyboard Amp
Overview
SubZero’s DR-60 is a step up from Donner’s and KAT’s amps in that it features a stronger wattage, a dedicated channel for electronic drum players, and a fairly large woofer.
Starting with the equalizer, you’ll get to tweak the bass, mids, and highs; these settings will remain the same, no matter which channel you are using. Speaking of channels, you can connect a microphone, a set of electronic drums, and another instrument using a regular 3.5 mm cable to DR-60 at the same time.
The dedicated e-drums line input is the main feature here, as its super-low latency enables you to benefit from the pristinely clear sonic performance of this drum amp.
Key Features
- 60 watts
- 12-inch speaker
- E-drum, line, and mic inputs
- 3-band equalizer
- Microphone and e-drum volume knobs
What I Like / Dislike About SubZero DR-60 Drum/Keyboard Amp
With 60 watts, you can play mid-to-large gigs with confidence. The tonal clarity coupled with good strength makes DR-60 an excellent traveling companion, but it’s also a superb amp to have in a recording studio or rehearsal space.
The only bad thing about DR-60 is that you may experience a bit of harmonic distortion at the lowest of the low frequencies.
Who Is This For?
If you’re searching for a strong drum amp while on a budget, this is a great option although it seems that it can be hard to find and purchase online (depending where you live).
5. Alesis Strike 8
Overview
Roland’s PM-200 offers 200 watts and is considered a very strong drum amp. Well, Alesis’ Strike 8 boasts ten times as much horsepower, meaning that it’s safe to consider it a sonic weapon.
You may be surprised to find that this amp is outfitted with a tiny 8-inch woofer, but it was custom-tuned to deliver unparalleled performance with no artifacts or harmonic distortion.
When I said it features 2,000 watts, you probably thought of a hulking electronic juggernaut. Strike 8 is almost as small as an average toolbox and weighs barely 23 pounds.
Key Features
- 2,000 watts
- Contour equalizer switch
- Ground-lift switch
- Two XLR inputs
Pricing
Alesis Strike 8 amp costs $250.
What I Like / Dislike About Alesis Strike 8
I absolutely adore everything about Alesis Strike 8. It’s one of the strongest drum amps ever created; the contour EQ made tone-searching a breeze while its price tag feels like a mistake.
If there’s one thing Strike 8 isn’t great for, it is for home practice. I highly doubt your neighbors (or anyone in a mile radius) would let you off the hook after breaking all of their windows.
Who Is This For?
Alesis Strike 8 is a perfect amp for drummers that frequently play in larger settings.
6. Ddrum DDA50
Overview
Ddrum’s DDA50 is a classic “non-angled” 50-watt drum amp. It is small, light, and much stronger than it seems, especially considering it rocks a fairly large custom-made speaker.
Its main forte lies in superior connectivity. With two regular inputs, an auxiliary input, and a headphone port, there’s no limit to what you can hook up to DDA50.
Similar to Donner’s DDA-35 you can also connect to Bluetooth for wireless music playback. This makes it a great amp to jamming out with although it’s slightly more expensive than the Donner option.
Key Features
- 50 watts
- 10-inch woofer and a 2.5-inch tweeter
- Two channels with individual volume controls
- 3-band EQ
- Aux and line inputs
- Headphone port
- Bluetooth connectivity
What I Like / Dislike About Ddrum DDA50
It’s a well-rounded, fairly priced amp. DDA50 is sturdy, dependable, and has a great sound. As mentioned, its connectivity is absolutely amazing. The only downside is that it costs more than Alesis Strike 8 while offering a fraction of its benefits.
Who Is This For?
Ddrum’s DDA50 is an excellent pick for drummers looking for a model that they can use for bedroom practice, in a studio, at gigs, and for rehearsals.
7. Carlsbro EDA 50
Overview
Carlsbro EDA 50 is an affordable electronic drum monitor amp featuring simple controls, simple features, and 50 watts. This brand took the angled monitor design onto a different level, curving the mesh guard and making the amp look sleeker.
In terms of controls, it sports two channels with separate volume settings, a simple equalizer comprised of buttons governing the lows, mids, and highs, a line input, and a headphone port.
Key Features
- 50 watts
- 10-inch woofer
- 3-band equalizer
- Headphone and line inputs
What I Like / Dislike About Carlsbro EDA 50
EDA 50 is not substantially different from the other 50-watt amps on this list, but it costs a bit less. Its curved design is enough to make it stand out from the other electronic drum monitor amps, and it’s pretty light and compact. Its only downside is that it isn’t as sturdy and it seems to be difficult to purchase based on where you live.
Who Is This For?
Carlsbro EDA 50 is perfect for beginner and somewhat experienced drummers on a budget.
Final Thoughts
The best electronic drum amp isn’t the most popular model, nor the strongest amplifier the market had ever seen. It’s the amp that can cater to your specific needs.
Whether you’re a beginner searching for a home practice amp or a seasoned veteran looking for a dependable drum amp, you’ll find that and everything in between in this list.
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