Alesis doesn’t have as big of a reputation as Roland and Yamaha. However, they produce a lot of high-quality drum kits that are well worth looking into.
In terms of quality, they have made impressive electronic features affordable and available to the majority of drummers. So, we’re going to look at the best Alesis electronic drum kits and show you what makes them special.
The Alesis Strata Prime is the new flagship kit from Alesis, replacing the Strike Pro Special Edition. We recently had the chance to put it through its paces, and its performance truly impressed us.
At first glance, it strongly resembles an acoustic kit, thanks to its hybrid wooden shells and mesh drum heads, offering the best of both worlds, authentic visual appeal paired with electronic functionality.
The touch-screen module is loaded with 75 preset kits and over 2,000 onboard sounds, which gave us an enormous range to experiment with during our testing.
The ability to individually mix each drum was a real game-changer, providing a level of customization we appreciated for both practice and performance scenarios.
One of the standout features is the six-piece drum setup, complemented by five cymbals, creating an expansive playing experience.
In our hands-on experience, the cymbals felt incredibly realistic, and the dynamic response of the pads really made it feel like we were playing an acoustic kit.
The Alesis Strata Prime is the best electronic kit we’ve tested from Alesis, offering pro-level features without the price tag you’d expect from other high-end brands.
If you are in a tighter budget you can check the lighter version of this kit the Alesis Strata Core.
The Alesis Command Mesh Special Edition is a stellar mid-range kit that bridges the gap between beginner and professional setups. During our testing, we found that the all-mesh drum pads provided excellent responsiveness and feel, delivering a dynamic playing experience that could easily rival higher-end kits.
The pads are quiet enough for home practice but offer the punch and tactile response needed for serious performance.
The module comes packed with 74 drum kits and 671 onboard sounds, which gave us plenty of sonic versatility to experiment with. The customization options allowed us to tweak everything from individual drum sounds to the overall kit settings.
We especially appreciated the ease of navigating the module’s interface, making it simple to switch between kits mid-session.
In terms of construction, the Command Mesh SE impressed us with its sturdy design. The kit feels solid under your sticks, and the durable rack adds stability, even during intense playing.
The larger kick pad was a standout feature, providing a responsive surface that made double-pedal play feel natural. For drummers who enjoy intricate footwork, this kit won’t disappoint.
What sets the Command Mesh SE apart is its excellent value. It offers features typically reserved for higher-priced kits, yet comes at a price point that’s accessible to intermediate drummers. Whether you’re looking to improve your practice sessions or play live gigs, this kit has everything you need to elevate your drumming without breaking the bank.
Overall, our testing proved that the Alesis Command Mesh is a well-rounded, high-quality kit that packs an impressive amount of value into a compact and affordable package.
It’s ideal for drummers who want a great-sounding, durable electronic kit without stepping into premium price territory.
The Alesis Nitro Pro offers an excellent balance of features, affordability, and playability, making it a great option for beginners and intermediate drummers alike. With mesh drum heads, a solid sound module, and a sturdy 4-post rack, this kit provides everything a drummer needs to practice and perform. It also includes MIDI connectivity, making it suitable for recording and integrating with digital audio workstations (DAWs). Let’s take a closer look at what this kit has to offer.
The build quality of the Nitro Pro is solid for an entry-level kit. The mesh heads not only provide a natural feel but also ensure durability over time, offering a much quieter playing experience compared to rubber pads.
You won’t find mesh pads on any kit this cheap on the market, making the Nitro Pro one of the best kits for entry-level drummers.
The 4-post aluminum rack is stable and ensures the kit stays firmly in place during even the most energetic drumming sessions. Though it may not rival the sturdiness of more expensive kits, the Nitro Pro performs well for its price.
Alesis has equipped the Nitro Pro with dual-zone snare and crash pads, giving you more dynamic control while playing. The mesh heads feel responsive and offer excellent rebound, providing a more natural drumming experience that closely resembles an acoustic set. However, the hi-hat can feel slightly stiff, which may be a minor drawback for more experienced drummers. Despite this, the overall playability is impressive, especially for beginner to intermediate players.
The Nitro Pro comes loaded with 40 preset kits and 385 individual sounds. The drum module covers a wide range of styles, from rock and jazz to more electronic, synthesized sounds. While the sound quality is decent for its price point, it doesn’t quite match the depth and nuance of more advanced kits. Nevertheless, it offers enough variety to satisfy most players, particularly those using it for practice or casual performances.
Like many Alesis kits, the Nitro Pro includes built-in training tools such as a metronome, coach features, and play-along tracks. These tools are invaluable for drummers looking to improve their timing and technique, making this kit an ideal choice for beginners.
One of the standout features of the Nitro Pro is its USB/MIDI connectivity, allowing you to easily connect the kit to your DAW for recording or use it with drum learning apps. It also includes an auxiliary input, which is great for jamming along to your favorite tracks. While it may lack some of the more advanced connectivity features of premium kits, the Nitro Pro provides all the essential options needed for modern recording and practice setups.
The Alesis Nitro Max Mesh is a fantastic upgrade in the Nitro series, offering a solid entry-level kit with some impressive enhancements. After thoroughly testing this kit, we found that the mesh heads provide a great balance of sensitivity and quietness, making it perfect for home practice while maintaining a dynamic response.
The module includes 40 preset kits and 385 sounds, offering enough variety to keep things interesting for beginners and intermediate players alike.
During our testing, we appreciated the seamless response of the drum pads, particularly the snare, which allowed us to play more intricate patterns with ease.
The cymbals, though more basic compared to higher-end models, still offered a decent level of realism, especially the crash with its choke function, which added an extra layer of expressiveness to our playing.
What sets the Nitro Max apart from other kits at this price point is the playability combined with the sturdy rack system, which held up well even during aggressive playing.
The kick pad is large enough to accommodate double pedals, and we were pleased with how well it handled rapid footwork.
In terms of affordability, the Alesis Nitro Max Mesh hits the sweet spot. It’s ideal for beginners looking for a first electronic kit or intermediate drummers who want a budget-friendly option without sacrificing key features like mesh heads and dynamic playability.
Overall, our hands-on experience showed this kit to be a solid contender in the entry-level market, offering exceptional value for drummers on a budget.
The Alesis Turbo Mesh is a fantastic entry-level electronic kit, and after testing it ourselves, we found it to be one of the best value options for beginners.
The all-mesh heads were a real highlight, offering a surprisingly realistic response for a kit in this price range. They’re quiet enough for apartment use while still maintaining the bounce and feel of an acoustic drum set.
The module includes 10 preset kits and 120 sounds, which gave us just enough variety to explore different styles during our tests.
While it doesn’t offer the expansive sound libraries of higher-end models, we were impressed by how easy the module was to navigate, making it great for beginner drummers who don’t want to be bogged down by too many complex options.
The Turbo Mesh’s compact size was another big plus, making it perfect for tight spaces. Despite its smaller footprint, the rack is sturdy, and it didn’t wobble at all during more intense sessions.
The kick pad, though small, still handled single-pedal use efficiently, and for those just starting out, it’s more than sufficient.
Overall, the Alesis Turbo Mesh is perfect for beginners who want a quality electronic kit that is super cheap. It offers everything you need to get started and even a bit more, making it one of the best choices for drummers at the early stages of their journey.
The things that make a great Alesis kit are the same things that make any great electronic drum kit. That would be quality, sounds, features, and convenience. A great kit will have a high-quality build structure. It will be durable and last you many years of use. The onboard sounds will be good and pleasing to the ear. Many electronic kits don’t have good sounds. So, a great kit will have high-quality sounds.
Another aspect of a great kit will be all the added features. Rhythm trainers, metronomes, and play-along tracks are all features that are commonly included in great kits. Lastly, a great kit will be convenient to use. Electronic kits are mostly used as quiet sound solutions, so a great kit will allow you to play without making too much noise.
The best kit from Alesis is the Strike Pro Special Edition. It’s their flagship model and has every feature you’d need in a pro electronic drum kit. It directly competes with the flagship kits from other brands and it holds its own. It has the most drums and cymbals out of any electronic kit for a relatively affordable price.
Alesis drums are great for drummers who don’t want to spend exorbitant amounts of money on electronic drums. The company offers mesh heads on some of their cheapest kits, something that the other drum companies don’t do. They’re great kits for beginners as well. The higher-quality kits from Alesis are also competitive and hold their own against the other drum brands.
The best brand for electronic drums would arguably be Roland. Roland is a company that focuses purely on creating digital instruments, so their e-kits are top-quality. They’ve been at the top of the electronic drum kit market for decades and continue to innovate and inspire other drum companies to follow what they do.
Some drummers will argue that Yamaha makes better electronic drums. So, it does come down to personal preference and what you like.
From the list above, the best electronic kit for beginners would be the Alesis Nitro Mesh. It’s highly affordable and comes with mesh heads. The mesh heads will give a beginner drummer a realistic feel that will transfer over to acoustic drums.
It also has some useful teaching tools on the module that will help beginner drummers work on their playing.
If you’re looking to buy an electronic kit, we highly suggest you check out some Alesis products. Many of them provide great features at a price that is more affordable than any Roland or Yamaha kit.
If you do decide to get an Alesis electronic drum set, you won’t be disappointed. Get a good pair of headphones or amp and you are good to go. Just check this guide on amplification.
Whether you’re a pro, intermediate player, or beginner, Alesis has something for you.
Drum Teacher
Brett Clur has a Drum Performance Diploma from Trinity College London has been playing drums for over 20 years. He is passionate about advanced concepts and uses his years of experience to teach his students about them. While he is a full-time drum teacher, he is also working on growing a YouTube channel where shares his insights. You can see him playing there, or on Instagram where he posts daily videos.
Enter your name and email below to get instant access to our FREE eBook, “9 Powerful Tips To Get Faster On The Drums (And The Mistakes To Avoid!)”
Enter your name and email below to get instant access to our FREE eBook,
“9 Powerful Tips To Get Faster On The Drums (And The Mistakes To Avoid!)”
