Roland HD-1 V-Drums Lite Details

 With a kick pedal, snare, hi-hat, hi-hat pedal, ride, three-cushioned tom pads, and a built-in crash the Roland HD-1 V-Drums Lite Electronic Drum Set is the perfect option for the up-in-coming drummer on a budget. Born of the same family as the Roland V-Drum, the HD-1 features Roland’s high quality feel without water boarding the buyer’s bank account. Included with the Roland HD-1, is a fully functioning metronome system,  MP3 player input, and an output and headphone jack with 100 ohms of sound impedance to quietly enhance your experience without risking that massive kick-ass sound Roland is known for.

 

Features

• All-in-One Electronic Drum Kit: kick pedal, snare, high-hat, high-hat pedal, ride, cushioned tom pads and built-in crash
• MP3 input
• 10 Drum Kits and Patterns for optimal customization
• Output and headphone jack, Mix-in jack, MIDI connector, Trigger cable connector
• Video User’s Guide (DVD)

 

Roland HD-1  Reviews- The Good

For only having 12 reviews on Amazon, the Roland HD-1 rated 4.3 stars. However, keep in mind this rating was only granted when perceiving the HD-1 as either a beginner kit or a practice kit. Most reviewers specifically recommended this product for the complete novice drummer or for the experienced drummer who is looking for an inexpensive, highly portable alternative to other pricier Roland models.

The Roland HD-1 did receive high marks for its price, portability and compact design. One reviewer bought the HD-1 for her teenage daughter, who was able to quietly learn by using the headphone jack and the Video Manual w/ drumming tips.

Roland did a great job designing this kit for easy assembly. Most of the drum set is mounted on the same stand, so it takes less than an hour for the buyer to assemble and test out their purchase. Back to the HD-1′s compact design, you can transport this drum set just about anywhere. It’s so small and light-weight that one reviewer commented they were able to load the set into the back of their car without disassembly.

 

Roland HD-1  Reviews – The Bad

If you are an experienced drummer in the market for an alternative to your primary acoustic set to use for gigs, then the Roland HD-1 is most definitely not for you. What the HD-1 has in portability it lacks in mobility and what you save in buying a cheaper model you end up losing in the level of quality music the Roland HD-1 is able to produce. Because of its super-condensed  design of having everything mounted on one freakin’ stand, many users had problems adjusting the components of the kit. It’s incredibly difficult to adjust the snare and toms to your preference-Roland’s design only allows the drummer to mechanically alter the snare about 1” up-and-down and the tom may only be tilted a few degrees. So, if you are a big guy or gal, you can see why you may have trouble conforming this set to your liking.

Furthermore, the vast majority of the kit lacks in sensitivity. First, there is only one volume knob for the entire unit-unlike other drum kits, you can’t specifically adjust the volume for the snare or toms. Second, because of the HD-1′s plastic hardware the kit itself just doesn’t seem that durable. In fact, several reviewers complained about the kick pedal in particular, comparing it to the same level of quality as the Rock Band kick. Lastly, if you are known to go Chris Adler on your toms, then BEWARE: this set will shake, leaving your death metal self hanging out to dry.