Should you buy the Remo SMT? Drum Head Comparison

Drum head companies are like football teams, you follow them blindly despite their shortcomings and other teams having objectively better players. One of those players has always been the Evans EMAD. A head that just does what it should, make a bass drum sound great and not have to throw an entire bedding factory inside your expensive drum shell. For years, Remo failed to clap back at this amazing product until NOW. The Remo SMT, has just landed here in Aus (after being out in the US for almost a year) and I HAD to get my hands on it.

This video compares it to the classic Power Stroke 3 and we see how little effort is required to arrive at a similar sound.

[Curtis.]

More vids like this bro, unreal content

[jamescassidy]

Can you do an in depth kick tuning tutorial? I know theres lots, and it Obv all depends on the drum/heads/room etc, but I'd love to see your approach, and what head relationships you like.

[D.E.W.MUSIQ_]

The Emad (10ply) and Gmad (12ply) are both single ply. The Emad2 is double ply.

[bigred]

Great sounding kit! What snare drum are you playing??

[paistefever]

great demo!
not sure if anyone aware of this, but to me it doesn't look like a copy of an Emad (Evans) but a hybrid version of their muffling ring with a foam you'd out put beneath the head (the white one) but in the front. glad they did the 16" version too!

[GabrielXDrums]

Just copped the Emperor clear today:)

Using it next weekend for an open air festival on Saturday.

It’s gonna be pretty dope.

[Andrew-jh]

Hey thanks for making this video! I just put my beaters through an emad 2. I just ordered the emperor smt figuring it was the same idea only Remo. I did order the Evens AF Patch with it and am looking forward to seeing how that combo sounds. Quick question if you have the time, ... I've got a bit of a beater obsession. I've bought and tried many different brands and models, but always end up back with my decades old Tama Iron Cobra wood beaters. How would you say that those compare to your Low Boys?

[CormacTunstead]

Brilliant vid demonstration bud! I love the Emad, used them for years back when I played the drums.

[johnfrith]

Hey I have had good results cutting out the black dot on my old cs coated snare head and using it as a bass drum patch just use thin clear shipping tape to put it on your P3 or SMT

[MarshawnOfficial]

Thank you for the excellent comparison and content.

[do]

Great video! Btw, what is the kit on your right? Gorgeous finish with nice BN hardware!

[Gabyrock]

Hey bro,

Your video was greatly helpful. I have a Pearl Professional series and would really like to know if I should opt for an Emad or Remo Smt ambassador.?

[waynebaker]

Great demo. The SMT sounds deeper but missing the "click". A better patch instead of the Evans is the Aquarian "Kick Pad" or their "Super Thin". I tried an Evans E-Mad and didn't like it and when I put their brand patch that came with it it was terrible. I think the Aquarian Super Kick 2 is close to the PS3 or at least I like the sound of both. Again, great content!

[stevepayne]

To me, the perceived loudness of the bass drum from behind the kit is quieter with pre-muffled heads like the EMAD, SK, etc. vs dampened heads like the REMO PS3, EVANS EQ3, AQUARIAN FORCE 1. How does the SMT fare in this aspect?

[photography]

It’s good for sure, especially on its own. But doesn’t mix well with the rest of the kit. I like tone and the P3 has more. I’d still go with emporers all the way around

[AudioWonderland]

With all that processing I am not sure it matters what head you use. Why do you keep referencing it as an emad in the video captions?

[Joshstix]

p3 allday. I think the smt is great but abit quieter than the p3

[hunterbladen]

Is that a 20in kick? I've been trying to see what this head sounds like on a 20.

[DanMarcelino]

I always used to put an emad on the both the batter and reso side. Now.. it'll be smt's on both lol

Oh and I always have a hole cut into the reso 👌🏼

[danlc]

The PowerStroke 3 IS "muffled."

It uses a 10 mil inner ring around the circumfrence under the playing side of the film.

As far as sound, they sound very similar.

The convenience of not having to deal with those goofy foam rings that always seem to have issues when in transport, I'd take the PowerStroke 3.

The PowerStroke 3 and 4 were all they really ever needed. These heavily muffled bass heads are pointless - so many guy are still stuffing them with pillows and blankets anyways. It defeats the purpose and extra expense of a pre-muffled head.

If one is just going to throw a pillow or something else in their vass drum, they owe it to themselves to try a regular Ambassador, C.S., Emperor, or PinStripe with a regular 10 mil reso.

As far as this test is concerned.

PowerStroke 3 - no contest.