This Drum Kit has a Secret Built Into it

#donner
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Music used / Play-alongs used:

Other Gear Used:
Pair of Slate ML-1 (as overheads):
Austrian Audio CC8 (as rooms):
Earthworks DK7 Drum Mic Kit:
Lewitt DTP 640 REX Bass Drum Mic
Austrian Audio Hi-X60 Headphones:
21" Zildjian K Custom Special Dry Ride:
18” Zildjian K Special Dry Crash
Roc n’ Soc Drum Throne:
Vic Firth Freestyle 5b Drum Sticks:

All product links above are affiliate links

When it comes to drums, I've basically played everything that's ever existed… This drum set though, I've never seen ANYTHING like it before. This is the Donner DDS-520 Silent Acoustic Drum Kit. Donner is the same company that sells the Eastar drums I've shown before (the $400 Amazon drum set and one where I put the heads on the DW kit). This kit is a regular acoustic drum set that has built-in practice pads and comes with a set of low volume cymbals: 14” hi-hats, 16” crash, and 20” ride. The kit is 10” 12” rack toms, 16” floor tom, 22” bass drum, and 14” snare. Did I mention it comes in YELLOW?? I love yellow drums by the way… Anyways, the pads are adjustable with the turn of a drum key so you can play the kit as a normal volume drum set, or turn them on to make it a practice drum kit. I was scared the pads would choke out the drums too much in “normal mode,” but they don't really affect the sound too much to notice. For $500, I would say this is a pretty sound investment, especially if you play drums in an apartment, your family hates you because you're too loud, or any other situation where you don't have the luxury to play your drum set as loud as you want.

This $500 Drum Set Has Built-In PRACTICE PADS??

[rdavidr]

I was thinking, does it make more sense for ALL beginner kits to come with low volume cymbals or cheap normal cymbals? I figured the low vol cymbals would have more functional value past the beginner phase, while cymbals that come on beginner kits are one of the first things to get replaced. What do you think? 🤔

[alexhill_]

I reckon this is the best first drum set ever. It looks good, sounds pretty good and has practice pads built INTO it. Its exactly what a beginner needs. And the low volume cymbals are great, because usually the cymbals that come with drums, you keep for a bit then replace. These you would keep for practice, and then get some better full volume cymbals. And for 500 buck, u cant go wrong. Awesome kit, awesome video as always.

[drummerdan]

OK, now take this kit to the next level. Triggers in the pads and electronic cymbals (kind of like the Zildjian Gen16). It it an acoustic kit? Electronic kit? Practice kit? Porque no los d̶o̶s̶ tres?

[BulletDrummer]

As someone who is so self-conscious about noise complaints that I haven’t had my kit set up in over 8 years, I was really pleased to see you do a noise comparison from the adjacent room. Stuff like that seems to be annoyingly overlooked when reviewing products such as this. Great stuff as always Dave! 👍

Now, can we make a silent hi-hat pedal?

[markthomas]

Amazing. I got my grandson a cymbal for Christmas. It cost about the same as this whole set. He’s a professional drummer in a jazz band.

[deekerr]

Have heard of people using the low volume cymbals as a part of stacks, would love to hear that if you try it out. Really cool kit, makes a lot of sense and seems well executed while still being affordable.

[raythackston]

I looked for a Pearl bright yellow kit for years...never found the set I was looking for...only seen a few sets anyway.

[Zinjadu]

When you added the mics to the drums when you were playing to music; it sounds really nice. It seems that you are really good at mixing and mics...Or just really good at doing it all. That's why you several hundred thousand subscribers. RdavidR, you know what you're doing. Excellent video, like always educational, informative and comedic...keep it up!

[Saul_.Goodman]

as a guy who wants a drum kit that doesn’t make too much noise for the sake of my family it’s either this or an e-kit

[hashchief]

This kit isn't even available in the UK through Donner. Only one drum kit is listed, and it's a £135 junior 3 piece kit. Wtf?

[archived]

Rdavidr be like
"The drums sound great"
While he uses $2000 worth of mics on the kit

[davidseres]

Nice sound(s) - and who can argue against that "studio thud" aspect?...I'm receiving my (Mosico/Arborea) low volume cymbals tomorrow(!)...I've seen the Donner sets on Walmart's website...

[ThatRagamuffin]

Things I'm learning from youtube...
Yellow: Drums? Good. Chemistry? Bad.

[EliCpm]

I've been using my Boom Stand wrong the whole time.

[itsawonderfulknife]

This is probably dependent on how much contact the pad is having on the head and how much force it applying, but with that constant pressure on the head, would you not find yourself having to re-tune your whole kit after disengaging the pads every time?

[thomaswamhoff]

idea mount cymble to screwdriver boom turning cheese grater

[curiousman]

Sir may i ask favor, may i wish to have your drums for free? i am a drummer but cant affors to buy one, that is to expensive for me

[claystaggs]

Ya know for 500.00 bucks and considering it is meant for a beginner I think it’s a very good deal.

[metalinyourhead]

What’s also cool, is that if you have a drum triggers, you can play it acoustically, then engage the pads and use the triggers. Now you have an easily adjustable hybrid kit.

[Holy_Schmoly]

Imagine changing these to electronic pads. So you could turn some of them on and change the sounds