The question of whether to choose an electronic or acoustic drum kit is certainly a crucial one and depends largely on your living situation – provided, of course, that the drum kit is located within your own four walls.

If you have the necessary space in a detached, semi-detached or terraced house and don't have to worry about the noise level affecting your neighbours, you should opt for an acoustic set.

The ‘real playing feel’, the fun factor and the visual appeal clearly speak for themselves. You can also reduce the volume inside the house and outside with just a few measures. The first step is to insulate windows and doors. You can find lots of useful information and materials for this at schaumstofflager.de.

If you want to set up your drum kit in your flat, we generally recommend an electronic drum kit. This is often the only way to keep the peace and avoid straining your relationship with your neighbours. This solution is perfectly fine and, above all, absolutely sufficient for beginners. It is also always advisable to have your drum kit as close to you as possible – this has been proven to increase the frequency of practice and playing.

If the drum kit is to be placed in a practice room and noise and volume are not an issue, then acoustic drums are definitely the recommended choice.

Tip: If you want to make your electronic drums even quieter and thus protect yourself from noise complaints, there are simple measures you can take to remedy the situation. The hard plastic or wooden beater can be replaced with a soft beater, for example. It is also worth reducing impact noise by using a platform. By decoupling the electronic drums from the floor, significantly less sound is transmitted into the floor and walls. Ready-made solutions are available to purchase, or you can simply build your own. The best solution is to use a few thicker impact sound mats (4 cm or more) on which you then place a wooden board covered with carpet. We recommend a size of approx. 160 cm x 200 cm, which is sufficient for standard sets. Another good method is to place the wooden board on halved tennis balls.

Advantages of electronic drums:

+ Lower volume

+ Can also be played in flats

+ Drumhead replacement rarely necessary

+ Lower overall running costs

+ Sticks last longer

+ No tuning necessary

+ Easy recording via MIDI

+ Easy to transport

+ Low weight

+ Take up less space

Disadvantages of electronic drums:

- The strike and natural sound effect are interrupted

- Not a 100% authentic playing experience

- No acoustic feedback from the drums

- Cymbal stops and rimshots only possible to a limited extent

- Limited expansion options

A-Drums advantages:

+ Authentic playing feel

+ Appearance and design

+ Sounds can be acoustically realised according to your own ideas

+ Unlimited expansion options

A-Drums disadvantages:

- High volume

- High price for high-quality instruments and sounds

- More difficult to transport

- Maintenance and wear and tear

CONCLUSION: Nowadays, electronic drums are a really great alternative to loud acoustic sets. Modern sets in the mid-range and upper price brackets in particular offer great sounds, a wide dynamic range and can also impress visually, with some featuring real wooden shells. So if you play in a somewhat noise-sensitive environment, you should definitely test out the sets from the various manufacturers.

However, my personal favourite remains the acoustic set. The feel and feedback of the drums are only possible on a real set. But you can definitely learn and have fun with both types, whether ‘e’ or ‘a’!