Alesis DRP100 Review: Affordable Headphones for Your Electronic Drum
The Alesis DRP100 (Drum reference phones) headphones were designed with electronic drumming in mind, which makes them an excellent choice for fans of the instrument. They are supposed to provide clear sound and to give you great control over the volume, while at the same time being completely resistant to the outside noise. All of this sounds great for someone who needs an affordable pair of headphones that are made especially for electronic drums. We have decided to check out this model and to confirm or deny the quality of the model, and whether or not they are truly electronic sound friendly.
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Driver / Diaphragm Size
The model has powerful, 40mm full-range drivers which can provide great sound quality and crystal clear sound reproduction. It can deliver both a tight low end and wide frequency response, which helps with the sound clarity. The e-kit replication is quite solid and you can raise the volume so hard that your ears will hurt – great for people who are fans of loud noises. They do exactly what they are advertised to – and that is to present and output the full dynamic of electronic drum kits. You can easily distinguish every drum tone, which isn’t an easy job with many other headphone models that aren’t made especially for e-drums.
However, keep in mind that this model isn’t made for everyday use. The drivers aren’t intended to be used for other music apart from drums and the other instruments can sound a bit muffled and mixed.
Isolation
This model has an over-ear design which provides extremely good isolation. When you have them on, it becomes almost completely impossible to hear anything that is happening around you. This is great for anyone who works in a crowded studio or at their own home and doesn’t want to bother with loud neighbors and talking colleagues. At the same time, the sound leakage is minimum, unless you play the music really loud – and keep in mind that this model has the ability to turn the volume up to the almost unbearable volume, so you aren’t likely to use them at a maximum sound capacity.
Also, these headphones don’t have the technology to electronically block the outside sound, which is why it is said that they are isolating the outside noise, and not blocking it. All these details aside, you won’t hear anything while having them on.
Comfort
When you see cheap and big headphones one of the first questions that pop up in your head is “Are they comfortable enough?” Well, we have good news. Their over-ear design provides for a great coziness. They will sit perfectly still on your head which provides you stability even while you perform on stage. This isn’t a surprise as Alesis is a brand that is known to provide us with some of the most comfortable devices on the market. All of this is only amplified with their lightweight, which comes as quite a shock as these headphones are BIG. Even if you need to carry them on your head for a whole evening, they still won’t pinch your ears or feel heavy.
As a bonus, their headband is made out of sweat-proof silicone, which will not only help their stability and flexibility, but you also won’t have to worry about the smell.
Durability
Sadly, durability is one of the downsides of this model. Alesis usually provides great, long-lasting products but this just isn’t one of them. The silicone headband will save them from being breakable, but that’s where the protection ends. The problem that most users face is the most annoying one a headphone user can face, and that is that one side tends to lose sound rather quickly seemingly without any reason.
The good news is that every Alesis model has a long enough warranty that you can almost always return your model if it happens to malfunction and get a new one for free – and you can do that unlimited number of times. When we look at all the advantages of this unit, this shouldn’t be a deal-breaker, especially as it tends to happen even to many high-end products.
Portability and Connection
If you are a musician, you probably travel a lot, which is why the portability of your equipment is a must. These headphones are really light-weight, which means that you won’t have any problem carrying them around. Also, due to the silicone headband, they aren’t fragile, so you don’t have to worry about taking extra care about the bag you are carrying them in. They aren’t foldable, which is a petty as they are rather big, but due to their weight that doesn’t go over 13 ounces, you will be able to pack them in any bag, or even carry them around your neck without them becoming a nuisance. Also, a 4 ft cord is enough length for any drum lover, as they won’t tangle while carrying or using them, while also being long enough for you to be able to perform with them on.
How Does It Stand Out?
Unique design
The Alesis DRP100 model has a really nice and modern design. Black and the bright blue color combination is a true hit, as this makes them easily distinguishable from other models.
Silicone headband
The sweat-proof silicone headband is a great touch, as it provides huge levels of comfort, isolation and device protection all at once.
Made specially with electronic drums in mind
This is one of the few models that are made precisely with electronic drums in mind, which means that all of its features are adapted for people playing this instrument.
Stereo mini-plug and adapter included
When you order this model, you will also receive a stereo mini-plug (3.5 mm) and an adapter (6.3 mm), which is rather useful and a nice surprise when we look at the price.
F.A.Q.
Does the model come with a cord?
Do they have good sound isolation?
Can they be used instead of an amp?
Will they work on my iPhone?
Do they come with a warranty?
Will they move while you play drums?
How long do they last?
Are they wireless?
Conclusion
All in all, if you are an electronic drum player that is on a budget, this is probably the best pair of headphones you can find. They are made for drummers, which means they can stay on during all of your movements, even if you tend to jump around. The cord is short enough so you won’t tangle them, but long enough to provide all the basic drummer needs. The 40mm drivers will provide you with excellent sound that can’t be achieved even with several times more expensive products. The only downside to this model is that it isn’t as durable as we’d like – but if we look at the price that is less than $50, this is a great product for anyone who is both playing drums for themselves and working in a professional studio.
If this electronic drum set is not what you were looking for, check out our Best Headphones for Electronic Drums Post.
