Wondering what the best amplifiers for Roland V-Drums are? There are plenty of amps on the market.
But finding the right one for you takes a little bit of foresight and research. This is exactly why we created this article to help guide you on your buying journey
In this guide you’ll learn the following:
- What Are Amplifiers For Roland V-Drums?
- What Are The Different Types of Amplifiers Available For Roland V-Drums?
- What Amplifier Do I Need For My Roland V-Drums?
- And much more!
Below is a quick list of all my top picks. Keep scrolling to learn more about my top buying tips and tricks to find the best amp for your Roland V-Drums.
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My Top Pick
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My Top Pick
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Roland PM-100 Electronic Drum Amplifier
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Best Budget
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Best Budget
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Roland BA-330 Portable PA System
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Best High-End
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Best High-End
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Powerwerks Portable PA System (PW50)
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Roland PM-03 Electronic Drum Amplifier
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Roland CM-30 Cube Monitor
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My Overall #1 Pick
Updated 4/28/2020
- Designed for Roland V-Drums
- Built-in EQ
- Good Connectivity
If you’re looking for a competitively priced, well made, great sounding amplifier that’s specifically designed to accompany your Roland V-Drums, then look no further! The Roland PM-100 has got you covered.
With its custom made 10” speaker and 80 Watts of power, this is a great option for V-Drummers looking to hear their drums as they should.
Your cymbals will sound crisp without being harsh and your kick drum will have the ample low-frequency punch it needs!
As well as a headphone jack, it also includes a ⅛ inch jack input for iPhone/mp3 connectivity, meaning you can easily bash away to your favorite songs.
Perfect for use at home and garage band jams alike!
Top 5 Best Amplifiers for Roland-V Drums
In a hurry? Check out our Top 5 picks below! Keep reading to learn more about these amplifiers for drums!
- Roland PM-100 Electronic Drum Amplifier (My Top Pick)
- Roland BA-330 Portable PA System (Best High-End)
- Powerwerks Portable PA System (PW50) (Best Budget)
- Roland PM-03 Electronic Drum Amplifier
- Roland CM-30 Cube Monitor
It's important to consider what you're aiming to accomplish with the amp you choose. So if you want to learn what to look for, keep reading!
What Are Amplifiers For Roland V-Drums?
So, you’ve bought yourself a beautiful new Roland V-drum kit and you want to hear those great high-quality drum sounds without having to use headphones…
OR
You’re an avid e-drum kit performer looking to project those electronic drums to a devoted audience of fans….
You’re gonna need an amplifier!
An amplifier is simply a powered speaker that ‘amplifies’ (makes louder) the sounds that you put through it. In this case, it will be the sounds from your Roland V-Drum module.
Throughout this guide, I’ll be reviewing some of the best options for amplifying your V-Drums depending on your specific needs and budget.
What Are The Different Types of Amplifiers Available For Roland V-Drums?
There is a broad range of amplifiers to suit any situation, whether that be quiet home practice, or performing for a room full of gig-goers!
Your Roland V-Drums will have a massive frequency range, from sizzling high-frequencies of the cymbals, all the way to the thunderous lows of the kick and floor tom. Therefore to get the best out of your V-drums the amplifier you use will need to be able to handle this huge sonic range.
Here are the different types of amplifiers that will cover pretty much any musical eventuality you’ll encounter on your Roland V-Drum kit.
Electronic Drum Kit Specific Amps
These types of amplifiers are specially designed to reproduce the broad dynamic and frequency range that an electronic drum set produces.
These personal monitor amplifiers are often created for use at home so you can monitor the sounds coming from your e-drums, rather than being used for projecting to a large audience.
Because of this, they tend to be on the quieter side. However, they generally have a great sound for e-kits, with built-in EQ (sound equalizer) so you can tailor the high and low frequencies to your taste.
Some even have built-in effects such as reverb and delay…
Portable PA Systems
A PA system (public address system) consists of an amplifier and speakers for general use with a multitude of different instruments and microphones.
If you’ve ever seen a band live they have most probably had most of their instruments amplified through a PA system (including vocals).
Therefore PA systems are often designed with pretty generic frequency response, making them ideal for a range of different instruments…
They aren’t specially designed for electronic drums but can work really well nonetheless.
PA systems come in a massive range of sizes, wattage (general volume) and prices.
For use with electronic drums, you’ll probably want to look for a ‘Portable’ PA system. These systems are designed as an ‘all-in-one’ unit, consisting of an amplifier, mixing desk and speaker all housed in a convenient portable unit.
The benefit with portable PA systems is that they are available in much higher outputs than e-drum specific amps, meaning you can play at much higher volumes to project to an audience, while still being small enough to throw in the back of your car!
PA systems also have the added benefit of the extra instrument and XLR (microphone cable) inputs, allowing you to connect more instruments (or mics) into the unit simultaneously….great for jamming!
Keyboard Amplifiers
Keyboard amps act in a very similar way to portable PA systems. They have a very broad frequency response which is ideal for the huge range in frequencies that a keyboard can produce...
This also bodes well for use with your Roland kit.
Similar to electronic kit specific amps, they usually have a built-in EQ which is great for tailoring your drum kits overall sound.
BEWARE!
Don’t be tempted to buy a guitar amp for use with an electronic drum kit. Guitar amps are designed for the specific frequency range that a guitar produces...this will leave your electronic drums sounding weak, flat and often distorted.
Similarly, bass amps will sound great for your kick and floor tom but won’t be very good at dealing with the high-frequency cymbals...leaving your drums sounding dull and muddy.
What Amplifier Do I Need For My Roland V-Drums?
Great question!
The answer depends on two key things:
- What are you going to use the amplifier for?
- What is your budget?
What Are You Using the Amp For?
Firstly you need to decide on what you will be using the amplifier for.
If you want something that will simply amplify the sounds from your kit so you can hear them for your own home practice, then all you’ll need is a small electronic drum kit specific amplifier. Often called a personal drum monitor.
Similarly, these amps will work well for quieter band rehearsals and jam sessions with your friends….however, if your guitarist has an obsession with big loud amps (as most of them do!) you might be better off looking into a portable PA system…
Portable PA systems will suit the drummer that wants something that puts out more volume for loud rehearsals or for their own gigs. Good portable PA systems tend to be higher in price than electronic drum amplifiers, but they will allow you to project to a larger audience without any distortion.
Another benefit of portable PA’s is that you can plug other instruments through them at the same time, making jam sessions with other musicians even easier!
What is Your Budget for An Amp?
Another big determining factor behind your choice is the budget you have to work with.
In general, the louder the amp, the more expensive it will be!
Therefore if you’re on a tight budget and want to amplify your drums, I suggest getting the best quality e-drum specific or keyboard amplifier you can afford.
This will allow you to have a great solution for home practice AND you can use it as a monitor to hear yourself at gigs, while the more powerful PA system (commonly found at music venues) can project your sound to the audience instead (via a ‘line out’ from the amp).
My Review of The Best 5 Amplifiers For Roland-V Drums
Pick #1 - Roland PM-100 Electronic Drum Amplifier (My Top Pick)
What better way to amplify the sounds from your V-Drums than to pair it with the amplifier designed by Roland for that very purpose!
As an owner of many Roland electronics and V-Drums myself, I can attest to their fantastic quality and craftsmanship...I have some e-drums and amplifiers that are over 15 years old and still going strong!
This Roland V-Drum amp solution includes 80 Watts of power, an angled custom 10” speaker and tweeter and a dedicated volume controls and 2 band EQ (treble and bass).
It also has a handy ⅛ inch (3.5mm) jack input...allowing you to plug in your iPhone or Mp3 player so you can jam along with your favorite tracks.
If you’re looking for a great solid amp solution for home practice or home band jams then this amp is perfect...making it my #1 Top Pick!
(Note: if you need more volume Roland make a beefy Roland PM-200 180 Watt version too…..bonus!)
Pros
- Designed for Roland V-Drums
- Built-in EQ
- Good Connectivity
Cons
- Not very loud
Pick #2 - Roland BA-330 Portable PA System (Best High End)
Designed as an all in one PA solution for small ensembles and individual musicians, this system would be an ideal choice for the drummer looking to take their Roland V-Drums on the road.
This system can be placed on a stand or on the floor at an angle, therefore equally great as an outward-facing PA or drum monitor.
It also includes EQ and effects such as reverb and delay, giving you even more ways to customize your drum sound.
A ⅛ jack input for your iPhone, mp3 or computer comes as standard so you can jam along to your favorite tracks...or if you use backing tracks live.
If you’re looking for a great all-round performance solution for your Roland V-Drums then this would be a great choice.
Pros
- Built-in EQ
- High-quality sound
- Built-in effects
Cons
- Expensive
- Not specifically designed for V-drums
Pick #3 - Powerwerks Portable PA System (PW50) (Best Budget)
If you’re on a tight budget and need something that allows you to hear your Roland V-Drums for practicing at home, without taking up much room, then this portable PA system is for you.
This 50-watt system includes 3 channels, a basic EQ and a ⅛ inch jack input for iPhone/mp3 player connectivity (a great feature at this price).
At this price point, it probably won’t win any awards for sound quality or overall volume, but if you need something cheap but effective to amplify your V-Drums at home then this PA system is worth considering.
It would be a great option for a beginner drummer looking to get a cost-effective amp solution to go with their entry-level Roland V-Drums.
Pros
- Affordable
- Built-in EQ
- Heavy-duty casing/carry handle
Cons
- Not very powerful
- Not the best sound quality
Personally I would only use this kit for personal home monitoring of your electric drums.
It won’t have the volume for rehearsals or performances….but it is a great solution for someone short on space, or doesn’t want a big garish amplifier in their living room!
Pros
- Designed for Roland V-Drums
- Compact
- Stylish
Cons
- Not very loud
- No EQ
If you’re looking for a super portable practice amp/drum set monitor solution, that's packed full of great features, then this Roland CM30 cube amplifier is the way to go!
This thing is tiny (seriously I mean it!), but don’t let its small stature fool you. With it’s 30 Watt 2-way coaxial speaker it really puts out some volume for something so small.
I have a Roland Cube Bass amp in the same line and it has been the most reliable piece of equipment I’ve ever owned. It’s had been thrown on it, it’s been dropped, kicked….you name it and it’s still going strong 10 years later!
With a total of 5 separate inputs, including a ⅛ inch jack for mp3 players/iPhones, etc the connectivity of this thing is fantastic.
This PA system would be great for someone looking for an incredibly portable/space-saving solution for home practice, that’s super versatile and will withstand everything you can throw at it!
Pros
- Very Portable
- Built-in EQ
- Rugged design
- Good connectivity
Cons
- Limited volume
- Higher price point compared to similar offerings
Final Thoughts On Amplifiers For Roland V-Drums
So there you have it! Some great options for V-drummers to amplify those punchy electronic-based grooves.
Whether you need quiet home monitoring or you’re blaring out rock grooves to a packed house, these options have got you covered.
If you need more inspiration check out my other article ‘Best Electronic Drum Amps’’ (NEEDS LINK), which includes some more great choices for your Roland V-Drum adventures.
Also for those on a budget check out some great cost-effective alternatives for My #1 Top Pick, such as the Kat percussion 50W amplifier, Ddrum DDa50 or the Coolmusic Dk-35.
