Quiet drum practice gear, by what is making the noise

A drum kit makes two kinds of noise, and most quiet-practice advice only fixes one. Sticks, heads and cymbals make airborne noise, which low-volume cymbals, mesh heads and mutes reduce. The kick and hi-hat pedals push noise into the floor, and only isolation under the pedals, or a different floor, touches that. This page puts the gear for both in one table, with each maker's own volume claim, and filters it by which problem you actually have.

By Raul Rodrigues. Checked on 2026-10-07. 13 tools, every fact sourced.

Three questions

Which one should you try first?

What is the main problem?

What do you want to do?

What do you have now?

Every row, one standard

The table

Tool	Kind	Platforms	Price model	Maker's claim	Reduces	Reversible	Snare sound	Triggers	Tools	Sizes	App Store	Google Play
Agean Cymbals Regular R Series Low Noise SetAgean Cymbals	cymbals	acoustic kit	hardware	Regular R: "clear cymbal tones with a lower volume", no figure given; the separate Flat R X-tra Silent line: "75% more quiet than normal cymbals (depending on the composition and size)"	airborne	✕	?	?	?	Regular R crash 14, 16, 17 and 18 inch; hi-hat 13 and 14 inch; ride 18 and 20 inch; also a china, splash and FX crash	not on this store	not on this store
Alesis Nitro Max KitAlesis	e-kit	no kit needed	hardware	"Premium mesh drum heads for a quiet yet natural response"; no figure given	airborne	?	✓	?	?	10 inch dual-zone mesh snare; three 8 inch mesh toms; 10 inch crash with choke, 10 inch ride, 10 inch hi-hat; kick drum tower	not on this store	not on this store
Evans dB One Low Volume Drumheads and CymbalsEvans by D'Addario	mesh heads	acoustic kit	hardware	heads: remain faithful to your kit’s tone while generating 80% less volume; cymbals: 80% less noise	airborne, drums and cymbals; Evans does not address floor noise	✕	✓	✓	✓	tom heads 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 18 in; snare heads 13 and 14 in; bass heads 18, 20, 22 and 24 in; cymbals 14 in hi-hats, 16 and 18 in crashes, 20 in ride; tom packs 10/12/14, 10/12/16 and 12/13/16 in	not on this store	not on this store
Evans SoundOff Drum and Cymbal MutesEvans by D'Addario	mutes	acoustic kit	hardware	Provides a 95% volume reduction	airborne, drums and cymbals; Evans does not address floor noise from pedals	✓	?	?	✕	drum mutes 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 in; bass drum mute; cymbal mute; 14 in hi-hat mute; 20 and 22 in ride mutes; Fusion Pack 10/12/14/14 in, Rock Pack 10/12/14/16 in, Standard Pack 12/13/14/16 in	not on this store	not on this store
Millenium Still Series Cymbal SetMillenium, a Thomann house brand	cymbals	acoustic kit	hardware	Up to 80% quieter cymbal set compared to a standard cymbal set	airborne, cymbals only; Thomann does not address floor noise	✕	?	?	✕	set of 14 in hi-hat, 16 in crash, 18 in crash and 20 in ride; singles 10 and 12 in splash, 13 and 14 in hi-hat, 16 and 18 in crash, 18 in china and 20 in ride	not on this store	not on this store
Remo Silentstroke DrumheadsRemo	mesh heads	acoustic kit	hardware	no figure stated; in Remo's words, Silentstroke drumheads provide a soft spring-like feel at very low decibel levels	airborne, drums only; Remo does not address floor noise	✕	?	✓	✓	drumheads 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16 and 18 in; bass drumheads 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24 in	not on this store	not on this store
Roland NE-10 Noise Eater and NE-1 Noise EaterRoland	isolation	electronic kit	hardware	"Reduces playing noise and vibration transfer through the floor to rooms below by approximately 75 percent, based on Roland test data"	structure-borne	✓	?	✓	✕	NE-10: 210 mm wide, 540 mm deep, 30 mm high, 2.8 kg; NE-1: 70 mm wide, 70 mm deep, 32 mm high, 110 g	not on this store	not on this store
Roland TD-07KV V-DrumsRoland	e-kit	no kit needed	hardware	"purpose-designed to be much quieter than other e-kits"; no figure given	both	?	✓	✓	?	PDX-8 8-inch snare pad; three PDX-6A 6-inch tom pads; KD-10 kick pad; two CY-8 12-inch crash and ride pads; 10-inch hi-hat	not on this store	not on this store
Roland VQD106 V-Drums Quiet DesignRoland	e-kit	no kit needed	hardware	"Up to 75 percent reduction in playing noise compared with a conventional V-Drums kit" (Roland's baseline is its own conventional V-Drums electronic kits, not acoustic drums); Roland also says "stick hits on the pads produce in-room sound levels similar to an average conversation"	both	?	✓	✓	?	PDQ-8S snare 8-inch playing surface with 10-inch rim; three PDQ-8 8-inch toms; KDQ-8 8-inch kick pad; three CYQ-12 12-inch cymbal pads for hi-hat, crash and ride	not on this store	not on this store
RTOM Black Hole Practice SystemRTOM	snap-on mesh	acoustic kit	hardware	instantly lowering the volume by up to 80%	airborne, drums only; RTOM does not address floor noise	✓	?	✓	✕	8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24 in; the 18, 20 and 22 in bass sizes use the V2 design; Starter Pack of 10, 12, 14, 16 and 22 in	not on this store	not on this store
Sabian Quiet Tone Practice Cymbals Set QTPC502Sabian	cymbals	acoustic kit	hardware	none stated by Sabian; its page says only that the cymbals were created specifically for practice and low volume sessions	airborne, cymbals only; Sabian does not address floor noise	✕	?	?	✕	QTPC502: 13 in hats, 14 in crash, 18 in crash ride; QTPC504: 14 in hats, 16 in crash, 18 in crash, 20 in ride	not on this store	not on this store
Yamaha DTX6 series (DTX6K-X and DTX6K2-X)Yamaha	e-kit	no kit needed	hardware	Yamaha Europe: TCS pads "providing unparalleled levels of realism, feel and quietness"; no figure given	airborne	?	✓	✓	?	DTX6K-X: XP80 8-inch TCS snare, three TP70 7-inch rubber toms, KP65 5-inch kick pad, 10-inch hi-hat and crash, PCY135 13-inch ride; DTX6K2-X: XP80 8-inch TCS snare, three TP70 7-inch rubber toms, KP90 7.5-inch kick pad, RHH135 13-inch hi-hat, two PCY135 13-inch crashes, PCY135 13-inch ride	not on this store	not on this store
Zildjian L80 Low Volume Cymbal PackZildjian	cymbals	acoustic kit	hardware	up to 80% quieter than traditional cymbals without losing the authentic Zildjian feel	airborne, cymbals only; Zildjian does not address floor noise	✕	?	?	✕	box sets 13/18 in, 13/14/18 in and 14/16/18 in; single cymbals 10 in splash, 14 in hi-hats, 16 in crash, 18 in crash ride, 18 in china and 20 in ride	not on this store	not on this store

Ratings and review counts are the stores' own, pulled on 2026-10-07. A cross means the feature is not there; a question mark means neither the store listing nor the maker says. No prices on purpose: they change monthly and the price model does not.

One by one

What each one is for, and what it is not

Zildjian L80 Low Volume Cymbal Pack

Zildjian · cymbals · acoustic kit · hardware

L80 cymbals take the place of your regular hi-hats, crash and ride, and Zildjian says they are up to 80% quieter than traditional cymbals without losing the authentic Zildjian feel. They only quiet the cymbals, so the drums still need mesh heads, mutes or snap-on mesh before the whole kit gets quieter.

Best for: Convert my kit, Keep the tone
Not for: Not for a drummer whose main complaint is kick pedal thumps through the floor, since Zildjian pitches L80 on cymbal volume and says nothing about floor noise.
Someone does it better: The Evans dB One Cymbal Pack covers four cymbals, 14 in hi-hats, 16 and 18 in crashes and a 20 in ride, and Evans says it is sonically balanced with its dB One mesh heads, while the biggest L80 box set has three cymbals and Zildjian makes no matching heads.
Free tier: Each box holds only the cymbals named on it: 13 in hi-hats and an 18 in crash ride in the 13/18 pack, plus a 14 in crash in the 13/14/18 pack, or 14 in hi-hats, a 16 in crash and an 18 in crash ride in the 14/16/18 pack; Thomann lists no cymbal bag.
Stores: App Store not on this store. Google Play not on this store. Thomann 107 ratings, 4.8 on the 14/16/18 box set; Thomann 63 ratings, 4.7 on the 13/14/18 box set; Thomann 48 ratings, 4.8 on the 13/18 box set; zildjian.com 5 reviews, 5.0 on the 14/16/18 pack. Maker

Sources (12)

Maker volume and feel claim. Zildjian's one-of-a-kind L80 Low Volume cymbals are up to 80% quieter than traditional cymbals without losing the authentic Zildjian feel. source
Maker collection headline. 80% QUIETER. SAME FEEL. source
Maker use cases. They are ideal for practice spaces, drum lessons, low volume gigs or anywhere you can't play loud. source
14/16/18 pack contents on the maker page. L80 Low Volume Cymbal Pack - 14/16/18" source
13/18 pack contents on the maker page. L80 Low Volume Cymbal Pack - 13/18" source
The 13/18 and 14/16/18 packs showed out of stock on zildjian.com on 2026-10-07. Out of Stock source
Single L80 sizes listed by the maker, including a china. 18" L80 Low Volume China source
Thomann rating and contents, 14/16/18 set. 4.8 out of 5 stars from 107 customer ratings source

4 more in the full Markdown version of this page.

Sabian Quiet Tone Practice Cymbals Set QTPC502

Sabian · cymbals · acoustic kit · hardware

Quiet Tone replaces your hats, crash and ride with practice cymbals that Sabian says respond and sustain like traditional cymbals, right down to a crisp sounding bell, so you do not have to change the way you play. Sabian itself gives no volume figure: the up to 80% quieter line you will see comes from retailers such as Thomann, not from Sabian's page.

Best for: Convert my kit, Keep the tone
Not for: Not for a drummer who wants the maker's own volume figure or a wide choice of sizes, since Sabian lists two sets and no number.
Someone does it better: Zildjian L80 comes in more configurations, from a two-piece 13/18 pack to single splash, china and ride cymbals, while Sabian lists only the QTPC502 and QTPC504 sets.
Free tier: The QTPC502 box has 13 in hats, a 14 in crash and an 18 in crash ride; Thomann lists no cymbal bag.
Stores: App Store not on this store. Google Play not on this store. Thomann 3 ratings, 4.7 on the QTPC502; no reviews yet on sabian.com. Maker

Sources (9)

QTPC502 set contents. The QTPC502 includes 13″ Hats, 14″ Crash and 18″ Crash Ride. source
Maker purpose statement, no volume figure. Created specifically for practice and low volume sessions source
Maker feel claim. designed to respond and sustain like traditional cymbals, so drummers won’t have to change the way they play source
Maker bell claim. Their true-to-life response is clear and natural right down to the crisp sounding bell. source
QTPC504 set contents. The QTPC504 includes 14″ Hats, 16″ Crash, 18″ Crash and 20″ Ride. source
Sabian's series page lists only two Quiet Tone sets. QUIET TONE PRACTICE CYMBALS SET QTPC504 source
No reviews on the maker page. Be the first to leave a review for this product. source
Retailer volume line, not Sabian's own words. Up to 80% quieter compared to standard cymbal sets source

1 more in the full Markdown version of this page.

Evans dB One Low Volume Drumheads and Cymbals

Evans by D'Addario · mesh heads · acoustic kit · hardware

dB One quiets a whole acoustic kit with mesh heads that Evans says keep your kit's tone at 80% less volume, a snare head whose Snare Sim mimics the crack and buzz of snare wire, and matching perforated cymbals. Fitting it means swapping your batter heads, so going back to full volume is a head change, not a quick switch.

Best for: Convert my kit, Keep the tone
Not for: Not for a drummer who switches between quiet practice and full volume every day, since every switch means changing heads.
Someone does it better: RTOM Black Hole snaps onto your existing heads without tools or head removal, so going back to full volume takes seconds.
Free tier: One mesh head per single, or the heads named on a pack; the Rock System + Cymbals pack adds 14 in hi-hats, 16 and 18 in crashes, a 20 in ride and a 22 in cymbal bag.
Stores: App Store not on this store. Google Play not on this store. Thomann 29 ratings, 4.2 on the 14 in snare head; Thomann 17 ratings, 4.9 on the Rock Pack Complete; Thomann 13 ratings, 4.7 on the Cymbal Pack; daddario.com 1 review, 3 stars on the Rock System + Cymbals. Maker

Sources (12)

Maker head volume and tone claim. remain faithful to your kit’s tone while generating 80% less volume source
Snare head simulates snare wire. transfers impact energy into sonic vibrations which mimic the crack and buzz of snare wire, while still maintaining a low volume source
Snare wires can stay on or come off. allows you to add or remove standard snare wire to alter the snare response to your liking source
Tom heads keep acoustic tone and feel, per the maker. dB One low volume drumheads offer quiet drumming, while still maintaining true acoustic tone and feel source
Maker cymbal volume claim. achieves a chime and resonance as articulate as many full-volume sets, but with 80% less noise source
Rock System + Cymbals pack contents. Also includes 14” hi-hats, 16” and 18” crash cymbals, and 20” ride cymbal with 22” cymbal bag. source
Rock System pack head contents. Pack includes 10” 12” and 16” dB One tom heads, 14” dB One snare drumhead, and a 22” dB One bass batter drumhead. source
Thomann rating, 14 in snare head. 4.2 out of 5 stars from 29 customer ratings source

4 more in the full Markdown version of this page.

Remo Silentstroke Drumheads

Remo · mesh heads · acoustic kit · hardware

Silentstroke heads replace your batter heads with durable 1-ply mesh for quiet practice in apartments and dorms, and Remo says they work well with external electronic triggers, so the same kit can drive a drum module later. Remo gives no volume figure and makes no claim about snare sound.

Best for: Convert my kit, Start small
Not for: Not for a drummer who switches back to full volume often, since each Silentstroke replaces a batter head.
Someone does it better: Evans dB One snare heads add Snare Sim to mimic the crack and buzz of snare wire, which Remo does not claim for Silentstroke.
Free tier: One single-ply mesh drumhead in the size you buy; Thomann also sells Fusion and Standard tom packs.
Stores: App Store not on this store. Google Play not on this store. Thomann 306 ratings, 4.7 on the 14 in head. Maker

Sources (8)

Maker says trigger friendly. Works well with external electronic triggers source
Maker purpose statement. designed for quiet practice applications where standard drumset volumes are an issue source
Maker volume wording, no figure. Silentstroke drumheads provide a soft spring-like feel at very low decibel levels source
Construction and use. Ideal for apartments, condos and dormitories source
Bass drumhead sizes on the maker page. Silentstroke Bass Drumhead, 24" source
Thomann rating, 14 in head. 4.7 out of 5 stars from 306 customer ratings source
Thomann describes trigger use. Ideal for practising quietly or for recording with electronic triggers source
Thomann sells tom packs. Remo Silent Stroke Tom Pack Fusion source

Evans SoundOff Drum and Cymbal Mutes

Evans by D'Addario · mutes · acoustic kit · hardware

SoundOff mutes are neoprene pads that sit on top of your drum heads and cymbals, and Evans claims a 95% volume reduction with excellent stick response while you practice on your traditional drum set. Evans makes no tone claim, and the bass drum mute is the lowest rated of the widely reviewed pieces at Thomann, 3.4 from 83 ratings.

Best for: Start small, Convert my kit
Not for: Not for a drummer who wants the drums to still sound like drums, since Evans pitches SoundOff on volume reduction and stick response, not tone.
Someone does it better: RTOM Black Hole gives a mesh surface you can tune from a single point and a rubber rim for practicing rim shots, neither of which Evans claims for SoundOff.
Free tier: The mutes named on the pack, for example the Fusion Pack's 10 in, 12 in and two 14 in drum mutes; cymbal, hi-hat, ride and bass drum mutes are listed as separate items.
Stores: App Store not on this store. Google Play not on this store. Thomann 192 ratings, 4.5 on the SO-0244 Fusion Pack; Thomann 264 ratings, 4.2 on the SO-Cym cymbal mute; Thomann 139 ratings, 4.5 on the SO-14 mute; Thomann 83 ratings, 3.4 on the SOBass bass drum mute. Maker

Sources (11)

Maker volume claim. Provides a 95% volume reduction source
Material. Durable neoprene construction built to withstand frequent practicing source
Used on your existing kit. EVANS SoundOff Mutes significantly reduce volume while you practice on your traditional drum set. source
Feel claim. Will not drastically alter the drums feel source
Pack volume claim. Drum mutes providing a 95% volume reduction source
Cymbal mute rebound claim. Realistic cymbal rebound source
Drum mutes sit on the head. Is placed on the skin source
Cymbal mute held by the stand screw. Simply placed on the cymbal and fixed in place via the cymbal stand screw source

3 more in the full Markdown version of this page.

RTOM Black Hole Practice System

RTOM · snap-on mesh · acoustic kit · hardware

Black Holes snap onto your existing drum heads without tools or head removal, and RTOM says they lower the volume by up to 80% while the mesh tunes from a single point and a rubber rim lets you practice rim shots. Check your hardware first: RTOM says they are not compatible with top-mount tom suspension systems, and die-cast or wooden hoops may need add-on hooks sold separately.

Best for: Convert my kit, Keep the tone
Not for: Not for a drummer who wants to use triggers already owned, since RTOM says most drum triggers do not give the best accuracy on Black Holes.
Someone does it better: Remo Silentstroke heads work with external electronic triggers per Remo, so triggers you already own can go on them, while Black Holes need RTOM's own bh Triggers for best accuracy.
Free tier: One snap-on mesh unit with its custom tuning key; bass drum sizes and the Starter Pack also include the conversion kit of 3 elastic attachments and a bass extender.
Stores: App Store not on this store. Google Play not on this store. rtom.com 61 ratings, 4.80; Thomann 61 ratings, 4.6 on the 14 in pad. Maker

Sources (10)

Maker volume claim and snap-on fit. The RTOM Black Hole Practice System easily snaps onto your existing drumheads, instantly lowering the volume by up to 80%. source
No tools, on and off in seconds. Black Holes easily snap on and off in seconds without any tools. source
Maker sound claim. They sound just like your real drums just quieter. source
Third party triggers are not ideal. most drum triggers do not provide the best accuracy with Black Holes source
RTOM's own triggers make it a hybrid kit. bh Single-Zone Triggers instantly transform acoustic drum heads outfitted with Black Holes into a hybrid kit. source
Not compatible with top-mount suspension. Black Holes are not compatible with this system type source
Tuning key included. The custom tuning key is included with each unit. source
Starter Pack sizes. the Starter Pack includes our 5 best-selling sizes, 10”, 12”, 14”, 16” and 22”. source

2 more in the full Markdown version of this page.

Millenium Still Series Cymbal Set

Millenium, a Thomann house brand · cymbals · acoustic kit · hardware

The Still Series swaps your hi-hat, crashes and ride for drilled practice cymbals that Thomann, which owns the Millenium brand, says are up to 80% quieter than a standard set while keeping an authentic feel. Thomann's own copy calls the sound hissing with a strong treble range, so treat it as a practice tool rather than a match for your regular cymbals.

Best for: Start small, Convert my kit
Not for: Not for a drummer who wants to buy at a local shop, since Millenium is Thomann's in-house brand and the set is sold through Thomann.
Someone does it better: Sabian says Quiet Tone keeps a clear, natural response right down to a crisp sounding bell, a sound claim Thomann does not make for the Still Series.
Free tier: A 14 in hi-hat, 16 and 18 in crashes and a 20 in ride; Thomann lists no cymbal bag.
Stores: App Store not on this store. Google Play not on this store. Thomann 336 ratings, 4.5 on the regular finish set; Thomann 273 ratings, 4.6 on the original set. Maker

Sources (10)

Maker volume claim, regular finish set. Up to 80% quieter cymbal set compared to a standard cymbal set source
Maker volume claim, original set. Up to 80% quieter compared to a standard cymbal set source
Maker's own sound description. The sound of these cymbals can be described as hissing, with a strong treble range source
How the volume is reduced. Small, precisely drilled holes are distributed all over the entire surface of the cymbal source
Set contents. The set includes a 14" hi-hat, a 16" and an 18" crash cymbal, and a 20" ride. source
Thomann owns the brand. Millenium is one of Thomann’s in-house brands source
Thomann's own advice for the drums. If you also muffle the shells of the drum set with standard rubber pads, you get a perfect practice set source
Thomann rating, regular finish set. 4.5 out of 5 stars from 336 customer ratings source

2 more in the full Markdown version of this page.

Agean Cymbals Regular R Series Low Noise Set

Agean Cymbals · cymbals · acoustic kit · hardware

Handmade B20 bronze cymbals with hand drilled holes that Agean says produce rich and clear cymbal tones with a lower volume; Agean calls them real cymbals with real feel, for home practice and smaller gigs. Agean puts no number on the Regular R line; its "75% more quiet than normal cymbals" claim belongs to the separate Flat R X-tra Silent line, and Thomann does not list the brand.

Best for: Keep the tone, Convert my kit
Not for: Not for a drummer whose main problem is the neighbor below, because cymbals do nothing about kick and hi-hat pedal thumps through the floor.
Someone does it better: Zildjian's L80 Low Volume box sets are sold at Thomann, where the 468 set alone has 107 customer ratings; Thomann does not list Agean.
Free tier: The Regular R Low Noise Set holds a 14 inch hi-hat, a 16 inch crash and a 20 inch ride plus a cymbal bag.
Stores: App Store not on this store. Google Play not on this store. Maker

Sources (10)

B20 construction and low noise positioning; R stands for Ruhig (quiet). the R Series (the name is derived from the word “Ruhig” which is German for “Quiet”), is a handmade innovative low noise cymbal source
Drilled holes, lower volume (Agean's own words, no figure). hand drilled one at a time to produce beautifully rich and clear cymbal tones with a lower volume source
Set contents. This set contains 14″hi-hat, 16″ crash, 20″ ride + Cymbals bag. source
Positioned for home practice and small gigs. These cymbals are not only perfect for home practising but excellent for smaller gigs too. source
Regular R crash sizes. Available sizes: 14″, 16″, 17″ and 18″ source
Regular R hi-hat sizes. Available Sizes: 13″ and 14″ source
Regular R ride sizes. Available Sizes: 18″ and 20″ source
The 75% figure is stated for the Flat R X-tra Silent line, not the Regular R. These handmade, Turkish cymbals are 75% more quiet than normal cymbals (depending on the composition and size) source

2 more in the full Markdown version of this page.

Roland NE-10 Noise Eater and NE-1 Noise Eater

Roland · isolation · electronic kit · hardware

Rubber-damped boards and feet that go under V-Drums kick pads, pedals and hi-hat stands to cut the thumps that travel through the floor, which Roland says reduces transfer to rooms below by approximately 75 percent based on its own test data. Roland designs them specifically for V-Drums, and with a V-Kick or V-Hi-Hat on a stand you need NE-1 feet under the legs as well as the NE-10 board.

Best for: Neighbor below
Not for: Not for acoustic drummers or for stick noise: Roland lists only V-Drums kick, pedal and hi-hat setups and targets floor transfer, not pad strikes.
Someone does it better: The Roland VQD106 kit also reduces pad strike noise with honeycomb rubber pads and a quiet beater, where the Noise Eater only isolates pedals and stand legs.
Free tier: The NE-10 is one isolation board for a kick or hi-hat pedal and the NE-1 is one isolation foot for a stand leg (Thomann sells each as 1 piece); Roland does not list box contents.
Stores: App Store not on this store. Google Play not on this store. Thomann NE-10 139 ratings, 4.5; Thomann NE-1 36 ratings, 4.3. Maker

Sources (8)

Roland's own test figure for floor transfer. Reduces playing noise and vibration transfer through the floor to rooms below by approximately 75 percent, based on Roland test data source
Designed for V-Drums kick pads, pedals and hi-hat control pedals. The NE-10 Noise Eater is a unique sound isolation board designed specifically for use with V-Drums kick pads/pedals and hi-hat control pedals. source
Installed by placing it under the pedal or pad (no head change). placing the NE-10 under a pedal/pad dramatically reduces the transfer of noises and vibrations through the floor caused by normal playing source
Works with Roland kick triggers and hi-hat controller. Use standalone with KD-9 Kick Pad, KD-7 Kick Trigger, or FD-8 Hi-Hat Control Pedal source
With stand-mounted V-Kick or V-Hi-Hat, NE-1 units are also needed. companion NE-1 Noise Eater units (sold separately) must also be used under stand legs for maximum effectiveness source
NE-1 is a foot for stand legs in a V-Drums set, same claim. a small sound isolation foot designed to be used with a kick pad and hi-hat stand in a V-Drums set source
Thomann rating NE-10. 4.5 out of 5 stars from 139 customer ratings source
Thomann rating NE-1, sold as single piece. 4.3 out of 5 stars from 36 customer ratings source

Roland VQD106 V-Drums Quiet Design

Roland · e-kit · no kit needed · hardware

A complete Roland e-kit built around quiet playing: honeycomb rubber inserts under mesh heads, a quiet kick beater and rubber-footed bases under the kick and hi-hat pedals. Roland says it cuts playing noise by up to 75 percent compared with a conventional V-Drums kit, which is Roland's own electronic kit, not an acoustic drum set. The drums are 8 inch pads, and you supply your own kick pedal and throne.

Best for: Neighbor below, Go electronic
Not for: Not for drummers who want full-size pads or a kit that is complete out of the box, since the pads are 8 inch and the kick pedal and throne are sold separately.
Someone does it better: The Alesis Nitro Max ships with a kick pedal, sticks and a drum key in the box, where the VQD106 leaves out the kick pedal and throne.
Free tier: A complete e-kit with TD-07 module, quiet design pads and cymbals, FD-9 hi-hat pedal, quiet kick beater, isolating pedal bases and a four-post stand; kick pedal and throne are not included.
Stores: App Store not on this store. Google Play not on this store. Thomann 3 ratings, 5.0. Maker

Sources (9)

Roland's headline noise figure, relative to its own conventional kits. Up to 75 percent reduction in playing noise compared with a conventional V-Drums kit source
Roland's in-room comparison. stick hits on the pads produce in-room sound levels similar to an average conversation source
Mesh over honeycomb rubber pads. The PDQ-8S and PDQ-8 pads are built with a noise-absorbing honeycomb rubber insert covered with a mesh head. source
Pedal bases aimed at floor noise. the dedicated NEQ-K and NEQ-H bases for kick and hi-hat pedals also have special rubber foot designs to keep foot stomps contained source
Snare pad with head and rim triggering, 8 inch surface. PDQ-8S snare pad with 8-inch playing surface, 10-inch rim, and independent head/rim triggering source
Module plays sampled acoustic drum sounds. The TD-07 is a versatile sound module featuring high-quality acoustic and electronic drum sounds captured in professional studios source
Pads work with other Roland modules. The pads are compatible with the V31, V51, and V71 modules, as well as the legacy TD-17, TD-27, and TD-50X. source
Kick pedal and throne not included. Kick pedal and drum throne not included (sold separately). source

1 more in the full Markdown version of this page.

Alesis Nitro Max Kit

Alesis · e-kit · no kit needed · hardware

A complete eight piece e-kit with mesh heads on the snare and toms that Alesis says enable accurate playing while maintaining a quiet environment suitable for home use, with a kick pedal, sticks and a drum key in the box. Alesis gives no noise figure and makes no claim about kick or hi-hat noise through the floor.

Best for: Go electronic, Start small
Not for: Not for a flat above a neighbor where pedal thumps are the issue, because Alesis makes no claim about floor noise or pedal isolation.
Someone does it better: Roland's VQD106 puts rubber-footed isolation bases under the kick and hi-hat pedals and quotes up to 75 percent less playing noise than a conventional V-Drums kit, where Alesis only calls its mesh heads quiet.
Free tier: A complete eight piece kit with module, mesh snare and toms, three cymbal pads, kick tower with kick pedal, hi-hat foot controller, rack, cables, sticks, drum key and power supply.
Stores: App Store not on this store. Google Play not on this store. Thomann 148 ratings, 4.3. Maker

Sources (7)

Maker's quiet claim for the mesh heads (no figure). Premium mesh drum heads for a quiet yet natural response source
Maker positions it for home use. enables accurate playing while maintaining a quiet environment, suitable for home use source
Snare pad and drum sounds. It features a 10” dual-zone snare drum for dynamic play, (3) 8” toms, (3) 10” cymbals source
Realistic drum sounds in the module. Nitro Max includes an amazing sounding collection of realistic drum and percussion sounds. source
Kick pedal included. Kick drum tower with kick drum pedal source
Box contents. Connection cables, drum sticks, drum key, and power supply included source
Thomann rating. 4.3 out of 5 stars from 148 customer ratings source

Roland TD-07KV V-Drums

Roland · e-kit · no kit needed · hardware

A compact Roland kit with double-ply mesh snare and tom pads, a damped kick pad and a stand designed to reduce vibration and noise transfer to the floor, which Roland says is purpose-designed to be much quieter than other e-kits. Roland gives no figure, sells its Noise Eater isolation separately, and Thomann no longer lists this kit although Roland's site still does.

Best for: Go electronic
Not for: Not for drummers who need pedal isolation in the box or a published noise figure, since Roland sells Noise Eater options separately and states no number.
Someone does it better: Roland's own VQD106 uses the same TD-07 module but adds quiet design pads, a quiet beater and pedal isolation bases with a stated reduction of up to 75 percent versus a conventional V-Drums kit.
Free tier: A compact e-kit with TD-07 module, mesh snare and tom pads, KD-10 kick pad, two 12 inch cymbal pads, a hi-hat pad with integrated pedal and a four-post rack; kick pedal and throne are not included.
Stores: App Store not on this store. Google Play not on this store. Long & McQuade 3 reviews, 5.0; Thomann no longer lists it. Maker

Sources (10)

Maker's quiet claim (no figure). the TD-07KV is purpose-designed to be much quieter than other e-kits source
Mesh pads and damped kick pad. Mesh heads minimize pad noise without compromising stick rebound, and special damping in the kick pad reduces noise and vibration source
Stand designed to reduce floor transfer. Even the stand components are designed to reduce vibration and noise transfer to the floor source
Further noise options are optional extras. Roland offers a range of optional solutions to further reduce noise if needed source
Snare sounds are selectable in the module. Switch out one snare for another, mix up the toms, go large on the kick drum source
Pad sizes. One PDX-8 8-inch snare pad with independent head and rim zones for assigning different sounds and three PDX-6A 6-inch single-zone tom pads source
Trigger inputs on the module. TRIGGER INPUT connector: DB-25 type source
Kick pedal and throne not included. Kick pedal and drum throne are not included. source

2 more in the full Markdown version of this page.

Yamaha DTX6 series (DTX6K-X and DTX6K2-X)

Yamaha · e-kit · no kit needed · hardware

Yamaha says the DTX6 series uses TCS silicone pads providing realism, feel and quietness, with air bubbles that soften the stick sound, and that some DTX-PRO firmware V2 kits can add snare wire sounds. On the DTX6K-X and DTX6K2-X only the snare is TCS while the toms are rubber, Yamaha gives no noise figure, and Thomann no longer sells the DTX6K-X.

Best for: Go electronic
Not for: Not for drummers choosing mainly on quietness, since Yamaha publishes no noise figure for the DTX6 and makes no pedal or floor noise claim.
Someone does it better: The Alesis Nitro Max puts mesh heads on the snare and all three toms, where the DTX6K-X and DTX6K2-X use rubber tom pads.
Free tier: DTX-PRO module, an 8 inch TCS snare pad, three 7 inch rubber tom pads, kick pad, hi-hat and cymbal pads and a rack; the DTX6K2-X adds an HS650A hi-hat stand.
Stores: App Store not on this store. Google Play not on this store. Thomann DTX6K2-X 6 ratings, 5.0; Thomann no longer sells the DTX6K-X. Maker

Sources (9)

Yamaha's quietness claim for TCS pads (no figure). The DTX6 series is equipped with TCS (Textured Cellular Silicone) pads, providing unparalleled levels of realism, feel and quietness. source
How TCS reduces stick sound. The air bubbles in the TCS head also serve as a cushion to soften the stick sound. source
DTX6K-X and DTX6K2-X snare is TCS. XP80 (8-inch) TCS head 3-zone pad source
DTX6K-X and DTX6K2-X toms are rubber. TP70 (7-inch) Rubber head 1-zone pad source
Snare wire sound simulation in some kits. the Effect knob can now be used to adjust even realistic resonances and noises, such as shell resonances and snare wire sounds (Bleed function) source
Trigger inputs and hybrid use. Up to 14 pads can be connected to the trigger input terminals source
Mesh with a noise claim is only on the DTX6K5-M. The mesh pads use two-ply heads made by Remo. They boast outstanding noise reduction source
Thomann rating DTX6K2-X. 5.0 out of 5 stars from 6 customer ratings source

1 more in the full Markdown version of this page.

What the data says

What we found

Almost every claim is 80 percent, and none of them can be compared

Zildjian says its L80 cymbals are up to 80 percent quieter, Evans says 80 percent less for dB One, RTOM says up to 80 percent for the Black Hole, Millenium says up to 80 percent for the Still Series, and Evans says 95 percent for SoundOff mutes. Roland's figures, up to 75 percent, compare with its own electronic kits, not with acoustic drums. Remo, Sabian and Agean give no figure for these products at all; the 80 percent you may have seen for Sabian Quiet Tone comes from retailer copy, not Sabian. Each maker measures its own way, so a higher number is not a quieter product.

Only Roland talks about the floor

Of the 13 products in this table, ten deal only with airborne noise: what you hear from sticks, heads and cymbals. The three that address noise through the floor, the one a neighbor below complains about, are all Roland's: the Noise Eater boards under the pedals, which Roland lists for its own V-Drums, and the VQD106 and TD-07KV kits. If the complaint comes from downstairs, quieter cymbals will not fix it.

Mutes and snap-on mesh are the ways back

Mesh heads and dB One heads replace the heads on your drums, and low-volume cymbals replace your cymbals, so getting your kit back means swapping them again. SoundOff mutes and the RTOM Black Hole sit on top of the drums you have and come off in seconds, which is why the Reversible column matters if you also play the kit loud.

Method

How we checked

Where the facts come from. Every spec, feature tick and claim comes from the maker's own page, a store listing, a manual or a retailer's spec sheet, read on 2026-10-07, and the exact words relied on are kept with each row (open "Sources" on any card). Retail ratings are the retailer's own count on that date. A feature is marked yes only when one of those sources says it; when none does, it is shown as unknown rather than as no.

How it was checked. Every row was researched once and then handed to a second, independent pass whose only job was to break it: open the same pages, check every spec, every tick, every rating and every quote. Rows it could not confirm were corrected, marked unknown, or dropped before publishing.

What this page does not measure yet. Every volume figure on this page is the maker's own claim, quoted. We have not measured any of this gear, and makers measure in different ways, so a claimed 80 percent from one maker is not comparable with a claimed 80 percent from another. When we run a sound level test, in one room, with one method, the numbers will be here.

No prices. Prices change weekly across retailers and regions. The retailer shows today's price.

FAQ

Questions drummers ask about quiet drum practice gear, by what is making the noise.

Is there a way to practice drums quietly?

Yes, in layers. Low-volume cymbals and mesh heads or mutes cut most of what you hear in the room. Isolation under the pedals cuts what your neighbors feel through the floor. An electronic kit with headphones does both for the drums but still thumps at the pedals. Pick the layer that matches the complaint.

How do I make drums quiet in an apartment?

Find out what the neighbors hear. If it is the cymbals and snare, low-volume cymbals and mesh heads or mutes are the fix. If it is the kick, the noise travels through the floor, and only isolation under the pedals helps. The apartment guide on this site explains the two kinds of noise in detail.

What are the quietest cymbals?

Low-volume cymbals are perforated or made from softer alloys, and their makers claim large reductions; the table quotes each claim. The trade-off is sound: the quietest ones sound least like a cymbal, and the ones that keep a bell are louder. We have not measured them against each other yet.

Mesh heads or drum mutes?

Mesh heads replace your heads and feel springier than a real drum, but cut a lot of volume and work with triggers. Mutes sit on top of your heads, go on and off in seconds, and deaden the rebound. If you want to switch back and forth, mutes or snap-on mesh are the reversible options; the Reversible column shows which.

Is an electronic kit really silent?

Not quite. The pads are quiet and you hear the sound in headphones, but the kick pedal and hi-hat pedal still hit the floor, and that thump is what reaches a neighbor below. Isolation boards or a riser under the pedals are the usual answer, and they are in the table.

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