- Learn the difference between the TD-50KV2 and TD-50K2!
- Find out which one will fit your needs best
- Also, check out our other comparison between Roland VAD 506 vs 507
The Roland TD-50KV2 and TD-50K2 are both great high-end electronic drum kits.
In this article, we break down the differences between these electronic drum kits and help you decipher which one is better, based on your requirements.
We’ll break it down based on the following:
TD-50KV2 vs TD-50K2: Differences and Which Is Best?
Both kits are high quality and would be excellent for practice, playing live, and in the studio. However, here are the main takeaways:
- The TD-50KV2 is a larger kit with bigger shell sizes, while the TD-50K2 is a more budget-friendly electronic drum kit.
- The TD-50KV2 is bigger and more expensive than the TD-50K2 (around $8,400 USD compared to about $6,400 USD).
- The TD-50KV2 has an extra pad, designed to be used as an additional tom.
- The TD-50KV2 also has a slight edge in its appearance, with a professional, stage-ready look.
Kit Size and Features
The Roland TD-50KV2 is a ten-piece drum kit, while the TD-50K2 is a nine-piece kit. Both kits have a snare, bass drum, three cymbals, and hi-hat.
The biggest difference lies in the tom setup. The TD-50KV2 has four toms, while the TD-50K2 only has three.
Both kits use the TD-50X module, so you’ll get the same samples and editing capabilities across both.
Drum Dimensions
The flagship TD-50KV2 has a 18” birch bass drum, while the TD-50K2 has a 14” metal shell bass drum.
The drums on the TD-50KV2 are designed to look more like real drums instead of the traditional drum pads usually associated with an electronic drum kit.
So, in addition to the bigger bass drum, the toms are also deeper than the more minimalist TD-50K2.
Both models have the 14” PD-140DS snare, which is deep and designed to look like a real snare drum.
Appearance
The TD-50KV2 boasts a professional appearance with the large toms and bass drum, so it’s a great choice for performers.
In contrast, the TD-50K2 looks somewhat more like a practice kit. Having said this, it would still be perfectly suitable for playing live If you are okay with the aesthetic of a more barebones electronic drum kit.
It doesn’t look bad by any means, but it’s a difference worth mentioning. And looks aside, the TD-50K2 might be a better deal for you because it is much more lightweight, portable, and has a smaller footprint.
Tom Setup
The toms in both the TD-50KV2 and TD-50K2 are all dual zone (head/rim), so functionally, they operate the same.
However, there are other differences. As mentioned, the TD-50KV2 has one extra tom, and the toms’ sizes and appearance differ between these electronic drum kits.
The cheaper TD-50K2 has three 10” PDX-100 toms, which are standard drum pads.
The TD-50KV2 has two 10” PD-108-BC toms and two 12” PD-128-BC toms.
These toms are 12.5” and 14.125” deep and, as a result, boast a similar appearance to those found on an acoustic drum kit.
If you get the TD-50K2 but later need a fourth tom, you can purchase it as an add-on. The TD-50K2 module has a jack for adding a fourth tom to the kit, so no worries there. A single PDX-100 tom can be picked up for around $270 USD.
Cymbal Setup
The ride and hi-hat setup is the same for both kits. However, Roland differentiated between the crash cymbals on either kit.
The TD-50KV2 has a pair of 16” crash ride pads for crashes 1 and 2. However, the TD-50K2 only has the 16” crash ride pad for crash 2. Crash 1 for the TD-50K2 is the smaller 14” crash pad.
However, this differentiation involves more than just the pad sizes. The 16” crash ride has three zones and can be configured to operate as a crash (bow/edge) or as a ride (bow/bell).
The 14” crash pad is only a dual zone and can only operate as a crash.
Drum Shell Material
Roland has gone all out on the TD-50KV2, providing you with a wooden bass drum, much like the V-drums Acoustic Design kits.
The TD-50KV2 has an 18” birch bass drum, which looks great both in the studio and on stage.
The TD-50K2 has a 14” kick pad with a metal shell. It is also worth mentioning that it is bigger than the kick pad featured on most competing electronic drum kits.
Both kicks are single zones, so functionally, they will operate the same between either model.
Much like the extra tom, if you buy the smaller kit and wish to acquire the birch bass drum, you can purchase it separately for around $1300. The drum frame of the TD-50K2 can accommodate this larger bass drum.
Stands
The TD-50KV2 ships with the MDS-Stage 2 stand, which can be considered a professional setup that one could take on a demanding tour. It has a rugged chrome finish with durable metal clamps.
The TD-50K2 has the MDS-Grand 2 stand, which has some metal and hard plastic parts. It’s also smaller than the TD-50KV2’s stand, as, of course, the TD-50K2 is a smaller kit.
The TD-50K2’s stand would be tough enough for gigging around town.
But if you are a touring musician putting the stand through its paces daily, you would likely prefer the MDS-Stage 2 stand supplied with the TD-50KV2.
Connectivity
Both kits share the same module. If you’re wondering whether the TD-50X module allows Bluetooth, unfortunately, it doesn’t. You’ll need to use one of their newer lines, such as the TD-27 to take advantage of Bluetooth connectivity.
However, you have access to the following:
- USB connectivity – The TD-50X module has a USB port that allows you to connect it to your computer for recording, editing, and transferring data and audio.
- MIDI connectivity – The module has MIDI In/Out ports that allow you to connect it to other MIDI devices, such as a computer, synthesizer, or sound module.
- Audio outputs – The module has eight audio outputs (Main Out, Direct Out, and Sub Out) that allow you to connect it to a mixing console, amplifier, or headphones.
- Trigger inputs – The module has 14 trigger inputs that allow you to connect electronic drum pads, cymbals, and other trigger devices.
- Footswitch inputs – The module has two footswitch inputs that allow you to connect footswitches for controlling functions such as start/stop, tempo, and more.
Before You Go…
The Roland TD-50KV2 and TD-50K2 are both high-quality, gig-ready electronic drum kits and are considered in the middle-of-the-line range in Roland’s V-kit ecosystem.
If you’re toying with the idea of entering their premium line, you may want to check out these write-ups:
