While “drum amps” and “drum headphones” sometimes get called out in the community for being sold as snake oil, it’s always worth going into any review with open ears and minds.
The good people at Roland were kind enough to send me a pair of the Roland VMH-D1 so I could express my thoughts.
However, no money was exchanged, nor was I asked to modify what’s been typed here in any way, shape, or form… so these opinions are my own. With that out of the way, onwards with the review.
Verdict
After spending a couple of weeks with the Roland VMH-D1 headphones to pair with my Roland VAD507, the headphones did not fail to impress.
From the sturdy construction and plush earcups, to the spectacularly tuned drivers perfect for drum tracking, the VMH-D1s tick all the right boxes for the modern electronic drummer.
Roland VMH-D1 Review
Sound Quality: (8/10)
My initial curiosity going into this review was to understand what these headphones would offer over regular studio cans.
As mentioned earlier, the whole concept of “drum-specific amps” and “drum-specific headphones” can give off a little bit of a gimmicky vibe, as it begs the question as to whether they offer anything extra compared to their regular counterparts.
This skepticism was quickly subdued upon a few quick listens through various rock and metal tracks…
So, how did they sound?
These cans were in no way ‘flat’, and they weren’t designed to be.
Unlike the brutally honest profile of, say, a pair of Sonarworks-calibrated headphones, these cans delivered a sonic signature closer to a ‘hi-fi’ experience, but without ever entering that “overbearing smiley-face curve” profile that you get with cheaper cans.
As I ran the headphones through various genres, including Pop Punk, Shoegaze, and various Electronica, one thing that did jump out at me was how well the headphones presented drum transients.
Travis Barker’s frantic drumming in the verse of Anthem Part 2 felt ‘closer’ than ever, creating a vivid, immersive listening experience that was as visceral as it was exciting (especially when turned up loud).
Shoegaze has a naturally ‘hazy’ sound profile that can sound overbearingly muddy in some headphones.
Upon playing ‘Glow’ by Slow Crush, the cloudy wall-of-sound guitars had a defined separation from the drums, allowing the mono thwack of the snare and kick to be easily heard.
This boosted my confidence when jamming along with the track, helping me keep time better than using my regular Beyerdynamic DT-770s.
On the Electronica front, tracks ‘Presence’ and ‘Realize’ by Synkro sounded loud, punchy, and clear. These tracks are particularly weighty in the sub-bass department, which carried over perfectly to the VMH-D1 without ever feeling like it was swamping the groove.
Even at cranked volumes, the headphones did a great job of not breaking up or emitting any high-end harshness.
Simply playing isolated stock kits through my TD-27, it felt like the headphones were truly showing off Roland’s Prismatic Sound Modelling. Snappy kick and snare transients, and really smooth, trailing decays on the toms and cymbals made for a really enjoyable experience.
It’s worth mentioning here that the Roland VMH-D1 was developed in collaboration with the popular headphone brand V-MODA.
The marketing literature states that they went through multiple iterations in development cycles to craft what they believe are the perfect headphones for electronic drums.
Custom 50mm drivers, select materials, and innovative mounting methods all came together to help “translate the aggressive transients, wide frequency range, and rich overtones of every electronic drum set”.
All in all, I can confidently say that based on the sound profile alone, this Roland and V-MODA collaboration was a success, from ideation all the way through to execution.
If I had to nitpick, I do wish the VMH-D1s had a little bit of extra noise isolation. At low headphone/practice volumes, I could still hear the ‘thock’ of the pads.
However, this is barely noticeable at medium to high volumes, especially when playing over full tracks.
Comfort: (9/10)
At around 0.6 lbs or 0.27 kg, the VMH-D1 headphones’ weight distribution felt solid. The headband is made of lightweight material, while the earcups provide a satisfying amount of heft.
This added weight on the cups must largely be from the white metal plates that house the earcups, which by the way – look pretty cool.
I generally spend anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour on each session behind the drums (at one time). Not once did I ever feel like my ears were sore, nor did I ever feel like the top of my skull was irritated by the headband.
The padding around the ears is luxuriously soft, and overall – these headphones are top-notch in terms of comfort.
Construction: (8/10)
There are some great quality-of-life features thrown into the VMH-D1s that I appreciated. For one, the 3-meter drumming cable and an extra 1.5-meter cable for listening.
The cables do feel a little on the thin/flimsy side, though, so a strong enough snag could break them if you’re not careful. The clip-on hanger attachment they give you is also super thoughtful, and sits great on my V drums.
As mentioned earlier, the metal plates on the outside of the earcups are a signature aesthetic of the VMH-D1s. However, they also provide a nice outer protective shell, making these cans feel rugged and designed for the road.
The pads use a soft and plushy synthetic leather, with an added protective film to prevent them from fraying over time.
Value For Money: (7/10)
No beating around the bush; these aren’t ‘budget headphones’. At around $180USD, these cans come in more expensive than the likes of the Beyerdynamic DT-770s and the Audio-Technica ATH-M50X.
These headphones are primarily aimed at drummers who play electronic kits, and you’ll have to make the judgment call yourself as to whether or not it’s worth investing in a pair of headphones specifically tailored to electronic drums.
In my opinion, they are a bit of a luxury item and not a ‘must have’. You’ll do just fine using your regular studio/DJ/Hi-Fi cans to continue on your electronic drumming journey.
All that said, the Roland VMH-D1 V-Drum headphones are unquestionably a premium product deserving of its price tag.
Exceptional build quality, great sound stage, and top-notch comfort all coalesce into a pair of headphones that tick all the right boxes for the modern electronic drummer.
For more headphone options check out our honest review of the Sennheiser HD660s.
Having tested these headphones, I vehemently disagree with your verdict. To me, these sounded terrible. The sound is muddy and unrefined. The cheaper M50X sounds better and is overall a better pair of headphones. These are way overpriced for what you’re getting. Unless your ‘free’ copy was somehow different than my production one, I’d urge you to do a comparison with a better pair and update this review.
Unlike what Roland/Vmoda would have you believe, you don’t need/want special, magical headphones for edrums. Drums aren’t the only thing you’re generally listening to. You want a well-balanced, dynamic pair of headphones, preferably with a good reference sound.
Hi Drumhead, I appreciate your opinion, and thank you for sharing. Have to agree with you on the M50X. They are perfect for tracking. Can’t fault them, but for practicing along to tracks, woodshedding and having a jam, I found the VMH-D1s to be significantly more immersive, and all-round more pleasurable to use. That hyped low-end and slight scoop in the mids is not something you will find in reference headphones, and nor should you (they’re designed for critical listening). That said, if you are the type of drummer that requires that sort of mix precision when playing your E Drums, something like the M50X are going to be the ones for you. Horses for courses and all that, I guess!