- Compare and contrast these two popular electronic kits by Roland
- I’ll teach you a bit about Roland’s V drums as a whole
- And help you decide which model is best for you!
If you’re in the market for a high-quality electronic drumset, the VAD506 and 507 are likely in your sphere of awareness.
You may be asking yourself, well, which kit is better? If that’s the case, look no further – in this article, we’ll be comparing and contrasting these two popular electronic kits by Roland to help you figure out which is best for you!
The VAD 500 series is one of the best lines of electronic drums out there.
I recently got to play these two instruments from this line: Roland’s VAD meshes are highly responsive.
Overall, the company’s mid-to-pro tier kits feel like an absolute dream and are extremely easy to be precise on.
Roland VAD506 Vs. VAD507: Which is Better?
The Roland VAD507 is easily the better instrument of the two because of this newer model’s updates.
Some of the VAD507’s most significant features include a better hi-hat, more layering options, and a refreshed sound module with extra voices and samples.
That being said, the whole line is still excellent. VAD stands for ‘Virtual drums- acoustic design,’ meaning that these are hybrid kits with real wooden shells that we’re talking about.
Comparison Chart
Even though the 506 and 507 were only released seven months apart, there are some key differences between these two virtual kits.
| VAD506 | VAD507 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Drum Pads | 5 | 5 |
| Number of Cymbal Pads | 4 | 4 |
| Digital Hi-Hat | VH-10 | VH-14D |
| Kick Drum | 20" KD-200 MS | 220" KD-200 MS |
| Type of Cymbals | Multi-Zone | Multi-Zone |
| Sound Module | TD-27 | TD-27 (updated) |
| Number of Instrument Sounds | 728 | 900 |
| User Presets | 45 | 45 |
| Shell Design | Wooden | Wooden |
| Adjustable Meshes? | Yes | Yes |
| Number of Kits | 55 | 70 |
| Wireless Connections | Bluetooth MIDI, song streaming | Bluetooth MIDI, song streaming |
| Extra Aux. Triggers | 3 1/4 inch, 1 DB-25, 1 Crash | 3 1/4 inch, 1 DB-25, 1 Crash |
| Tuneable Meshes? | Yes | Yes |
| FX | Reverb, compressor, EQ, overhead mic simulator | Reverb, compressor, EQ, overhead mic simulator |
| Modeling | Prismatic Sound Modeling | Prismatic Sound Modeling |
| Price Point | $4,599.99 | $5,399.99 |
| Release Date | January 2022 | September 2022 |
Key Differences
Hi-Hats
The biggest selling point of the VAD507 is that it boasts Roland’s newest hi-hat, the VH-14D.
This digital instrument is known for having a high-res sound one notch above the rest and includes both upper and lower plates.
The pads measure 14 inches, hence the name! One neat feature about this hi-hat is that you can manually mute or choke it with your hand.
The VH-14D also has many sensors, which allow for more tonal variation than ever before.
The VH-10, on the other hand, is a smaller, twelve-inch hi-hat with fewer rave-worthy qualities. While the foot action is decent, and the hi-hat has some texture, the sound simply pales compared to the realism of the VH-14D.
The VAD506 doesn’t have a bottom part to the hi-hat, either.
Different Generations of the Same Sound Engine
While both instruments use the same sound engine, the VAD507’s sound module is a second generation, which has been updated to have 10 new kits.
If you’re looking for more sounds, the 507 is where it’s at: it has 900 total instruments versus the 506’s 728 tones. The VAD507’s set of legacy kits sounds cleaner and better, too.
Other Differences
The VAD507 has more onboard layering options than the VAD506 and a redesigned module that is more conducive to quickly tracking ideas.
Shared Features
Multi-Zone Cymbals
These V-cymbals are very responsive to slight changes in dynamics and feel similar on both kits.
Mutli-zone means that the cymbals have been sectioned out to have different sound timbres, depending on where you strike.
The VAD507 has three zones on its cymbals, and the VAD506 has 2.
So, with the Roland VAD507, you get one more tonal area to play on. And that area is the bell at the top. Both cymbals have tonal differences between the bow and edge.
PureAcoustic Ambience Technology
Roland’s PureAcoustic Ambience allows you to edit parts of the kit, such as adjusting the mic positions and balancing the volume of the different parts of the kit.
One of the lower-tier Rolands I recently tried didn’t have the option to balance the instruments, and quite frankly, it drove me nuts:
The snare was way louder than everything else. I’m thankful the VAD steps it up in this department!
Prismatic Sound Modeling
Prismatic sound modeling is Roland’s virtual drum sound engineering.
While many sound engines simply rotate between sounds at random, the VAD’s sound technology isolates elements such as overtones from the sound of the drum body and so on.
Midnight Sparkle Wrap
When it comes to pro kits, looks matter! Both the VAD506 and VAD507 have a deep blue wrap with bright chrome hardware that’s super sleek.
Wooden Shells
Speaking of looks, the wooden shells make the VAD line look like acoustic drums. Plus, the feel of playing on something acoustic.
While it might sound like hogwash/something that’s just for looks, it’s not. Playing on a wooden shell moves the air inside the drum, increasing resistance and further adding to the realism.
Adjustable Meshes
Both instruments have adjustable meshes, so you can choose how tight or loose the kit feels.
Many lower-tier kits feel too ‘bouncy’ to me, making it difficult to transition back to actual acoustic drums.
This feature is handy if you’re like me and plan to switch back and forth because you can adjust it to be more like your other kit.
KD-200-MS Kick
The KD-200-MS kick is in both kits and has a full-depth wood shell. Feeling it reverberates is one of the best parts!
On my older Simmons, it’s just a pedal with no drum. After trying the VAD line, I’m a big fan of having the physical bass drum-It feels more powerful.
Create A Custom Kit
Both kits allow you to mix and match sounds and create an electronic drum kit unique to you.
Multi-Effects, Mixing
The VAD506 and VAD507 have over 20 effects to tweak the sounds of the kits further. The effects and mixing lead to a mini-studio experience.
Some of these features include compressors, the ability to process transients (Hard articulations that happen at the beginning of a sound), and other, more basic effects like reverbs.
Pros and Cons: VAD 506
With the impressive looks, familiar layout, and inspiring playability of a high-end acoustic kit, the VAD506 makes any drummer feel instantly at home.
- Provides a genuine acoustic feel
- Cutting-edge digital pad technology
- Prismatic Sound Modeling
Pros
- Great build quality/ a sturdy setup
- Less expensive than other hybrid kits
- Responsive to rimshots and ghost notes
- It has the same amount of connectivity as the VAD507
- It looks like an acoustic
Cons
- There are newer, better sound modules by Roland out there
- No hi-hat or snare stand in the package
- No bass pedal in the package
- No tonal difference in the bell of the cymbal
- It has the same amount of connectivity as the VAD507
- Thicker cymbals than the VAD507
Pros and Cons: VAD 507
Traditional looks, authentic acoustic response, and unlimited sonic possibilities: Roland’s VAD hybrid drum sets meet at the crossroads of natural feel and electronic versatility!
- Features PureAcoustic Ambience Technology
- Loaded with 75 kits
- Prismatic Sound Modeling
Pros
- The legacy kits are better
- Upgraded hi-hat pad
- Has multi-zoned cymbals with 3 timbres
- 8 sensors on the snare
- The drum pads are large and comparable to acoustic drums in size
- Great connectivity
- Responsive for rimshots, host notes
- Thinner cymbals than previous models
Cons
- The set doesn’t usually come with the snare stand, kick pedal, or hi-hat stand either
- The hi-hat is still a bit small for some drummer’s tastes
- Costs over $5,000
Electronic Drums FAQ
What is the Best Brand of E-Drums?
That’s hard to say- A lot depends on personal preference, but I can tell you my own: Roland is my favorite, followed by Simmons.
I like Simmon’s reliability, but Roland’s meshes feel nicer. The three most popular brands in the current market are Roland, Simmons, and Alesis.
Yamaha is also making its way up in the E-drum popularity, but I still prefer Roland over the others. Be sure to try out these four makers and see which you prefer.
What Other E Drums Are Comparable to the above VADs?
The Roland VAD504, Roland TD50-K2, and Yamaha DTX-10K are three drumsets that stack up against the VAD506 and 507. You can also check out Efnote’s range, a company who is looking to compete directly against Roland’s VAD line.
The VAD504 is (obviously!) the most similar because it is from the same product line.
The TD50-K2 is even pricier but comes with 900 instrument sounds in the TD-50X, which is Roland’s most advanced sound module yet. That being said, the TD is smaller and has fewer direct outs.
Overall, it’s better for recording because it has more editability than the VAD line. The DTX by Yamaha is similar in that it has real wood shells and resembles an acoustic kit like the VADs.
In this kit, you can choose between two different materials for the heads, but the taut-ness is not adjustable, as far as I can tell.
Why Do People Use E-Drums?
While (in my honest opinion) you can never truly beat an acoustic set, electronic drums have many pros: There’s little to no maintenance, and they are much easier to record with.
I use electronic drums to record quick drum tracks.
Instead of punching them in, using E drums to a DAW gives you that natural sound because the velocity of each note will vary.
Other people use them because they are much quieter (you can’t plug acoustic drums into a headset!) and are relatively portable and compact.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for a high-quality hybrid drumset, the Roland VAD506 and the Roland VAD507 are stellar sets.
Though the price difference of upwards of $1,100 feels steep, I think it’s worth spending the extra cash on getting the upgraded hi-hat. You don’t want a kit with one weak link! Pay more, and get what you want.