I've had this for about a year. I am shocked that there are still no reviews on it. I tried to make my post short, but I want it to be as informative as possible for potential buyers.
Layout of this review: pros, FYIs, and conclusion (skip here for the TLDR).
Pros:
-- Durability is top-notch, as you'd expect from Tama hardware.
-- The feel of the pads is as close to an acoustic kit as you could ask from practice pads. The toms and the kickpad feel amazing. The tom pads have identifiable tones. Differentiating the pads was tricky at first because they differ in size only slightly. The tom and kick pads have rebound but enough grip to replicate the feel of acoustic heads. The bass drum pad is probably the best bass drum "practice pad" out there in terms of feel. The only other kick pad that comes close is the Footblaster Kick Practice Pad, which is expensive because of how you have to order it.
-- I love the mounts for the toms. I can space them almost exactly as my actual kit is set up. The floor tom mount is even detachable. This is great because if I feel too lazy to unfold the whole tom rack from the closet, I can clamp the floor tom pad to the heavy-duty cymbal stand that I use with this thing.
FYIs ("cons/weaknesses," but some may be beyond the manufacturer's control):
-- SEPARATE COSTS ADD UP (It's not Tama's fault, but you need to know): This item only includes the tom pads, snare pad, kick pad, and mount for the tom pads. Everything else is sold separately. My premium set-up: Mapex heavy-duty cymbal stand for $ set of Zildjian L80s (the quietest and priciest low-volume cymbals on the market), a decent drum throne for $, Gibraltar heavy-duty snare stand for $, Tama HH905D Iron Cobra Lever Glide Hi-hat Stand - 2-leg for $, and Mapex Falconer flagship double pedals for $. My total costs before taxes: $. You can opt for cheaper hardware: hi-hat stand, $ throne, $ cymbal stand, $ snare stand, cheaper "low-volume" cymbals fromprotection), and let's assume you already have double pedals. This is still another $ in extra costs. Plus, you may need to buy a decent drum rug for $
-- KICKPAD MOVES: Not a complaint. This is just physics. From my experience, the only way to stop a bass drum/kick pad from moving is to anchor the spurs/spikes from the drum/pad into a drum rug or to place it against a wall. 90-lb weights won't even work (trust me, myself and others have tried).
-- VOLUME: This set-up focuses on replicating feel, not volume reduction. It is quieter than an acoustic kit with slap-on mutes but louder than your average electronic drum set. I do not have a sound meter to give you actual measurements. If you use some of those expensive direct drive $ pedals like the Tricks, Czarcie Kopytos, etc., those hit harder and louder than the Tama Iron Cobras. If you use plastic sticks and hit lightly, you can reduce the volume to about conversational volume. You won't get complaints if you live in a house, but if you live in an apartment, be courteous to your neighbors.
-- SNARE STAND: This may be my first complaint about this product. I wish they included a snare stand. I highly recommend getting a snare stand that can be raised to at least 25 inches. I had to mount the snare pad on a cheap throwaway snare drum with a mesh head because my Gibraltar 9706 stand isn't tall enough to get the snare pad where I want it. For context, I sit on a round, flat Pork Pie throne with my legs slightly obtuse (based on Thomas Lang's seating tips for drummers). I aim to have the snare's batter head (top) in line with my waist.
-- SNARE PAD: I'm being nitpicky, but I wish the snare pad had a little more definition on the rim to replicate the sound of sidestick playing. Other than that, it's fantastic—just the right amount of rebound for a snare.
Conclusion:
Expectations based on description: 9/10
Build quality: 10/10
(it's Tama)
Feel accuracy: 8.5/10
(a pad setup with a perfect score here does not exist yet, but this is the best one, in my opinion. The rebound and give is the closest to the real thing you can get for a pad setup from my experience)
Volume reduction: 7.5/10
(louder than your average e-kit)
Price: 7.5/10
(decent low-volume practice set-up will cost you)
-- I am very happy with this purchase. When I cannot practice on the acoustic kit every day, my family doesn't complain when I use the Tama TrueTouch set-up while they're home. However, I live in a house with decent insulation. If you live in an apartment, please let your neighbors know as a courtesy, especially if neighbors are below your unit.
-- You only get the toms, snare, tom mounts, and kick pad. I highly recommend a snare stand with a max height of at least 25". My customized setup, using the best equipment to meet my needs, cost at least $ plus taxes. Assuming you already have bass drum pedals, you can opt for cheaper additional hardware and more affordable but louder practice cymbals to cut your total costs to a little over $.
