Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit - An Honest Review 2021

Just got the Alesis kit, and I'm watching videos because I need to arrange the drums/cymbals for best playing possible.
I can tell you that the new headphones (not earbuds) I bought work just fine. So potentially that power problem has been fixed in the last 2 years.
Also, size does matter. I thought the drum rack was really small when I was unpacking it. It seems fairly comfortable to play. I am 5'5" (1.65m), and for me it works. For a person much taller than that, I imagine it could be too cramped.

Btw the reason the volume was so quiet was due to you (probably) using headphones with mics in them. Check the jack and if it has 3 rings, get one with 2 rings (2rings=no microphone).

This video really helped me.... I'm an acoustic drum snob who'll need to be dragged kicking and screaming to buy an electronic kit for home practice.... so I'm completely uneducated about brands, capabilities etc. of electronic kits. I'll take a look at the Yamaha and Roland offerings. Thanks for the honest review!

Is the tiny snare upgradable?

I ordered Nitro Mesh Kit and sent it backwarts to the dealer immediatly. Then I bought Roland TD02 KV and it is much big different in sound, quality and tone!😊

Buy an inexpensive e-kit and you will have all the problems you did. The actual reason most e-kits have small pads is they are easier to get to trigger properly with only 1 censor. The kits with bigger pads usualy cost more and are better as the pads contain multiple censors. The inexpensive large pad e-kits are garbage as they do not trigger correctly. Also low-budget lower-end e-kits do not have earphone volume booster to help keep cost low. in them and will not work with good earphones that need more power. The other problem you had is Alesis. The only kit that is worth buying from Alesis is the Strike Pro Se as it fixed all the problems previous kits have. You did get a better Alesis kit with the next tear up, but still not concidered a great kit. They do make studio quality e-kits that have all the bells and whistles but those are around $2,500.00. And I agree with your review of the Nitro Mesh but the kit was made as an entey level kit for kids to learn on. A kit like that will have some good reviews but if you ask around in e-drum forums they would tell you the Nitro Mesh is garbage for only a little more the Surge Mesh is better. They would also tell you for the money you would be better off buying a used Roland. If you were or are willing to spend around $3,000.00 on an e-kit you can get one the feels, responds, sound, and has lots of the nuances of an accustic drum set.

this is the only bad review i found for this kit

I never played drums before, here and there on my friends acoustic kit, but getting this as a complete beginner just looking to learn the basics and get good. Is this the right kit for me?

I purchased mine just a few months ago. I love it no issues at all and my Beat By Dre Headphones work amazing with again no issues whats so ever. Maybe a little smaller yes but for someone thats learning or intermediate it's fine

I plan on buying the kit for my grandsons - they are young. Unless the comments below are bogus, I still plan on getting it. For me, it sounds like the negatives are minor. I don't get the headphone problem - seems like everyone else had no problem using headphones. Thanks for making the video.

There are simple fixes to issues mentioned to the kit.

1. The issue with high impedance reference headphones is to use a battery operated DAC or in layman's term a headphone amp which will cost around $10-50 depending on quality.
2. Making a removable DIY feet extension (steel if possible) which won't cost much if you have stuff just lying in your garage.
3. Use the snare that came with the package as an extra tom and buy a larger snare that has a low rim.

I learnt to drum on a cheap Nitro kit. Worth its weight in gold. Upgraded to a ATV/Roland hybrid kit now

Great information.

As far as it being too small or low - 3d print some “riser feet” (cost about nothing)… . I’m 6”3 and use it everyday with the risers.

Had the same issue with the rimshot on my mesh kit - what I did was just change the rimshot to a snare sound. So if I accidentally hit it, it’s all snare. Problem solved.

No problem with my headphones both pair work fine. As far as the size yes it's small but workable and many people don't have a ton of space in their house for another set of drums. Each to his own though that's why many different sets are made.

You know, it's funny. I own and very much like the Alesis Nitro Mesh kit, but I pretty well agree with all the issues you've got with with it.

I DO think that it's one of the best e-kits one could buy at that price range. Well, there aren't very many options at such a low price range tho. Simmons has one I'd like to try out.

My audio technica m50s & AKGK77s work fine on mine. I tend to have my snare at a bit of an angle anyway so the rim isn’t an issue. Where I have mine sitting on some foam floor mats to help reduce the sound / vibration from the base peddle etc. the whole kit is raised anyway, so any lack of height isn’t a issue & haven’t had issues with feeling flimsy.. For a relatively budget kit I’m v. happy with mine.

I heard somewhere that you needed to use a specific kind of jack for the headphones. I will try my Audio Tech 30s tomorrow and see if they work .

Did you contact alesis about the headphone issue I just picked up a cheap set of headphones at Walmart it worked fine but since then I have changed headsets few times to get a cord that wouldn't be in the way. I have not issues with any set that I have tried, your module may need to be replaced I got a faulty HH pedal with mine I contacted them I was sent a new one right away no charge. I agree with the rim being a tall but being low on funds and not being able to buy another I stuck it out played with the angle a bit and got it adjusted to work for me although i really wish that snare would have been 10 to 12 inch. it is a bit short for me and im only 5'2 but we got some wide cans of crashed tomato's at the store for a buck each and stuck them under the legs then it was just right. I think a honest review is subject to the experience of the person using it. if you get a faulty part its not going to be as good of a review of someone who didn't.

awesome video...thx mate

Had a chance to grab a set of these- after your video I decided not to. Just taller than you at 6 feet and also have played similar kits with that lip on them, not a good thing. Thanks for the info - very helpful and saved me some time/money.

The Nitro Mesh Kit ....This isn't bad at all for the price ..... It's really good if you can do it yourself some redesigning, modifying or upgrading some of it's components to your liking...It's also fun to do....but also do the math because you might be better off buying a better brand like Roland besides these are the only two thats worth getting. Or if you go the other route buy any used Roland Drum Module and build your kit from there this is if you get lucky buying the other components pads, cymbals....etc cheap. But I also did the math on this route and It is better to buy just a new Roland TD-07DMK price point in the $700- $1000 range and you won't out grow it. Thanks for this review I'm going to go see for myself first hand before getting one...and if I still do go for it... I hope I get "The Nitro Mesh Kit" and not "The Nitro Mess Up Kit" If someone is going to do the messing It's going to be Me not Alesis This is a second time for me...had a Roland TD7 a long time ago and after 3 months started collecting dust... I'm going at it again with this "Nitro Mess Up Kit" which I'll give it 2 months tops and then let the dust in...Lol. It's really just the price point and the reviews that draws people (Me included) to it. Is it really that small ? Anyway, later man
Wish you all the best Likewise. JB

The drums sound awsome..but the frame is very light weight..and falls apart..on moving to one gig to the next..alisas really needs a heavy duty frame..

The snare rim issue probably would not be an issue for me. I don’t like the snare flat, but prefer it to tilt a little bit back toward me.

Yeah I agree the lip on the alesis is ridiculously high, but the roland TD11 is TWICE as much as the nitro mesh ..

I've been playing guitar for more years than i care to admit, and recently decided to do my own drum tracks.. bought this kit.. i am 6'2", and it's definitely too small, i wound up putting wood dowels inside the legs, with worm drive clamps to raise the whole unit. I thought the rim issue was me, nice to see it's not.. my volume was fine up until a week ago where it's half of what it was, wether it's headphones or output jack to micro terror amp. put in a ticket, a week ago and. have not heard back. kit does wobble all over the place.

Great valid points .I bought one yesterday !!
the headphone Low volume was immediatly a concern so i turned the drum Off after 10 minutes .I played 5 hours straight like a silent practice pad while setting the whole angles and reach , and of course looking at it and thinking...I have drum again !!!
It was a good work out , silently making noise.
The mesh is responsive and rebound feel good after retensioning, the strokking and angle is limited due to the small size and height of the rims as you mentioned , so it teach me to rethink about a correct way to play it , The clamps are very plastic but felt the same as my others kits after readjusting few times between each songs. I felt like at home within few hours and tweaks.
The bass pedal and hi/hat should be on a carpet with a wooden fixture to lock the runaway, the bass kicker is small but punchy, it needs solid base to feel solid and planted like it should and of course not scratch the wooden floor.
The cymbals are not big but the contact, attack of strokking and reach is fine .
It is a great set of pads and plastics tubes and cables and pedals for the money and purpose of it. As i said i didn t plug it fully, i will look at MIDI and interface connexions
But after playing the whole first day on it Unplugged with a good seat that thing could drive for hours of fun and VST composition .
it s a compromise between playing or not ! Now time to plug it ON !

I don't hate my Alesis Nitro Mesh drum kit, I do hate when the snare drum come lose!

Try Tascam th-03 studio headphones. They sound great with the alesis nitro kit.

It may be negative but its an honest review. I looked at this kit and thought those rims looked high. I don't class myself a drummer but I get by and I was considering something for recording. Thank god for your honest review.
I purchased what I thought was a good deal on a guitar once. The pro review showed 2 guys playing it and singing it's praises. When I got it the fret ends were rough and had not been finished off. Like a cheese greater on the fingers. A real deal breaker that I promptly returned.
This is why honest reviews like yours are so important. As sponsored or music store reviews can often be deceiving. Thanks, you saved me from making a bad choice on this kit.
Would be interested to know what you eventually bought that was good. 👍

Can you not angle adjust the snare?

Want a cheap e-kit to practice on that takes up little space? This is fine.
Want a kit you can gig with...this is not fine...but what do you expect for the price?

This video was super helpful, the drawbacks you mentioned were vitally important, and not info one would know without all the effort of buy, set-up, and use etc that you put in. Because my experience is in music composition and vocals, venturing into drumming, I knew enough to be tantalised but not enough to save myself from later disapointment - your experience, great communication 'n vid technique, plus the above mentioned effort has done that, priceless, thanx Dark Roast Recording

Just wondering what model the Yamaha kit is that you recommend at the end? Can it be used for midi plugins?

total waste of time video/// not a single sound from the kit/ cheers

If you're used to a decent kit like a Roland, these are toys in comparison - it's very flimsy and plasticky, I would be very careful about taking this on the road as a gigging kit.
Also the on board sounds are terrible, but you can usb into decent midi software to access better sounds - not without a few glitches sometimes, but it is possible.
For the price it's OK for someone who's not too fussy, but I'd rather save up for a 2nd hand Roland. Even the aging TD6V is light years ahead of this kit.
And yes, the rims are way too high! It is weird.
Mine performs well with headphones. I only bought it to teach on.
As far as stability is concerned, if it's assembled well, there shouldn't be a problem there, mine is quite stable.

Thanks dude! If nothing else, this lets me know I should run over to guitar center and try it out before buying.

Fine, MY set is great- sorry you got a bad kit!

I have to say i had the same problem with the headphones it wouldnt work with by beats. But i found if you play with the jack a bit and pull it out just a touch the sound will come through perfect with any headphones that i tried just took a little bit of playing with the jack

I was sooo planning to buy this kit this month.. now I am very confused.. other drum kits here in India cost too much and Alesis is the most affordable one.. I don't know what to do

Good review. The issues you mentioned are legit, but their mesh technology makes this kit a good choice, and there are workarounds for it’s shortcomings. If you are not a large person, the height issue can be addressed by putting a large shim under the 2 front legs so the snare and tom come up and clear the knees. I used 10 pound dumbbell weights, they are solid and heavy enuf to keep the kit from moving. I did not experience the headphone issue because the practice amp I am plugged into has its own headphone jack and I just happened to use that. To keep the sticks from striking the snare rim, try a large nylon tip so the stick hits the mesh before striking the rim.

Thank you! Had these in the shopping cart but not anymore. I remember years ago e-drums came onto the market as a hot turd unless you spent big money. I was about to give these a shot based on other reviews that only had polished edited audio. It is tough to find any honest reviews at all. I will have to spend more but maybe it won’t be a buy twice cry twice situation. 😎 Respect.

I have the same kit, no issues. The rims or headphones are fine. Have used several headphones on it from shit buds to $300 studio quality ones. Sony akg beyer shure and no issue. What I do love is the way you can expand the kit.
It’s a great kit for several hundred dollars.
Nothing wrong with it. Personal opinion.

I got mine for $120 on Craigslist.....I love it!! No stability issues whatsoever. I use a real hi-hat with it and it rocks.

I have a Nitro Mesh. Bought exactly 1 year ago. Its a good beginner kit to learn how to play drums on. It works well, and is quiet when used with headphones. There are a lot of features built into it with the metronome and songs to play along with etc. And you can play to your own music list by passing that audio through from your phone or laptop. I never had a headphone problem.
Now the bad... THE RIM... Its the DEVIL. Even on the 'dual zone snare' it won't play the rim sound and the pad sound simultaneously. So if you hit the rim while hitting the pad its 50/50 which sound will play (rim or snare) Which suck if you are recording midi notes as you get these random notes out of place that make no sense and then you have to figure out what cause it and drag it to the snare.
The other bad thing to me is the stock sounds. You seemed to like them. I think they are mostly garbage. Even adjusting the high, med, low EQ setting for each pad and kit only helps a bit.
If you want a cheap way to learn the drums, get it. If you are recording midi notes for a track you are putting together, then its serviceable (watch for random rim shots!) But if you want to gig with friends or heaven forbid, use it in paid setting, go elsewhere.

Everything you said about this electronic drum kit is true. I don't like anything about it. Flimsy, too small, too low, Hi-Hat sucks, the lip on the snare is too high, and you can't angle the snare, so you have to play rim shots all the time, can't use over the ear headphones and I don't think the overall sound is that good. I didn't open mine for a couple of months and just assembled it yesterday. I hope I can send it back. Not worth $400.00.

Thanks. My wife got me a set of 4 Nitro Mesh pads on eBay to replace my reliable and just now failing Roland PD-21 pads after 30+ years of bashing on them at church praise & worship and in 2 Christian metal bands. I do believe I'm going to have to revert back to wood sticks too since the Aquarian X-10's I've been bashing on my PD21's also, (SAME pair since '88) will destroy the Nitro Mesh heads as it did my (older PD-7 cymbal pads before I got CY's) and my dual trigger PD-85R. My problem is Roland's hardware is larger diameter than Alesis' and the narrower Alesis L-bar tom mounts also won't accommodate the slightly thicker 4 existing PD-21 Roland L-bar tom mounts so I'm waiting for 4 more MDH-6U parts to mount them!

Not sure about your issue, just bought this kit as beginner use and I’m super happy with it. My Bose noise canceling headset is working just fine. I agree the rim on the snare is a bit too tall and it’s easy to hit it but after a while I found the right position. Overall I’m a happy camper!

I have (probably) the same Yamaha kit he refers to in this video. i despise it but for a different reason. I have zero use for any of the sounds-midi, or whatever else he claims it does. I just wanted to be able to make it sound like the best "real" drum kit it possibly could. A dismal failure. Due to my house, wife working from home, etc. I had to trade off my huge acoustic Slingerland (the best!) drums and got suckered for the Yamaha's in the deal. Possibly the Alesis could be better than the Yamaha's. At least due to technology being much better now than when the Yamaha's came out. Pathetic. Sure, i'm upset that I can no longer have and play an acoustic drum kit. Even when I can dial in a decent snare and bass sound the hi hat and cymbals are beyond all hope. Rant over.