Yamaha DTXPRESS IIIchat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

Owners report exceptional longevity from this kit. Multiple users describe still playing their DTXPRESS III after 13 or more years, with one owner purchasing it new in 2004 and still using it 2-3 times a week. Another picked up a used unit from a pro drummer and loves it. Only minor parts like a snare or kick pad needed replacing over the years, which is considered normal wear for any electric kit of this age.

The cymbal pads are the kit's most criticized component. One long-term owner calls the cymbals 'total trash' and the hi-hat 'pathetic,' saying they lost interest in drumming partly because of them. Another asks how to make cymbals trigger consistently, noting they seem intermittent and require striking too hard. A third owner sought aftermarket replacement cymbals online, suggesting the stock ones were unsatisfying enough to replace.

Compared to competitors, it's seen as strong value with a good feature set. An owner of both a Roland TD-20 and DTXPRESS III says the Yamaha is a 'spectacular value' for the money, with some voicings even better than Roland's. Another commenter agrees Roland pads feel more like an acoustic kit, but still recommends Yamaha for its user-friendly pads and greater feature count, calling it 'killing many birds with one stone.'