EFNOTE Pro 500 Electronic Drum Kit Review: A Church Drummer’s Honest Take

Is the EFNOTE Pro 500 the budget-friendly electronic drum solution your church has been waiting for? We put it to the test.

Electronic drums in church settings remain one of the most hotly debated topics in modern worship. With noise concerns, budget constraints, and the ongoing quest for authentic sound, finding the right electronic kit can feel like an impossible balance. Today, we’re diving deep into the EFNOTE Pro 500 series drum kit—a $5,000 alternative to the premium $7,000+ EFNOTE Pro 700 series.

The Setup: Real Church, Real Drummer

My church drummer Rob, who regularly plays a Roland TD-30 (Roland’s older flagship model), took the EFNOTE Pro 500 for a comprehensive test drive. His mission? Determine whether this mid-range electronic kit could hold its own in a real church environment.

What You Get With the EFNOTE Pro 500

The Pro 500 delivers the essentials without the premium price tag. Compared to the 700 series, you’re trading shell size and the number of pads for significant cost savings. The kit includes:

• Two toms
• Snare drum
• Ride cymbal
• Hi-hat
• Kick drum

For churches focused on core functionality rather than extensive percussion options, this streamlined approach makes perfect sense.

Playability: The Good and the Reality

Mesh Heads: Best in Class, But Still Mesh Rob’s verdict was clear: “This is the most playable electronic kit I’ve encountered.” However, he was equally honest about mesh head limitations. Even the best mesh heads, including these, consume drumsticks faster than traditional plastic heads and require frequent tightening to maintain proper attack and rebound.

Hardware Requirements Rob specifically mentioned the importance of having a quality hi-hat stand, noting “since the EFNOTE doesn’t really come with a high hat stand, it comes down to having a quality high hat stand.” He emphasized that using an entry-level single-braced stand would significantly limit the playability of the hi-hat pads.

Bass Drum Considerations

The compact bass drum proved to be a double-edged sword. While perfect for space-constrained venues, heavy-footed players may find it shifting during performance. Rob noted the drum moved about three inches during his session, though he acknowledged this could be mitigated with proper positioning and potentially additional weight or anchoring.

Cymbal Playability

Perhaps the biggest surprise came from the cymbal quality. Rob, who has extensive experience with various electronic cymbal brands, declared these “probably the highest quality electronic cymbals I’ve played.” The cymbals offer genuine playability around different zones—edge, bell, and flat surfaces—with each area producing appropriately different sounds.

Sound Quality: Where Technology Meets Tradition

The EFNOTE Pro 500’s sound library impressed across the board. Rob gravitated toward familiar territory, selecting:

• Kick: Birch kick drum
• Snare: NC Maple 14×5 (surprisingly smaller than his usual preference)
• Toms: Slingerland vintage series with coated head simulation
• Cymbals: Primarily Zildjian selections, including a K Dark Ride 22″

Advanced Sound Layering What sets this kit apart from basic electronic drums is its sophisticated sound modeling. Rather than simple sample playback, the kit creates realistic sound stacking—when you play multiple hits on a cymbal, the second hit registers slightly louder, mimicking the natural resonance buildup of acoustic cymbals.

The hi-hat deserves special mention for its bell functionality—a feature Rob had never experienced on electronic hi-hats before. This attention to detail extends throughout the kit, creating a playing experience that responds to technique rather than simply triggering samples.

The Church Context: Balancing Act

Rob’s perspective as both a drummer and church member adds crucial context to this review. While he personally prefers acoustic drums for their irreplaceable feel and sound, he recognizes the practical realities of church worship:

• Budget consciousness: Most premium electronic kits run $7,000-$10,000+ before hardware
• Congregational consideration: Respecting members who prefer lower volume levels
• Space constraints: Many churches lack adequate room for acoustic setups
• Consistency: Electronic kits eliminate variables like room acoustics and mic placement

Value Proposition: Understanding the True Cost

The EFNOTE Pro 500 retails for around $5,000, but churches need to budget for additional essential hardware. As Rob noted, you’ll need to add:

• Quality kick pedal: $600-$800
• Hi-hat stand: $200-$400 (since the kit doesn’t include one)
• Drum throne: $100-$300

This brings the realistic total investment to approximately $5,900-$6,500, which still positions the kit as a serious contender in the church market. Compare this to premium acoustic setups requiring:

• High-end shells ($3,000-$5,000+)
• Professional microphones ($1,000-$2,000)
• Drum isolation cage ($2,000-$4,000)
• Hardware and setup ($500-$1,000)

The electronic solution becomes increasingly attractive, especially considering the EFNOTE Pro 500’s plug-and-play simplicity compared to the ongoing technical demands of acoustic drum recording.

The Bottom Line

Rob’s final assessment: “If you’re not going to be somewhere that you can play acoustic all the time, I think this electronic kit is about as good as you’re going to get in 2025.”

For churches weighing their options, the EFNOTE Pro 500 represents a thoughtful balance of functionality, quality, and value. With additional hardware costs factored in (kick pedal, hi-hat stand, and drum throne), expect a total investment of around $5,900-$6,500. While it won’t replace the visceral experience of acoustic drums, it delivers professional results while respecting both budget constraints and congregational preferences.

Who Should Consider the EFNOTE Pro 500:

• Churches prioritizing volume control
• Budget-conscious music ministries
• Venues with space limitations
• Teams wanting consistent, controllable sound

Who Might Want to Look Elsewhere:

• Churches with unlimited budgets seeking premium features
• Drummers who play primarily acoustic gigs
• Venues with excellent acoustic treatment and sound systems

The EFNOTE Pro 500 proves that effective church drumming doesn’t require the highest-end equipment—just thoughtful engineering, quality components, and a clear understanding of the worship environment’s unique demands.

Let us know what you think in the YouTube comments and keep drumming!

Matt

Interested in the specific kit tested in this review? Check our website for availability—there’s only one unit available, so first come, first served.