Shure also includes seven XLR cables around 4.6 meters long, plus three drum rim mounts and the usual clips. What it doesn't include is a mixer, an interface, or stands.
Best Drum Mic Kits: Match the Pack to Your Inputs
You can own a seven-piece drum microphone kit and still be able to run only two of its mics at once if your interface or mixer gives you two mic preamp inputs. The kit isn’t the problem. The available channel count is. Before comparing brands, count the microphone preamp inputs you can actually use, then match a kit to that number and to the cables, mounts, and power you already have.
A microphone preamp input is a mic-capable input on an interface, mixer, or external preamp that supplies the boost a microphone signal needs. It often looks like an XLR or combined jack, but not every jack is a preamp: line, instrument, and digital inputs don’t do this job without the right front end. Each microphone you want on its own simultaneous channel needs its own usable mic preamp and recording path.
Overheads are the mics placed above the kit to capture cymbals and the overall sound. Close mics are the ones placed on individual drums.
The early choice is simple once you know your input count. If you’re building a seven-channel setup and want cables included, start with the Shure PGADRUMKIT7. The other three packs each fit a different situation, and the table below is the fastest way to see which one matches your missing gear.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
The four kits compared
Compare the microphone packs.
Before comparing brands, count the microphone preamp inputs you can actually use, then match a kit to that number and to the cables, mounts, and power you already have.
There are no overhead mics here and no cables listed as base equipment. If you already own a pair of overheads you like, that's a workable route: use five inputs for the close mics and add your existing pair for seven channels total.
The four e604s cover snare plus three toms, not four toms plus a separate snare mic. Four MZH604 rim clips, two standard mic clips, and a case are included.
Adjustable kick and low-profile tom mics
sE V Pack Arena seller bundle with four XLR cables
Check price on AmazonThe exact linked seller bundle we checked on October 23, 2026 includes the Arena pack with four 20-foot XLR cables. That's useful, but it's four cables for seven microphones, so you'll need three more if you don't already own any.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.
| Kit | What it covers | Overheads included | Cables included | Main thing missing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shure PGADRUMKIT7 | Kick, snare, 3 toms | Yes, 2 condensers | Yes, 7 x 4.6m XLR | Stands, phantom power, 7 mic input channels |
| Audix DP5A | Kick, snare, 2 rack toms, floor tom | No | Not listed in base pack | Separate overhead pair if wanted, cables |
| Sennheiser e600 | Kick, snare, 3 toms | Yes, 2 condensers | Not listed in base pack | Cables, stands, 7 mic input channels, phantom power |
| sE V Pack Arena | Kick, snare, 3 toms | Yes, 2 condensers | 4 x 20ft XLR in exact linked seller bundle | 3 more cables if none owned, stands, phantom power |
The count assumes you use every included microphone. Each mic needs its own preamp input, so seven simultaneous mics mean seven usable mic channels at once.
Shure PGADRUMKIT7: a seven-mic start with cables
The Shure PGADRUMKIT7 is the most practical starting point when you’re setting up a full seven-channel drum recording and don’t already own a box of XLR cables. Inside the case you get one PGA52 kick mic, three PGA56 tom mics, one PGA57 snare/instrument mic, and two PGA81 condenser overheads. Shure also includes seven XLR cables around 4.6 meters long, plus three drum rim mounts and the usual clips. What it doesn’t include is a mixer, an interface, or stands.
The seven mics line up naturally with a five-piece shell pack: kick, snare, two rack toms, and a floor tom, plus two overheads.
Use this kit when you can run seven mic preamp channels at once and want the cable side handled. The two PGA81 overheads need phantom power, so confirm your interface or mixer can supply it. If you already own overheads or a cable set, compare the actual missing items instead of paying for gear you don’t need. You’ll also need mic stands: with the three tom mics on the included rim mounts, the kick, snare, and two overheads typically need four floor stands if you don’t own any.
Audix DP5A: close mics without another overhead pair
The Audix DP5A is a five-microphone close-mic pack, not a full-kit overhead solution. You get a D6 for kick, an i5 for snare, two D2s for rack toms, and a D4 for floor tom. Clips or mounts and a case are included, though Audix’s current page doesn’t spell out the exact accessory count. Check the current accessory list before you assume how many floor stands you’ll need.
There are no overhead mics here and no cables listed as base equipment. If you already own a pair of overheads you like, that’s a workable route: use five inputs for the close mics and add your existing pair for seven channels total. The five included Audix dynamics do not need phantom power. Any added overhead pair’s power requirement depends on that pair’s own specs, so check its manual rather than assuming.
Choose the Audix DP5A when you already have overheads and want five close mics without a second overhead pair in the box. If you’re starting from zero, work out the total cost of a separate overhead pair and cables you’d need, then compare that against a seven-mic pack.
Sennheiser e600: four clip-on drum mics and overheads
The Sennheiser e600 drum kit is built around four e604 clip-on dynamics. The package includes one e602-II for kick, four e604s, and two e614 condenser overheads. The four e604s cover snare plus three toms, not four toms plus a separate snare mic. Four MZH604 rim clips, two standard mic clips, and a case are included. XLR cables and stands are not listed as part of the base pack.
The reason to consider this pack is placement. The e604 mics attach to the drum rim, which helps on kits where a separate stand beside every tom would crowd the playing area. Fit still depends on your actual rim depth, mount access, and how hard you hit, so check clearance before buying for a shallow or tightly packed kit.
All seven mics need seven mic preamp channels if you want them live at once. The e614 overheads are condenser mics and still need phantom power, 12 to 48 volts per the current Sennheiser manual. Plan for cables and floor stands. With the four e604s mounted on rim clips for snare and three toms, the kick and two overheads typically need three separate stands if you don’t own any, not four like the Shure arrangement. Skip this kit if you want cables included or would rather not buy stands separately.
sE V Pack Arena: kick voicing and low-profile tom mics
The sE V Pack Arena is built around its kick and tom microphone features. It contains one V Kick, three V Beat tom mics, one V7X for snare, and a matched pair of sE8 condenser overheads. That’s five dynamic mics and two condensers. A case and three V Clamps for the tom mics are included.
The V Kick gives you four switchable voicings through two switches. What this gives you in practice is a way to pick a different tonal starting point before you reach for EQ or reposition the mic. The V Beat mics have a low-profile shape that can help on tight setups, but rim clearance and strike path still need checking on your actual drums.
The exact linked seller bundle we checked on October 23, 2026 includes the Arena pack with four 20-foot XLR cables. That’s useful, but it’s four cables for seven microphones, so you’ll need three more if you don’t already own any. The sE8s need 48V phantom power per the manufacturer’s page. With the three V Clamps on the toms, the kick, snare, and two overheads still need support. Consider this pack if you want the V Kick’s voicing control and are comfortable completing the cable and stand side yourself.
Match the pack to your inputs before checkout
One microphone means one mic preamp channel. If you want simultaneous individual tracks for a five-piece shell pack plus two overheads, that’s seven mic inputs, seven cables, and usable phantom power on the two condenser overhead channels. A four-mic route (kick, snare, and two overheads) is a legitimate smaller setup, not a universal minimum.
Use this channel planner before you buy
| Kit role | Your input number / note | Mic, cable, mount ready? | Power note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kick | Your note | Dynamic, no phantom required in these packs | |
| Snare | Your note | Dynamic, no phantom required in these packs | |
| Rack tom 1 | Your note | Dynamic, no phantom required in these packs | |
| Rack tom 2 | Your note | Dynamic, no phantom required in these packs | |
| Floor tom | Your note | Dynamic, no phantom required in these packs | |
| Overhead left | Your note | Condenser in these packs, needs phantom | |
| Overhead right | Your note | Condenser in these packs, needs phantom |
These are example roles for the seven-microphone configurations compared here. If you use an existing overhead pair instead, its power requirement follows its own manual. Leave the blank fields for your gear until you’ve checked your interface or mixer. If other performers or existing mics already occupy channels, subtract those from the number left for your drums. A mixer or interface may advertise eight total inputs while only some are mic preamps; line, digital, and instrument inputs aren’t interchangeable without the appropriate front end. Check the manual for the actual mic preamp count and whether phantom power is per-channel or grouped. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for enabling phantom rather than inventing a universal sequence.
If you only have two available mic inputs, you can still record with two mics placed well, or make a compatible input-expansion plan before buying a full seven-mic pack. There is no two-input to seven-track shortcut. For live work, coordinate with the sound engineer about which channels and mics the venue provides before you purchase.
Budget for mic stands too. The Shure arrangement typically needs four floor stands once the three tom mics use the included rim mounts: kick, snare, and two overheads. The Sennheiser kit, with four e604s clipped for snare and three toms, typically needs three stands for kick and two overheads. The sE Arena’s three V Clamps cover the toms, leaving kick, snare, and two overheads to support. Audix’s five close mics need a similar mix of stands and clips, but verify the current accessory list before you count. Rim-clamp fit isn’t guaranteed on every rim, so check your actual mounting access. The mic case protects mics, not shells; if you need to move the full kit, our best drum bags and cases guide covers shell transport.
Before checkout, write down your usable mic preamp count and the cables and stands you’d need to add. If that’s seven channels with no cable stock, the Shure PGADRUMKIT7 handles the cable side most directly. If you already own overheads, the Audix DP5A uses five channels now. Either way, the pack that fits is the one that matches your actual inputs and missing gear, not the one with the most microphones.
Method note: this is a research-led buying guide, not a hands-on comparison. We used current manufacturer package pages and manuals, and checked the exact linked bundles on October 23, 2026. There are no sonic ratings or durability tests here. Product contents can change between production runs, so confirm the maker’s current accessory list and your seller’s actual photo before relying on a small accessory count.