Well, if you’re one of our regular visitors you’ve probably noticed some changes, and a minimizing of the inventory of sound products featured on the site. Well, it’s because we’re having a different emphasis now. Previously the goal of the site was to provide an extensive list of great products, but then I realized, the list would soon bloat up, and it would be too difficult and too impractical to navigate. I mean, if we featured too many products, you might as well just go to Amazon right away instead of having to wade through our lists. So anyway, pretty soon our emphasis will be specifically on musical instruments and musical equipment which are really hot at the moment. It’s a change of vision also, I guess. The new vision of Sound Sensation is to give you the latest “sound sensations!”, those items which people are really talking about and buying at the moment. Which means, we want to be cutting-edge, and yet, with a more populist kind of emphasis. We’ll let the consumers decide which is the very best items, and usually, that also has something to do with the terrific and affordable price. So I think that we’ll be shunning the more expensive luxury items from now on. But at least we’ll be featuring a lot of items that you can also consider as gifts for your friends and family. Let’s just leave the expensive studio equipment to the professionals! Hehe.

So, remember kiddos, from now on, Sound Sensation is about the latest, hottest sound sensations, or I’ll give you my guitar!

For the very first ever drum kit on our site we’ve deliberately chosen an electronic drum kit, the Alesis DM10. I’ve always been fascinated with electronic drums and the convenience of it all. I’ve seen how awkward it is to practice your drum skills with a constant risk of annoying the neighbors. E-drums have become the best solution to the problem. And then there’s also the versatility when it comes to the sounds, which you can completely change at the flick of a button. Finally, E-drums lend themselves easily and naturally to recording. No quiet, sound-proof recording room needed, and no mics. Just a connector to your PC and the right music production software, and you’re good to go.

When it comes to fulfilling all these advantages I’d say the Alesis DM10 Studio fills them very well. It seems to be an absolutely great drum kit for drummers in the beginner and intermediate levels. However, for more professional players who have gotten so used to acoustic drum sets, you might need a long time to adjust. Though Alesis has much to brag when it comes to their Dynamic Articulation technology, which tries to make the sounds as realistic as possible depending on how hard or soft you hit, you will never mistake the Alesis DM10 Studio Kit for a real acoustic drum kit. It will still feel like an electronic drum kit more than anything else.

That being said, and being an amateur drummer myself, I’d be more than willing to live with the DM10. In fact, since I’m more into recording than live performance, I’d think it’s more than enough for me. That’s why we’ve chosen the Alesis DM10 Pro as our breakthrough drum kit for now.

Alesis DM10 Studio Kit Professional Six-Piece Electronic Drum Set

Rating: List Price: $1,199.00 Sale Price: Too low to display Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Eligible For Free Shipping

Product Description

The Alesis DM10 Studio Pro Kit is complete with everything you need for a great drum performance. The six-piece electronic drum set comes with the cutting edge DM10 drum module, more natural-feeling RealHead drum pads, and low-noise DMPad Cymbals, all held together by a very portable and flexible StageRack. One thing which the Alesis DM10 Studio boasts of is the sound quality, which has been obtained from real live samples of expensive studio drums and cymbals. There's absolutely nothing fake in here. Perhaps long-time drummers will immediately catch a sound of some of the most sought-after and legendary drum sounds from very famous drumming brands. The range of sound is complete with drum sounds from around the world, acoustic, classic, and electronic which have made their mark in music history. Another unique feature to be found in the Alesis DM10 Pro is the Dynamic Articulation technology of Alesis, which makes the sound more realistic. When you play harder or softer, the sound does not only change in volume, but also its timbre, something made possible through the recording of different dynamic drum samples. In addition to the impressive collection of sounds built into the Alesis DM10 Studio, you can also load new sounds through your computer's USB connection. Be the best drummer you can be with the Alesis DM10.

Details

• DM10 high-definition drum module with 12 trigger inputs and mixer
• RealHead 10" snare and four 8" toms - dual-zone drum pads with real mylar heads
• DMPad Cymbals: hi-hat, two crashes, and triple-zone ride
• Compact, black aluminum StealthRack
• Premium sound library of uncompressed samples from real drums and cymbals

Summary of Reviews

People who have used the older Alesis D4 and DM5 electronic drum sets, and who have experienced how solid and stable they are, then you’ll be blown away by the Alesis DM10. At a very reasonable price, you get a great drum kit for both practice and recording.

You might have an initial challenge in the setting up and also when it comes to the instructions, as many users have pointed out. You may have to tweak it to suit your personal tastes, especially when it comes to volume and amplification. As an electronic drumkit it certainly isn’t the same as an acoustic drum set, but the Alesis just might be what you’re looking for if you want to be able to play drums and not disturb any of the neighbors.

Hello everyone, so we’ve just added a review of the Jasmine S35, which you can find here. And recently we’ve also been checking out the more unfavorable reviews of the Takamine S35. Well, like any good thing, there are certainly exceptions to the rule, and it seems that with the Takamine Jasmine S35 being so popular and all that, there have also been a number of complaints. Some of the complaints seem to be about factory defects, like when it comes to damages to the neck and other cracks. There were only a handful of customers who reported such a problem. And if you receive the guitar in such a condition, I suggest that you seek for replacement right away.

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Another problem that some users have encountered was certain buzzing noises, and I think this has something to do also with certain factory defects, or I suspect, with the initial high action that this guitar comes with. Again if it’s a factory defect, I suggest you seek a replacement. And if it’s the high action, you can easily take some steps to adjust it for better performance.

This being said, these complaints were the minority, as about 70% of customers who wrote reviews gave the Jasmine by Takamine S35 Acoustic Guitar the perfect five star rating. 10% gave it a four star rating, and the remaining 20% gave it reviews of three stars or lower. I think in any case, whether the Jasmine S35 exceeds all your expectations, or if does not satisfy you completely, one thing that can be said about this guitar is that it’s a good stepping stone for any beginner just wanting to learn. In the end of course, if you’re really going to take music seriously, you will want to graduate to a more expensive and classier guitar. That could take several years or a few months. In my case, I’m really not too picky. I’ve been playing guitar for about more than ten years now, and I’ve always found satisfaction in playing instruments that can simply “play”. In fact, I prefer the cheaper guitars since you can really overuse them without any sense of guilt, just focusing on the music and not on the delicate and careful handling that you might require for an expensive instrument. So if you want to start your guitar playing journey, the Jasmine Takamine S35 is still definitely a great acoustic guitar to set you on your way.

Well, if you look around on the Internet about what people are saying about the Jasmine by Takamine S35 Acoustic Guitar, then I think that by sheer popularity vote, this is the best entry-level (beginner’s) acoustic guitar available on the market, and still to be outdone. At less than $100, the Takamine Jasmine S35 is very accessible for anyone, but whereas for other brands lower than $100 will give you a rather cheap guitar, which you might leave behind in just a few months for a better model, the Jasmine S35 is anything BUT a cheap guitar, with its attention to detail, the smooth wood finish front and back, and of course most importantly, when it comes to its sound, which players have described as being smooth, warm, and really pleasing to the ear. I think that this kind of guitar goes a long way to motivating the young guitarist to a solid musical career.

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GuitarzOnline.com mention how a staggering 80% of people who try to learn how to play the guitar quit in the first 3 months. I don’t know exactly how they came up with that figure, but it could be true. And though I know it boils down to several other factors, like time, innate musical skill, and lack of discipline, still having a good guitar which can be easily played, sounds great, feels great, and looks great, can definitely help. This is coming from a guy who had to learn guitar on some of the most horrendous acoustic guitars ever (imagine a guitar with cobwebs inside and with very painful strings), at the same time observing how his high-school classmates were able to learn guitar at lightning-speed thanks to their more expensive instruments. So yes, based on my personal experience, the entry level guitar makes a huge difference. Obviously of course I stuck to it, but if I could do it all again, I’d much rather take the easy road with something like the Jasmine by Takamine S35.

Needless to say, GuitarzOnline gives the Jasmine S35 a rating of 5 out of 5 stars. And I think that their review is perfectly fair. Anyway, some of the features of the guitar include the Spruce laminate top, Nato back and sides, keeping the cost down but still providing a high quality sound.

I also have to point out the fact that some players have reported the high action of this guitar, which seems to be the default. If you don’t know what action is, it is simply the height of the guitar strings above the fretboard. A string with high action requires more force to press down and play than one with low action. It can present a challenge to the beginner player (especially if you’re someone with weak and thin fingers), when playing those F and B minor chords. If you’re going to buy this guitar take note that you can adjust the action of this guitar. You can adjust the action yourself, or you can ask a guitar repair shop to do it. Despite this bearable inconvenience, the results will nevertheless be worth it.

To conclude, I’d say the only way you can really discover how good this guitar is, is to try it out for yourself. But the Jasmine S35 by Takamine has been tried by thousands of young guitar players the world over, and has been found to be more than satisfactory.

Hello everyone, this is going to be our first foray into guitars, and the first guitar we’ve chosen to bring into the spotlight is the Jasmine by Takamine S35 Acoustic Guitar. I need to confess that what initially brought my attention to this guitar was its sheer popularity, and I wanted to find out if it was all pure hype, or if there was indeed an entry level guitar out there that defied all expectations. Well, it seems that this guitar falls into the latter category. The Jasmine S35 is indeed an “entry-level” guitar, and yes, if you’re already a professional guitarist with several hundred bucks to spare, you’d probably want to invest in a higher model by Takamine, but if you’re a beginner who wants to have a pleasant experience in learning the instrument, not just in terms of sound, but also in terms of the overall feel and impressive visual appeal of your guitar, then this is probably the best entry level guitar ever.

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Not being completely familiar with acoustic guitar brands, this was also a great opportunity for me to learn about the company behind the Jasmine series. Turns out that Takamine is a Japanese company that specializes mostly in steel-string guitars. They were founded in 1962, and where one of the very first companies to introduce the acoustic-electric guitar model (thank you Wikipedia!). As such, they’ve had decades of experience when it comes to finding just the right combination of wood construction to produce the best acoustic guitar sound. This is a company that doesn’t produce “cheap” acoustic guitars, but one which has built a highly respected reputation.

That being said, I think it would have been great if I had also learned how to play guitar on a Takamine Jasmine S35. I remember my old father’s classical guitar, which had a really wide fretboard and high action, making it near impossible for my thin fingers to play that F chord. It was more like learning how to play a bass guitar than an actual acoustic guitar, at least that’s how it felt to my untrained fingers. I also noticed how younger players who had the privilege of buying a good acoustic guitar really did learn faster, and has more fun in the process. So your first guitar is pretty crucial, and can go a long way in shaping your whole music-playing future.

As it stands, we’re pretty proud right now of introducing the Jasmine by Takamine S35 to a younger generation (or young at heart), many of whom might be interested in learning guitar, but might not know where to start. Hopefully in the near future we will also be writing a more comprehensive review of the Jasmine Takamine S35.

Ok so for quite some time we’ve been on the search for the very best portable PA System, and it seems that when it comes to the specifications and to being tried and tested by the pros and amateurs alike, the Yamaha Stagepas 300 is really one which stands out among the crowd. But it’s also strange because even if this first is our overall recommendation, other people seem to prefer the Peavey Escort 3000 over the Yamaha Stagepas 300. So far the various specifications tell me that the Yamaha Stagepas 300 is truly the better choice. It’s lighter and cheaper, and seems to be made of more durable components. I think that Peavey would finish in at a close second. But of course, it also depends on the personal tastes of those who are interested in performing outdoors. I think that for some performers, they don’t really mind which PA System they use, as long as it gets the sound of their instrument in crisp condition. And I think that there are other variables too, such as the mixer and equalizer you use, that can really augment the sound of the PA System in any case.

I think for the meantime we’re going to take a break when it comes to Public Address systems, and I think I’ll be focusing on instruments for next time. I think I’ve come across one of the best selling keyboards of Casio, and I would like to see why it’s so good and why it’s such an instant hit. Ciao for now everyone!

Well hello guys and gals! Welcome to Sound-Sensation.com, the website dedicated to the the very best music making products and equipment. If you share my passion for good music and for unrestricted creativity, then you’ve come to the right place! Now I wouldn’t call myself a professional musician, but I’ve tried my hand at recording rock music and also a little bit of electronic music. I think that the great thing these days is that music is becoming more and more accessible for the ordinary guy down the street. I mean, gone are the days when you needed your own brick and mortar recording studio to come out with a decent music album. Now you just need your computer as well as some good hardware to start churning out those great songs. In fact, if you’re not so choosy, around one hundred or two hundred dollars worth of equipment is enough for you to create a full fledged music album. Of course, people with a passion for music aren’t willing to settle for the lowest quality, but would constantly seek to raise the bar. I think that it’s important that we find the best and at the same time most affordable resources in order to achieve the music of our dreams.

So feel free to browse around. Right now we’re showcasing several keyboards, a few mixers and equalizers, and also good portable PA systems for public performance. But I’m sure that we’ll be adding more content as time goes on. Also, this website hasn’t officially been “launched” yet, and is still for the most part under construction (you must forgive the bare sidebar for example), but I’m sure that it’s going to be much more substantial and presentable in the next few months. Cheers!

The Yamaha Stagepas 500 is the newer and more powerful version of the famous Yamaha Stagepas 300, which has already become one of the industry standards in portable PA systems. This bigger version is ideal for those who need enough sound and reach to fill a medium-sized venue. It retains the compact and intuitive design of the Stagepas 300, while adding two more inputs for a total of 10, and boosting the power from 100 watts to 250 watts.

Given the great reviews all around regarding the Yamaha Stagepas 300, it comes as no surprise that all reviews have been generally positive when it comes to the Stagepas 500. For example, Dan Walsh of Singer and Musician was able to successfully use the Stagepas 500 at venues of more than 200 people, in one case even at a church event which required a full band setup: an acoustic guitar, keyboard, three vocalists, a violin, and flute, using up all the available inputs. Nevertheless, the sound levels were very easy to set, and to come out with a pleasing mix. He also praised the durability of material, which resists scratching very well, meaning you don’t have to worry one bit when carrying your speakers in van while driving on a bumpy road. His conclusion: this is one very “flexible performer.”

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Performing Musician was very surprised about how “grown-up” the system sounds, and even though there’s no adjustment when it comes to the reverb, the overall quality of the reverb is quite good. It is “very impressive”, when it comes to the performance to price ratio, the build quality, and also the compact form. It probably is as close as you can possibly get to an ideal PA system for the solo performer to the small band. The only point for improvement might have been some more effect options such as a handful of delays or reverbs, but maybe that’s asking too much already. The final conclusion: “very impressive!” You can read the review here.

Grady Wann of TFWM.com tested the Stagepas 500 in various environments such as a small recording studio, a 125-seat worship center, and an acoustically awkward community center room. The results only confirm what Dan Walsh discovered above, the sound is impressive in many kinds of environments, retaining its rich and full character. The reverb controls were also an aid in adapting to different sound environments, which is a feature that he didn’t expect to find in a small portable PA system. Unsurprisingly, he gives the Yamaha Stagepas 500 the thumbs-up!

Overall, when it comes to portable PA systems, the Stagepas 500 is one of the most highly recommended. However if you don’t really need all that power, then you might want to stick to its little brother, the Yamaha Stagepas 300

Well, if you want to compare the Yamaha Stagepas 300 to the Yamaha Stagepas 500, you just have to think of the Stagepas 500 as the bigger and louder brother. The Stagepas 300 packs 300 watts of power, that is two 150W amplifiers, while the Stagepas 500, as the name implies, packs two 250W amplifiers. And whereas the Stagepas 300 has eight total sound inputs (which is a decent number if you ask me), the Yamaha Stagepas 500 has an additional two, bringing the total to ten. Unsurprisingly, the increase in power means an additional increase in weight, which is around 10 lbs. total. From the 47 lbs. Stagepas 300 to the less than 57 lbs. of the Stagepas 500. The weight of the Stagepas 500 is of course still quite portable, but just takes a little more muscle to lug around and set-up properly.

So should you buy the Stagepas 300 or the Stagepas 500? Well obviously the Stagepas 300 is cheaper, around three hundred dollars cheaper. And if you’re planning to use this PA system for small gatherings like children’s parties, or small acoustic performances indoors, then it’s already more than enough. It already packs enough power to completely overwhelm a small to medium venue like your backyard or a seminar room. The Stagepas 300 is light to carry around, especially if you travel a lot, and it can also be set up quickly. I think that the eight sound inputs are really more than enough to accommodate the usual performances, even if it’s a full band set-up.

But if you’re also considering using your PA System for medium to larger venues, for example a mini-auditorium or a wide open space in the park, and you really want to be sure that you’ll get the sound across, then you play it safe you can get the Yamaha Stagepas 500. Of course the Yamaha Stagepas 500 will be overkill for small venues, and you need to lower the volume for them, but I think that in terms of portable PA Systems, the Yamaha Stagepas 500 delivers one of the most powerful packages available. With the Yamaha Stagepas 500 you can really dare to hold mini-concerts. The next logical step up the ladder would be a full-blown professional PA System setup, which would no longer be “portable” in the proper understanding of the word. I think that Yamaha has really done a great job in making powerful PA Systems like the Yamaha Stagepas 500 accessible to the masses. In fact, wouldn’t it be ironic if your PA System would be more powerful than the old PA System installation of your alma mater? I think that could certainly happen with the Yamaha Stagepas 500.

So in deciding whether to get the Yamaha Stagepas 300 or the Yamaha Stagepas 500, it’s all about a question of price and power. All other factors, such as the top-notch and crisp sound quality, and also the durability of the components, are more or less equal because they were made by the same company which has a commitment to high quality. I think whichever you do decide to choose, you’ll still be way ahead of the pack when it comes to your portable PA System.