Should you buy the Remo SMT? Drum Head Comparison

Drum head companies are like football teams, you follow them blindly despite their shortcomings and other teams having objectively better players. One of those players has always been the Evans EMAD. A head that just does what it should, make a bass drum sound great and not have to throw an entire bedding factory inside your expensive drum shell. For years, Remo failed to clap back at this amazing product until NOW. The Remo SMT, has just landed here in Aus (after being out in the US for almost a year) and I HAD to get my hands on it.
This video compares it to the classic Power Stroke 3 and we see how little effort is required to arrive at a similar sound.
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[@paistefever]

great demo! not sure if anyone aware of this, but to me it doesn't look like a copy of an Emad (Evans) but a hybrid version of their muffling ring with a foam you'd out put beneath the head (the white one) but in the front. glad they did the 16" version too!

[@GabrielXDrums]

Just copped the Emperor clear today:) Using it next weekend for an open air festival on Saturday. It’s gonna be pretty dope.

[@EliGreenDrums]

Hell yeah!

[@CormacTunstead]

Brilliant vid demonstration bud! I love the Emad, used them for years back when I played the drums.

[@Curtis.720]

More vids like this bro, unreal content

[@EliGreenDrums]

I gotchu! More vids on the way!

[@MarshawnOfficial]

Thank you for the excellent comparison and content.

[@EliGreenDrums]

Thanks for watching!

[@D.E.W.MUSIQ_]

The Emad (10ply) and Gmad (12ply) are both single ply. The Emad2 is double ply.

[@EliGreenDrums]

Correct, I misspoke in the video. The Amb SMT is a 10mil single ply like the EMAD. The Emp SMT is a 2 ply like the EMAD2.

[@D.E.W.MUSIQ_]

@@EliGreenDrums all good man, great review ‼️‼️‼️

[@jamescassidy4045]

Can you do an in depth kick tuning tutorial? I know theres lots, and it Obv all depends on the drum/heads/room etc, but I'd love to see your approach, and what head relationships you like.

[@EliGreenDrums]

I’ll put it on the list!

[@jamescassidy4045]

@@EliGreenDrums Thanks homie!

[@johnfrith7884]

Hey I have had good results cutting out the black dot on my old cs coated snare head and using it as a bass drum patch just use thin clear shipping tape to put it on your P3 or SMT

[@danlc95]

Separate dots used to he made available from Universal Percussion years ago.

[@EliGreenDrums]

Yo that’s actually a cool idea.

[@do8671]

Great video! Btw, what is the kit on your right? Gorgeous finish with nice BN hardware!

[@EliGreenDrums]

Pearl Masters Retrospec. It’s just black, not black nickel. But it is gorgeous and sounds massive. I just bought a new C&C kit with black nickel hardware. Video coming soon!

[@waynebaker2452]

Great demo. The SMT sounds deeper but missing the "click". A better patch instead of the Evans is the Aquarian "Kick Pad" or their "Super Thin". I tried an Evans E-Mad and didn't like it and when I put their brand patch that came with it it was terrible. I think the Aquarian Super Kick 2 is close to the PS3 or at least I like the sound of both. Again, great content!

[@EliGreenDrums]

I’ll have to try that patch!

[@stevepayne2432]

To me, the perceived loudness of the bass drum from behind the kit is quieter with pre-muffled heads like the EMAD, SK, etc. vs dampened heads like the REMO PS3, EVANS EQ3 , AQUARIAN FORCE 1. How does the SMT fare in this aspect?

[@EliGreenDrums]

Any muffling makes a drumhead quieter. It’s muffling, right? It muffles. But what it does is focus the tone to be more balanced in the areas you want. Less mid range being the main one. The SMT is the same. I wouldn’t say it’s that much different to a PS3 with a blanket or pillow in there as far as volume. Maybe a little quieter. But much more mid controlled and has more attack straight out the gate.

[@hunterbladen2806]

Is that a 20in kick? I've been trying to see what this head sounds like on a 20.

[@EliGreenDrums]

22! I’m just tall at setup like I’m trying to reach the moon 😂

[@Joshstix95]

p3 allday. I think the smt is great but abit quieter than the p3

[@EliGreenDrums]

Yeah I’d agree with you on the slight volume drop. I think it’s mostly as a result of the mid frequencies that are less present in the SMT. Less frequency = power perceived volume. However, those same mids with the P3 tend to get scooped out in the EQ stage for me, so I’m not really sure which reigns supreme. Both heads are great though

[@danlc95]

​@@EliGreenDrums- I go by the philosophy that my drums need to be able to compete un-mic'd in a live situation. This is why I've run PowerStroke 3 or 4 batters with Ebony PowerStroke 3 Resos with no muffling. I do like using the Falam Slam patches though. I want as much cut and volume potential as I can get out of my bass drum.

[@olindecreative]

Yeah I just switched from Emad2 to PS3 with a pillow inside and love it! Gives me a nice bright attack to cut through mix on top of beefy low end. The Emad was a little too "thuddy" and lacked dynamics for my taste.

[@521photography]

It’s good for sure, especially on its own. But doesn’t mix well with the rest of the kit. I like tone and the P3 has more. I’d still go with emporers all the way around

[@danlc95]

The PowerStroke 3 IS "muffled." It uses a 10 mil inner ring around the circumfrence under the playing side of the film. As far as sound, they sound very similar. The convenience of not having to deal with those goofy foam rings that always seem to have issues when in transport, I'd take the PowerStroke 3. The PowerStroke 3 and 4 were all they really ever needed. These heavily muffled bass heads are pointless - so many guy are still stuffing them with pillows and blankets anyways. It defeats the purpose and extra expense of a pre-muffled head. If one is just going to throw a pillow or something else in their vass drum, they owe it to themselves to try a regular Ambassador, C.S., Emperor, or PinStripe with a regular 10 mil reso. As far as this test is concerned. PowerStroke 3 - no contest.

[@EliGreenDrums]

Big fan of the PS3 and single ply BD heads. I think for heavier genres the EMAD/SMT style heads do a lot for ease of use and they have a certain slappy/clicky sound that while the other heads CAN do, they require a little more work. I think it’s a little redundant to be concerned with what level of muffling is required to achieve certain tones. Every drum is different. This C&C kick in particular is very warm and mid range focused, so to get it to do a modern rock/metal sound like I tend to shoot for, it needs some extra dampening in places. It’s less about an inadequacy of the head and more the specific build of that drum.

[@kunga80]

EMAD2 Is 2 ply version not Gmad!😉

[@EliGreenDrums]

Realised that after I posted it! 😅😅

[@XeRo333]

EMAD Heavyweight or EMAD2 all day long!!😁

[@ragrapios]

Aaaaactually. I'll just use my powerstroke. Much sharper than emad's dull muffled sound.

[@paulmora2480]

Powersonic was the worst kick drum head I’ve ever used. Currently using the SMT clear on my Starclassic Maple. Sounds ok. Not a game changer for me. Powerstoke 3 or 4 still in lead for my preference.

[@EliGreenDrums]

Power sonic was truly bin worthy.

[@Matt-io3uz]

Titles are incorrect on recap or are you really comparing an emad to the ps?

[@EliGreenDrums]

Yeah I noticed that after I uploaded it. Oops

[@Matt-io3uz]

The drumming and sound of your kit is pretty damn sweet! Especially like the snare.

[@RadHellNo]

Honestly I still like Powerstroke 3 better :)

[@EliGreenDrums]

They’re both great heads! Depends what you’re going for I think