10 Best Bass Drum Resonant Heads in 2023 Reviewed
Replacing your resonant bass drum head is vital to keeping your drum set sounding its best. Installing a fresh drumhead will enhance the overtone tone, projection, attack, and sound of your bass drum.
Finding the right bass drum heads can be tricky since they vary in thickness and materials. Some are better suited for particular musical scenarios and styles of music.
In this review guide, we’ll share the best bass drum resonant heads on the market, along with a few pointers on what to look for when choosing the right option for your needs. Let’s begin!
10 Best Bass Drum Resonant Heads Reviewed
Below, we’ve reviewed the top ten best bass drum resonant heads on the market.
1. Best for Studio Recording — Remo Coated Ambassador 22 Inch Bass Drum Head
Remo Coated Ambassador is the go-to snare drum head because it’s versatile for all music genres. Extreme responsiveness and a wide range of tuning options let drummers adapt the drumhead to fit their style. These drumheads are perfect on tom and kick drums for an open and full sound.
The 22-inch Remo Ambassador is constructed with a single ply of 10-millimeter coated film, providing excellent sustain and open sound. These drumheads are ideal for low and moderate-volume situations and help your drums ring nicely.
The coating on the drumhead adds a more subtle attack, especially on midrange frequencies, giving you clearer tones. It helps give you crystal-clear sound, which is ideal for studio recording and other low-volume settings.
Specifications
- Series: Ambassador
- Brand: Remo
- Finish: Coated
- Size: 22
PROS
- Strong sustain and open sound
- Great for studio recording and low-volume settings
- Wide range of tuning options
CONS
- Not designed for heavy hitters
Who’s This For?
- Low to moderate volume settings like a studio recording
- All genres, but especially great for hip hop, jazz, rock, and blues
2. Best for Jazz — Remo Powerstroke Fiberskyn Ambassador P3 22 Inch Drum Head
The Remo Powerstroke P3 in Fiberskyn offers the low-end tone and warm midrange of calfskin with the added benefit of overtone control. This fiber skin coating has the look, feel and sound of calfskin, giving a nice boost to the low and midrange frequencies. As a result, you’ll get a completely warm and full sound.
Controlled by the inlay ring, it produces a modern sustain, making it ideal for moderate-volume playing in live performances or the studio. This drumhead features a thin underlay, which creates a dampening effect and controls the overtones. It's very responsive at all dynamic levels and can work for many genres of music.
The Remo Powerstroke P3 is one of the most durable bass drumheads on the market, as it’s able to withstand heavy use.
Specifications
- Series: Powerstroke P3
- Brand: Remo
- Finish: Fiberskyn
- Size: 22
PROS
- Produces a warm attack with a mid-range resonant sound
- The surface is great for sticks and brushes
- A warm spectrum of sound is great for jazz and orchestral applications
CONS
- Not great for genres that require heavy hitting, like metal and hard rock
Who’s This For?
- Great for playing jazz music
- Perfect for live performances
3. Best for Rock — Aquarian Bass Drum Heads: Center Ported Resonant Bass Drumhead 22, Black
The Aquarian Center Ported Resonant bass drumhead is a great choice for a balanced tone and big, long sustain, which allows your drums to ring out. Made with a single ply of 10-millimeter film, it produces a full and open sound. It also blends nicely with other instruments, especially at low volumes.
With the Aquarian Center Ported Resonant, you get a clear, bright sound with extreme responsiveness and resonance at medium tension. You can achieve a deeper fat sound when it’s dampened and tuned low. It’s perfect for drummers of all levels, from beginners to advanced, wanting a wide range of drum sound options.
Specifications
- Series: Classic Clear
- Brand: Aquarian
- Finish: Black
- Size: 22
PROS
- Produces a bright, open, and resonant sound with a lot of attacks
- Offers many tuning options
- It blends well with other instruments
CONS
- Hard metal drummers may be hard-pushed to get along with these drumheads.
Who’s This For?
- Great for drummers who play rock, jazz, or pop music
4. Best for Metal — Evans EQ3 Resonant Coated White Bass Drum Head, 22 Inch
The Evans EQ3 resonant-coated white bass drumhead boasts superior quality and flawless, rich bass sounds.
This bass drumhead is a single ply of 6.5-millimeter film, ensuring a big and full sound. It works with an internal overtone ring, making it microphone-friendly for studio and live settings. The Evans EQ3 also features a plastic sleeve to focus the pitch and enhance the attack while offering protection for the port.
These Evans EQ3 drumheads fit snuggled around the rim thanks to their proprietary 360-degree technology, creating evenness across the ridge of the shell. This head has a deep sound that’s still crisp and cuts through most louder genres of music.
Specifications
- Series: EQ3
- Brand: Evans
- Finish: Coated
- Size: 22
PROS
- A very crisp sound that cuts through an ensemble to stand out
- Fits snugly around the rim of a drum
- Designed for micing
CONS
- Not ideal for lighter styles like jazz
Who’s This For?
- Great for rock and metal music
5. Best for All Genres — Remo Powerstroke Coated Felt Tone 22 Inch Bass Drum Head
The Remostroke P3 Felt Tone is a moderately controlled and responsive drumhead with great midrange warmth thanks to its unique synthetic fiber coating.
This drumhead is 7.5mil film, with a 3mil poly spun fiber laminated top coating. Its coating creates a similar look, feel, and sound to calfskin. The drumhead delivers a fairly deep tone that is focused without being overbalanced. With a thin underlay on the edges, the Powerstroke dampens high-frequences for a deep sound.
This drum set can be tuned up high for country, jazz, hip-hop, and funk or tuned low for rock.
Specifications
- Series: Powerstroke
- Brand: Remo
- Finish: Coated
- Size: 22
PROS
- Extremely versatile and dampens high frequencies
- Built-in dampening strip in the drumhead removes need for adhesives or glues
- Feels great to play
CONS
- Not for heavy metal drummers wanting a compressed sound
Who’s This For?
- Great for all music genres
6. Best for Rock and Heavy Metal — Evans EQ3 Resonant Smooth White Bass Drum Head, 22 Inch
The Evans EQ3 is a fantastic-sounding drumhead that packs a lot of punch and features an internal ring for sound dampening. While it’s only a single-ply 7.5 mil drumhead, it has an outstanding attack, making it ideal for heavier music and playing styles.
When tuned low, it delivers a surprisingly fat low-end for a single-ply drumhead. The EQ3 has an excellent tonal resonance but enough dampening to control unwanted overtones.
This drumhead puts a heavy emphasis on the feel and sound, helping drummers feel comfortable in the studio or on stage. The EQ3 can be tuned according to the drummer's needs to fit their genre or playing style.
Specifications
- Series: EQ3
- Brand: Evans
- Finish: Smooth White
- Size: 22
PROS
- Sounds great for studio and live performance
- Offers excellent attack
- Works well with plenty of musical styles, but especially heavy metal
CONS
- Doesn’t offer a lot of dampening
Who’s This For?
- Best suited for heavy genres like punk rock and heavy metal
7. Best for Pop Music — Remo Black Powerstroke P3 22 Inch Drum Head w/5 Black Dynamo Installed
The Remo Powerstroke P3 provides excellent overtone control, a boosted low-end and moderate attack. Constructed from a single-ply 10mil coated film and acoustic foam control ring, this bass drumhead is one of the market's most durable and effective.
The foam removes the high-pitch overtones and provides a more focused low and mid-frequency sustain. With the overtones managed, the drumhead is much easier to tune than other open heads.
The Remo Blackstroke P3 provides a more subtle and warm attack. Its thinner single-ply construction allows for even lower volumes and more responsiveness. When struck, the Powerstroke P3 offers great projection and a short punch.
With its mellow, vintage, and warm tone, you’ll get the perfect sound for lighter genres like pop music.
Specifications
- Series: Powerstroke P3
- Brand: Remo
- Finish: Black
- Size: 22
PROS
- Excellent quality
- Versatility for many musical genres
- Warm-sounding tone with controlled overtones
CONS
- Higher price tag not suited for casual players
Who’s This For?
- The Powerstroke 3 is best for genres like pop music, hip-hop, R&B, and country
8. Best for Budget— Aquarian Regulator Bass Drumhead 22 Black
The Aquarian Regulator bass drum head is a popular choice for drummers looking for a great-sounding drum head that is sure to stick around for many years to come. It’s a favorite amongst professional drummers and one of the industry’s best sellers.
This drumhead features its signature floating muffling system, which uses a narrow acoustic felt to obtain a natural yet pre-dampened sound. The felt boosts the low end while eliminating unwanted overtones and frequencies.
The Aquarian Regulator sounds excellent across many tuning ranges and generates a punchy yet natural low-end from the bass drum. In addition, it has a 4.25” reinforced offset port, making it easy for mic placement while also maintaining optimal resonance.
Specifications
- Series: Regulator
- Brand: Aquarian
- Finish: Black
- Size: 22
PROS
- Highly affordable and durable
- Sounds fantastic across all tuning stages
- A floating muffling system allows for natural sounds
CONS
- Not ideal for jazz music
Who’s This For?
- Great for drummers on a budget
- Made for in-studio and live performances
9. Best for Durability — Attack Orbit Series Clear/Black Ported Drum Head - 22"
Attack Orbit Series is a unique drumhead that combines the benefits of single and double-ply drumheads. It features a Dynaflex film for the top-ply and a 10mil Dynaflex flex film for the under-ply.
This drumhead leverages the durability and low-frequencies of a typical double-ply drumhead yet still retains the beautifully open and full sound of a single-ply head. The Attack Orbit is a warm-sounding drumhead versatile enough for most genres. You can play pop music, country, rock, R&B, and other musical genres, and it sounds great with all of them.
Specifications
- Series: Orbit
- Brand: Attack
- Finish: Clear
- Size: 22
PROS
- The unique top and under-ply construction ensure long-lasting durability
- Offers a full and open sound and a vintage tone
- Great for most genres
CONS
- Lacks a focused attack
- Less muffling means more potential overtones
Who’s This For?
- Great for hard-hitters who want a great-sounding and lasting drumhead
10. Best for Hip-Hop — Evans REMAD Resonant Bass Drum Head, 22 Inch
The Evans REMAD is a resonant drumhead for the front of the bass drum. It helps to control the pitch, sustain and attack while also boosting the volume of the kick drum.
Evan’s REMAD features a 4-inch port with a plastic sleeve for added protection. The drum has a more natural, full-bodied sound with its single-ply construction. These single-ply heads offer good durability and are an excellent choice for lighter genres like jazz, hip-hop, R’n’B, and funk drummers.
A built-in plastic control ring mounted internally helps dampen overtones and avoid unwanted sounds. You’ll get versatile sounds without stuffing your drum full of blankets or pillows.
Specifications
- Series: REMAD
- Brand: Evans
- Finish: Black
- Size: 22
PROS
- Plastic control ring to dampen overtones
- Plastic sleeve to protect the port
- Great for most genres
CONS
- Not suited for light hitters
Who’s This For?
- Ideal for lighter music genres such as hip-hop, jazz, and funk
Which Bass Drum Resonant Head Is Suitable For You?
Purchasing the right resonant drum head depends on the type of drummer you are and the type of sound you want. If you’re looking for smooth and open sound, you’ll want a single-ply drumhead. However, heavy hitters want a double-ply head with a built-in muffler.
Some qualities you’ll want to look for include:
- The thickness of drum skin: The thicker the bottom drumhead, the better resonance you’ll get, meaning a warmer, fuller, and more sustained sound. Thinner heads will provide more responsiveness.
- Built-in dampeners: Built-in dampeners control the overtones naturally produced by a drumhead. Features like inlay, control, or foam rings create a dampening effect.
- Sound absorption: Some drumheads have a built-in vent for sound absorption. Without it, sometimes it may sound too shallow or superficial.
- Compatibility with the drumset: Your ideal resonant drumhead should be compatible with other instruments, so they blend well together.
Need a New Bass Resonant Drum Head? Shop DCP!
The right resonant drumhead can help you achieve the best-sounding low-end while packing a strong punch that people come to expect from a bass. With our review of the 10 best resonant drumheads on the market, you can find the best options for a recording session or a live performance.
Drum Center of Portsmouth is here to help you achieve the best drum sound possible. That’s why we carry the most popular models, especially from the largest drumhead manufacturers in the world, including Aquarian, Remo, and Evans. Shop Drum Center of Portsmouth today for your drum kit needs, and contact our team with any questions!