Ask any musician out there and they will tell you they have a favorite instrument or piece of gear. Whether it’s functional, sentimental, or something else, what we use to make music and express ourselves becomes a part of us. As a drummer, each piece of your kit is an extension of you. That’s why you need the best snare drum head you can find.
The Best Snare Drum Head
The task of finding the perfect heads for your drums can seem impossible. There are so many different sizes, styles, textures, etc. Choosing which one is right for you, especially if you are just starting out, can be overwhelming.
To help cut down on some of that anxiety and get you back to playing, we have compiled a list of what we believe to be some of the top snare drum heads you can use.
Not only have we made this list, we have also included a buying guide to help you figure out which snare head is the right one for you.
In a hurry? These are the best snare drum heads.
- Aquarian Drumheads Drumhead Pack (HE14) Best Overall Best Overall
- Evans Clear 300 Snare Side Drum Head, 14 Inch Best Budget
- Evans Hybrid Grey Marching Snare Drum Head, 14 Inch Best For Metal
- Remo Emperor X Coated Snare Drum Head – 14 Inch Best For Rock
Our Top 9 Picks
Product Name | Layers | Coating? |
---|---|---|
Aquarian Drumheads Drumhead Pack (HE14) Best Overall | Single-ply | No |
Remo Ambassador Coated Drum Head – 14 Inch | Single-ply | Yes |
Evans Clear 300 Snare Side Drum Head, 14 Inch Best Budget | Single-ply | No |
Evans EC Reverse Dot Snare Drum Head, 14 Inch | Two-ply | No |
Evans Hybrid Grey Marching Snare Drum Head, 14 Inch Best For Metal | Single plies | No |
Remo Emperor X Coated Snare Drum Head – 14 Inch Best For Rock | Two plies | Yes |
Evans Clear 200 Snare Side Drum Head, 14 Inch | Single-ply | No |
Aquarian TRP14 14-Inch Triple Threat Snare Batter Head | Three plies | Yes |
Remo P30318-C2 Clear Powerstroke 3 Drum Head – 18-Inch – Clear Dot on Top | Single-ply | No |
Best Snare Drum Head Reviews
1. Aquarian Drumheads Drumhead Pack (HE14) Best Overall
First on our list is Aquarian, a trustworthy and renowned brand, which excels in manufacturing drumhead packs. It is amongst the best options to choose from for the following reasons.
Durable Material
Obviously drums are designed to take a beating. You want a snare drum that can handle a good amount of abuse. You don’t want to worry about busting a drum head when you can be getting lost in the groove.
Fortunately, Aquarian manufactures durable products as they use top quality plastic as a main composing material, which provides a bouncy effect and saves the drum from smashing impacts.
Great sound
We’ve all heard snare heads that just sound dull and boring. When you play your snare you want to get that distinct *pop* sound. Aquarian Drum heads are made with high quality materials. This snare head is single-ply & 10mm thick. Not only is this drum head durable it is also highly responsive.
Power dot surface
Even with the presence of a power dot, there is no deadening of your strike. You get the sound you want every single time.
Therefore, Aquarian snare drum heads have a great textured surface, perfect for heavy hitters and fierce jamming sessions.
Pros
- Works well
- Value for money
- Can take a beating
Cons
- Not designed for light music
2. Remo Ambassador Coated Drum Head – 14 Inch
The Remo Ambassador snare drum head is different from conventional type drum heads you might have seen and used before. It delivers high-quality sound. Users can enjoy playing a wide range of musical styles using this product.
Various sizes available
Not all snares are the same size. You’d hate to find the almost perfect head and then not be able to find it in a size that fits your drum. Right?
Fortunately, Remo has an assortment of head sizes to make sure you get the sound you want regardless of your kit size.
Controlled sustain
Remo ambassadors are known for their quality drum equipment. This drum head is notable for it’s resonance and controlled sustain. It gives of a sharp and crisp tone to help take your playing to the next level.
Pros
- Provides a bright attack
- One-ply film available
- Offers various sizes
Cons
- Tends to wear and tear
3. Evans Clear 300 Snare Side Drum Head, 14 Inch Best Budget
Great plastic used
The material used in Evans clear is reliable. It is made with materials that are firm, secure, solid, and steady. It is tried and true. You will not regret getting this snare head. It lives up to the hype and is a great investment.
Advanced, High-Quality sound
The versatility of this head is fantastic. It has a crisp and bright tone that can fit into almost any genre of music. Specifically, rock and gospel music sound great with this snare head.
Light in weight
The Evans clear snare drum head can be used easily. It is light in weight and can be fit according to your drum size easily all the while not adding greater pressure on your drum while using them. It feels amazing whenever you are playing it. All this and available at a great budget price.
Pros
- Great response at almost all the levels
- Excellent manufacturing quality
- Versatile design
Cons
4. Evans EC Reverse Dot Snare Drum Head, 14 Inch
Reverse Dot
Unlike many other drum heads, you won’t find the dot on the top side of this one. The dot on these Evans are the reverse and mounted on the underside of the head. This helps retain the same durability and precision but making them ideal for brushes, as well.
Edge Control Technology
Edge uses what they call Edge Control Technology as a way to EQ the drum head before you even get it. This results in lower mid range frequencies that can muddy up your sound.
Long life
The plastic used in the Evans EC Snare Drum Head is great and can take a lot of abuse. It can double the playing time for you so that you will enjoy the life of these heads and play even longer.
Pros
- Fits well
- Cheaper
- Great quality for beginners
Cons
- Not ideal for soft hitting
5. Evans Hybrid Grey Marching Snare Drum Head, 14 Inch Best For Metal
Feels great
This unique head is woven with two “high-tensile fibers”; one being kevlar. This design, in addition to it’s distinct sound, is to give the head both great durability and flexibility when being played.
Comfortable design
Not only does this head sport higher durability and flexibility but, at the same time, gives you a comfortable playing experience. Your hands will not suffer to get the drum corp sound you are seeking.
Speaking of…
Drum Corps Sound
This particular drum head is right at home in a marching band. But, because of that sharp snappy sound, this choice is also perfect for some styles of metal music.
Pros
- Durable, and light in weight
- Made of tensile strength material
- Produces impressive sound
Cons
- May produce extra noises
6. Remo Emperor X Coated Snare Drum Head – 14 Inch Best For Rock
Dual-Ply
The next on my list comes Remo’s Emperor X basic designed snare drum head that can easily fit a snare or tom. The 2-ply free floating head features two 10mil plies.
Bottom Black Dot
Top this off with a bottom black dot. The dot will give you some incredibly warm tones while also strengthening the durability of this head. You will have a distinct rock sound that is capable of withstanding even the hardest hitting drummers.
Emporer X Coating
Remo has specifically designed a coating for their drums to emphasize mids and lows while also providing, what they call, “Xtreme durability.” The coating, dual 10mm plies, and additional 5mm bottom dot make this drum head sound great but also earn the reputation of being the “most durable snare” head available today.
Pros
- Helps provide fantastic quality of sound
- Nice for a deep bass
- Worth the money
Cons
- Dull for action and range
7. Evans Clear 200 Snare Side Drum Head, 14 Inch
2mil single ply
It’s amazing how thin this single ply head is while still maintaining a high degree of durability. At just 2 mil, the Evans Clear 200 snare side drum head offers incredible sensitivity and response to your playing.
Great for brushwork
Not all snare heads are created equally. Some are fantastic for hard hitting rock and metal style performances. But sometimes you need a more subtle approach. When those times arise, you need to make sure your drum is able to give you the sound and volume you need with a more light handed strike.
Multiple sizes
Evans offers all the versatility and great sound in it’s Clear 200 ini several different sizes. Depending on your needs and the size of your snare you can get this head in 10″, 12″, 13″, and 14″.
Pros
- Works well
- Easy to use
- A solid built
Cons
- Delivery system is not that impressive
8. Aquarian TRP14 14-Inch Triple Threat Snare Batter Head
Assorted options
Aquarian has launched its new TRP14 14-inch triple threat snare head with a few unique specifications and advanced features. It comes in different sizes, ranging from 13″ or 14″. As well as featuring patented Z-100 coating technology.
Three-ply of 7mil
Often times, 3 ply heads are either too dead or have to be stretched super tight to get any good tone out of them. You would think this one would be the same, especially with each ply being 7mil Nu-Brite (that’s a total of 21mil).
This snare head is not like that, at all. You can tune this however you like and still get the tone you want! On top of that, this head is incredibly durable and able to take a beating.
Pros
- Tear-proof built
- Comes with a heavy-duty design
- Has a safe t-lock hook
Cons
- Needs to be readjusted after a while
9. Remo P30318-C2 Clear Powerstroke 3 Drum Head – 18-Inch – Clear Dot on Top
Remo is one of the top names in drum accessories and gear. The P30318-C2 Clear Powerstroke 3 Drum Head is one of their most popular offerings.
Let’s take a look at why.
Variety of sizes
No matter the size of your snare, Remo has a head for you. This particular model is available as small as 10″ and goes all the way up to 18″, hitting every other size in between.
Outer Edge Underlay
This head features a thin outer edge underlay that is designed to help muffle some of the less desirable overtones you get when playing. Their meticulous attention to detail has allowed them to craft a snare head that offers a “near-perfect balance of response and tone control.”
Pros
- Great for newbies
- Provides extra support
- Does not wear and tear
Cons
- May not work for professional use
Buying Guide (Things to Consider when Choosing a Snare Drum Head)
This article will help you choose the best snare drum head. By keeping the following points in mind, you’ll be able to choose the one which will be the best option for your playing needs.
Durability
Durable and good-quality material is what you want to go for. You are literally beating them. We all have experienced paying a premium price expecting quality and then being wholly disappointed. When it comes to drum heads, durability is the name of the game.
Coating: coated or clear
You need to choose if you want a drum head coated or clear.
Coating vs clear is not just an aesthetics choice. Coating tends to deaden the sound a bit and make your drum a bit more muffled while clear heads are brighter and louder.
Which you choose is really going to depend on what kind of sound and tone you are going for.
Layers: single Vs. double
Most often the difference between single ply and double ply drum heads in a very small thickness. Single ply is typically around 10mm while double is two 7mm pieces glued together for 14mm.
Many drummers prefer a single ply for a snare since it is able to resonate a bit better and double ply for toms so since they need a deeper sound.
Price/budget
Perhaps before looking at all of the options available you will want to consider you personal budget and price range. As we stated above, you don’t want to pay a premium price for a poor quality drum head.
Figure out your budget and then seek out the other features you want.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What are the best snare drum heads for recording?
The best snare drum heads for recording are going to vary depending on the style of music you are playing. Clear heads tend to have a brighter sound that may pick up a bit better with a microphone. But it really is subjective.
Q2. How often should I change my snare drum head?
The lifetime of a drum head depends on how often you are using them. If you are playing several times a week, or even nightly as a road warrior, the time in between replacements will be much shorter. If you’re only playing occasionally, they will be a bit longer.
Typically speaking, a drum head will last about six months of regular use.
Q3. Do drum heads go bad?
Eventually, all drum heads will wear out. Depending on how often you play and what style will really determine how long you have before your drum head will go bad.
In a hurry? These are the best snare drum heads.
- Aquarian Drumheads Drumhead Pack (HE14) Best Overall Best Overall
- Evans Clear 300 Snare Side Drum Head, 14 Inch Best Budget
- Evans Hybrid Grey Marching Snare Drum Head, 14 Inch Best For Metal
- Remo Emperor X Coated Snare Drum Head – 14 Inch Best For Rock
Final Thoughts
Thanks for sticking with me until the end. I know buying drum heads suitable for you is quite tricky.
You will find loads of articles on the internet with more complicated and technical language, which might be tough to understand for a beginner. For this reason, I tried to keep my article as simple and clear as much as I could.