Pearl EXX725/C 5-Piece Review: Hardware In, Cymbals Left Out

Who Should Buy It

Key Specifications

Overview

The Pearl EXX725/C 5-Piece is a complete shell and hardware package finished here in Pure White, built around 6-ply, 7.5mm shells described as a poplar and Asian mahogany blend. It is part of Pearl's long running Export Standard line, a name that has been a reference point for entry and mid level complete kits for years.

Unlike a shells only pack, this listing includes a defined hardware set: an 830 Series snare stand, cymbal boom stand and hi hat stand, plus a P930 bass drum pedal. That puts most of the playing infrastructure in place out of the box, with the one notable absence being cymbals themselves, which the listing data does not mention anywhere.

That combination of named hardware without named cymbals makes this a slightly unusual middle ground between a bare shell pack and a fully bundled beginner kit. Buyers need to read the component list carefully rather than assuming a cymbal boom stand automatically means a cymbal ships alongside it.

Shells, Sizes and Sound

The shells are specified as 6-ply and 7.5mm thick, built from a poplar and Asian mahogany blend. Naming both the ply count and the shell thickness is more detail than many competing kits provide at this price, and poplar mahogany blends are generally understood to sit on the warmer, slightly darker end of the tonal spectrum compared with a brighter maple or birch shell.

Sizing covers a 22x18 bass drum, a 16x16 floor tom, 13x9 and 12x8 toms, and a 14x5.5 snare. The 13 inch rack tom alongside the 12 inch is a slightly larger pairing than some competing five piece layouts, which should add a touch more low midrange body to the tom sound relative to a kit built around smaller 10 and 12 inch toms. On paper, the combination of a deeper 18 inch bass drum shell and the warmer shell material description points toward a kit tuned for fuller, rounder tone rather than a sharp, cutting attack, though the listing does not include any measured acoustic data to confirm that beyond the stated materials.

Hardware and Build

The included 830 Series hardware covers a snare stand, a cymbal boom stand and a hi hat stand, giving a buyer most of the stands needed to get the kit into playing position. A P930 bass drum pedal rounds out the hardware list, removing one more item a first time buyer would otherwise need to shop for separately.

The Opti-Loc tom suspension system mounts the rack toms without clamping directly onto the shell, which is generally intended to preserve more of the shell's natural resonance compared with hardware that bites into the wood. The listing does not detail the gauge or bracing of the 830 Series stands beyond naming the series itself.

Buyers who have used earlier generation Pearl Export hardware can generally expect the 830 Series to follow the same basic double braced tripod design that line has used for years, though the listing itself stops short of confirming bracing detail, so that expectation should be treated as a reasonable inference rather than a published fact. The P930 pedal is a named model rather than a generic unbranded pedal, which lets a buyer research its specific feel and chain drive type ahead of purchase instead of discovering it only after the kit arrives.

What Is in the Box

Based on the published feature bullets, the box contains the five shells, the 830 Series snare, cymbal boom and hi hat stands, the P930 bass drum pedal, and a Remo coated and ported bass drum head with a built in drum muffler. That is a fairly complete hardware bundle for a shell and stand package.

What is not in the box, as far as the listing states, is any cymbal. A cymbal boom stand is included, which would normally pair with a crash or ride, but no cymbal itself is named anywhere in the feature bullets, so buyers should plan on that as a separate purchase. A drum throne is also absent from the published list, alongside drumsticks, so a buyer assembling a complete first setup from this listing alone should plan for at least three separate additions: cymbals, a throne and sticks, before the kit is fully ready for a first session.

• 22x18 bass drum, 16x16 floor tom, 13x9 and 12x8 toms, 14x5.5 snare
• 830 Series snare stand, cymbal boom stand and hi hat stand
• P930 bass drum pedal
• Remo coated and ported bass drum head with drum muffler
• Opti-Loc tom suspension system

Playability and Setup

With stands and a pedal already specified, setup here is more predictable than for a shells only pack, since the hardware is confirmed to match the kit rather than left to guesswork. The P930 pedal in particular removes a common first purchase headache for a new drummer who might otherwise not know what pedal to pair with the bass drum.

The larger 13 inch and 12 inch rack tom pairing, along with the 16 inch floor tom, gives this kit a slightly bigger physical footprint than a kit built around smaller 10 and 12 inch toms, which is worth factoring into stage or practice room space planning before setup day. Because Opti-Loc separates the mounting bracket from the shell, adjusting tom angle and height during setup should be a matter of loosening a memory lock rather than fighting a rigid bracket welded to the shell itself, which tends to make fine tuning a comfortable playing position faster on the first few attempts.

Finish and Looks

The Pure White finish gives this kit a clean, modern look that reads well under stage lighting and photographs more crisply than darker wraps in low light settings. It is a popular choice for players who want their kit to stand out visually without relying on sparkle or metallic effects.

The tradeoff with a light colored finish like Pure White is that scuffs, scratches and fingerprints tend to show more readily over time than they would on a black or dark colored wrap. The listing does not detail specific wrap durability, so normal care during transport is a sensible habit to protect the finish long term. A padded case for the bass drum and floor tom, which tend to take the most contact during loading and unloading, is a worthwhile early accessory purchase for anyone planning to move this kit between a home practice space and gigs regularly, given how visible marks become on a lighter wrap.

Upgrades and Daily Use

Cymbals are the clearest and most immediate upgrade path here, since the cymbal boom stand is included but no cymbal itself is named in the listing. A buyer should treat a hi hat pair, a crash and a ride as a near certain add on cost before the kit is fully playable.

Beyond cymbals, the shells, hardware and bass drum head are specified clearly enough that daily practice and gigging should not require early replacement of those components. The drum muffler built into the bass drum head setup also gives a player some built in control over low end ring without needing a separate tone control purchase.

Over months of regular use, the tom and snare heads, which are not named in the listing, are the most likely eventual replacement items simply because heads wear with normal play regardless of brand. Planning for that routine maintenance cost separately from any cymbal purchase is a sensible way to budget for this kit's first year.

Who Should Buy It

This kit suits a buyer who already owns cymbals from a previous setup, or who specifically wants to choose their own cymbal pack rather than using whatever comes bundled with a competing all in one kit. The named ply count, hardware series and bass drum head give a clearer picture of what is actually being purchased than a vaguer listing would.

It is a weaker fit for a first time buyer who wants to open one box and start playing immediately, since cymbals are a necessary purchase that this particular listing does not cover. A returning player restarting after a long break, who likely still owns a favorite cymbal set from a previous kit, is also a strong match here, since they can put this hardware and shell package to use without paying again for cymbals they already have in storage.

Alternatives Worth Considering

Buyers who want cymbals bundled into the same purchase should compare this against other Export configurations or similarly priced complete kits from Tama or Mapex that name a cymbal pack directly in their feature bullets, accepting a possible tradeoff in shell ply detail in exchange for that completeness. Players who like the poplar and Asian mahogany shell description here but want every head across the kit named, not just the bass drum head, should look at kits whose listings itemize tom and snare heads individually rather than mentioning only the kick head.

It is also worth comparing this against the other EXX725/C color listing in the same Export Standard line, since the underlying shell and hardware specification is effectively the same and the decision between them often comes down purely to finish color preference. Whichever direction a buyer leans, comparing the actual published hardware and shell detail side by side is more useful than comparing price alone.

Verdict

The Pearl EXX725/C 5-Piece is a well specified shell and hardware package, naming its ply count, hardware series, pedal model and bass drum head rather than leaving those vague. The 830 Series stands and P930 pedal mean most of the playing infrastructure is already covered.

Cymbals are the clear gap, since none are named despite a cymbal boom stand being included. Buyers comfortable sourcing their own cymbals, or who already own a set, will find solid value here; anyone wanting a single complete purchase should look elsewhere.

Taken as a whole, this listing rewards a buyer who reads the component list closely rather than assuming every hardware mention implies the matching accessory is bundled. Done that way, it is a sensibly priced, clearly specified path to a complete playing setup minus cymbals alone.

Strengths and Limitations

Alternatives to Consider

Gretsch RENOWN 4-PIECE SHELL PACK

An experienced drummer who wants the warm Gretsch maple sound in a professional shell pack and already owns quality hardware and cymbals.

Read the Gretsch RENOWN 4-PIECE SHELL PACK review →

Gretsch Drums Renown 5

An experienced drummer who wants a professional five-piece shell pack in the classic 22-inch kick layout and already owns hardware and cymbals.

Read the Gretsch Drums Renown 5 review →

Gretsch Drums Renown RN2-J483 3-piece

A jazz, acoustic or small-venue drummer who wants a professional compact shell pack and already owns a snare, hardware and cymbals.

Read the Gretsch Drums Renown RN2-J483 3-piece review →

Questions Buyers Ask