The hardware means that the kit is easily set up and all of the drums are well- supported meaning there's no disconcerting wobble when playing hard. The P930 pedal has tuneable cams, lots of adjustability and responds to fast patterns well, its design also matching Pearl's higher-end Demon Drive pedal. The 930-series hardware is very sturdy - double-braced and as solid as a rock, but features nice touches such as Pearl's new 'wave'-design screw, meaning it's easier to apply torque to the screws. The Pearl tom holders are a ubiquitous design familiar from a thousand rehearsal rooms, but it's only when you use the real deal that you realise that the rest are all pale imitations - the fine-geared tilters mean that positioning the toms is easy and, once in place, they stay in place. The Sensitone steel snare includes Pearl's Duo strainer which can be converted between two modes of operation, and cuts right through, with brightness and an articulate voice. 'The thin, stiff shells mean that the fundamental tone comes through clearly and brightly - a very focused sound without too many overtones.' Pearl says the birch shells feature 'boosted high frequencies, slightly reduced mids and a good low-end punch' and it's apparent that they have a strident, authoritative tone that cuts through well. The thin, stiff shells mean that the fundamental tone comes through clearly and brightly - a very focused sound without too many overtones. The Pinstripe batters mean that a useable sound from the kit is easily found with just a few turns of a drum key. One particularly nice touch is the differing lacquered bass drum hoops - one of which is in red and one in black, each one at the colour extremes of the fade on the bass drum. Out of the box, the VBL kit's fade finish displays a depth of colour rarely seen at this price-point - it really is striking, and is offset neatly by the bright chrome lugs. The rack toms are mounted on Pearl's ISS mounts and all the toms have Remo Pinstripe batters, with a Powerstroke batter on the bass drum.

Each drum features lugs reminiscent of the Reference series, and die-cast bass drum hoops seated on rubber gaskets to isolate the shell. The kit displays exemplary fit and finish across the drums - the lacquer finish is deep, glossy and flawless - the kind of finish that 10 years ago would have been found only on Pearl's flagship ranges. Our test kit is the mid-configuration with the 16' floor tom and 22' bass drum in that aforementioned Ruby Fade which goes from red to black in a vertical fade across the shell.

In addition to the kits, Pearl also offers a number of add-on toms. The new Vision kits are available in five lacquer-only finishes: natural, Graphite Fade, Prussian Blue, Black Burst and finally a fetching Ruby Fade.

'Under stage lights the VBL's finish pops, reinforcing the notion that it is a higher-end kit.'

Pearl vision