Rubber meets wireless: Roland’s DrumLink System expands DWe potential

Allan Leibowitz tests Roland’s new wireless cymbal pack.

ROLAND CONTINUES TO reap the benefits of its DW acquisition, bringing more DWe innovations into its mainstream line-up. The latest evolution is the DrumLink wireless system, which incorporates DW’s wireless triggering technology into Roland’s broader e-drum ecosystem.

We first saw DWe tech in action with Roland’s latest digital snare drums, introducing a virtual throw-off for the first time. Now, that same wireless tech is front and centre in Roland’s new WT-10 Wireless Trigger Adapter and DH-10 DrumLink Hub — the latter being a rebadged version of the DWe hub, used to receive signals from wireless drums and cymbals.

Wireless expansion begins

Roland’s first official foray into wireless expansion comes in the form of the 4CY-4WT-01 DrumLink Cymbal Pack, a bundle aimed squarely at DWe users. Marketed as “a ready-made solution for outfitting a DWe acoustic-electronic wireless convertible drum set with Roland’s leading electronic cymbals”, it’s essentially a quieter, rubber alternative to DWe’s all-metal cymbals — a potential game-changer for those prioritising silent practice.

What’s in the box

The box itself is surprisingly large. Our review kit included:

• Three CY-16R-T crash/ride cymbal pads
• One VH-10 V-Hi-Hat pad
• Four WT-10 Wireless Trigger Adapters

Notably, the pack does not include the DH-10 DrumLink Hub, which is required to receive the wireless signals and interface with a computer or drum module — a clear sign this set is targeted at existing DWe owners who already own a DW hub.

Each WT-10 adapter includes two short cables (so the system is not totally wireless!) and mounting clamps for cymbal stands. They’re powered by two AA batteries (not included), but based on experience with the DWe gear, battery life shouldn’t be a major concern.

How it works

Each WT-10 can handle two stereo triggers — meaning dual-zone cymbals or pads. Roland’s three-zone rides and hi-hats require both inputs: one for the main surface, the other for the bell (or controller for the hi-hat). Set-up is intuitive, with clearly labelled inputs.

With four WT-10s and four cymbals included, the pack also leaves room for a couple of dual-zone pads using the spare inputs.

When paired with a DWe kit, the system is plug-and-play. Plug in a cymbal and it automatically appears in the DW Control software, where you select the type and calibrate — just like with any DWe pad. The transmitters can also be used with Roland modules with an additional DH-10 hub via USB (for modules like the V71, TD-50 or TD-27 and the SPD-SX PRO Sampling Pad) or via MIDI.

In action

We tested the DrumLink Cymbal Pack in its most likely application — as an upgrade to a DWe shell pack.

Set up was simple. The CY-16R-T ride connected to the WT-10 with one cable for the bow (Pad 1) and another for the bell (Pad 2). The VH-10 hi-hat used one input for the pad, and the other for the controller. Two single-cable crash cymbals shared a single WT-10 — a clever use of inputs.

Using the DW Control app, assigning pad types and calibrating, was as straightforward as configuring any DWe pad.

Trigger response was tight and consistent. The cymbals performed indistinguishably from their wired counterparts — with a clear advantage in noise reduction over the original metal DWe cymbals.

The VH-10 was particularly responsive, with smooth open-to-closed transitions. It even felt slightly more refined than the DWe hi-hat, most likely thanks to my meticulous calibration!

The WT-10 also performed well with third-party cymbals — from GEWA and Medeli to Simmons, Donner, Lemon, and even DIY models.

Limitations with drum pads

Where things got trickier was with drum pads.

The WT-10 clearly supports dual-zone triggers (like the RT-30HR), but the DW Control app’s limited pad selection becomes a bottleneck. Beyond a few Roland models (PD-8, PDX-6/8/12), there’s little native support for larger or positional-sensing pads. A 14” mesh snare, for example, required sensitivity tweaks and still didn’t deliver reliable rim detection.

While kicks and external triggers were easy to configure, large mesh pads still need future firmware refinement to be fully supported.

Testing with the TD-27 module

To assess cross-compatibility, we connected the DH-10 to a Roland TD-27 via USB. The hub took over one of the module’s three digital inputs.

After a required firmware update, the TD-27 recognised the DH-10 and unlocked the DrumLink Hub settings, mirroring the DW Control interface. Cymbal triggering was flawless, and even third-party pads worked well when assigned compatible pad types.

However, as with the DWe set-up, drum pad options were limited, and larger pads required some workaround calibration using the PDX-12 preset – and performance was not up to Roland standards.

Overall

Roland’s new wireless offering delivers on much of its promise. Set up is quick, trigger response is solid, and the system is impressively stable with no noticeable latency.

That said, this is clearly a first step, with room to grow. Firmware limitations and the absence of positional pad support prevent it from fully replacing a wired set-up for demanding drummers — particularly those with digital snares, rides and hi-hats already in use.

Still, for DWe owners, the DrumLink Cymbal Pack is a no-brainer. The rubber cymbals are quieter, more module-friendly, and offer full wireless convenience. And for those hesitant about needing a computer to run their DWe, pairing the pack with a TD-27 module makes for an elegant, cable-free solution.

The Bottom Line

Should you add wireless to a compatible Roland module?
Not yet — especially if you’re relying on digital pads. You’d still need cables for your core instruments, and wireless pad support is currently limited.

And for a DWe set-up?
Absolutely. The DrumLink system fills a critical gap — offering quieter cymbals without giving up the wireless freedom that makes DWe so appealing.

Verdict: The 4CY-4WT-01 DrumLink Cymbal Pack makes wireless e-drums more practical and expands the options for DWe owners.

DrumLink Rubber Cymbals vs DWe Metal Cymbals: Comparison Chart

Summary

• Choose DrumLink rubber cymbals if you’re prioritising noise reduction, compatibility with modules, or want wireless convenience with the ability to use quieter pads.
• Stick with the DWe metal cymbals if acoustic realism and visual impact matter more than volume or module integration.