Alesis
SR-18
$399
Released 2008
Best Drum Machines · head-to-head
SR-18 vs PO-32 tonic
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. PO-32 tonic is cheaper at $89. Every spec and price links to its source.
Teenage Engineering
PO-32 tonic
$89Cheaper
Released 2017-04
Which is better: the SR-18 or PO-32 tonic?
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The PO-32 tonic is the cheaper at $89.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | SR-18 | PO-32 tonic |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $399 | $89 |
| Brand | Alesis | Teenage Engineering |
| Released | 2008 | 2017-04 |
| Sound engine | Sample-based ROM drum, percussion and bass-synth playback | Sonic Charge Microtonic-derived digital drum/percussion synthesis engine (co-developed with Sonic Charge) |
| Voice count | 32 | 16 sound slots (unlimited additional sounds via Microtonic VST data transfer) |
| Sequencer steps | Variable pattern length, 1-128 beats (no fixed step grid); 16th-note default quantization/resolution | 16 |
| Sample playback | Yes | No |
| Onboard effects | Reverb, EQ and compression (switchable per-sound send/insert processing) | 16 real-time performance/parameter effects (beat manipulation and sound distortion) |
| Output count | 2 (1/4in stereo main pair) + stereo headphone | 1 (3.5mm audio I/O) + built-in speaker |
| Midi support | Yes | No |
| Battery powered | Yes | Yes |
| Pad count | 12 | 16 |
Sources — SR-18: alesisdrums.com (verified 2026-08-01). PO-32 tonic: teenage.engineering (verified 2026-08-01).
What's the difference between the SR-18 and PO-32 tonic?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (8 of 9). Matching specs are omitted.
- Sound engine: SR-18 Sample-based ROM drum, percussion and bass-synth playback vs PO-32 tonic Sonic Charge Microtonic-derived digital drum/percussion synthesis engine (co-developed with Sonic Charge)
- Voice count: SR-18 32 vs PO-32 tonic 16 sound slots (unlimited additional sounds via Microtonic VST data transfer)
- Sequencer steps: SR-18 Variable pattern length, 1-128 beats (no fixed step grid); 16th-note default quantization/resolution vs PO-32 tonic 16
- Sample playback: SR-18 true vs PO-32 tonic false
- Onboard effects: SR-18 Reverb, EQ and compression (switchable per-sound send/insert processing) vs PO-32 tonic 16 real-time performance/parameter effects (beat manipulation and sound distortion)
- Output count: SR-18 2 (1/4in stereo main pair) + stereo headphone vs PO-32 tonic 1 (3.5mm audio I/O) + built-in speaker
- Midi support: SR-18 true vs PO-32 tonic false
- Pad count: SR-18 12 vs PO-32 tonic 16