Alesis · Updated August 2026
SR-18: price, specs & release date
SR-18, released 2008. Every price and spec below is linked to its source and dated — no guesses.
Source: alesisdrums.com verified ✓ corroborated verify in ledger
Is the SR-18 a good buy?
At $399, the SR-18 is #7 cheapest of the 13 drum machines we track, where the median is $399. On the spec sheet, its pad count of 12 is below the median of the 12. By release date, it is the oldest of the 13 we date.
Specifications
| Price (US) | $399 original US MSRP at 2008 launch (Sound on Sound, Jan 2009 review); current street price is roughly $230 (Thomann, likely nearing discontinuation/clearance) |
|---|---|
| Brand | Alesis |
| Released | 2008 |
| Sound engine | Sample-based ROM drum, percussion and bass-synth playback |
| Voice count | 32 |
| Sequencer steps | Variable pattern length, 1-128 beats (no fixed step grid); 16th-note default quantization/resolution |
| Sample playback | Yes |
| Onboard effects | Reverb, EQ and compression (switchable per-sound send/insert processing) |
| Output count | 2 (1/4in stereo main pair) + stereo headphone |
| Midi support | Yes |
| Battery powered | Yes |
| Pad count | 12 |
Source: alesisdrums.com (verified 2026-08-01) · corroborated by soundonsound.com. Alesis's own product page (alesisdrums.com) is live and confirms 12 velocity-sensitive pads, MIDI I/O, and sample-based sound generation; Sound on Sound's January 2009 review and the SR-18 reference manual (Alesis-published PDF) corroborate the 32-voice polyphony, the $399 US launch price, 6xAA-or-AC power, and the beat-based (not fixed-step) sequencer whose patterns default to 8 beats/2 bars and extend to 128 beats at 16th-note quantization. Thomann's current US listing shows $233, reflecting a much older, likely near-end-of-life product; priceUsd uses the original launch MSRP with the current lower price flagged. A search snippet suggested '32-voice polyphony' while one retailer page mentioned '24-voice' — the manufacturer manual and majority of press consistently cite 32-voice, which is used here.
Is the SR-18 worth it vs cheaper drum machines?
SR-18 against its closest cheaper and pricier drum machines on the specs that matter — every value sourced. See all 13 ranked
| Product | Price | Sound engine | Voice count | Sequencer steps | Sample playback | Onboard effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SR-18 this | $399 | Sample-based ROM drum, percussion and bass-synth playback | 32 | Variable pattern length, 1-128 beats (no fixed step grid); 16th-note default quantization/resolution | Yes | Reverb, EQ and compression (switchable per-sound send/insert processing) |
| DrumBrute Impact | $299 | Fully analog synthesis, 10 fixed analog voices | 10 | 64 | No | Output distortion (bypassable), per-step/per-instrument 'Color' drive/snap/crack shaping, Swing, Pattern Looper and randomness generator |
| TR-6S Rhythm Performer | $399.99 | Circuit modeling of the TR-808/909/707/606/727 and CR-78, plus an FM synthesis engine and sample playback | 6 | 16 steps per variation, 8 (A-H) chainable variations per pattern | Yes | Compressor, EQ, reverb, delay, modulation and filter chains per track, plus Scatter live-remix fills |
Frequently asked questions
How much does the SR-18 cost?
The SR-18 has a US price of $399 (original US MSRP at 2008 launch (Sound on Sound, Jan 2009 review); current street price is roughly $230 (Thomann, likely nearing discontinuation/clearance)), as of 2026-08-01.
How does the SR-18 compare on price?
At $399, the SR-18 is #7 cheapest of the 13 drum machines we track, where the median is $399.
When was the SR-18 released?
The SR-18 was released 2008.
What are the SR-18's key specs?
SR-18 (Alesis): sound engine Sample-based ROM drum, percussion and bass-synth playback, voice count 32, sequencer steps Variable pattern length, 1-128 beats (no fixed step grid); 16th-note default quantization/resolution, sample playback Yes, onboard effects Reverb, EQ and compression (switchable per-sound send/insert processing). Full sourced spec sheet verified 2026-08-01.
Price of record: $399 at alesisdrums.com, 2026-08-01. Other retailers may be lower — check the current price:
See SR-18 on Amazon As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.Similar drum machines
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Step up
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