Pearl’s New Pedal: Demon XR

This summer, the renowned drum brand Pearl has released new kick pedals!
Here are the Demon XR (Eliminator Demon XR) drum pedals!

Pearl / P-3500D Demon XR Single Pedal

Pearl / P-3502D Demon XR Double Pedal

In this review, I’ll take a closer look at this exciting new pedal series!
Look at this!

The look of the Demon XR series is clearly different from previous Pearl kick pedals, completely refreshing its traditional image!
The footboard has shed the traction dots that were synonymous with Pearl pedals, resulting in a sleek, simple design.

This innovative design is the result of a collaboration with world-renowned drummer George Kollias.
The main themes of these kick pedals are: ‘Speed’, ‘Rebound’, and ‘Accuracy’.
The part connecting the footboard and pedal resembles the Demon Direct Drive, but with a crucial difference. The Demon Direct Drive had two positions at the connection of the link tip but the position selection on the Beater Holder Link has been reduced to one.
I tried out the new pedal and this results in less loss of motion and a more precise action when playing for more accurate action.

You might think that less adjustable positions means poor allowance for settings, but this is not the case. The angle cam on the side of the pedal features the Uni-Lock Footboard Angle Cam, which allows for stepless beater angle adjustments without changing the spring tension, just like the previous models. This enables highly flexible settings. Additionally, it retains the NiNjA Bearings, a hallmark of Pearl kick pedals, which contributes to one of the main themes of this pedal: enhancing precision.

The basic setup method remains largely unchanged, so longtime Pearl pedal users should have no trouble getting used to the Demon XR.

The double pedal model, P-3502D Demon Drive XR Machined Double Pedal, features Z-Link Universal joints in the connections between the left and right pedals.
This significantly reduces slack, eliminating unwanted lightness and delays in the slave pedal, allowing for precise and fast pedal work.

A major feature influencing rebound is the newly developed Extreme Spring. The larger diameter of the spring is immediately noticeable and contributes to the quick return of the footboard.
Despite its name, the spring is not overly stiff and retains a degree of flexibility, preventing any heaviness in the footboard.

The new Extreme Impact Beater is used for the Demon XR Series.

Pearl / B-350XR Extreme Impact Beater

This beater enhances low frequencies with its flat, hard resin striking surface, but its standout feature is its lightness.
Thanks to the aluminum beater head, it is light!
Compared to the standard beater from DW that can produce powerful sound like the B-350XR, it’s much lighter!
The B-350XR beater contributes to the Demon XR’s speedy action.

While the light action of the Demon XR is immediately apparent, the pedal also retains the smooth feel and excellent adjustability that Pearl’s kick pedals are known for. It is a speed-focused pedal that remains true to Pearl’s high standards, allowing drummers to find their optimal settings and enjoy a smooth playing experience!