A Thorough Inspection of Pearl’s Top-of-the-Line Pedal Demon XR

This series is about kick pedals, which are a drummer's passion! In the last issue, we opened the Demon XR and introduced kick pedal settings. This time, as a sequel to that article, we will compare the Demon XR with other models and explain their features and appeal.
If you haven't read the previous article yet, please visit the URL below!

⇒ [Product Review!] Pearl’s High-End Pedal Demon XR: A Guide to Kick Pedal Settings

The Demon XR is Pearl Drums' top-of-the-line kick pedal created in collaboration with world-class top drummer George Corias!
This ultimate drum set features Pearl's unique mechanisms such as the low-friction, high-precision NiNjA bearing that’s well-known in the Demon series and the “Click Lock” that locks the spring tension knob to prevent it from loosening!

I would like to begin by thoroughly dissecting the Demon XR twin pedal that is full of George Corrias's special attention to detail and compare it with conventional twin pedals!
If you are interested in the Demon XR, I hope you will take this opportunity to learn what kind of pedal the Demon XR series P-3502D is!

Pearl / P-3502D Demon XR

Now, I will compare the following two machines!

Pearl / P-3502D Demon XR

Pearl / P-2102C

The ELIMINATOR II Series P-2102C is a very popular twin pedal with Pearl's unique features like the NINJA bearing used in the flagship model of Pearl pedals, the Demon Drive.

First off, the footboard!
The Demon XR uses a longboard, but it’s a little longer and wider overall than the ELIMINATOR II. Also, there is no anti-slip mechanism and the board is flat.

Now let's look at it from the side.
Compared to the ELIMINATOR II, which uses a chain drive, the Demon XR uses a direct drive system. This makes it suitable for fast rhythm strumming and the feeling when stepping on it is more like the footboard absorbing your foot compared to chain-drive pedals.

Next is the spring part, which is very important for a kick pedal.
Pearl's springs are well-made and highly accurate, and the springs of the ELIMINATOR II are good, but the springs of the Demon XR are even larger and stronger, so it seems that it achieves a faster response!

The adjustment around the spring is no different from that of the ELIMINATOR II, and the strength of the spring and its relationship to the angle of the beater can be adjusted in the two places as it’s marked in the photo.

It also inherits the traditional mechanism of locking as it shows in the photo!

Next, let's compare beaters.
As you can see, the specifications of the beater heads are very different.
While the ELIMINATOR II is made of felt, the Demon XR is made of hard resin in a flat shape to enhance the sharp attack and bass range.
It can be said that the Demon XR is built for continuous bass drumming!

Installation is easy with the tuning bolt and the stopper and memory lock prevent rotation, so there is no need to bother with fine-tuning the position each time it is removed!

Next, let's take a look at the shaft.
The shaft of the Demon XR uses a “Z-link universal joint.

The most important joint with the pedals has been eliminated to match the smoothness of the left-right action of the twin pedals.
It feels so smooth to the touch, and the pedals can be placed according to the angle of the player's feet.

Finally, let's compare it with the Axis pedals that we used to sell!
Since we did not have twin pedals on hand, I will compare only the parts that can be compared with a single pedal.

First, let's compare the length of the footboard.

As you can see in the image, there is almost no difference in length and you can see that the length and size of the board is comparable to the AXIS longboard!

● Footboard tread length
AXIS X-L: about 26cm
Demon XR: about 24cm

Let's compare the direct drive as well.
Demon XR is characterized by its arc-like curvature, and when I pushed the footboard by hand, it was very smooth and sleek.

This was obvious when comparing the spring section, which is the core of the Demon XR's smooth and fast response!

The elaborate parts of the Demon XR are sure to appeal to any drummer seeking delicate footwork!

What do you think? Although the Demon XR is a high-grade kick pedal with the highest specifications, I felt that it is a kick pedal that a wide range of people will like because of its easy-to-use adjusting mechanism and other features.
Twin pedals are more expensive than single pedals, so many people have a hard time making a choice between the two.
I hope this helps you in your choice of twin pedals!