DW 9000 Pedal Review (2025): The Ultimate In-Depth Guide

The DW 9000 Series bass drum pedal represents a pinnacle of engineering and design in the drumming world, establishing itself as a benchmark for performance, adjustability, and sheer smoothness that many professional drummers consider the gold standard.

For decades, Drum Workshop (DW) has been synonymous with innovation and quality, and the 9000 pedal is arguably the flagship of their hardware lineup, a piece of equipment so refined that it often becomes an extension of the drummer’s own foot.

Its reputation is built on a foundation of premium materials, groundbreaking features like the infinitely adjustable cam and floating rotor system, and a “buttery” feel that has become legendary among players across all genres.

This review will provide an exhaustive analysis of the DW 9000, covering everything from the initial unboxing experience to a deep dive into its most celebrated features.

Furthermore, we will explore its real-world performance, offer a step-by-step guide to its myriad adjustments, and place it head-to-head against its fiercest competitors, the Tama Iron Cobra and Speed Cobra.

By the end of this article, you will have a definitive answer to the crucial question: is the DW 9000 worth its premium price tag, and is it the right pedal for you?

Unboxing and First Impressions

Unboxing the DW 9000 pedal is an experience that immediately communicates the premium nature of the product, revealing not just a pedal but a complete, tour-ready system.

The first thing you’ll notice is the high-quality, molded plastic carrying case that comes standard with every 9000 series pedal.

This isn’t a flimsy afterthought; it’s a robust, durable case designed to protect your investment on the road, with form-fitting compartments for the pedal, beaters, and even a drum key.

Inside, the pedal itself is nestled securely, and lifting it out for the first time reveals its substantial weight and flawless construction.

The build quality and design of the DW 9000 are immediately striking, showcasing meticulous craftsmanship and an aesthetic that is both elegant and industrial.

The pedal is constructed primarily from aircraft-grade aluminum, giving it immense strength without feeling overly cumbersome.

The iconic silver footboard and chunky black frame are instantly recognizable, projecting an image of professional-grade reliability.

Every component, from the heavy-duty chain to the solid baseplate, feels over-engineered in the best possible way, inspiring confidence that this pedal can withstand years of aggressive playing and rigorous touring schedules.

The initial setup of the DW 9000 is remarkably straightforward, allowing you to get playing within minutes of opening the case.

The pedal comes almost fully assembled.

The primary setup task involves attaching the beater and connecting the linkage arm on the double pedal version.

The Tri-Pivot Toe Clamp makes securing the pedal to your bass drum hoop a quick and secure process.

While the pedal is playable with its factory settings, which are designed to be a versatile middle-ground, its true potential is unlocked through customization, a topic we will explore in great detail later in this review.

Key Features Deep Dive

The DW 9000’s legendary status is built upon a suite of innovative features that grant the player unparalleled control over the pedal’s feel and response.

These are not mere marketing gimmicks; they are tangible engineering solutions that have a profound impact on the playing experience.

Infinitely Adjustable Cam

The Infinitely Adjustable Cam is arguably the most significant feature of the DW 9000, offering a level of customization that is simply unmatched by most competitors.

This system allows you to seamlessly transition between two classic drive styles—Accelerator and Turbo—or find any conceivable feel in between.

An Accelerator (eccentric) setting shortens the stroke length as the beater approaches the head, increasing its velocity for greater speed and sensitivity.

Conversely, a Turbo (concentric) setting maintains a direct, one-to-one relationship between the footboard and the beater, delivering a more consistent and powerful stroke.

By simply loosening a hex screw, you can slide the gearless cam to dial in the exact feel you desire, effectively giving you multiple pedals in one.

Floating Rotor and Swivel Spring

The signature smoothness of the DW 9000 is largely attributable to its revolutionary Floating Rotor and Floating Swivel Spring technology.

In a conventional pedal, the drive shaft is fixed, and the rotor spins around it.

DW inverted this concept; the rotor is the component that “floats,” spinning freely on a frictionless drive shaft with the aid of ball bearings.

This design drastically reduces friction and inertia, resulting in an incredibly fluid, “weightless” motion.

The Floating Swivel Spring complements this system by allowing the spring to pivot as it compresses and expands, ensuring it maintains vertical alignment throughout the stroke.

This eliminates any lateral resistance or “spring bind,” further contributing to the pedal’s famously effortless and quiet operation.

Tri-Pivot Toe Clamp

A secure connection between the pedal and the bass drum is critical for consistent performance, and the Tri-Pivot Toe Clamp ensures the DW 9000 remains firmly in place.

This patented design utilizes three independent, 360-degree rotating rubber pads that grip the bass drum hoop.

This allows the clamp to accommodate virtually any hoop size or thickness without damaging it, providing a stable, non-slip foundation that won’t budge, even during the most intense playing.

A convenient wing screw on the side makes for quick and easy attachment and removal.

Single Post Casting (DW 9002 Double Pedal)

The DW 9002 double pedal features a clever Single Post Casting on the slave (left) side, a design choice that offers a significant ergonomic advantage.

By eliminating the right-side post on the auxiliary pedal, it creates more space for the hi-hat stand, allowing for a much closer and more comfortable placement.

Drummers who struggle with positioning their hi-hat and slave pedal will find this feature to be a game-changer, enabling a more natural and efficient setup.

Included Beater

The DW 9000 comes standard with the two-way 101 beater, a versatile tool that offers two distinct sound options.

One side features a medium-density felt for a warm, punchy, classic bass drum sound.

The other side is made of hard plastic, which delivers a sharp, aggressive attack with a pronounced click, perfect for genres like metal and hard rock where more cut is required.

The beater also includes a memory lock, ensuring your preferred beater height is perfectly recalled every time you set up.

Performance and Feel

The performance of the DW 9000 is where its design philosophy truly shines, translating its advanced features into a playing experience that is both luxurious and incredibly precise.

The pedal’s smoothness and speed are its most celebrated attributes; the combination of the floating rotor and swivel spring creates a fluid, almost frictionless motion that makes playing feel effortless.

This allows for incredible speed and control, as the pedal seems to disappear under your foot, responding to the slightest nuance and enabling the execution of complex patterns with ease.

Many drummers report that the pedal feels “buttery” or “like it’s gliding on air,” a testament to its sophisticated engineering.

Despite its light and fluid feel, the DW 9000 delivers exceptional power and punch when required.

The design ensures that energy is transferred from your foot to the beater with maximum efficiency.

Whether you’re playing soft, intricate jazz patterns or laying down a thunderous rock groove, the pedal provides a massive dynamic range.

It can whisper with ghost notes and roar with powerful accents, all while maintaining a consistent and controlled feel.

This balance of power and sensitivity is what makes the 9000 so versatile and beloved by drummers in every musical style.

The responsiveness of the pedal is second to none, providing immediate feedback and a direct connection between the player’s intention and the resulting sound.

The pedal feels like a natural extension of your body, reacting instantly to every movement.

This high degree of responsiveness is crucial for dynamic playing, allowing for subtle articulations and precise rhythmic phrasing.

Furthermore, the DW 9000 is built like a tank, earning its reputation as a reliable workhorse.

The robust construction and high-quality components ensure that it will withstand the rigors of nightly gigging and touring for decades, making it a long-term investment in your drumming career.

DW 9000 Adjustments: Dialing in Your Perfect Feel

The DW 9000 offers a vast array of adjustment options, allowing you to tailor its performance to your exact preferences.

Here is a step-by-step guide to the most important adjustments:

  1. Spring Tension:
    • This is the most fundamental adjustment.
    • Loosen the round, knurled nut at the base of the spring assembly.
    • Then, press down on the spring to release the self-locking hex nut.
    • Tighten or loosen this hex nut to increase or decrease the tension, which affects how quickly the beater returns and the overall resistance of the footboard.
  2. Beater Height and Angle (Stroke Adjustment):
    • To change the beater’s distance from the head, hold the beater and use the long end of a drum key to loosen the screw located at the top of the spring assembly (accessible through a hole in the right post).
    • This allows you to swing the beater closer to or further from the head.
    • A shorter stroke is faster, while a longer stroke can generate more power.
  3. Footboard Height:
    • The footboard angle can be adjusted independently of the beater angle.
    • Loosen the drum key screw on top of the cam where the chain connects.
    • You can then slide the chain forward or backward along the channel to raise or lower the resting height of the footboard, accommodating different foot techniques like heel-up or heel-down.
  4. Cam Adjustment (Accelerator to Turbo):
    • This is the pedal’s signature adjustment.
    • Use a drum key to loosen the hex screw on the underside of the rotor.
    • This allows you to slide the bar that holds the cam forward (for a more eccentric, Accelerator feel) or backward (for a more concentric, Turbo feel).
    • Experiment with positions in between to find your perfect blend of speed and power.

DW 9000 Series Specifications

Feature DW 9000 (Single Pedal) DW 9002 (Double Pedal)
Drive System Double Chain Double Chain
Cam Infinitely Adjustable (Accelerator/Turbo) Infinitely Adjustable (Accelerator/Turbo)
Footboard Standard Length Standard Length (XF model available)
Rotor Floating Drive System Floating Drive System
Spring Floating Swivel Spring Floating Swivel Spring
Toe Clamp Tri-Pivot Toe Clamp Tri-Pivot Toe Clamp
Slave Pedal Post N/A Single Post Casting
Case Included Molded Plastic Case Included Molded Plastic Case
Beater 101 Two-Way (Felt/Plastic) 101 Two-Way (Felt/Plastic)

DW 9000 vs. The Competition

No pedal exists in a vacuum, and the DW 9000 faces stiff competition from other industry titans, most notably from Tama’s Iron Cobra and Speed Cobra series.

DW 9000 vs. Tama Iron Cobra

The DW 9000 and Tama Iron Cobra represent two different philosophies in high-end pedal design.

The Iron Cobra is renowned for its incredible power, stability, and solid feel; it’s a pedal that feels planted and direct, often described as a “powerhouse”.

The DW 9000, in contrast, prioritizes smoothness, fluidity, and adjustability.

While the Iron Cobra offers different cam options (Power Glide and Rolling Glide), they are not adjustable on the fly like the 9000’s cam.

The choice often comes down to personal preference: drummers seeking a buttery, effortless feel tend to gravitate towards the DW 9000, while those who want a more direct, powerful, and robust connection often prefer the Iron Cobra.

The Iron Cobra is also typically priced lower than the 9000, making it a compelling option for those on a slightly tighter budget.

DW 9000 vs. Tama Speed Cobra

The Tama Speed Cobra presents a different kind of challenge, focusing on speed and a lighter feel, facilitated by its signature long footboard.

This extended footboard provides more surface area, allowing for techniques like foot-sliding and giving the pedal a lighter, faster response compared to the standard-length board of the DW 9000.

While the DW 9000 can be adjusted to be incredibly fast, the Speed Cobra is designed from the ground up for velocity.

Drummers who play styles requiring extreme speed and who prefer the feel of a longboard pedal may find the Speed Cobra to be a better fit.

However, the DW 9000 (especially the XF extended footboard model) offers more overall adjustability and a different kind of smoothness that many players find more versatile across various genres.

DW 9000 vs. DW 5000

A common internal debate for drummers is whether to spring for the 9000 or save some money with the legendary DW 5000.

The DW 5000 is an industry-standard workhorse, known for its reliability and direct feel.

The primary difference lies in the technology; the 5000 does not have the floating rotor or infinitely adjustable cam of the 9000.

This results in the 5000 having a more direct, slightly heavier feel compared to the 9000’s signature smoothness.

The 9000 is the more advanced, more adjustable, and more “luxurious” pedal.

The 5000 is the simpler, more straightforward, and more budget-friendly professional option.

The upgrade to the 9000 is worth it for players who crave the ultimate in smooth performance and customizability.

Still deciding between two of DW’s most iconic pedals? Check out our in-depth comparison: DW 5000 vs DW 9000 – Which One Should You Choose?

High-End Pedal Comparison

Feature DW 9000 Tama Iron Cobra (Power Glide) Tama Speed Cobra
Defining Feel Buttery, Smooth, Fluid Powerful, Solid, Direct Fast, Light, Responsive
Footboard Standard (XF available) Standard Longboard
Key Feature Infinitely Adjustable Cam Power Glide Cam Long Footboard, Recessed Setting
Adjustability Extremely High High High
Price Point Premium High High
Best For Versatility, Custom Feel Power Hitters, Rock Speed Players, Metal

Pros and Cons

Like any piece of gear, the DW 9000 has its distinct advantages and potential drawbacks.

Pros:

  • Unparalleled Smoothness: The floating rotor and swivel spring create a frictionless, effortless playing experience.
  • Infinite Adjustability: The adjustable cam allows you to dial in the perfect feel, from fast and light to powerful and direct.
  • Exceptional Build Quality: Made from premium materials, this pedal is built to last a lifetime of heavy use.
  • Incredible Versatility: Its wide range of adjustment makes it suitable for any musical genre, from the softest jazz to the most aggressive metal.
  • Professional Features: Comes with a high-quality case, versatile beater, and thoughtful design elements like the Tri-Pivot clamp.

Cons:

  • Premium Price Point: The DW 9000 is one of the most expensive pedals on the market, representing a significant investment.
  • “Too Smooth” for Some: Drummers accustomed to a more direct, mechanical feel might find the 9000’s smoothness to be lacking in feedback.
  • Slave Pedal Lag: Like many double pedals, some users report a very slight difference in feel or “lag” on the slave pedal compared to the primary one, though this can often be mitigated with a high-quality aftermarket drive shaft.
  • Complexity: The sheer number of adjustments can be overwhelming for beginners or players who prefer a simpler, “plug-and-play” experience.

Is the DW 9000 Worth It? (Conclusion)

After a thorough examination of its features, performance, and place in the market, the verdict on the DW 9000 is clear: it is an exceptional piece of drumming hardware that absolutely justifies its reputation and its price for the right player.

The pedal’s combination of revolutionary smoothness, profound adjustability, and tour-grade reliability makes it a top-tier professional tool.

It is a product designed for the serious drummer who views their pedal not just as a piece of hardware, but as an integral part of their instrument and a key component of their unique voice on the drums.

The DW 9000 is for the discerning player who demands the best in terms of feel and customization and is willing to invest in a piece of gear that will elevate their playing and last for decades.

It is for the studio musician who needs a versatile pedal that can adapt to any genre, the touring professional who requires unwavering reliability night after night, and the passionate enthusiast who wants to experience the pinnacle of pedal technology.

However, players on a budget, beginners who might be intimidated by its complexity, or those who genuinely prefer a heavier, more mechanical feel might be better served by looking elsewhere.

Alternatives like the Tama Iron Cobra or the DW 5000 offer professional performance at a lower price point and with a different feel.

Ultimately, the DW 9000 is more than just a pedal; it’s a long-term investment in your craft, and for those who can appreciate its sophisticated performance, it is worth every penny.

FAQ

Is the DW 9000 good for metal?

Yes, the DW 9000 is excellent for metal.

Its speed, power, and responsiveness are well-suited for fast, complex patterns.

Many metal drummers use the 9000, often setting the cam to a more aggressive, Accelerator-style position for maximum velocity.

What is the difference between the DW 9000 and the 9000XF?

The DW 9000XF (Extended Footboard) model features a footboard that is one inch longer than the standard 9000 model.

This provides more room for techniques like sliding and may be more comfortable for players with larger feet or those who prefer a longboard feel.

Otherwise, all other features are identical.

Can you switch the chain drive to a belt drive on the DW 9000?

Yes, DW offers a nylon strap (belt) that can be purchased separately to convert the 9000 from a chain-drive to a belt-drive pedal.

This provides a slightly different, often described as “softer” or more responsive, feel that some drummers prefer.

How do you maintain a DW 9000 pedal?

Maintenance is minimal.

Regularly wipe down the pedal to keep it clean.

Periodically check that all screws are tight.

A small amount of light machine oil or white lithium grease can be applied to the chain and hinge points if they ever develop a squeak, but the pedal’s bearings are sealed and should not require lubrication.

Is the DW 9000 double pedal worth it?

Yes, for the serious double bass player, the DW 9002 is worth it for all the same reasons the single pedal is.

It offers the same elite-level smoothness and adjustability for both feet.

The single-post casting on the slave pedal is a significant ergonomic advantage, and while expensive, it’s considered by many to be one of the best double pedals ever made.

Still unsure which pedal is right for you? Explore our complete guide to the Best Bass Drum Pedals to find your perfect match.

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