Well, it's a practice pad. What possible can be big differences between various practice pads? Sound is not important, rebound and feel more so.
I've used several practice pads to date, some robust and heavy, some tiny and light travelling away from me when practicing :D
This one is somewhat different and now I split practice pads into 2 categories.
Category one - muscle and memory training. For this I have used practice pads with a single sound/feel surface to practice rudiments, dynamics, accents, which worked well for a quiet(er) one drum application or drum set application (just add a few quiet cymbals).
Category two - muscle, memory and ear training. This is where Anika's pad fits. Playing patterns with hands partially alternating and partially simultaneously at the same time on different surfaces on the same pad makes so much difference for the ears to hear patterns. I do not have to concentrate so much to capture a pattern of my right hand vs left hand. I do find myself drifting from one hand pattern to another hand pattern seamlessly now. The main side of the pad offers 3 different "sounds/surface" zones at the same height level (see description for more details of the pad or visit Meinl website and videos). The other side of the pad surprised me equally well if not more. It's really quiet and offers that workout surface when your hands need to do all the work without rebounds to gain strength. A while ago I was considering the 10" Reflexx, now Zildjian pad. I think Anika's pad is very close to it so I have no regrets. The only thing that I would change at cost, if I was Meinl product manager, would be to make it slightly but only slightly heavier / robust by increasing the thickness of the middle wooden layer.
