I've noticed the V3 isn't as sensitive as the MK2.9 - could there be a way to tune the sensitivity?
I remember a video of the MK2.9 where they dropped a guitar pick on the head and it sensed it. Perhaps the crosstalk was tuned out and that's the best sensitivity we can get?
sensitivity
Re: sensitivity
Check pp. 10-11 of the V3 Manual at https://manual.mandalaV3.com for steps to adjust Surface Threshold and Surface Damping. Both the V3 and the mk2.9 will pick up from 6-9 hits if you drop a 5B stick on them. With the right settings on the V3 you can also sense a guitar pick dropping. The old video might have been a ping pong ball dropping. Both pads are also sensitive enough to detect a ping pong ball drop from a couple inches.