OK: so one day I'm at guitar center listening to all the kids play every set in the drum room (kinda buggy) BUT..another kid decides to play the neusonics...best sounding kit (to my ears) in the store...i mean NOTICEABLE...warm...punchy...bottom end.
First, it's amazing that ANY kit at GC sounds good! With the exception of the Hollywood store - where there are pros in the department who keep the drums sounding their best - GC staff is not known for their ability/desire to tune.
Re the sound, the Neusonics sound WAY better than they should, being at the bottom (price-wise) of the US-made Ludwig lines. It is common to equate quality and sound with price, but Ludwig has bucked that trend with the Keystones and now the Neusonics. They did the same back in 1968 with the Standard series. I've used Classic Maple and Keystones on tour and in the studio, and look forward to moving 'down' to my Neusonics when the gigs resume and on the next tour.
The Starclassics sound good. i don't think the OP would be disappointed with either. For me, the Neusonics make the sound
*I* hear in my head when I imagine drums being played.
From a practical standpoint, the Tama's will probably fetch more of their original value than the Neusonics, due to that perception of inexpensive US-made drums (or that someone may think the Ludwig's are made in China to keep the price down.) It's too bad people don't listen with their ears, but that's how it is. So if resale is a consideration at all, the OP should choose Tama. But he'll always be thinking "wow, those Ludwig's sure sounded great..."
Note: Those are the original Signet spurs on the kick, Ludwig has now changed to the beefier Elite flip-down spurs on all new Neusonics. This is my 'local' kit and they're fine for bars & clubs, but my 24" touring kick will have the new spurs!