The Top 11 Polyphonic Synths that you can buy USED for Under $600 (2023)

In this video I go over what I consider to be the top 11 polyphonic synthesizers you can buy today USED for under $600. To qualify, synths need to be polyphonic, with a keybed and controls, and freely available on the used market.

0:00 Intro
1:59 Number 1
4:36 Number 2
6:08 Number 3
8:26 Number 4
10:08 Number 5
11:43 Number 6
13:21 Number 7
14:56 Number 8
16:30 Number 9
17:53 Number 10
19:25 Number 11

#Review #Synthesizer #Used

[ConwayBob]

Thank you, Scott! This kind of list along with your brief but meaty descriptions of the pros and cons of each item are extraordinarily helpful!

[negative_b]

Novation Ultranova is a sleeper on the used market. Really excellent keybed. Powerful synth engine for those who design their own sounds. A bargain for the roughly +/-$400 price range it's currently at.

[IRIDEHARLEYS]

I watched this again. Great video Scott! It's really good to refresh the memory of some synths that we might not be currently using and maybe should be for the price and features.

[MarkusCologne]

Hi Scott, thanks for the great overview! I don't want to be the wise guy but I think the Korg DW8000 is actually a hybrid synth, not virtual analog. It has digital oscillators combined with analog filters.

[distantcomets]

Not as well known, but I would have loved to see the Ensoniq ESQ1 or SQ80 on this list. Fantastic interface, great crunchy hybrid sound of 8 bit single-cycles with Curtis filters. Great keybed. Right around $500 on Reverb.

[GerenM]

Like the under $600 new synth list, you've come up with a great selection, Scott!

100% on the Modal synths and app! They've done a fantastic job of making their current lineup approachable and fun! One thing to mention about the Cobalt is that it is a true virtual-analog synth, and within the "groupings" of waveforms, you can fully morph through them for some pretty unique sounds.

Now, a word of warning -- I''ve been in a love/hate relationship with Korgs for decades -- I've owned a dozen different Korgs over the years. That means I'm full of opinions and observations. The Wavestate editor (free) or the Native app makes the programming a lot easier. It's still pretty deep, but it can be as simple as you want it to be. And, it can even be up to four part multi-timbral. And 100% on the opsix! It's so much fun and it sound fantastic. One clarification on the DW-8000, though. It isn't truly a virtual-analog synth like the Cobalt. It's actually like the Roland SH-01 GAIA in that it uses single-cycle digital waveforms to "fake" analog waveforms. Of course, we can argue whether or not using single cycle waves really is or isn't virtual-analog. Other good Korg options are the Kross (either version, really) and the X50. They're very lightweight and the keys aren't fabulous, but they sound good and they do hold up well on the road if you take reasonable care with them.


Going back to Korgs, the X3 is a great option -- mostly an improved M1 with a bit better sound. Still has an awful user interface for programming and sequencing, but it was a joy to play.

Some other bargains are the Alesis QS6.1, and the Ensoniq SQ-1. The sound great, and are built like tanks. The only caveat on the Alesis is that sometimes, the pitchbend wheel will get sticky and not center correctly. It's a relatively easy fix, though. Programming is marginally better than the Korgs and the DX series.

[semyonboyk]

I recently had to sell most of my hardware, including my beloved Microfreak (luckily, Arturia released the VST version of Minifreak which I instantly purchased), but the only hardware synth I decided to keep was Cobalt 8X. Not only it has the best keybed out there, but also it's such a pleasure to work with. I wish I had it in VST as well, so I can easily put it on multiple tracks within my DAW projects. What a wonderful synth.

[e-conrecords]

Great video! Novation Ultranova could have been in that list though… but condensing it to just 11 must have been difficult.

[josh]

I think it's worth noting that with the Opsix you can actually get into virtual analog territory via how the operators do a lot more than just sine wave-based FM. In addition to sines, you've also got a couple of sawtooths, square/pulse, triangle, etc., all with pulse width modulation, and then you've also got Korg's own modeling of their Poly 6 and MS-20 filters. So you can actually choose an algorithm with only carriers all in a row (non-modulating) and pretty much program as six oscillators with whatever combination of waveforms you want...say six sawtooths all detuned a little, or a bunch of squares getting some PWM. When you go about it like that, you're pretty much working as subtractive virtual analog, so that's a LOT of versatility and flexibility compared to what people are used to from an "FM" synth. I wouldn't get it to primarily be VA if that's what's most important to you—Cobalt will still emulate that vibe better, but if you want to dabble in some FM and subtractive as well, I think it really gives you a LOT to play with. People can also download the Opsix native app demo and explore the sounds and architecture first-hand (20 minutes at a time). There's no fixing that keyboard though, as you noted, which is a real shame because FM dynamics deserve a great keyboard. (...well, then again, don't get me started on the price of the SE).

[ventoilin]

you could also add the Waldorf Blofeld, multi timbral wavetable synth with 25 voices of polyphony total, and it usually goes for 400€

[readmedottext]

this was a great list. and a lot to think about. thanks.

[SlaserX]

Roland has dozens of little reissue synths for $400+, but most of them are plug out options on a System 1, which runs in the $300 range, and has its own synth design. If you are on a budget, I'd definitely recommend one

[kevinmaples]

Great video. I appreciate the brevity. You covered a lot of synths in a short time and exposed me to some keyboards I had never heard of! Thanks!

[mccorrisken]

Good content, as usual. Possibly a bit Korg heavy on this list..

[seedmole]

10:45 The physics sim sounds awesome. I use a spring physics simulation for LFO-like behavior on a stereo delay to get a really nice chorus that is way less obviously periodic than some simple oscillator-based one.

[HardwiredDevil]

Another excellent alternative to the M1 is the Korg Triton, though prices can wildly fluctuate between $400 and $800 depending on condition and model, but the Classic 61 key seems to be consistently in that range in decent to good condition.

[Zebulon]

I would also recommend the Korg Z1. It's a synth which didn't have a huge success but which is so interesting in terms of sound design and modulations. 😉

[MaladarGaming]

Great list, I'm lucky enough to have the JP-8080 and I will grab a D-50 eventually. But let's be honest, us synth heads pretty much want to get all of them :))
BTW I just came across your channel today, and I love it. Already subscribed!

[tristamson]

Great list, nice mix of modern and classic devices. I love my Waves8 too!

[arthurallsopp]

The ESQ-1 with 8 voices of actual analog CEM filters would have been a nice choice. I still Gig with it from time to time. You can find them under $500 a lot of the time.