Best General Synthesizers 2026
Top-rated general synthesizers 2026 - expert picks for every budget and skill level
Last updated: February 4, 2026 • Next update: February 11, 2026
#1
⭐
4.8/5
(37 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Teenage Engineering OP-1 field
Rock
Sound Design
Electronic
Key Feature:
• Often includes preset banks
✓ PROS
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
- • Good all-around synthesis capability
✗ CONS
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
- • Jack of all trades, master of none
Teenage Engineering OP-1 fieldDesktop Synthesizer4 Modes: synthdrumtape and mixerStereo sample engine7 Stereo...
⭐
4.8/5
(37 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 544439
$2,079
#2
⭐
4.6/5
(52 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Manikin-Electronic Memotron M2K
Rock
Ambient
Sound Design
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✓ PROS
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
- • Good all-around synthesis capability
✗ CONS
- • May lack specialization in any one area
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
Manikin-Electronic Memotron M2KSynthesiserRecreated keybord by the legendary M40037-Key Fatar keyboard (light...
⭐
4.6/5
(52 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 385222
$1,748
#3
⭐
4.8/5
(6 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Pittsburgh Modular Voltage Lab 2
Ambient
Rock
Film Score
Key Feature:
• Versatile for multiple music styles
✓ PROS
- • Good all-around synthesis capability
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
✗ CONS
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
- • Jack of all trades, master of none
Pittsburgh Modular Voltage Lab 2Modular Analogue SynthesiserFully modular synthesiser in Eurorack format with 101 patch...
⭐
4.8/5
(6 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 591951
$2,309
#4
⭐
4.9/5
(51 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
AKAI Professional MPC Key 37
Rock
Electronic
Sound Design
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
- • Versatile for multiple music styles
✗ CONS
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
AKAI Professional MPC Key 37Standalone MPC synthesiser keyboard37 Lightly weight keysvelocity sensitive and with...
⭐
4.9/5
(51 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 584578
$846
#5
⭐
4.8/5
(22 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
AKAI Professional MPC Key 37 Case Bundle
Sound Design
Rock
Electronic
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
- • Often includes preset banks
✗ CONS
- • Jack of all trades, master of none
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
AKAI Professional MPC Key 37 Case Bundle*Bundle offer comprising*, AKAI Professional MPC Key 37*Standalone MPC...
⭐
4.8/5
(22 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 592479
$1,033
#6
⭐
4.5/5
(43 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Behringer DeepMind 12X
by
Behringer
Rock
Ambient
Film Score
Key Feature:
• Versatile for multiple music styles
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
- • Often includes preset banks
✗ CONS
- • May lack specialization in any one area
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
Behringer DeepMind 12X12-Voice Analogue SynthesizerClassic polyphonic synthesizer with six real analogue voices for an...
⭐
4.5/5
(43 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 614899
$879
#7
⭐
4.4/5
(12 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Sonicware ELZ_1 play
by
Sonicware
Sound Design
Electronic
Pop
Key Feature:
• Suitable for both studio and live use
✓ PROS
- • Good all-around synthesis capability
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✗ CONS
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
Sonicware ELZ_1 playCompact Synthesiser with Looper17 Synth enginesincluding low-bitgranular and physical modelling33...
⭐
4.4/5
(12 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 604368
$769
#8
⭐
4.9/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Expressive E Osmose
by
Expressive E
Electronic
Pop
Film Score
Key Feature:
• Versatile for multiple music styles
✓ PROS
- • Good all-around synthesis capability
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✗ CONS
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
Expressive E OsmosePolyphonic SynthesizerWith multidimensional keyboardNew 49-key keyboard - each key can handle...
⭐
4.9/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 557647
$1,759
#9
⭐
4.9/5
(35 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Behringer Odyssey
by
Behringer
Film Score
Pop
Ambient
Key Feature:
• Versatile for multiple music styles
✓ PROS
- • Versatile for multiple music styles
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
✗ CONS
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
Behringer OdysseyAnalog Synthesizer37 Full-size keysMonophonic/Duo-phonic synthesizerControls: octave +/-pitch...
⭐
4.9/5
(35 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 470817
$510
#10
⭐
4.7/5
(47 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Novation Bass Station II Bag Bundle
by
Novation
Film Score
Rock
Ambient
Key Feature:
• Suitable for both studio and live use
✓ PROS
- • Good all-around synthesis capability
- • Versatile for multiple music styles
✗ CONS
- • Can be overwhelming with too many options
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
Novation Bass Station II Bag Bundle*Bundle offer comprising*, Novation Bass Station II*Analog Mono Synthesiser*25...
⭐
4.7/5
(47 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 380485
$450
#11
⭐
4.6/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Arturia PolyBrute
by
Arturia
Ambient
Rock
Film Score
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✓ PROS
- • Good all-around synthesis capability
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✗ CONS
- • May lack specialization in any one area
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
Arturia PolyBrute6-Voice Polyphonic Analog Morph Synthesizer61 Key velocity sensitive keyboard with after touch2 Brute...
⭐
4.6/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 502850
$2,804
#12
⭐
4.8/5
(12 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Kurzweil K2088
by
Kurzweil
Pop
Ambient
Sound Design
Key Feature:
• Versatile for multiple music styles
✓ PROS
- • Good all-around synthesis capability
- • Often includes preset banks
✗ CONS
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
- • Jack of all trades, master of none
Kurzweil K2088Synthesizer Workstation88 keys with hammer action and aftertouch (Fatar TP/40L)256-voice...
⭐
4.8/5
(12 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 618317
$2,749
#13
⭐
4.6/5
(11 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Behringer UB-Xa
by
Behringer
Sound Design
Rock
Film Score
Key Feature:
• Versatile for multiple music styles
✓ PROS
- • Good all-around synthesis capability
- • Often includes preset banks
✗ CONS
- • Can be overwhelming with too many options
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
Behringer UB-XaPolyphonic Analogue SynthesiserReproduction of the classic OB-Xa including the original factory...
⭐
4.6/5
(11 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 580403
$989
#14
⭐
4.5/5
(48 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Yamaha Reface CP
by
Yamaha
Sound Design
Ambient
Rock
Key Feature:
• Versatile for multiple music styles
✓ PROS
- • Good all-around synthesis capability
- • Often includes preset banks
✗ CONS
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
Yamaha Reface CPCompact electric pianoWith SCM (Spectral Component Modelling) + AWM2 sound engine37 HQ mini-action...
⭐
4.5/5
(48 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 368218
$420
#15
⭐
4.7/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Roland Fantom-8 EX
by
Roland
Film Score
Sound Design
Electronic
Key Feature:
• Versatile for multiple music styles
✓ PROS
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
- • Often includes preset banks
✗ CONS
- • May lack specialization in any one area
- • Jack of all trades, master of none
Roland Fantom-8 EXSynthesiser Workstation88-Key PHA-50 hammer-action keyboard (wood/plastic composite...
⭐
4.7/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 589730
$4,256
How to Choose the Best General Synthesizers
Budget Planning
- • Under $200: Entry-level
- • $200-$500: Intermediate
- • $500-$1000: Advanced
- • $1000+: Professional
Quality Check
- • Sound clarity & tone
- • Build materials & finish
- • Hardware durability
- • Overall craftsmanship
Key Features
- • Your musical style
- • Skill level match
- • Intended use case
- • Brand reputation
Frequently Asked Questions
Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced general synthesizers typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.
