Best General Synthesizers Under $1,000 2026
Affordable general synthesizers under $1,000 - great value without compromising quality
Last updated: January 14, 2026 • Next update: January 21, 2026
#1
⭐
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
#2
⭐
4.5/5
(46 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Sonicware ELZ_1 play Black
by
Sonicware
Pop
Rock
Sound Design
Key Feature:
• Often includes preset banks
✓ PROS
- • Good all-around synthesis capability
- • Versatile for multiple music styles
✗ CONS
- • Jack of all trades, master of none
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
Sonicware ELZ_1 play BlackCompact Synthesiser with LooperLimited Edition17 Synth enginesincluding low-bitgranular and...
⭐
4.5/5
(46 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 604370
$802
#3
⭐
4.8/5
(7 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
SOMA Enner Night Frog
by
SOMA
Rock
Ambient
Electronic
Key Feature:
• Versatile for multiple music styles
✓ PROS
- • Often includes preset banks
- • Good all-around synthesis capability
✗ CONS
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
SOMA Enner Night FrogExperimental Souch synthesiser and Effects UnitCompletely analogue signal pathCombination of...
⭐
4.8/5
(7 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 558699
$878
#4
⭐
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
#5
⭐
4.8/5
(14 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Waldorf Blofeld Keyboard
by
Waldorf
Pop
Electronic
Film Score
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✓ PROS
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✗ CONS
- • May lack specialization in any one area
- • Jack of all trades, master of none
Waldorf Blofeld KeyboardSynthesizerWith 49 weighted keys and after touch60 Megabyte sample memoryUp to 25 voices16-fold...
⭐
4.8/5
(14 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 217403
$934
#6
⭐
4.8/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
SOMA Lyra-8 Black Beast
by
SOMA
Film Score
Electronic
Rock
Key Feature:
• Often includes preset banks
✓ PROS
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
- • Good all-around synthesis capability
✗ CONS
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
- • Can be overwhelming with too many options
SOMA Lyra-8 Black BeastAnalog Drone Synthesizer8 Voices8 OscillatorsEach voice is freely tunable within a wide...
⭐
4.8/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 475733
$823
#7
⭐
4.9/5
(23 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Behringer DeepMind 12 Gator Case Bundle
by
Behringer
Electronic
Pop
Rock
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✓ PROS
- • Often includes preset banks
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✗ CONS
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
- • Can be overwhelming with too many options
Behringer DeepMind 12 Gator Case Bundle*Bundle offer comprising*, Behringer DeepMind 12*12-Voice Analogue...
⭐
4.9/5
(23 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 416224
$886
#8
⭐
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
#9
⭐
4.6/5
(52 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
SOMA Lyra-8 Rust Edition
by
SOMA
Sound Design
Electronic
Pop
Key Feature:
• Suitable for both studio and live use
✓ PROS
- • Often includes preset banks
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✗ CONS
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
- • Can be overwhelming with too many options
SOMA Lyra-8 Rust EditionAnalogue Drone SynthesizerSpecial edition with oxidised metal housingEight voices /...
⭐
4.6/5
(52 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 618417
$835
#10
⭐
4.6/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Behringer DeepMind 12 Case Set
by
Behringer
Electronic
Ambient
Film Score
Key Feature:
• Often includes preset banks
✓ PROS
- • Versatile for multiple music styles
- • Good all-around synthesis capability
✗ CONS
- • May lack specialization in any one area
- • Jack of all trades, master of none
Behringer DeepMind 12 Case Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Behringer DeepMind 12*12-Voice Analogue Synthesizer*49...
⭐
4.6/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 417399
$879
#11
⭐
4.9/5
(33 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
SOMA Lyra-8 White Angel
by
SOMA
Electronic
Rock
Sound Design
Key Feature:
• Often includes preset banks
✓ PROS
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
- • Versatile for multiple music styles
✗ CONS
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
- • Can be overwhelming with too many options
SOMA Lyra-8 White AngelAnalogue Drone SynthesizerEight voices / oscillatorsEach voice is freely tunable in a wide...
⭐
4.9/5
(33 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 471732
$823
#12
⭐
4.7/5
(7 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Moog Messenger
by
Moog
Pop
Film Score
Ambient
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✓ PROS
- • Versatile for multiple music styles
- • Often includes preset banks
✗ CONS
- • Can be overwhelming with too many options
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
Moog MessengerMonophonic Analogue Synthesizer32 lightweighted keysvelocity sensitive and with AftertouchPitch and...
⭐
4.7/5
(7 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 614034
$879
#13
⭐
5.0/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Suzuki Omnichord OM-108
by
Suzuki
Pop
Electronic
Sound Design
Key Feature:
• Good all-around synthesis capability
✓ PROS
- • Often includes preset banks
- • Good all-around synthesis capability
✗ CONS
- • May lack specialization in any one area
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
Suzuki Omnichord OM-108SynthesiserWith automatic accompaniment and harp sensorSimple operation - no musical experience...
⭐
5.0/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 586192
$912
#14
⭐
4.6/5
(40 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Modal Cobalt8X
by
Modal
Sound Design
Film Score
Ambient
Key Feature:
• Good all-around synthesis capability
✓ PROS
- • Often includes preset banks
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
✗ CONS
- • May lack specialization in any one area
- • Jack of all trades, master of none
Modal Cobalt8XVirtual Analog Synthesizer8-Voice polyphony61-Key keyboard with velocity sensitivity (FATAR TP9 / S) with...
⭐
4.6/5
(40 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 507771
$875
#15
⭐
4.9/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Waldorf STVC
by
Waldorf
Pop
Rock
Sound Design
Key Feature:
• Often includes preset banks
✓ PROS
- • Often includes preset banks
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
✗ CONS
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
Waldorf STVCString Synthesizer with Vocoder49 Keys with aftertouch and velocityKeyboard Transpose in +/- 24...
⭐
4.9/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 432730
$824
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.
