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Best General Synthesizers Under $1,000 2025

Affordable general synthesizers under $1,000 - great value without compromising quality

Last updated: October 22, 2025 • Next update: October 29, 2025

PRICE RANGES: Under $50 Under $100 Under $200 Under $300 Under $500 Under $800 Under $1,000 Under $2,000 Under $5,000
SKILL LEVELS: For Beginner For Intermediate For Professional For Advanced
GENRES & STYLES: For Electronic For Pop For Rock For Ambient For Film Score For Sound Design
BRANDS: Korg Behringer Yamaha Roland Arturia Sequential SOMA Moog Sonicware Stylophone Novation Modal Mellotron Waldorf UDO Audio Teenage Engineering
AKAI Professional MPC Key 37 - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#1

AKAI Professional MPC Key 37

by AKAI Professional
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
Buy at Thomann View Details
Behringer DeepMind 12 Gator Case Bundle - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#2

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
Buy at Thomann View Details
Modal Cobalt8X - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#3

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
Buy at Thomann View Details
Waldorf STVC - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#4

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
Buy at Thomann View Details
SOMA Lyra-8 Black Beast - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#5

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
Buy at Thomann View Details
SOMA Lyra-8 Rust Edition - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#6

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
Buy at Thomann View Details
Behringer UB-Xa - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#7

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
Buy at Thomann View Details
Waldorf Blofeld Keyboard Black - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#8

Waldorf Blofeld Keyboard Black

by Waldorf
Film Score Sound Design Rock
Key Feature:
• Good all-around synthesis capability
✓ PROS
  • • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
  • • Good all-around synthesis capability
✗ CONS
  • • Sound quality may vary across different types
  • • May lack specialization in any one area

Waldorf Blofeld Keyboard BlackSynthesizerWith 49 weighted keys and after touch60 MB Sample memoryUp to 25 voices16-fold...

⭐ 4.4/5 (37 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 259646
$934
Buy at Thomann View Details
Behringer DeepMind 12 Case Set - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#9

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
Buy at Thomann View Details
SOMA Lyra-8 White Angel - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#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
Buy at Thomann View Details
Modal Argon8X - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#11

Modal Argon8X

by Modal
Pop Electronic Ambient
Key Feature:
• Often includes preset banks
✓ PROS
  • • Often includes preset banks
  • • Versatile for multiple music styles
✗ CONS
  • • Can be overwhelming with too many options
  • • May not excel at specific synthesis methods

Modal Argon8XWavetable synthesiser8 Voices polyphonicVelocity-sensitive 61-key keyboard (FATAR TP9 / S) with...

⭐ 4.5/5 (22 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 483325
$879
Buy at Thomann View Details
Moog Messenger - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#12

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
Buy at Thomann View Details
Sonicware ELZ_1 play Black - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#13

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
Buy at Thomann View Details
Behringer DeepMind 12X - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#14

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
Buy at Thomann View Details
Waldorf Blofeld Keyboard - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#15

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
Buy at Thomann View Details

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.

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