Best General Synthesizers Under $500 2026
Affordable general synthesizers under $500 - great value without compromising quality
Last updated: January 14, 2026 • Next update: January 21, 2026
#1
⭐
4.6/5
(26 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Behringer Vocoder VC340
by
Behringer
Electronic
Film Score
Ambient
Key Feature:
• Suitable for both studio and live use
✓ PROS
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
- • Good all-around synthesis capability
✗ CONS
- • Jack of all trades, master of none
- • Can be overwhelming with too many options
Behringer Vocoder VC340VocoderAnalogue vocoder and string ensemble synthesiserKeyboard with 37 semi-weighted and...
⭐
4.6/5
(26 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 458341
$450
#2
⭐
4.5/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Yamaha Reface DX Decksaver Set
by
Yamaha
Rock
Electronic
Ambient
Key Feature:
• Good all-around synthesis capability
✓ PROS
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✗ CONS
- • Jack of all trades, master of none
- • May lack specialization in any one area
Yamaha Reface DX Decksaver Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Yamaha Reface DX*Compact Synthesizer*With FM Sound Engine...
⭐
4.5/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 406617
$424
#3
⭐
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
#4
⭐
4.7/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Yamaha Reface DX
by
Yamaha
Ambient
Pop
Film Score
Key Feature:
• Versatile for multiple music styles
✓ PROS
- • Often includes preset banks
- • Good all-around synthesis capability
✗ CONS
- • Jack of all trades, master of none
- • Can be overwhelming with too many options
Yamaha Reface DXCompact SynthesizerWith FM Sound Engine (frequency modulation)37 HQ Mini-action keys8 Voice polyphony -...
⭐
4.7/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 368216
$396
#5
⭐
5.0/5
(39 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Arturia MicroFreak Thomann Ed. Mic Set
by
Arturia
Pop
Rock
Ambient
Key Feature:
• Versatile for multiple music styles
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
- • Often includes preset banks
✗ CONS
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
- • Jack of all trades, master of none
Arturia MicroFreak Thomann Ed. Mic Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Arturia MicroFreak Thomann Edition*Hybrid...
⭐
5.0/5
(39 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 601088
$384
#6
⭐
4.5/5
(8 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
SOMA Lyra-4 Black
by
SOMA
Ambient
Sound Design
Electronic
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✓ PROS
- • Versatile for multiple music styles
- • Good all-around synthesis capability
✗ CONS
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
SOMA Lyra-4 BlackAnalogue Drone SynthesizerFour voices / oscillatorsEach voice is freely tunable in a wide...
⭐
4.5/5
(8 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 607407
$439
#7
⭐
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
#8
⭐
5.0/5
(32 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Dualo Du-Touch S Black
by
Dualo
Rock
Pop
Film Score
Key Feature:
• Good all-around synthesis capability
✓ PROS
- • Good all-around synthesis capability
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
✗ CONS
- • Can be overwhelming with too many options
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
Dualo Du-Touch S BlackPortable Performance Synthesiser and ControllerInnovative and intuitive interface with hexagonal...
⭐
5.0/5
(32 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 537643
$483
#9
⭐
4.5/5
(40 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Arturia MicroFreak Vocoder Edition
by
Arturia
Pop
Ambient
Rock
Key Feature:
• Good all-around synthesis capability
✓ PROS
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
- • Often includes preset banks
✗ CONS
- • Can be overwhelming with too many options
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
Arturia MicroFreak Vocoder EditionHybrid Synthesizer with Gooseneck Electret MicrophoneLimited EditionCompact...
⭐
4.5/5
(40 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 501687
$406
#10
⭐
4.8/5
(43 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Sonicware LIVEN Ambient Ø
by
Sonicware
Rock
Film Score
Ambient
Key Feature:
• Good all-around synthesis capability
✓ PROS
- • Versatile for multiple music styles
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✗ CONS
- • Jack of all trades, master of none
- • Can be overwhelming with too many options
Sonicware LIVEN Ambient ØSoundscape Synthesiser27 KeysWith blendwave modulation synthesisSuitable for mobile...
⭐
4.8/5
(43 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 595581
$307
#11
⭐
4.9/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Novation MiniNova
by
Novation
Pop
Electronic
Rock
Key Feature:
• Suitable for both studio and live use
✓ PROS
- • Good all-around synthesis capability
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
✗ CONS
- • Can be overwhelming with too many options
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
Novation MiniNovaSynthesiserWith sound generation from the UltraNova synth37 Velocity sensitive keysUp to 18x...
⭐
4.9/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 294771
$417
#12
⭐
4.6/5
(19 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Behringer MS-5
by
Behringer
Rock
Film Score
Electronic
Key Feature:
• Suitable for both studio and live use
✓ PROS
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✗ CONS
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
- • May lack specialization in any one area
Behringer MS-5Monophonic analogue synthesizer37 Velocity-sensitive full-size keysAuthentic reproduction of the original...
⭐
4.6/5
(19 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 575724
$469
#13
⭐
4.6/5
(12 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Arturia MicroFreak
by
Arturia
Electronic
Ambient
Film Score
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✓ PROS
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
- • Often includes preset banks
✗ CONS
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
Arturia MicroFreakHybrid SynthesizerTouch keyboard with 25 keysVelocity dynamic with polyphonic aftertouchDigital...
⭐
4.6/5
(12 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 457192
$329
#14
⭐
4.5/5
(48 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Yamaha Reface CS
by
Yamaha
Electronic
Sound Design
Ambient
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✓ PROS
- • Versatile for multiple music styles
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✗ CONS
- • Jack of all trades, master of none
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
Yamaha Reface CSCompact SynthesizerWith AN sound engine (Analog Physical Modeling)37 HQ Mini-action keys8-Voice...
⭐
4.5/5
(48 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 368212
$424
#15
⭐
4.5/5
(55 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Yamaha Reface YC
by
Yamaha
Rock
Film Score
Electronic
Key Feature:
• Versatile for multiple music styles
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
- • Versatile for multiple music styles
✗ CONS
- • Can be overwhelming with too many options
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
Yamaha Reface YCCompact electric organWith AWM sound engine (organ flutes)37 HQ mini-action keys128-Note polyphony5...
⭐
4.5/5
(55 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 368221
$406
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.
