AudioFu

Best General Synthesizers Under $500 2025

Affordable general synthesizers under $500 - great value without compromising quality

Last updated: October 29, 2025 • Next update: November 5, 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
Novation Bass Station II Bag Bundle - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#1

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
Buy at Thomann View Details
Novation MiniNova - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#2

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
Buy at Thomann View Details
Yamaha Reface YC Decksaver Set - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#3

Yamaha Reface YC Decksaver Set

by Yamaha
Ambient Film Score Sound Design
Key Feature:
• Often includes preset banks
✓ PROS
  • • Often includes preset banks
  • • Good all-around synthesis capability
✗ CONS
  • • Jack of all trades, master of none
  • • Sound quality may vary across different types

Yamaha Reface YC Decksaver Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Yamaha Reface YC*Compact electric organ*With AWM sound engine...

⭐ 4.9/5 (18 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 406620
$435
Buy at Thomann View Details
Yamaha Reface DX - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#4

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
Buy at Thomann View Details
Behringer Vocoder VC340 - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#5

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
Buy at Thomann View Details
Yamaha Reface CP Decksaver Set - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#6

Yamaha Reface CP Decksaver Set

by Yamaha
Electronic Ambient Film Score
Key Feature:
• Suitable for both studio and live use
✓ 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

Yamaha Reface CP Decksaver Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Yamaha Reface CP*Compact electric piano*With SCM (Spectral...

⭐ 4.8/5 (45 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 406613
$446
Buy at Thomann View Details
Yamaha Reface CS - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#7

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
Buy at Thomann View Details
Sonicware LIVEN Evoke - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#8

Sonicware LIVEN Evoke

by Sonicware
Pop Electronic Ambient
Key Feature:
• Often includes preset banks
✓ PROS
  • • Suitable for both studio and live use
  • • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✗ CONS
  • • Can be overwhelming with too many options
  • • May lack specialization in any one area

Sonicware LIVEN Evoke27 Key Ambient Synthesizer4-track ambient synthesizer with a focus on cinematic and...

⭐ 4.9/5 (45 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 620132
$307
Buy at Thomann View Details
Moog Theremini - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#9

Moog Theremini

by Moog
Ambient Electronic Rock
Key Feature:
• Good all-around synthesis capability
✓ PROS
  • • Good all-around synthesis capability
  • • Often includes preset banks
✗ CONS
  • • May lack specialization in any one area
  • • Sound quality may vary across different types

Moog ThereminiThereminAnalogue adjustable quantizationBuilt-in tuner32 memory locations for performance...

⭐ 4.9/5 (10 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 333215
$454
Buy at Thomann View Details
Behringer MS-1 MKII Grey - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#10

Behringer MS-1 MKII Grey

by Behringer
Pop Ambient Film Score
Key Feature:
• Often includes preset banks
✓ PROS
  • • Suitable for both studio and live use
  • • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✗ CONS
  • • Jack of all trades, master of none
  • • Can be overwhelming with too many options

Behringer MS-1 MKII GreyAnalogue synthesizerKeyboard with 32 semi-weighted keysAnalogue VCO - 3340 basedFour mixable...

⭐ 4.4/5 (6 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 613638
$307
Buy at Thomann View Details
Dualo Du-Touch S Black - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#11

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
Buy at Thomann View Details
Korg Monologue BK - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#12

Korg Monologue BK

by Korg
Sound Design Film Score Pop
Key Feature:
• Good all-around synthesis capability
✓ PROS
  • • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
  • • Suitable for both studio and live use
✗ CONS
  • • Sound quality may vary across different types
  • • May not excel at specific synthesis methods

Korg Monologue BKAnalog Synthesizer1 Voice25 Key keyboardMonophonic 16-Step sequencer (notes and up to 4 parameters can...

⭐ 4.5/5 (25 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 401437
$329
Buy at Thomann View Details
Korg Monologue Blue Case Set - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#13

Korg Monologue Blue Case Set

by Korg
Electronic Pop Sound Design
Key Feature:
• Suitable for both studio and live use
✓ PROS
  • • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
  • • Versatile for multiple music styles
✗ CONS
  • • Jack of all trades, master of none
  • • May lack specialization in any one area

Korg Monologue Blue Case Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Korg Monologue Blue*Analogue synthesizer*1 Voice25-Key...

⭐ 4.6/5 (9 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 510484
$351
Buy at Thomann View Details
Korg Monologue Silver - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#14

Korg Monologue Silver

by Korg
Electronic Sound Design Film Score
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✓ PROS
  • • Versatile for multiple music styles
  • • Good all-around synthesis capability
✗ CONS
  • • Can be overwhelming with too many options
  • • Jack of all trades, master of none

Korg Monologue SilverAnalogue synthesizer1 Voice25-Key keyboardMonophonic 16-step sequencer notes as well as up to 4...

⭐ 4.5/5 (55 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 401466
$329
Buy at Thomann View Details
Behringer MS-5 - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#15

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
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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