Best General Synthesizers Under $5,000 2026
Affordable general synthesizers under $5,000 - great value without compromising quality
Last updated: January 14, 2026 • Next update: January 21, 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
(54 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Mellotron M4000D Mini
by
Mellotron
Ambient
Electronic
Film Score
Key Feature:
• Suitable for both studio and live use
✓ 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
Mellotron M4000D MiniSynthesiserVelocity sensitive semi-weighted Fatar keyboardLCD display100 Mellotron and Chamberlin...
⭐
4.6/5
(54 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 314945
$2,199
#3
⭐
4.9/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Mellotron M4000D
by
Mellotron
Electronic
Pop
Rock
Key Feature:
• Good all-around synthesis capability
✓ 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
Mellotron M4000DDigital MellotronSample playback engine with 24-bit audio dataApprox. 100 Mellotron and Chamberlin...
⭐
4.9/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 328786
$3,299
#4
⭐
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
#5
⭐
4.4/5
(22 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
UDO Audio Super 6 Blue
by
UDO Audio
Film Score
Ambient
Sound Design
Key Feature:
• Good all-around synthesis capability
✓ PROS
- • Versatile for multiple music styles
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✗ CONS
- • Can be overwhelming with too many options
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
UDO Audio Super 6 Blue12 Voice Polyphonic Analogue Hybrid SynthesiserBinaural analogue signal path2 Digital oscillators...
⭐
4.4/5
(22 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 471402
$2,849
#6
⭐
5.0/5
(2 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Expressive E Osmose Bag Bundle
by
Expressive E
Sound Design
Film Score
Rock
Key Feature:
• Often includes preset banks
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
- • Versatile for multiple music styles
✗ CONS
- • Can be overwhelming with too many options
- • Jack of all trades, master of none
Expressive E Osmose Bag Bundle*Bundle offer comprising*, Expressive E Osmose*Polyphonic Synthesizer*With...
⭐
5.0/5
(2 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 559489
$2,012
#7
⭐
4.8/5
(6 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Waldorf Iridium Keyboard
by
Waldorf
Sound Design
Ambient
Film Score
Key Feature:
• Suitable for both studio and live use
✓ PROS
- • Versatile for multiple music styles
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
✗ CONS
- • May lack specialization in any one area
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
Waldorf Iridium Keyboard16-Voice Synthesiser49 Light-weight keys with velocity and polyphonic aftertouch (Fatar...
⭐
4.8/5
(6 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 538046
$2,859
#8
⭐
4.7/5
(34 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Roland Jupiter-X
by
Roland
Ambient
Rock
Pop
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✓ PROS
- • Often includes preset banks
- • Versatile for multiple music styles
✗ CONS
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
- • Jack of all trades, master of none
Roland Jupiter-XDigital SynthesizerZEN-Core Sound Engine61 Lightly weight keysvelocity sensitive and with aftertouch4...
⭐
4.7/5
(34 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 485920
$2,749
#9
⭐
5.0/5
(2 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Sequential Prophet 10
by
Sequential
Pop
Electronic
Film Score
Key Feature:
• Suitable for both studio and live use
✓ PROS
- • Often includes preset banks
- • Good all-around synthesis capability
✗ CONS
- • May lack specialization in any one area
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
Sequential Prophet 1010-Voice Polyphonic Analog SynthesizerVelocity sensitive 61-key Fatar keyboard with aftertouch200...
⭐
5.0/5
(2 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 504345
$4,949
#10
⭐
4.9/5
(2 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Sequential Trigon-6
by
Sequential
Pop
Ambient
Rock
Key Feature:
• Suitable for both studio and live use
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
- • Versatile for multiple music styles
✗ CONS
- • May lack specialization in any one area
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
Sequential Trigon-6Analogue Synthesizer6-Voice polyphonic4 Octave semi-weighted keyboard with 49 keysvelocity sensitive...
⭐
4.9/5
(2 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 555076
$3,662
#11
⭐
4.6/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Arturia PolyBrute Noir
by
Arturia
Electronic
Pop
Film Score
Key Feature:
• Suitable for both studio and live use
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
✗ CONS
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
- • May lack specialization in any one area
Arturia PolyBrute Noir6-Voice Polyphonic Analogue Morph Synthesizer61-Key velocity sensitive keyboard with aftertouch2...
⭐
4.6/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 560144
$2,199
#12
⭐
4.9/5
(34 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
UDO Audio Super Gemini White
by
UDO Audio
Film Score
Sound Design
Pop
Key Feature:
• Good all-around synthesis capability
✓ PROS
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
- • Versatile for multiple music styles
✗ CONS
- • May lack specialization in any one area
- • Jack of all trades, master of none
UDO Audio Super Gemini WhiteBi-Timbral Analogue Hybrid Synthesizer20 Voices polyphonic61-Key semi-weighted keyboard...
⭐
4.9/5
(34 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 567625
$4,609
#13
⭐
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
#14
⭐
4.7/5
(36 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Moog Matriarch Bag Bundle
by
Moog
Ambient
Rock
Film Score
Key Feature:
• Suitable for both studio and live use
✓ PROS
- • Versatile for multiple music styles
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
✗ CONS
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
- • May lack specialization in any one area
Moog Matriarch Bag Bundle*Bundle offer comprising*, Moog Matriarch*4-Note Paraphonic Semi-Modular Synthesiser with...
⭐
4.7/5
(36 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 559888
$2,331
#15
⭐
4.6/5
(54 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Sequential Prophet 5 Headphone Bundle
by
Sequential
Electronic
Film Score
Ambient
Key Feature:
• Suitable for both studio and live use
✓ 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
Sequential Prophet 5 Headphone Bundle*Bundle offer comprising*, Sequential Prophet 5*5-Voice polyphonic analog...
⭐
4.6/5
(54 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 528369
$3,959
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.
