Best General Synthesizers Under $800 2026
Affordable general synthesizers under $800 - great value without compromising quality
Last updated: January 21, 2026 • Next update: January 28, 2026
#1
⭐
4.5/5
(4 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Behringer DeepMind 12 Bag/Stand Bundle
by
Behringer
Pop
Electronic
Sound Design
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✓ PROS
- • Good all-around synthesis capability
- • Versatile for multiple music styles
✗ CONS
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
Behringer DeepMind 12 Bag/Stand Bundle*Bundle offer comprising*, Behringer DeepMind 12*12-Voice Analogue Synthesizer*49...
⭐
4.5/5
(4 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 416225
$762
#2
⭐
4.8/5
(9 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Yamaha MX61 V2 Blue
by
Yamaha
Pop
Electronic
Rock
Key Feature:
• Suitable for both studio and live use
✓ PROS
- • Good all-around synthesis capability
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✗ CONS
- • Jack of all trades, master of none
- • Can be overwhelming with too many options
Yamaha MX61 V2 BlueSynthesizer61 KeysAWM2 Tone generator128 Note polyphony16 Parts multitimbralVCM effects (Virtual...
⭐
4.8/5
(9 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 395642
$769
#3
⭐
4.8/5
(21 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Roland GAIA 2
by
Roland
Rock
Sound Design
Pop
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
- • Can be overwhelming with too many options
Roland GAIA 2Digital Synthesizer37 Key KeyboardMaximum Polyphony: 22 VoicesThree oscillators per voice: 1x wavetable...
⭐
4.8/5
(21 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 576443
$658
#4
⭐
4.8/5
(12 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Behringer Poly D Bag Bundle
by
Behringer
Sound Design
Pop
Rock
Key Feature:
• Versatile for multiple music styles
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
✗ CONS
- • Jack of all trades, master of none
- • Can be overwhelming with too many options
Behringer Poly D Bag Bundle*Bundle offer comprising*, Behringer Poly D*4-Voice Polyphonic Analogue Synthesizer*37...
⭐
4.8/5
(12 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 559986
$659
#5
⭐
4.8/5
(44 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Korg Microkorg Case Bundle
by
Korg
Sound Design
Rock
Film Score
Key Feature:
• Versatile for multiple music styles
✓ PROS
- • Versatile for multiple music styles
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✗ CONS
- • May lack specialization in any one area
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
Korg Microkorg Case Bundle*Bundle offer comprising*, Korg microKORG*Analogue Modelling Synth*4 Voices2 Oscillators +...
⭐
4.8/5
(44 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 237787
$615
#6
⭐
4.5/5
(17 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Arturia MiniBrute 2 Noir
by
Arturia
Film Score
Ambient
Pop
Key Feature:
• Good all-around synthesis capability
✓ PROS
- • Often includes preset banks
- • Versatile for multiple music styles
✗ CONS
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
- • Can be overwhelming with too many options
Arturia MiniBrute 2 NoirAnalogue Semi-Modular SynthesiserNoir - Limited EditionCombination of classic and modular...
⭐
4.5/5
(17 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 535509
$538
#7
⭐
4.4/5
(33 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Modal Cobalt8
by
Modal
Electronic
Pop
Rock
Key Feature:
• Good all-around synthesis capability
✓ 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
Modal Cobalt8Virtual Analog Synthesizer8-Voice polyphonicVelocity sensitive 37 key keyboard with aftertouch (Fatar TP9...
⭐
4.4/5
(33 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 506277
$747
#8
⭐
4.8/5
(36 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Novation Bass Station II Swifty Edition
by
Novation
Film Score
Pop
Electronic
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✓ PROS
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
- • Versatile for multiple music styles
✗ CONS
- • Can be overwhelming with too many options
- • Jack of all trades, master of none
Novation Bass Station II Swifty EditionAnalog Mono SynthesiserLimited version in ‘Switfty’ designincl. 60 new...
⭐
4.8/5
(36 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 616874
$538
#9
⭐
4.8/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Behringer DeepMind 12
by
Behringer
Electronic
Pop
Sound Design
Key Feature:
• Good all-around synthesis capability
✓ PROS
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
- • Good all-around synthesis capability
✗ CONS
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
- • Can be overwhelming with too many options
Behringer DeepMind 1212-Voice Analogue Synthesizer49 Half-weighted full-size keysVelocity sensitive keys with...
⭐
4.8/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 402983
$692
#10
⭐
4.7/5
(52 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Roland JD-Xi
by
Roland
Sound Design
Rock
Ambient
Key Feature:
• Often includes preset banks
✓ PROS
- • Often includes preset banks
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✗ CONS
- • Jack of all trades, master of none
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
Roland JD-XiCrossover SynthesizerAnalog and digital synths plus drums in one keyboardKeyboard with 37 velocity...
⭐
4.7/5
(52 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 356623
$659
#11
⭐
4.5/5
(42 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Korg Minilogue
by
Korg
Electronic
Pop
Ambient
Key Feature:
• Versatile for multiple music styles
✓ PROS
- • Versatile for multiple music styles
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✗ CONS
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
- • May lack specialization in any one area
Korg MinilogueAnalogue synthesizer4-Voice polyphonic37 Velocity sensitive slim keysFully programmable100 presets + 100...
⭐
4.5/5
(42 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 379052
$523
#12
⭐
4.6/5
(23 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Yamaha MX49 V2 Blue
by
Yamaha
Electronic
Rock
Sound Design
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✓ PROS
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
- • Good all-around synthesis capability
✗ CONS
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
- • Jack of all trades, master of none
Yamaha MX49 V2 BlueSynthesiser49 KeysAWM2 Sound generation128 Voice polyphony16 Multitimbral partsVCM (Virtual...
⭐
4.6/5
(23 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 395631
$626
#13
⭐
4.9/5
(51 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Arturia MiniFreak
by
Arturia
Film Score
Ambient
Sound Design
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✓ PROS
- • Often includes preset banks
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✗ CONS
- • May lack specialization in any one area
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
Arturia MiniFreakAlgorithmic Synthesizer37 velocity-sensitive slim keys with aftertouch6-voice polyphonicTwo digital...
⭐
4.9/5
(51 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 553604
$604
#14
⭐
4.7/5
(19 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Korg RK-100S 2 Red
by
Korg
Electronic
Ambient
Pop
Key Feature:
• Suitable for both studio and live use
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
- • Good all-around synthesis capability
✗ CONS
- • Jack of all trades, master of none
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
Korg RK-100S 2 RedCompact Neck Strap Synthesiser (Keytar)37 Mini keysvelocity-sensitive2 Ribbon-ControllerSound...
⭐
4.7/5
(19 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 483268
$769
#15
⭐
5.0/5
(3 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Korg Wavestate MkII
by
Korg
Rock
Electronic
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
- • Can be overwhelming with too many options
Korg Wavestate MKIIDigital Synthesizer with Wave Sequencing 2.0 Sound Generation37 Standard velocity-sensitive keys...
⭐
5.0/5
(3 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 569527
$659
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.
