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Best General Synthesizers Under $800 2025

Affordable general synthesizers under $800 - 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
Behringer Poly D Bag Bundle - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#1

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
Buy at Thomann View Details
Behringer Poly D - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#2

Behringer Poly D

by Behringer
Electronic Rock Film Score
Key Feature:
• Suitable for both studio and live use
✓ PROS
  • • Suitable for both studio and live use
  • • Often includes preset banks
✗ CONS
  • • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
  • • Can be overwhelming with too many options

Behringer Poly D4-Voice Polyphonic Analogue Synthesizer37 Full-size velocity-sensitive keys4-Voice polyphonic design...

⭐ 4.7/5 (3 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 478597
$625
Buy at Thomann View Details
Polyend Synth - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#3

Polyend Synth

by Polyend
Pop Sound Design Film Score
Key Feature:
• Good all-around synthesis capability
✓ PROS
  • • Good all-around synthesis capability
  • • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✗ CONS
  • • Jack of all trades, master of none
  • • May lack specialization in any one area

Polyend SynthPolyphonic Multi-Engine SynthesiserThree independent and complete synthesiser voices (synth 1-3) can be...

⭐ 4.7/5 (11 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 603957
$527
Buy at Thomann View Details
Behringer Odyssey - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#4

Behringer Odyssey

by Behringer
Film Score Pop Ambient
Key Feature:
• Versatile for multiple music styles
✓ PROS
  • • Versatile for multiple music styles
  • • Suitable for both studio and live use
✗ CONS
  • • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
  • • Sound quality may vary across different types

Behringer OdysseyAnalog Synthesizer37 Full-size keysMonophonic/Duo-phonic synthesizerControls: octave +/-pitch...

⭐ 4.9/5 (35 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 470817
$510
Buy at Thomann View Details
Behringer DeepMind 12 - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#5

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
Buy at Thomann View Details
Roland GAIA 2 - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#6

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
Buy at Thomann View Details
Behringer DeepMind 12 Bag/Stand Bundle - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#7

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
Buy at Thomann View Details
Arturia MiniFreak Vocoder - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#8

Arturia MiniFreak Vocoder

by Arturia
Sound Design Pop Electronic
Key Feature:
• Often includes preset banks
✓ PROS
  • • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
  • • Suitable for both studio and live use
✗ CONS
  • • May lack specialization in any one area
  • • Sound quality may vary across different types

Arturia MiniFreak VocoderAlgorithmic SynthesizerLimited special edition37 velocity-sensitive slim keys with...

⭐ 4.5/5 (2 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 619121
$659
Buy at Thomann View Details
Behringer DeepMind 6 - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#9

Behringer DeepMind 6

by Behringer
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
  • • Can be overwhelming with too many options
  • • May lack specialization in any one area

Behringer DeepMind 66-Voice Analogue Synthesiser37 Semi-weighted full-size velocity-sensitive keys with aftertouch4 FX...

⭐ 4.5/5 (44 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 416831
$548
Buy at Thomann View Details
Sonicware ELZ_1 play - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#10

Sonicware ELZ_1 play

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

Sonicware ELZ_1 playCompact Synthesiser with Looper17 Synth enginesincluding low-bitgranular and physical modelling33...

⭐ 4.4/5 (12 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 604368
$769
Buy at Thomann View Details
Behringer Wave - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#11

Behringer Wave

by Behringer
Ambient Sound Design Film Score
Key Feature:
• Good all-around synthesis capability
✓ PROS
  • • Versatile for multiple music styles
  • • Good all-around synthesis capability
✗ CONS
  • • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
  • • Jack of all trades, master of none

Behringer Wave8-Voice Hybrid Synthesiser49 Full-sizevelocity-sensitive keys with aftertouch2 Wavetable generators per...

⭐ 4.9/5 (37 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 606932
$659
Buy at Thomann View Details
Korg MS-20 mini - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#12

Korg MS-20 mini

by Korg
Electronic Ambient Rock
Key Feature:
• Suitable for both studio and live use
✓ PROS
  • • Suitable for both studio and live use
  • • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✗ CONS
  • • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
  • • May lack specialization in any one area

Korg MS-20 miniMonophonic Analogue Synthesiser37 Mini keysReproduction of the original analogue circuitryStructure:...

⭐ 5.0/5 (39 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 305808
$611
Buy at Thomann View Details
Korg opsix MKII - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#13

Korg opsix MKII

by Korg
Sound Design Pop Ambient
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

Korg opsix MKIIFM Synthesizer37 velocity-sensitive keysSix operatorsSix modes: FMRing ModFilterFilter FMWave...

⭐ 4.8/5 (46 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 584425
$655
Buy at Thomann View Details
Yamaha MX49 V2 Black - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#14

Yamaha MX49 V2 Black

by Yamaha
Ambient Electronic Pop
Key Feature:
• Suitable for both studio and live use
✓ PROS
  • • Versatile for multiple music styles
  • • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✗ CONS
  • • Sound quality may vary across different types
  • • Jack of all trades, master of none

Yamaha MX49 V2 BlackSynthesiser49 KeysAWM2 Sound generation128 Voice polyphony16 Multitimbral partsVCM (Virtual...

⭐ 4.7/5 (18 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 395630
$626
Buy at Thomann View Details
Korg Modwave MKII - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#15

Korg Modwave MKII

by Korg
Rock Film Score Ambient
Key Feature:
• Good all-around synthesis capability
✓ 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

Korg Modwave MKIIDigital Wavetable Synthesizer37 Standard velocity-sensitive keysPolyphony: 60 stereo voicesKAOSS...

⭐ 4.9/5 (14 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 577642
$749
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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