Best Samplers for Sound Design 2025

Perfect samplers for sound-design - easy to play and learn on

Last updated: November 5, 2025 • Next update: November 12, 2025

PRICE RANGES: Under $500 Under $800

SKILL LEVELS: For Beginner For Intermediate For Professional For Advanced

GENRES & STYLES: For Hip Hop For Electronic For Film Score For Sound Design For Experimental For Production

BRANDS: Teenage Engineering

Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II Bag Bundle - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.8/5 (4 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

7/10

Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II Bag Bundle

by Teenage Engineering

Production Film Score Hip Hop

Key Feature:

• Create custom instruments from samples

✓ PROS

• Record and play back any audio
• Extensive editing and manipulation

✗ CONS

• Can be memory-intensive for large samples
• Requires time to build sample libraries

Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II Bag Bundle*Bundle offer comprising*, Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II*Mobile...

⭐ 4.8/5 (4 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

7/10

Art. 582339

$373

Buy at Thomann View Details

Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II Stand Bundle - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.6/5 (34 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

7/10

Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II Stand Bundle

by Teenage Engineering

Film Score Electronic Production

Key Feature:

• Extensive editing and manipulation

✓ PROS

• Great for incorporating real instruments
• Extensive editing and manipulation

✗ CONS

• May need additional storage
• Steep learning curve for complex editing

Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II Stand Bundle*Bundle offer comprising*, Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II*Mobile...

⭐ 4.6/5 (34 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

7/10

Art. 589429

$372

Buy at Thomann View Details

1010music nanobox tangerine - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 5.0/5 (52 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

7/10

1010music nanobox tangerine

by 1010music

Electronic Film Score Sound Design

Key Feature:

• Extensive editing and manipulation

✓ PROS

• Great for incorporating real instruments
• Record and play back any audio

✗ CONS

• Copyright concerns with commercial samples
• May need additional storage

1010music nanobox tangerinePolyphonic Streaming SamplerCompact desktop designAudio resolution: 24 bit / 48 kHzUp to 24...

⭐ 5.0/5 (52 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

7/10

Art. 579173

$439

Buy at Thomann View Details

Torso Electronics S-4 - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.7/5 (2 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

8/10

Torso Electronics S-4

by Torso Electronics

Film Score Sound Design Experimental

Key Feature:

• Great for incorporating real instruments

✓ PROS

• Extensive editing and manipulation
• Great for incorporating real instruments

✗ CONS

• May need additional storage
• Can be memory-intensive for large samples

Torso Electronics S-4Sculpting SamplerStereo Granular Sampler and Audio Processor4 Parallel stereo trackseach with a...

⭐ 4.7/5 (2 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

8/10

Art. 600391

$945

Buy at Thomann View Details

Sonicware Lofi-12 XT - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.9/5 (12 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

6/10

Sonicware Lofi-12 XT

by Sonicware

Film Score Electronic Production

Key Feature:

• Record and play back any audio

✓ PROS

• Extensive editing and manipulation
• Perfect for unique sound creation

✗ CONS

• Copyright concerns with commercial samples
• Requires time to build sample libraries

Sonicware Lofi-12 XTRetro Lo-fi Sampling Groove Box16 Bit PCM Sampling (mono) with 12 kHz/24 kHz12 Bit LoFi sampler...

⭐ 4.9/5 (12 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

6/10

Art. 591577

$516

Buy at Thomann View Details

Kiviak Instruments WoFi - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.8/5 (33 reviews)

Sound:

10/10

Build:

10/10

Value:

8/10

Kiviak Instruments WoFi

by Kiviak Instruments

Electronic Sound Design Experimental

Key Feature:

• Create custom instruments from samples

✓ PROS

• Record and play back any audio
• Extensive editing and manipulation

✗ CONS

• Requires time to build sample libraries
• May need additional storage

Kiviak Instruments WoFiCompact Keyboard Sampler10-Note polyphonicPlayback and sampling in 16 Bit / 48 kHz25...

⭐ 4.8/5 (33 reviews)

Sound:

10/10

Build:

10/10

Value:

8/10

Art. 598077

$703

Buy at Thomann View Details

1010music bento - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 5.0/5 (4 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

6/10

1010music bento

by 1010music

Experimental Production Hip Hop

Key Feature:

• Great for incorporating real instruments

✓ PROS

• Record and play back any audio
• Create custom instruments from samples

✗ CONS

• Copyright concerns with commercial samples
• Can be memory-intensive for large samples

1010music bentoAll-in-One Sampling-StudioLoopsgranularmultisampleslicer or MIDI outEight flexible tracks configurable...

⭐ 5.0/5 (4 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

6/10

Art. 617600

$1,065

Buy at Thomann View Details

Elektron Digitakt II EVA Case Bundle - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.6/5 (23 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

6/10

Elektron Digitakt II EVA Case Bundle

by Elektron

Film Score Electronic Hip Hop

Key Feature:

• Record and play back any audio

✓ PROS

• Extensive editing and manipulation
• Record and play back any audio

✗ CONS

• Can be memory-intensive for large samples
• May need additional storage

Elektron Digitakt II EVA Case Bundle*Bundle offer comprising*, Elektron Digitakt II*Groovebox and Sampler*16 Stereo or...

⭐ 4.6/5 (23 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

6/10

Art. 591112

$1,051

Buy at Thomann View Details

Korg Kaoss Replay - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.5/5 (36 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

10/10

Value:

6/10

Korg Kaoss Replay

by Korg

Experimental Electronic Hip Hop

Key Feature:

• Extensive editing and manipulation

✓ PROS

• Extensive editing and manipulation
• Perfect for unique sound creation

✗ CONS

• Steep learning curve for complex editing
• May need additional storage

Korg Kaoss ReplayPad Sampler with Internal Kaoss Effects and Performance Functions16 Velocity-sensitive sample pads...

⭐ 4.5/5 (36 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

10/10

Value:

6/10

Art. 579392

$824

Buy at Thomann View Details

1010music blackbox - Professional Music Instrument Photo

#10

⭐ 4.8/5 (3 reviews)

Sound:

10/10

Build:

10/10

Value:

8/10

1010music blackbox

by 1010music

Experimental Production Hip Hop

Key Feature:

• Perfect for unique sound creation

✓ PROS

• Extensive editing and manipulation
• Great for incorporating real instruments

✗ CONS

• Copyright concerns with commercial samples
• Can be memory-intensive for large samples

1010music blackboxCompact Sampling Studio24 Bit / 48 kHz stereo samplingStreaming from microSD...

⭐ 4.8/5 (3 reviews)

Sound:

10/10

Build:

10/10

Value:

8/10

Art. 466764

$802

Buy at Thomann View Details

ISLA Instruments S2400 - Professional Music Instrument Photo

#11

⭐ 4.6/5 (43 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

10/10

Value:

8/10

ISLA Instruments S2400

by ISLA Instruments

Electronic Film Score Production

Key Feature:

• Great for incorporating real instruments

✓ PROS

• Great for incorporating real instruments
• Record and play back any audio

✗ CONS

• Requires time to build sample libraries
• Steep learning curve for complex editing

ISLA Instruments S2400Sampling Drum Machine16-Voice polyphonyMono and stereo sampling in 12Bit/26kHz or...

⭐ 4.6/5 (43 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

10/10

Value:

8/10

Art. 574629

$2,199

Buy at Thomann View Details

Novation Circuit Rhythm - Professional Music Instrument Photo

#12

⭐ 4.9/5 (45 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

7/10

Novation Circuit Rhythm

by Novation

Experimental Sound Design Hip Hop

Key Feature:

• Create custom instruments from samples

✓ PROS

• Create custom instruments from samples
• Great for incorporating real instruments

✗ CONS

• May need additional storage
• Requires time to build sample libraries

Novation Circuit RhythmSampler / SequencerEight sample tracks with 32 step patterns eachCascadable for up to 256 steps...

⭐ 4.9/5 (45 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

7/10

Art. 521290

$328

Buy at Thomann View Details

Elektron Octatrack MKII Black - Professional Music Instrument Photo

#13

⭐ 4.9/5 (56 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

7/10

Elektron Octatrack MKII Black

by Elektron

Hip Hop Electronic Experimental

Key Feature:

• Record and play back any audio

✓ PROS

• Extensive editing and manipulation
• Perfect for unique sound creation

✗ CONS

• May need additional storage
• Requires time to build sample libraries

Elektron Octatrack MKII BlackPerformance Sampler8 Stereo audio tracks8 Dedicated MIDI tracksInstant stereo...

⭐ 4.9/5 (56 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

7/10

Art. 509423

$1,792

Buy at Thomann View Details

Bastl Instruments Kastle 2 Wave Bard - Professional Music Instrument Photo

#14

⭐ 4.6/5 (50 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

7/10

Bastl Instruments Kastle 2 Wave Bard

by Bastl Instruments

Sound Design Experimental Production

Key Feature:

• Record and play back any audio

✓ PROS

• Great for incorporating real instruments
• Extensive editing and manipulation

✗ CONS

• May need additional storage
• Can be memory-intensive for large samples

Bastl Instruments Kastle 2 Wave BardCompact Semi-Modular Sample PlayerSampling time: 89 seconds (mono)44 seconds...

⭐ 4.6/5 (50 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

7/10

Art. 618270

$208

Buy at Thomann View Details

Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II - Professional Music Instrument Photo

#15

⭐ 4.6/5 (23 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

8/10

Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II

by Teenage Engineering

Hip Hop Production Experimental

Key Feature:

• Create custom instruments from samples

✓ PROS

• Perfect for unique sound creation
• Extensive editing and manipulation

✗ CONS

• Can be memory-intensive for large samples
• Steep learning curve for complex editing

Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. IIMobile SamplerSequencer and ComposerBuilt-in microphone and speaker6 Stereo voices /...

⭐ 4.6/5 (23 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

8/10

Art. 580267

$336

Buy at Thomann View Details

How to Choose the Best Samplers

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 samplers 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.

Related Best Lists

TOP

Best Samplers for Sound Design 2025

Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II Bag Bundle

Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II Stand Bundle

1010music nanobox tangerine

Torso Electronics S-4

Sonicware Lofi-12 XT

Kiviak Instruments WoFi

1010music bento

Elektron Digitakt II EVA Case Bundle

Korg Kaoss Replay

1010music blackbox

ISLA Instruments S2400

Novation Circuit Rhythm

Elektron Octatrack MKII Black

Bastl Instruments Kastle 2 Wave Bard

Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II

How to Choose the Best Samplers

Budget Planning

Quality Check

Key Features

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I look for when buying samplers?

How much should I spend on samplers?

Are expensive samplers worth the investment?

What are the best brands for samplers?

Should I buy samplers online or in-store?

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