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The world of polyphonic synthesizers is extremely diverse, with analog, digital, and hybrid platforms and a range of different approaches to synthesis. To make things more interesting, each manufacturer has a different design philosophy that contributes to the user experience and sonic profile of each instrument.
In this blog, we’ll break down some of the best polysynths available at Vintage King today, from reissues of classic synths to innovative new designs that push the boundaries of sound design. Let’s get started!
With one of the most extensive lineups of analog polysynths available today, the brand that began as Dave Smith's Sequential Circuits needs no introduction. The Sequential range is divided into three categories, each presenting you with a slightly different design philosophy. For electronic music producers and gigging performers, hybrid options like the Take 5 and the Prophet Rev 2 are versatile workhorses.
Meanwhile, for sound designers and sonic explorers, modern options like the Fourm, Prophet-6, OB-6, and Trigon-6 add digital stability to discrete analog circuits with extensive modulation capabilities. Finally, the Prophet-5 and Prophet-10 reissues take the more purist approach, embracing vintage limitations, and are designed to become the centrepiece of your sound creation setup.
After decades in trademark limbo, the iconic Oberheim brand returned to operation in 2022 in partnership with Sequential and under the Focusrite Group umbrella. The current Oberheim lineup starts with the TEO-5, a hybrid analog sister to the Sequential Take 5, with the Oberheim signature SEM state-variable filter and a SHARC DSP core for the VCAs, modulation, and effects.
The bi-timbral OB-X8 is the modern amalgamation of the classic Oberheim flagships with the immediacy of the vintage workflow, and a sonic identity that gave us Prince's Minneapolis sound. With eight-voice polyphony and a choice of 24dB/octave and SEM-style filter modes, you'll be in analog heaven with minimal menu-diving and a 61-key semi-weighted keybed.
Based in Bristol, UK, UDO Audio has risen to prominence in less than a decade with its range of versatile digital FPGA synths that feature retro-inspired knob-per-function interfaces and binaural analog signal path. In case you're wondering why a technically digital synth commands a premium price tag, it's partly because every synth voice has an analog filter chip for both the left and right channels.
The UDO 'SUPER' series is scaled with 12-, 16-, and 20-voice options, starting with the single-layer SUPER 6, and going up to the SUPER 8 and SUPER GEMINI, which are bi-timbral. Meanwhile, the eight-voice DMNO (Domino) varies slightly with its Oberheim-style filter section and eight different performance modes with different creative approaches.
While the Moog name is certainly synonymous with monosynths, the iconic manufacturer has steadily expanded its polyphonic lineup over the past decade. The landscape changed in 2018 with the introduction of the flagship Moog One, with its expansive three-layer workstation-like approach. However, this complex beast slowly became unviable to manufacture and was eventually discontinued in 2024.
That same year, after adjusting its strategy, Moog Music released the more accessible Muse eight-voice bi-timbral synth with oscillators (two per-voice) derived from the legendary miniMoog Voyager and a CP3-style mixer module. Meanwhile, there are still some versatile paraphonic synths in the Moog range, such as the Matriarch (four-voice paraphonic) and the Subsequent 37 (two-voice) paraphonic.
Ashun Sound Machines is an innovative DSP-based synth manufacturer that seems to have taken up the torch from where VA synths like the Access Virus left off. Because of the flexibility of digital platforms, ASM is able to take wavetable synths like the Hydrasynth and adapt it across an entire range of keyboards and desktop modules in different price ranges.
Earlier this year, ASM expanded on its signature source-morphing concept with a new hybrid design known as the Leviasynth. Using an operator-style architecture, the Leviasynth has eight oscillators per voice and allows you to morph between algorithms created from a choice of seven different synthesis types, while the analog low-pass filter lets you add saturation.
Easily one of the most recognizable names in synths, Roland remains a consistent innovator with its ACB (Analog Circuit Behaviour) and ZEN-Core technologies. The range of analog modeling synths starts with the GAIA 2, with its 22-voice hybrid VA/wavetable engine, which can be broadened with Roland Model Expansions like the JUPITER-8 or JUNO-106.
The other key highlights in the ZEN-Core lineup include the portable and battery-operated JUPITER-Xm with its built-in speakers, the flagship JUPITER-X with its powerful four-oscillator VA engine and semi-weighted keybed, and the JUNO-X. All of these models offer five-part multitimbrality and a diverse range of synth and drums from Roland's historic catalogue.
Arturia is known and loved for its diverse library of analog-modeled software instruments and effects, but the French manufacturer's range of hardware synths is equally treasured, with a unique design philosophy that gives each instrument its own identity. With 22 digital oscillator modes, the MiniFreak gives you a wide sonic scope to play with and an analog filter section for character.
Meanwhile, the pride of Arturia's synth stable is undoubtedly the PolyBrute, which is regarded by many as a modern CS-80, although not directly inspired by the classic. Available in 6- and 12-voice versions, the PolyBrute is the definition of a modern analog polysynth, with bi-timbrality, performance control, and DAW integration. Meanwhile, the 12 also offers MPE and continuous expression tracking.
Yamaha's synthesizer legacy goes back to the mid-1970s, with a star-studded historic lineup that includes the famous GX, CS, and DX series. Today, the highlights of Yamaha's synth range are certainly the MOD-X M and MONTAGE M with their selection of sound generation engines, including the AN-X (virtual-analog), the AWM2 (sample-based), and the formidable FM-X (digital FM) engine.
Both the MOD-X M and MONTAGE M also offer deep Cubase integration with detailed plugin interfaces and the ability to record the digital output signal via USB. However, the MONTAGE M is a professional touring-grade instrument with a rugged aluminum chassis, balanced outputs, increased polyphony and effects, and up to 192 kHz sample rate.
Although the German manufacturer Waldorf has always been somewhat of an outlier in its design approach, there's no denying the quality and the level of innovation within its lineup of instruments. The point of entry is extremely affordable with the Protein desktop wavetable synth, before you reach more formidable options like the Blofeld with its additional VA and FM synthesis engines.
While the hybrid Waldorf M continues the legacy of the legendary Microwave series, the exclusively digital Iridium series offers incredible sound design potential with wavetable, VA, granular, resonator, and Kernel FM engines. Finally, the mighty Quantum MK2 tops off the range with its impressive hybrid filter section that adds unique sonic characteristics.
As you'd expect from a manufacturer with a history as rich as KORG's, its range of polysynths is extremely diverse. Starting with the Minilogue series, this provides an awesome entry point into analog polysynths, while the popular microKORG 2 gives you a wider spread of functions with its virtual-analog architecture.
On the digital side, there are four distinctive options that offer plenty of value as keyboards and desktop modules, including the modwave and wavestate wavetable synths, the opsix FM synth, and the multi/poly virtual analog synth. For added flexibility, all of these are also available as native plugins, and you qualify for a 75% discount when you register the respective hardware synth.
Melbourne Instruments is a boutique manufacturer that burst onto the scene in 2022 with a unique concept: motorized control pots. This allows incoming MIDI data to physically move the parameter knobs, while the magnetic slip clutch system lets you grab moving knobs and override the automation with smooth, organic-sounding results.
There are two synths in the current Melbourne Instruments lineup: the Delia hybrid six-voice virtual-analog synth keyboard with its analog filter section, and the Nina 12-voice rackmountable premium analog desktop module with four layers of multitimbrality and a four-track polyphonic sequencer with 64 steps per track and per-step parameter locking.
California-based manufacturer Groove Synthesis entered the market in 2022 with the 3rd Wave, an ultra-modern homage to the legendary PPG Wave wavetable synth from the early 1980s. Not only does the 3rd Wave accurately generate the classic 8-bit wavetables, but it can also use anti-aliased 96kHz wavetables, VA waveforms, or import multi-samples and Xfer Serum wavetables.
Also, the dual filter section has a 2140 resonant low-pass filter designed by Dave Rossum, and a digital SEM-style state-variable filter, which expands the sound shaping potential. The 3rd Wave is available in its four-layer 24-voice flagship keyboard, a desktop module, and the 8M, a more streamlined and budget-friendly eight-voice module.
If there were a final boss of premium analog synth modules, it would certainly come from Black Corporation. The boutique Japanese manufacturer has a roster of eight-voice desktop synths, inspired by some of the most sought-after polyphonic synths ever made. There are two bi-timbral models: the Deckard's Dream MK2, based on the Yamaha CS-80, and the ISE-NIN, based on the Roland JUPITER-8.
Meanwhile, the two single-layer models are the XERXES MK2, based on the Elka Synthex, and the KIJIMI MK2, based on the RSF Kobol. Like the originals, each module has its own character with unique features that help you explore its respective universe. A module like Deckard's Dream, for example, has two oscillators, a filter, and envelope loops per voice, which make a total of 16 fully discrete analog layers inside the chassis.
Today, Nord may be more well-known for its premium stage pianos and organs, but in the mid 1990s, the Swedish manufacturer pioneered virtual-analog synthesis with the famous Nord Lead series, showing the world what could be done with a Motorola 56002 DSP chip. Of course, this series is still produced today in the form of the 26-voice Nord Lead A1.
This gives you a choice of 47 analog and digital waveforms and eight oscillator modifiers for soundshaping. Meanwhile, the larger Nord Wave 2 also offers four timbre layers and a choice of VA, Wavetable, FM, and a library of sample-based sound sources. Also, the polyphony is expanded to 48 voices, and there are 4-stage ADSR envelopes.
While we mostly associate Novation with its range of controllers and beatmaking tools, the British manufacturer has a long history of innovation in synthesizer design and still offers some powerful instruments in its lineup. Using unique digital FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) chips, the Peak and Summit have a hybrid architecture with analog filter sections.
While the eight-voice Peak gives you a more streamlined sound creation platform with an analog multimode filter, the bi-timbral Summit keyboard expands the possibilities with double the voice count and a flexible dual-filter section. Also, both the Peak and Summit have three clipping stages per voice for adding saturation pre-filter, post-filter, or post-VCA/global.
British manufacturer Modal Electronics offers a versatile range of DSP-based synths, which can easily be used in studio or live performance situations. The range of keyboards and desktop modules can be divided into three distinctive categories: the COBALT and ELEMENT ONE VA synths, the ARGON wavetable synths, and the CARBON experimental/phase distortion synths.
All models offer eight-voice polyphony, extensive modulation capabilities, and a three-slot effects section per patch. What's more, the MODALapp lets you control the synths remotely, manage the patch library, or use automation in your DAW via the plugin interface. Overall, the Modal lineup gives you access to complex sound creation platforms at attractive prices, an ideal next step up from a basic analog monosynth.
Behringer's extensive production line and economical approach allow the manufacturer to produce recreations of classic synths at near supermarket prices. Among its range of polyphonic analogue synths, you'll find the PRO-800 module, a recreation of the SC Prophet-600, as well as a range of synths inspired by the famous Roland JUNO series, like the DEEPMIND and the JN-80.
Meanwhile, the WAVE brings back the pioneering German PPG Wave wavetable synth from the early 1980s, at an accessible price. Finally, the range is topped off with a fully analog recreation of the legendary Oberheim OB-Xa, the UB-Xa, which is available in both keyboard and desktop module (UB-Xa D) formats.
