Best Budget Synth under $700 New

[Tweak]

Poll recast 12/08/2009 Its down to these 3


Korg X-50
http://www.zzounds.com/a--3745/item--KORX50/sid--poll


Yamaha MM6
http://www.zzounds.com/a--3745/item--YAMMM6/sid--poll



Roland Juno Di
http://www.zzounds.com/a--3745/item--ROLJUNODI/sid--showroom






Make sure to check out the MultiTimbral Synthesizer Comparison Chart

http://www.tweakheadz.com/synthesizer_comparison_chart.htm

Older Polls at this URL

Best Budget Synth under $700 New
poll started 4/2007, ended 12/2009

Korg X50 14% 13 votes
Yamaha MM6 29% 27 votes
Juno D 32% 30 votes The Winner!
Korg Micro X 7% 7 votes
Alesis QS6.2 4% 4 votes
Kurzweil KME61 1% 1 vote
Yamaha SO3 9% 9votes

This poll was recast 4/7/07 Old results are below

Old Poll
The Best Multi-timbral Synth under $600 is....
poll started 4/2005, ended 4/2007
Alesis QS6.2 13% [ 10 ]
Kurzweil KME61 5% [ 4 ]
Roland Juno D 50% [ 37 ]
Yamaha S03 16% [ 12 ]
Korg XD-5 13% [ 10 ]
Total Votes : 73

[_controlfreak]

Can't go wrong with yamaha!!!

[Johnny Digital]

if i had to choose something from this list, i would go with the alesis...

[kernmount]

The Alesis for the piano samples. The S03's piano didn't cut it for me.

[alterboy]

all these are great in different areas. i like the alesis micron but i'd rather save the money for an ion. i'm not a big fan of the QS series, but they are good synths for someone starting out. the korg is good. the yamaha has excellent piano sounds, but when it comes down to a good all arounder i would have to go with the juno. it sounds amazing and i love the D-Beam.

[Renegade]

where the hells the microkorg?!?

[tt_deeb]

Korg XD 5
Alesis Micron
Alesis QS6.2

Those are three I've been interested in over the years. I haven't looked into the Juno D but have heard good things. Yamaha I would say is the worst on the list, I considered it back when I wanted my first synth but it seemed pretty bad. Can't comment on the Kurzweil but I've heard it's got some good piano too.

[skyy38]

Roland EXR-5
For the price,the sounds are amazing!

musik.dk/Upload/HtmlArticles/Article1284/index.htm

Scroll down to "demoer mps"

[DGX305]

if you open this to $600 used you end up with tons of amazing synth, like

1. Alesis Ion
2. Novation X-Station (new and used)
3. Fantom (not S or X)
4. Nord Lead (not 2 or 3)
and tons more!

[jsepeta]

i guess i'd get the juno d. it has some real limitations for me, but i think for the beginning user you'd get a wide pallette of sounds AND some nice real-time controls to help push you to learn more about synthesis. i guess you'd learn a lot more about synthesis from an ion, but if you need bread and butter sounds, the ion won't really cut it. also i can't stand the ion's interface. brrrr.

** update 07/07/05

I bought a used Virus Classic for $600 from a local vendor. That, my friends, is the best synth I've bought all year.

[destructive cactus]

I've never played the Alesis Micron, however if it has the same sound engine as the Ion, it can't be half bad. I really dug the Ion's great sound and sturdy controls. The Micron would be perfect for gigging!

[spiral'']

http://www.zzounds.com/a--3745/item--KORMS2000BR

Korg MS2000BR. i have the MS2000R, and if you don't mind a rack mount synth, this blows most others units away IMO. the MS2000 with keys runs about $749 vs the rack mounted $499.

[mr.dan]

Where can you get the Juno for under 645?

[BareBeats]

JUUU-KNOOOWW and i like the ms2000 too

[Proteus9]

I must say, of the above mentioned i'm dissapointed at the 16 meg ROMs and lack of expandibility. 400 maybe, but not 6 as most are asking for the above synths.

[saint7684]

That little Alesis Micron is a cool little unit. I have looked at one myself and played with it some. Would rather have an Ion, but for the price!

[Adversity]

why do some people consider $599.95, as being under $600. its basically the same thing. no mean to offend the almighty tweakster. but juss thinkin.

[scootermydaisyheads]

this is only my second post on this fourm...but i'd have to agree wit "spiral" and go with the ms2000

[razorbyte]

Man...i'd have to say Juno, it's got great pads (which I'm really into). But, I really love the Alesis Micron too. Very phat sounds, I just don't like the size...so that'd be following close in second place.

[Requiem]

In this budget range I too would (and have) go for a used synth. Roland JP8000, or Korg ms2000, used Virus or Clavia Nord Lead. I got my Nord Lead I off of ebay for like... $425, and it's great. I would totally not go for the micron.. looks hard as hell to tweak!

[Bobjua]

which one of these has some good analog synth sounds, but also good sounds for strings.

[dc]

I have to agree with renegade, the microkorg isn't in the list hmmm...
infact I think it would be one of the greatest to start with.
the microkorg was my first synth and I still love it...

and ow yeaah... don't forget the cool featuring ; the vocoder wich is pretty cool if you don't have the vokator for example...

If I would have to go with one of these, hmm I'dd probably would go for the juno or maby the korg, I never heard it butt friends tells me it is a nice piece....

[_controlfreak]

^The microkorg is multi-timbral???

You'd have to spend some more cash for a decent midi keyboard controller for it; those miniaturized keys are terrible!

[dc]

not so terrible if you ask me, I have small fingers ...
or you can connect ( if you had it allready ) your midi keyboard with bigger key's, for example

[misscc]

Its not listed but da E-MU Pk-6 is a great keyboard that is under 600 bucks.