The Best Synthesizer Keyboards To Buy In 2018

6. Korg KROSS 61 – Key Mobile Workstation

This 61 key keyboard is very similar to the 88 key Korg Krome synthesizer discussed earlier – it is also one of the best synthesizers on the market. It is lightweight, very user friendly, jam packed with capabilities and features, and the piano sounds produced by this breathtaking synthesizer are spectacular. However, it should be noted that this instrument is better suited for the modern player, as you cannot really expect to get that classic Korg sound from this workstation. It really is a good product though, and in regards to more compact keyboards (compared to the larger 88 keys) it certainly is among the top rated synthesizers of the year. The console is clean and very simple making this outstanding synthesizer easy to use, and the speakers are astonishing. View the review to get more insight.

Features:

• Enormous library of sounds – utilizing twice as much PCM memory when compared to previous products
• Distinctive and stylish two-tone color design
• Pro-quality EDS-i sound engine, with a total of seven effects available for simultaneous use
• Step sequencer inherited from the Electribe, MIDI sequencer, drum track, and an arpeggiator

7. Moog LPSSUB001 Sub Phatty Analog Synthesizer

Moog is one of the most iconic brands when it comes to synthesizers, and this is one of the greatest. It is a beautiful sounding acoustic digital piano capable of producing a sound that will blow you away. It is a device that is very easily controlled, it has quite a bit of flexibility, but at the same time it is a bit of a soft synth as well. This Moog synthesizer is something special. Sound editing is a breeze, and it has the capability to sync (compatible) with many other devices at the same time. This Sub Phatty synthesizer keyboard makes music production a pleasure to be a part of, and the bass is maybe some of richest you’ll ever hear. Check out the Moog Sub Phatty review.

Features:

• 25 semi-weighted keys; 100% analog signal path
• 31 knobs and 13 switches give you direct, immediate control
• 2 ultra-stable variable-wave shape oscillators
• Square-wave Sub Oscillator in mixer section

Yet again, another Yamaha keyboard fails to disappoint. This particular music synthesizer comes in a few different variations – 49 key, 61 key, and 88 key, and the sound quality is great on all of them. It’s not hard to see why this is considered one of the top rated synth keyboards on the market, if you’re a true keyboardist you can see why this is such an amazing amount of appreciation for this item. If you’re looking for portability without too much bulk, then you might want to consider the Yamaha MX61. There are many new sounds of this synthesizer, but it still retains many of the old-school classic sounds that many can remember from older models. Read the Yamaha MX61 review to learn more about this product.

Features: 

• Class Compliant USB Audio/MIDI for true “plug and play” connectivity without installing any drivers
• Motif Sound Engine: layer, zone, switch, cycle, randomize and control up to 8 elements within a single voice
• Virtual Circuit Modeling re-creates the sound and behavior of vintage effects and signal processors
• 128 notes of polyphony ensures dropout-free performance playing live or with full 16-track sequences

9. Korg MicroKorg 37-Key Analog Modeling Synthesizer with Vocoder

This MicroKorg 37-Key synthesizer by Korg is one of the most popular. It’s a very nice synth, and it’s surely good enough to make this list of the best synthesizers. Obviously, if you’re in search of a much larger instrument, then this might not be the product for you. However, if you’re looking for a more lightweight, mobile but still highly advanced synthesizer, then you might want to consider this Korg MicroKorg as your go-to instrument. The sounds are some of the best there are, and the adjustments are really well laid out. At the price, it’s hard to find something to match this analog synthesizer, and that’s what makes it one of the best synthesizer keyboards this year. The MicroKorg really has a lot to offer.

Features:

• Sound Generation Method: Analog Modeling Synthesis System
• Synthesizer Program: Multi Timbral=2 (max, Split/Dual Mode)
• Voices: 4 voices
• Arpeggiator: 6 types

10. Yamaha MOXF6 Music Production Workstation

Lastly, you have the Yamaha MOXF6. This, while lower on the list, is still a very high quality music synthesizer and is not to played with. It’s a very versatile synth and like many others are now doing, it comes in both 61-key and 88-key variations. Both variants are surprisingly lightweight and mobile! Some people have complaints, though. A handful of individuals have noted that they don’t particularly like the user interface, and others have complained about the sound quality. Really it comes down to personal preference though, because plenty of people have noted that they actually love the board.

Features:

• Motif XF Sound Quality
• Flash memory expandability
• Performance mode to enhance your creativity
• Advanced computer integration

Which synthesizer keyboard is best for you?

Without knowing anything about what you’ll be using your synthesizer for, it’s hard to say exactly which are the best synthesizers for you. Ideally, you should be able to expect each of these instruments to perform adequately in each and every scenario, but we all know that’s unrealistic. Most of them however are very versatile and can be used anywhere and anytime. For example, the 88-key Korg Krome is a highly sophisticated synth, and it can be used anywhere from your own bedroom, all the way to the biggest recital or concert of your life (yes, it’s that capable).

Some people even say that the only thing that matters is whether or not you like the way it sounds and looks! Obviously, that’s probably not enough for most people when making a purchase this large, but you could say it’s a good place to start. These are some of the other things you should take a look at. Also check out our synthesizer reviews for more input, and our synthesizers for beginners if you’re at that stage.

Style

Style and aesthetics, as its already been mentioned, is quite important for most people when having to decide which is the best synthesizer keyboards for them to choose. You wouldn’t want to hate the way your instrument looks. There are clearly a lot of styles when it comes to synthesizer keyboards, and you can tell just by looking at the list above. Some people might prefer the look of the Roland DS88 synthesizer while others might be more inclined to buy the teenage engineering synthesizer pack. As always, it really just comes down to personal preference.

Sound

Even though how it looks is pretty important, the most important thing to take into account when having to select an electronic synthesizer keyboard is whether or not you like how it sounds. If you don’t even like how it sounds, what good is it buying it? Unfortunately, there isn’t much we can do to document and describe what the sounds sound like, but you would be able to find such things quite easily on YouTube.

Features

The features a synth brings are very important to take a look at. Chances are that you won’t be satisfied with using the same sound(s) over and over again, and you’ll want variation and versatility. Thankfully for you though, almost all synthesizer keyboards on this list are highly capable machines and features (probably) won’t be your main concern. That’s why they’re the best synthesizers of the year. Most of them do it all, and that’s why they’re on the list of the top synths of the year.

Interface/UI

Kind of mixed in with the aesthetics and look of the instruments, the interface is something any buyer should take a hard look at. Some peoples’ main concern with their synthesizer keyboards are that they don’t particularly care for the user-interface. Some are too cluttered and clogged, while others feel too empty (rare). The interface will have a huge affect on how you actually interact with your instrument, and what kind of chemistry you will be able to build with it. Analog versus digital is a pretty big debate among keyboardists, though it seems like more and more individuals prefer analog variations over other options. Unfortunately though, many newer, high-end synths only come in the digital variation, forcing many people to go with something they wouldn’t initially prefer.

Price

Unfortunately, price is a factor when it comes to the things we want. It also doesn’t help that music synthesizer keyboards are typically some of the most expensive instruments you can get (at least when it comes to the good ones). Most are in the range of $600 – $2000, and it’ll vary from synth to synth. It depends on what you’re looking for and how much you are willing to spend. If you want a good synthesizer that will last you many years, it’s probably best to go with one of the synthesizer keyboards above with the highest rated reviews – this shows that they are probably one of the best synthesizers. Sometimes they’ll be expensive, but at least you can have the peace of mind to know it will last you a long time. You can also see the best cheap synthesizers here.

Verdict

To conclude, you’ll have a lot of options to choose from, which is both a good thing and a bad thing (mostly a positive). If you continue to do your research, it won’t take long before you find out which is the best fit for you. I hope you take the time to look around and choose the best synthesizer keyboards for you!