# Best Synthesizers (2026) — ranked by value, every figure sourced and dated

10 synthesizers on the record, median price $2500. Each price links to the page it came from and the day we captured it — no guesses, no affiliate spin. Current as of 2026-07-11.

Lowest-priced: Arturia MiniFreak — $649.

Full comparison: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/synthesizers/

| # | Product | Brand | Price (US) | Deskmark | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [Arturia MiniFreak](https://frontdeskreview.com/product/synthesizers/arturia-minifreak/) | Arturia | $649 | Platinum Deskmark 85/100 | arturia.com |
| 2 | [Korg Minilogue XD](https://frontdeskreview.com/product/synthesizers/korg-minilogue-xd/) | Korg | $799.99 | Gold Deskmark 84/100 | korg.com |
| 3 | [Elektron Digitone II](https://frontdeskreview.com/product/synthesizers/elektron-digitone-ii/) | Elektron | $999 | Silver Deskmark 82/100 | elektron.se |
| 4 | [ASM Hydrasynth Keyboard](https://frontdeskreview.com/product/synthesizers/asm-hydrasynth-keyboard/) | ASM (Ashun Sound Machines) | $1399 | Bronze Deskmark 12/100 | ashunsoundmachines.com |
| 5 | [Roland Juno-X](https://frontdeskreview.com/product/synthesizers/roland-juno-x/) | Roland | $2099.99 | Bronze Deskmark 10/100 | roland.com |
| 6 | [Novation Summit](https://frontdeskreview.com/product/synthesizers/novation-summit/) | Novation | $2899.99 | On record | us.novationmusic.com |
| 7 | [Nord Wave 2](https://frontdeskreview.com/product/synthesizers/nord-wave-2/) | Nord (Clavia) | $2999 | Silver Deskmark 16/100 | nordkeyboards.com |
| 8 | [UDO Super 6](https://frontdeskreview.com/product/synthesizers/udo-super-6/) | UDO Audio | $2999 | Bronze Deskmark 14/100 | udo-audio.com |
| 9 | [Moog Muse](https://frontdeskreview.com/product/synthesizers/moog-muse/) | Moog | $3499 | On record | moogmusic.com |
| 10 | [Sequential Prophet-6](https://frontdeskreview.com/product/synthesizers/sequential-prophet-6/) | Sequential | $3599.99 | Bronze Deskmark 12/100 | sequential.com |

Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, the best-value synthesizers ranked by sourced, dated price — https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/synthesizers/

Method: Covers standalone hardware synthesizers (keyboard, desktop, and rack/module formats) sold new at a published US MSRP. Excludes software/plugin instruments, MIDI controllers with no internal sound engine, drum machines and grooveboxes with no playable synth voice, and Eurorack modules. Price is typical US MSRP in USD. synthesisType is the primary sound-generation method as stated by the maker (enum: analog, virtual-analog, subtractive-digital, fm, wavetable, phase-distortion, sample-based, hybrid). polyphonyVoices is the maximum simultaneous voices (integer; 1 = monophonic, paraphonic engines counted by independent voices). oscillatorsPerVoice is the number of primary tone oscillators or FM operators per voice (integer). keyCount is the number of physical keys on the keybed (integer; 0 = desktop or rack module with no keyboard). keybedType is the key mechanism (enum: mini, synth-action, semi-weighted, weighted-hammer, none). multitimbralParts is the count of independently addressable sound parts playable at once (integer; 1 = single-timbral). patchMemory is the number of user/preset patch storage slots (integer; 0 = no onboard memory). sequencerSteps is the maximum step count of the built-in step sequencer (integer; 0 = no onboard sequencer). arpeggiator is true if a built-in arpeggiator is present (boolean). onboardEffects is true if a built-in effects/FX processor is present (boolean). cvGateIo is true if analog CV/Gate connectivity (in or out) is provided (boolean). weightKg is unit weight in kilograms.

License: CC BY 4.0. Every row is dated and links to its source. Price history: https://frontdeskreview.com/data/price-history.jsonl