CHOMPI portable sampler
Shares rank 4 of 6 pocket synthesizers by recommenders
Fun, unusual sampler with a distinct workflow, now open-source. Critics say it was overpriced and is discontinued, with thin second-hand supply.
Fun, unusual sampler with a distinct workflow, now open-source. Critics say it was overpriced and is discontinued, with thin second-hand supply.
9 people gave an opinion
- recommend it
- 5
- criticize it
- 4
- approval share
- 56%
Recommended in 2 of 13 months
- November 2025: not recommended
- December 2025: not recommended
- January 2026: not recommended
- February 2026: not recommended
- March 2026: not recommended
- April 2026: not recommended
- May 2026: not recommended
- June 2026: not recommended
- July 2026: not recommended
- August 2026: not recommended
- September 2026: recommended
- October 2026: recommended
- November 2026: not recommended (month in progress)
Why it doesn’t carry the badge
- 5 people recommend itNeeds 10 or more, not met.
- 1.2 recommenders for every criticNeeds 2 to 1 or better, not met.
- Recommended in 2 of 13 monthsNeeds 4 or more, not met.
The same three rules apply to every product, and the badge can’t be bought. How the badge works
What people say about it
The reasons people give, with the number of comments that give each one. Open a reason to read what they said.
Why people recommend it
Each mark is one comment
Fun, unique workflow
“it does look fun and has a unique workflow”
Comment from 1 Oct 2026 in “CHOMPI portable sampler instrument is now open-source (hardware and software)” “The CHOMPI is a very fun project”
Comment from 1 Oct 2026 in “CHOMPI portable sampler instrument is now open-source (hardware and software)”
What people warn about
Each mark is one comment
Priced too high
“I could MAYBE go as high as 300-350, and that's really pushing it.”
Comment from 3 Oct 2026 in “CHOMPI portable sampler instrument is now open-source (hardware and software)” “It was priced very high, even for a boutique musical instrument.”
Comment from 1 Oct 2026 in “CHOMPI portable sampler instrument is now open-source (hardware and software)” “But I literally laughed out loud, HARD, at the price.”
Comment from 1 Oct 2026 in “CHOMPI portable sampler instrument is now open-source (hardware and software)” - Comment from 1 Oct 2026 in “CHOMPI portable sampler instrument is now open-source (hardware and software)”
- Comment from 4 Oct 2026 in “CHOMPI portable sampler instrument is now open-source (hardware and software)”
Discontinued, thin second-hand supply
“Wildly, severely not, honestly. They're going about retail second-hand on Reverb, with thin supply.”
Comment from 1 Oct 2026 in “CHOMPI portable sampler instrument is now open-source (hardware and software)” “Too bad they're discontinued but I'm glad they open sourced it.”
Comment from 1 Oct 2026 in “CHOMPI portable sampler instrument is now open-source (hardware and software)”
Other pocket synthesizers people recommend
The four most recommended other pocket synthesizers, with the same counts for each, so you can compare like for like. The tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs.
| Product | Recommend | Criticize | Approval | Months | Owned | Badge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M-VAVE FM-1 | 14 | 2 | 88% | 1 | 1 mo3 owners | — |
| Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator | 11 | 2 | 85% | 5 | — | Approved |
| Teenage Engineering OP-1 | 8 | 3 | 73% | 5 | — | — |
| CHOMPI portable samplerThis page | 5 | 4 | 56% | 2 | — | — |
| Dato Duo | 5 | 0 | 100% | 2 | — | — |
What people said
All 12 comments that mention it, newest first. Each links to the original comment.
“that price point is still waaaay too high”
“I could MAYBE go as high as 300-350, and that's really pushing it.”
“I am saying that that is not a fair comparison, however.”
“it does look fun and has a unique workflow”
“But I literally laughed out loud, HARD, at the price.”
“The CHOMPI is a very fun project”
“Chompi is awfully cute though.”
“It was priced very high, even for a boutique musical instrument.”
“never thought it was worth hour much they charged”
“Wildly, severely not, honestly. They're going about retail second-hand on Reverb, with thin supply.”
“Too bad they're discontinued but I'm glad they open sourced it.”
“I liked this instrument but could never get one.”
Counts come from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026. How we count. Report a mistake.