Audio · synthesizer
KORG phase8 Acoustic Synthesizer
Recommended as a fun, creative physical synth with microtonal options. Main caveat: critics find the sound unimpressive for the price.
Summarized from 34 comments.
Recommended as a fun, creative physical synth with microtonal options. Main caveat: critics find the sound unimpressive for the price.
- recommend
- 21
- criticize
- 7
- months recommended
- 2 of 13
Why people love it
Fun to play and look at · 3
the Phase 8 does sound really cool and, just as important, looks really fun to use as well.
Jan 2026 · commentThis phase8 would be a ton of fun as well.
Jan 2026 · commentit really looks like great fun
Jan 2026 · commentNeat sound and fair for its size · 3
I genuinely like how it sounds and how it opens up new ways to be creative with sound making.
Jan 2026 · commentAgreed the Phase8 is a neat synth
Jan 2026 · commentNot too bad, considering the space it sits in.
Jan 2026 · commentOpens new sound-making possibilities · 2
I genuinely like how it sounds and how it opens up new ways to be creative with sound making.
Jan 2026 · commentthis is really innovative
Jan 2026 · commentExcitement about its long-awaited release · 3
Glad to see this has finally been released after years of R&D
Jan 2026 · commentIt's honestly incredible they're bringing this to market!
Jan 2026 · commentThat's sick,and I want it
Jan 2026 · comment
What people warn about
Sound seems unimpressive or meh · 5
Sounds pretty meh listening to the synth itself in any demos I've seen so far.
Jan 2026 · commentThey must be more proud about the look of it than how it sounds because I can't find any sound demo on the page.
Jan 2026 · commentdoesn't sound that great when you close your eyes and just listen
Jan 2026 · commentLikely to sit unused · 2
the reality is, if I bought this device it would end up spending most of its time in the basement graveyard
Jan 2026 · commentif I bought this device it would end up spending most of its time in the basement graveyard
Jan 2026 · commentExpensive for what it offers · 2
for that money, I tend to buy stuff I can use and recall old patches with
Jan 2026 · commentgoes for €990, which is more or less the same as the phase8
Jan 2026 · commentFeels like a gimmick · 3
interesting concept but honestly not all that exciting to me
Jan 2026 · commentit just seems like a gimmick if I am being totally honest
Jan 2026 · commentI love Korg but personally I think this is stupid.
Jan 2026 · comment
What hackers pick instead
- Yamaha DX7People recommend it for its polyphony, touch sensitivity and presets, and for helping make FM synthesis affordable and central to electronic music. Critics say programming is hard and the keybed is poor.8recommend
- Roland TB-303People praise its accent and glide sequencer for wild dynamic acid lines. Critics say emulations miss its sound.8recommend
- Brume synthRecommended as a fun 24-voice multi-timbral desktop synth for the CM5, with a Lua scripting layer; commenters note the voice engines could be faster.7recommend
- ZynthianRecommended as an open-source synth and groovebox platform on Raspberry Pi, praised for innovation, future-proofing and value.6recommend
Every quote
The 31 most detailed of 34 comments. Each links to the original.
the reality is, if I bought this device it would end up spending most of its time in the basement graveyard
Mixed · Jan 2026 · in “KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer”
I genuinely like how it sounds and how it opens up new ways to be creative with sound making.
Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer”
the Phase 8 does sound really cool and, just as important, looks really fun to use as well.
Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer”
if I bought this device it would end up spending most of its time in the basement graveyard
Mixed · Jan 2026 · in “KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer”
Sounds pretty meh listening to the synth itself in any demos I've seen so far.
Mixed · Jan 2026 · in “KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer”
for that money, I tend to buy stuff I can use and recall old patches with
Mixed · Jan 2026 · in “KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer”
Glad to see this has finally been released after years of R&D
Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer”
goes for €990, which is more or less the same as the phase8
Mixed · Jan 2026 · in “KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer”
It's honestly incredible they're bringing this to market!
Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer”
Not too bad, considering the space it sits in.
Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer”
This phase8 would be a ton of fun as well.
Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer”
Agreed the Phase8 is a neat synth
Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer”
it really looks like great fun
Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer”
this is really innovative
Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer”
That's sick,and I want it
Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer”
They must be more proud about the look of it than how it sounds because I can't find any sound demo on the page.
Criticizes · Jan 2026 · in “KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer”
doesn't sound that great when you close your eyes and just listen
Criticizes · Jan 2026 · in “KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer”
interesting concept but honestly not all that exciting to me
Criticizes · Jan 2026 · in “KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer”
it just seems like a gimmick if I am being totally honest
Criticizes · Jan 2026 · in “KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer”
I love Korg but personally I think this is stupid.
Criticizes · Jan 2026 · in “KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer”
I did not find the Phase8 sound to be compelling
Criticizes · Jan 2026 · in “KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer”
I don't think it even sounds that interesting.
Criticizes · Jan 2026 · in “KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer”
A synthesizer, using physical hardware components, omfg its the coolest thing ever
Recommends · Oct 2026 · in “Reverse Engineering of the M-VAVE FM-1 Pocket Synthesizer Firmware”
Saw that it's pretty much a fixed-key device, which makes it much less appealing.
Mixed · Jan 2026 · in “KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer”
you can change the keys up so much you can do microtonal scales on it
Mixed · Jan 2026 · in “KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer”
Looks cool but kinda seems like a baby of Intellijel plonk
Mixed · Jan 2026 · in “KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer”
Red Means Recording made a nice video with it
Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer”
I still really want a Phase 8 though
Mixed · Jan 2026 · in “KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer”
without the heavy crushing effects
Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer”
It just another way to do something that a lot of these tone generators can do already
Criticizes · Jan 2026 · in “KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer”
Kinda impractical to do if you wanna play a set that spans different keys/tonalities.
Criticizes · Jan 2026 · in “KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer”
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