Top 11 Most Expensive Synthesisers in the World (GX-1, CS-80, Moog & Jupiter-8)

A fast countdown of the 11 most valuable synthesizers of all time — famous owners, iconic tracks, and the wild prices behind the GX-1, CS-80, Moog modular systems, Jupiter-8 and more.

Welcome to the top 11 most valuable synths of all time. From the Yamaha CS-80 to the legendary Yamaha GX-1, this episode counts down the rarest, most iconic synthesizers ever made — the ones with the biggest reputations and the most stratospheric values.

You’ll hear the famous owners, classic songs they’re associated with, and what makes each machine special — including the EMS Synthi AKS, Roland Jupiter-8, Moog Model 15, Analogue Solutions Colossus, Polyfusion System 2000, Moog System 55, Yamaha DX1, EMS Synthi 100, and the ultra-rare Emerson Moog Modular System.

Chapters:

·       Intro

·       EMS Synthi AKS

·       Roland Jupiter-8

·       Moog Model 15

·       Analogue Solutions Colossus

·       Yamaha CS-80

·       Polyfusion System 2000

·       Moog System 55

·       Yamaha DX1

·       EMS Synthi 100

·       Emerson Moog Modular System

·       Yamaha GX-1

·       Summary / Outro

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🎧 More Synth Icons episodes:

·       Hohner Clavinet D6 – Famous Riffs You Instantly Know

·       Roland Jupiter-4 – Famous Riffs You Know (But Didn’t Realise Were Jupiter-4)

·       Korg M1 – Famous Riffs You Know (But Didn’t Realise Were M1)

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Transcript

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Welcome to the top 11 most valuable synths of all time. From the CS80 to the GX1, we're going to explore the all-time most valuable synthesizers. Let's dive into this episode, and at number 11 we've got the EMS Cynthia AKS. Famous owners, Pink Floyd, David Barray, Brian Eno. Famous songs David Barry, Subterranea, Jean-Michel Jarre, Oxygen, Roxy Music, Editions of You. The EMS Cynthia Cost Menu £450. Equivalent value today £5,200. Current value £21,000. 800 units were made and it was built in 1971. EMS introduced the Cynthia as a portable version of the VCS3, housed in a compact attache case. The Cynthia AKS included a sequencer and a small integrated keyboard in the lid. The VCS3 itself was created in 1969 with electronics designed by David Cockerel and its distinctive appearance crafted by Tristian Carey. Features three oscillators, stereo capabilities, a unique patch board that uses pins instead of leads, hardwired, making it incredibly versatile. However, it was considered unsatisfactory as a melodic synthesizer due to challenges with tuning. At number 10, we got the Roland Jupiter 8. Famous owners include Durand Duran, DePesh Mode, Prince. Famous songs Hungry Light Wolf, Duran Duran, Enjoy the Silence, DePesh Mode, and 1999 by Prince. The Roland Jupiter 8 Cost Swenu, £4,000. Equivalent value today, £15,000. Current value, £27,000. £3,300 were made. The Jupiter 8 was released in 1981. It's an iconic analogue polysynth known for its lush sound and advanced features. It offers 8 voices of polyphony, each with two oscillators and includes a versatile arpeggiator, rich modulation options, 64 patch memory. Its signature sound is enhanced by a wide range of filters and envelopes, making it idle for pads, leads, and bass. Revered for its warm tone, it's considered Roland's greatest synthesizer. At number 9, we have the MOOC model 15. Famous odors include Rick Waiteman, Wendy Carlos, Giorgio Moroda. Famous song Switched on Bart by Carlos, I Feel Love by Moroda. Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Rick Waiteman. The Mogue Model 15, cost venue £1,500. Equivalue today £16,000. Current value £32,000. Total made £150 between 1973 and 1981. The Mogue Model 15 is a legendary modular synthesizer. Its key modules include low and high pass filter with switchable cutoff frequency, voltage controlled oscillators, 24 dB octave filter, envelope generators, and a 7 band fixed frequency equalizer. Known for its precision and iconic sound, the MOGE 50 remains a benchmark in analog synthesis. Notable use, film scoring and experimental soundtracks. The Analog Solutions Colossus cost when you 26,500, equivalent to 33,200 today, current value 31,000, 25 made since 2019. The Analog Solutions Colossus is a massive handcrafted analog modular synthesizer inspired by Vinci's systems like the EMS 100. With no MIDI or digital components, it offers a purely analog experience featuring a vast array of oscillators, filter sequences, pinned matrix patching. Its unique design includes dual oscilloscope screens, touch panels, and a sprawling interface, making it a very visual statement. Limited to a small run, the Colossus is testament to analog craftsmanship and is sought after by enthusiasts for unparalleled sound and creative possibilities. The Colossus was first introduced in 2019 and continues to be produced today in a limited order basis. At number 7 we have the Yamaha CS80. Famous owners include Van Gallis Stevie Wonder ELO. Famous songs include Blade Runner soundtrack by Van Gallis, Africa by Toto, and Babusha by Kate Bush. The Yamaha CS80 costs when new £5,000. Equivalent value today £32.50. Current value £39,000. There were £750 built from 1976. The CS80 released in 1976 is a legendary analogue polyphonic synthesizer renowned for its rich, expressive sound and advanced features. It offers 8 notes polyphony, 2 oscillators per note, extensive modulation options, including a distinctive aftertouch sensitive keyboard. The CS80 is known for its lush pads, soaring leads and wide range of tonal possibilities. Its complex interface includes sliders, buttons, and real-time performance controls, making it a favourite among musicians for versatility and organic sound. Despite its size and weight, the CS80 remains a reverred instrument in the world of analog synthesis. At number 6 we have the Polyfusion System 2000. Famous owners include Brian Eno, Apex Twin, Claus Schultz. Famous songs include Ambient One, Music for Airports by Brian Eno, Selected Ambient Works by Apex Twin, Moon Dawn by Schultz. The Polyfusion System 2000 Cost When U 15,600, Equivalent Value Today 166,000, Current Value 47,000, and the year of manufacture was 1973. The exact production numbers for the Polyfusion 2000 is not widely documented, but it's considered a rare instrument due to its limited production in the 1970s. Known for its high quality build and versatility, it featured a range of components including oscillators, filters, envelope generators, and sequencers. The system was designed for professional musicians and studios, offering deep sound design capabilities with a true analogue signal path. Its modular nature allowed users to customize their setup, making it a flexible tool for creating complex evolving sounds. Due to its limited production, the polyfusion system remains a sought-after vintage instrument. Now for the top five. The Mogue System 55. Famous owners include Keith Emerson, Jean-Michel Jarre, The Chemical Brothers, famous songs Lucky Man by ELP, Chronologue by Michel Jarre, Galvanized by the Chemical Brothers. The Mogue System 55 cost venue £23,000, equivalent price today would be £284,000. The current value is £55,000 and there was £100 made from 1971. The Mogue System 55 was one of the most prestigious modular synthesizers of the 70s. It was a high-end system consisting of multiple modules, offering a comprehensive analogue synthesizer setup. Due to its complex and expensive nature, the system 55 was used in professional studios and top-tier musicians, making it rare and highly sought after. The Yamaha DX1. Famous owners include Dire Straits, Stevie Wonder and Chick Career. Famous songs include I Just Call to Say I Love You by Stevie Wonder, Things Can Only Get Better by Howard Jones, The Controversy by Chick Career. The Yamaha DX1 cost when new was 10,800. The equivalent value today would be £36,000. The current value is £65,000. There was £140 made between 1983 and 1986. The DX1 features two sets of the same synthesizer chipset from the DX7, allowing either double the polyphony, split two voices, dual layered voices. In addition, it contains twice the amount of memory of the DX7. It has independent voice bank for each two synth channels. Each of the 64 performance combinations can be assigned to a single voice, a combination of two voice numbers, or one for channel A and one for channel B. The DX1 was produced between 83 and 86. It was the flagship digital synthesizer for Yamaha's FN synthesis technology, offering 8-voice polyphony and sophisticated interface. Its limited production and high price point made it a rare and highly coveted instrument. Number 3, the EMS Cynthia 100. Famous owners include the BBC Radio Workshop The Who, David Bowie. Famous songs include Pink Floyd on the Run, Brian Eno the Bell Dog, David Bowie, a reality tour. The EMS Cynthia 100. The cost when you was 6,500. The equivalent value today is 80,000. The current value is 80,000, and there are about 30 made. The year of manufacture was around 1971. The EMS Cynthia 100 introduced in 1971 was a large analog digital hybrid synthesizer originally custom made for Radio Belgrade. It featured 12 oscillators, 8 filters, a 256-step digital sequencer with patch matrix using pins for module connections. The Synthia 100 was known for its stability, sophisticated modulation options, including a unique computer interface and vocoder module. With its sound used by notable composers like Malcolm Clark, it remains a highly sought-after vintage instrument using iconic recordings and featured in several prominent electronic music studios. The synthesizer played a crucial role in early electronic music. Emerson Mogue Modular System. Famous owners include Keith Emerson, Rick Waiteman, Wendy Carlos, Famous Songs, Tarkas by ELP, Clockwork Orange, the soundtrack by Carlos, Six Wives of Henry VIII by Rick Waiteman. The Emerson Moog Modular System. The cost when new was £117,000. The equivalent value today is £1.7 million. They're currently worth £235,000 and they had a total of £5 made between 1969 and 1970. Only 5 units of the Emerson Mogue Modular System were built. The custom built system was created for keyboardist Keith Emerson on the Progressive Rock Band ELP. It was a unique and expensive modular synthesizer setup tailored to Emerson's specific performance needs. The system is famous for its distinctive sound and its prominent use in live performances, particularly during the band's iconic shows. And at number one, the Yamaha GX1. Famous owners include Stevie Wonder, Keith Emerson, and John Paul Jones. Famous songs include Stevie Wonder, Songs in the Kia Life, Emerson Lake and Palmer Works Volume 1, John Paul Jones No Quarter. The Yamaha GX1. The cost when you was £47,000. The equivalent value today is £500,000. The current value is £300,000 today. There were less than £100 made between 1973 and 1977. The GX1 was Yamaha's first major polyphonic analogue synthesizer, the precursor to the CS80. It featured a triple-tiered keyboard setup with 61 velocity sensitive keyboards, a 37-note smaller keyboard, and a 25-note pedal board consisting of 184 keys. With 8 voices of polyphony plus an additional monophonic voice, it offered extensive sound shaping options, including organ-style drawbars, a ribbon controller, and two analogue oscillators per voice. The GX1's hefty price tag and weight of 300kg made it a rare instrument. The GX's sound was enriched by two powered speakers weighing 141 kilos each, which were essential for its full sonic potential. Despite its size and cost, it played a pivotal role in shaping the future of synthesizers and was a symbol of analogue innovation. So there you have it, the top 11 most valuable synthesizers of all time. I hope you've enjoyed this episode. These prices were stratospheric. Please check out my studio tour that's been released 65 synthesizers plus my pianos and guitars. Great to speak to you, and I'll see you on the next one.