What specifically is special about the DX100?

[chordmemories]

I own one and love it, but as the secondhand value creeps ever upwards, I am curious as to why people opt for it as opposed to some of the other entry level FM synths from this period. To be honest, I am starting to become tempted to sell because if I can get $400 for it (has original bag, power supply, both manuals, adapter cable and tapes), then I can use that money towards something else cool and pick up one of the more unpopular FM synths from the same era later. This assumes, of course, that those other pieces (DX21/27, TQ-5, etc.) can replicate the "Solid Bass" patch.

Love to hear your thoughts.

[OriginalJambo]

Apparently a DX100 and a talkbox are the perfect combination. No idea why, but it certainly seems to be at least partially responsible for the price increase.

[nathanscribe]

I paid £25 for my Yamaha CS-01in the mid 90s and sold it for £150 last year, which is more than I paid for a CS-5. Mad.

That bass patch can be made on any FM synth. On the TX81Z it's called "LatelyBass" but it's the same sound.

[Clavier]

Cause it's small, cute, has strap pegs and was used by x.

[Alex E]

Because it's kewl coz it has minikeys and it makes for a great talkbox sound you can't get from any other synth out there. Why spend $50 on a TX81z when you can pay $350 extra for minikeys and portability?

I managed to trade a little CS01 I found at my school for a Korg MS2000. A Korg MS2000. The hype for mini synths isn't all that bad I guess.

[Christopher Winkels]

My somewhat snarky response is to say "not much". I had one for a year or so, mostly because it was thrown in as a "freebie" by someone eager to sweeten a trade. That was 18 years ago, so it's a fair approximation of it's value then (and, IMHO, now). I don't recall what I did to get rid of it, but I didn't mourn its departure.

Other than portability and a clever arrangement of the mod and pitch wheels it's nothing special to listen to, and in fact is blown out of the water by any number of other Yamaha FM synths; to say nothing of any number of its other non-FM contemporaries.

It was the only synth to be advertised in Marvel comic books at the time too, if that's at all relevant to anyone. It was actually a clever little advert that alluded to Yamaha's status as a premiere manufacturer of motorcycles.

[chordmemories]

That bass patch can be made on any FM synth. On the TX81Z it's called "LatelyBass" but it's the same sound.

Are you implying that there are other bass sounds in the DX100 that cannot be replicated by the TX81Z or any other YamFM that goes for less than the DX100? I am curious because I actually program my DX. That and a few organ patches are all that are left of the originals...

[polardark]

Perhaps one factor is that the synth actually still sounds good. I love my FB-01 module which has the same sound engine. An old FM synth doesn't sound as dated as say, an old rompler.

The "DX100 and talkbox" thing seems to have become strangely popular as well.

[cornutt]

Man, I'm out of touch.

[nathanscribe]

That bass patch can be made on any FM synth. On the TX81Z it's called "LatelyBass" but it's the same sound.

Are you implying that there are other bass sounds in the DX100 that cannot be replicated by the TX81Z or any other YamFM that goes for less than the DX100?

Not at all. The DX-100 is a standard 4-op FM synth using only sine waves. All other FM synths have at least those; some have more operators, others have extra waves, but you don't have to use them. The only other differences I can think of off-hand would be odd parameters for things like breath controller sensitivity or something. But I expect any of the simpler DX 4-op patches would be universal. Other folk will know more about the differences between specific models than I do.

Maybe this site will have some more info. Or this.

[Computer Controlled]

The fact that is Derrick May used it on a bunch of his old Techno records. So now everyone wants one, even though the TX81Z and the DX21 are superior synths. Had they not have the Detroit Techno classic tag on them, they'd probably sell for sub-$100.

[chordmemories]

thanks for the links, nathanscribe.

I bought mine because of the link with Detroit ("Nude Photo" is one of my favorites), but it was so long ago that a) less people knew about Detroit techno and b) ebay had yet to jack up prices.

back then I thought I was splashing out a bit because I spent $125 but was able to justify it because of all the extras it came with.

[Computer Controlled]

I paid $99 for my first DX100, and not too much more for the 2nd one. They're not worth any more than that, IMO.

[Henfield]

$400 is simply mad for a DX-100! I can buy a DX-7 for less than $300!! Portability would be the only thing that a DX-100 has over its siblings. Are people willing to spend that much extra for only 4 operators with portability?

[DX]

DX100 engine = same as DX27 or DX21 (this one bi timbral). they have 16 bit DAC, so a DX7 II with 4ops on can reach the very same sound.

But the DX7 Mki sounds slighty different.