Name some underrated/hated synths that you like

[ryryoftokyo]

Korg Poly 61. I think it's such a shame that board doesn't get the love it deserves.

[Z]

Korg 707 and, I would have to assume, DS8.
It ain't amazing, but for what it is, it's certainly capable enough that I enjoy it and programing is easy.

The Timbre & 2 EGs sliders on the DS-8 are great for manipulating the sound in real time. I don't think that feature is available on any other FM synth.

[Ned Bouhalassa]

I owned a Kawai SX-240 for a while, and I thought it rocked!

[Solderman]

Seems like nearly all of my current hardware synths have been underrated, but often praised.

• Alpha Juno/MKS-50: Not many sweet spots and no knobs, but good PWM and sub-oscillator sounds
• MFB Kraftzwerg: Mostly I see just unfamiliarity and some critiques of its small, cramped size and flimsy build quality. I would also add that the VCF is too noisy and the Midi/CV converter sucks. But otherwise it's basically a mini modular in a compact, cheap package. Who knew circuits built from SMD components could sound so much like vintage 70's?
• Polivoks: Horrible maintenance and tuning reliability, misleading knob positions and alot more fragile than it appears, but it screams character and is more flexible than you might think. I modded mine to add VCF/VCA modulation by VCO2 and filter envelope modulation of pitch, plus it already had the CV/Gate mod
• Yamaha CS-15: Judged as tame, boring or too "sweet", and some don't like the somewhat jumbled user interface and lack of common monosynth features found elsewhere. The parallel channel configuration offers some surprising tonal flexibility. Hiding 'neath that sweet sonic footprint is a wailing beast waiting to be released by overdriving the highpass filter, feeding the headphone out back in. Modding it to also allow combining the two channels into one serial channel adds even more tonal flexibility
• Roland SH-101: I believe the common hater critique is "plasticy, overrated and simplistic". I mostly agreed until I modded the h**l out of it. I don't even really use the oscillator anymore, but rather send the SEM output to its filter audio input, and SEM envelope becomes the 2nd envelope, like a poor man's System 100. The sequencer isn't that bad either, for basic stuff.
• Ensoniq ESQ-1: Temperamental, prone to failure, jack of all trades but master of none, too clean and digital to be roped in with the polyphonic analogue classics, are common complaints. I'd agree with all but the last one. Maybe the oscillators are digital, but there's a certain bold, bright and subtly distorted and aggressive character that I've not heard in any other vintage polysynth. Plus the editing is dead easy without the need for knobs and the sequencer has alot of potential.

[Kenneth]

+1 on the Poly61. Not a lot of hands on control, but dang does it sound cool!

Also, on the same note, the Korg DW8000. Seriously one of the coolest synths I have ever owned, and I regret selling mine.

[Bitexion]

The CS-15 is screaming for a hard sync button, and ring modulation. They even put a separate slider on each VCO that let the pitch glide or rise from a chosen point back to the held note at a chosen speed. What else could that be useful for than a hard sync sweep/ringmod? Weird.

[Bitexion]

The CS-15 is screaming for a hard sync button, and ring modulation. They even put a separate slider on each VCO that let the pitch glide or rise from a chosen point at a chosen speed. What else could that be useful for than a hard sync sweep/ringmod? Weird.

[mpa1104]

Two synths that I still regret letting go (traded in on a Rompler ... I'm still wondering if it was a fair trade tbh!).

1) the oft maligned Korg Poly-800ii. It was the first 2-Osc synth I owned and one with built in fx - and those delay/flanger effects really lifted this synth for me. The basses packed quite a punch, and it was possible to get some decent pads even with only four note polyphony.
2) Roland SH-3A - I often wish I still had this. Between it's mixable waveforms at different footages plus the mod routings, it did some truly great things. I reckon I'd probably pick one up again if I had the chance.

[Em Pe Ge]

Alpha Juno.. pretty decent poly, and you can pick them up for next to nothing. i know a lot of the roland DCOs have sort of mixed opinions, but i've had a lot of fun with them. thinking about picking up a JX8P as well

[Reginator]

+1 for the CZ-101 - my first programable synth. It cost me around $400 bucks back then. Damn, I loved that synth.

As for a Rompler I dig the CS1x. Some might use it for a wheel chock while changing the oil in their car but I think it's still kinda cool.

[piRoN]

The CS-15 is screaming for a hard sync button, and ring modulation. They even put a separate slider on each VCO that let the pitch glide or rise from a chosen point at a chosen speed. What else could that be useful for than a hard sync sweep/ringmod? Weird.

Mmm. I always found the CS15 a little frustrating in that way - it perpetually felt like it was one feature short of what you needed. Which is a shame because it's a great little synth, especially just to muck around on and find inspiration.

[Percivale]

Pardon me, is that an oxymoron? How can something be often lauded with praises and be deemed as under-rated?

Seems like nearly all of my current hardware synths have been underrated, but often praised.

[Solderman]

Thank you mercifully for your kind wisdom, mister 3 posts in and somehow promoted to the board of directors. Often praised by those few who have used them, underrated by everyone else.

There. Feel Better Boss?
May your 4th post be more useful to the thread topic.

[Ashe37]

Ensoniq VFX (incl. VFX-SD and SD-1)

[adhmzaiusz]

CS40M- ugly as h**l but giant sound