Sequential Circuits' Prophet-5 is a bonafide classic: Released in 1978, it was the first fully programmable polysynth, and lit the synth world on fire.
Throughout the years, the Prophet-5 went through many revisions: Rev1, Rev2, and Rev3. (The company itself went through revisions too, with founder Dave Smith creating Dave Smith Instruments after the first iteration of the company ended in the late '80s).
Today, Dave Smith and the revived Sequential company released the Prophet-5 Rev4.
"People have been asking me to redo the Prophet-5 almost since we stopped building it in the early '80s," Smith says in the announcement video. "As it turned out, as I was finishing up the Pro 3, I'd go back to my old Prophet-5 and I'd listen to all the sounds it could make and go, 'How could something so simple sound so good?'"
The new version is faithful to the original, while taking it "the next level." According to Sequential, the new Prophet-5 "embodies all three revisions of the legendary synth." But new features include: real MIDI, USB connectivity, a keyboard with aftertouch and velocity sensitivity, and other features common to contemporary synths.
In addition to the new Prophet-5, there's also a new 10-voice Prophet-10 Reissue.
The Prophet-5 Rev4 is available for $3,499 USD, while the Prophet-10 Reissue is available for $4,299, which, while not really affordable by any stretch of the definition, are many thousands of dollars cheaper than current vintage prices. (Will vintage prices on Reverb drop? Follow along on our Price Guides for the Prophet-5 Rev3 and original Prophet-10.)