This synth is in great shape overall, has the newest paint job (brighter orange versus the dull, brownish color of earlier models) but like pretty much all of them, the knobs are starting to crumble. Only one has broken, but the caps are missing on another 3. This is version 2.33, which means that it can be upgraded with the 30 total voice expansion. There's a bit of rack rash and a single scratch on the back panel, which can be seen in the pictures. It's functionally perfect, and I've taken care of it for the last 15+ years.

The Microwave XT is a great big orange polyphonic rackmount synthesizer. While combining the power of the Wave and the compact design of Waldorf's Microwave II, the XT adds a bit of knob-laden heaven. At first glance the top section completely resembles the 2-space rackmount version of the Microwave II. And then there are three more rack-spaces full of knobs and lots of knobs means lots of control.

The Synthesizer engine is relatively the same as the Microwave II and Wave synths that came before it. Digital wavetable synthesis and FM synthesis in which there are 64 waves that are mixed and combined into new sounds. The Microwave XT can easily emulate the sounds of the PPG wavetable synths as well as create squelchy acid-303 lines or boomy Moog bass. Also onboard is a nice arpeggiator, digital effects and more. The Microwave XT is definitely a powerful rackmount synth that can generate some highly unique and quality sounds. It is used by Astral Projection, The Crystal Method, Mirwais, and Cirrus.