The Best-Selling Synths and Keyboards of 2016

Next up in our series of year-end retrospectives, we're plugging into the world of keyboards and synthesizers. In this post, we'll break down the year's best-selling products on Reverb from a diverse category that includes keyboards, synthesizers, modules, and controllers. These rankings reflect both new and used items taken directly from our sales data for 2016.

Overall, 2016 has been a strong year for synthesizers with the ongoing expansion of the analog and modular movement paying high dividends to many retailers.

Sales for blockbusters like the Korg Minilogue have ridden a wave of beginners looking to enter into the synth world, while a burgeoning class of "toy synths" – like the Teenage Engineering Pocket Operators and Korg Volcas – have given everyone the opportunity to own a basic and engaging noisemaker. At the same time, tried-and-true favorites like the Korg MicroKORG and the Nord Stage series continue to sell well across the board.

Like the pedal post we published last week, we're going to examine things along three lines as displayed in the three columns below.

The first column shows the best selling new items that were released in 2016.

The second column lists the overall top sellers, regardless of when they were introduced.

The third column shows the synths and keyboards that generated the most gross sales by dollar amount. This list favors items with higher price tags and represents where the most money changed hands this year.

Like the pedal post we published last week, we're going to examine things along three lines as displayed in the three sections below.

The first section shows the best selling new items that were released in 2016.

The second section lists the overall top sellers, regardless of when they were introduced.

The third section shows the synths and keyboards that generated the most gross sales by dollar amount. This list favors items with higher price tags and represents where the most money changed hands this year.

New for 2016

Overall Best Sellers

Highest Grossing by $

1

Korg Minilogue 4-Voice Polyphonic Analog Synthesizer

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Korg MicroKORG 37-Key Mini Synth and Vocoder

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Nord Stage 2 EX HA 88

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2

Korg Volca FM Digital FM Synthesizer/Sequencer

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Korg Minilogue 4-Voice Polyphonic Analog Synthesizer

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Teenage Engineering OP-1

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3

Critter & Guitari Organelle

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Arturia Microbrute

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Moog Sub 37 Tribute Edition

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4

Arturia Keystep

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Teenage Engineering OP-1

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Korg Minilogue 4-Voice Polyphonic Analog Synthesizer

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5

Dave Smith Instruments OB-6

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Korg Volca Sample Digital Sample Sequencer

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Nord Electro 5 D SW 61

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6

Make Noise 0-Coast Semi-Modular Desktop Synthesizer

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Korg Volca Keys Analog Loop Synthesizer

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Moog Mother-32 Tabletop / Eurorack Semi-Modular Synthesizer

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7

Korg Volca Kick

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Moog Mother-32 Tabletop / Eurorack Semi-Modular Synthesizer

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Nord Electro 5 D SW 73

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8

Teenage Engineering PO-20 Arcade Pocket Operator

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Korg Volca FM Digital FM Synthesizer/Sequencer

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Dave Smith Instruments Prophet-6

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9

Teenage Engineering PO-28 Robot Pocket Operator

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Korg MS-20 Mini

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Nord Stage 2 EX HP 76

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10

Roland JUNO-DS61

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Korg Volca Bass

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Roland Juno-106

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New for 2016

Korg Minilogue 4-Voice Polyphonic Analog Synthesizer

Shop Now ››

Korg Volca FM Digital FM Synthesizer/Sequencer

Shop Now ››

Critter & Guitari Organelle

Shop Now ››

Arturia Keystep

Shop Now ››

Dave Smith Instruments OB-6

Shop Now ››

Make Noise 0-Coast Semi-Modular Desktop Synthesizer

Shop Now ››

Korg Volca Kick

Shop Now ››

Teenage Engineering PO-20 Arcade Pocket Operator

Shop Now ››

Teenage Engineering PO-28 Robot Pocket Operator

Shop Now ››

Roland JUNO-DS61

Shop Now ››

Overall Best Sellers

Korg MicroKORG 37-Key Mini Synth and Vocoder

Shop Now ››

Korg Minilogue 4-Voice Polyphonic Analog Synthesizer

Shop Now ››

Arturia Microbrute

Shop Now ››

Teenage Engineering OP-1

Shop Now ››

Korg Volca Sample Digital Sample Sequencer

Shop Now ››

Korg Volca Keys Analog Loop Synthesizer

Shop Now ››

Moog Mother-32 Tabletop / Eurorack Semi-Modular Synthesizer

Shop Now ››

Korg Volca FM Digital FM Synthesizer/Sequencer

Shop Now ››

Korg MS-20 Mini

Shop Now ››

Korg Volca Bass

Shop Now ››

Highest Grossing by $

Nord Stage 2 EX HA 88

Shop Now ››

Teenage Engineering OP-1

Shop Now ››

Moog Sub 37 Tribute Edition

Shop Now ››

Korg Minilogue 4-Voice Polyphonic Analog Synthesizer

Shop Now ››

Nord Electro 5 D SW 61

Shop Now ››

Moog Mother-32 Tabletop / Eurorack Semi-Modular Synthesizer

Shop Now ››

Nord Electro 5 D SW 73

Shop Now ››

Dave Smith Instruments Prophet-6

Shop Now ››

Nord Stage 2 EX HP 76

Shop Now ››

Roland Juno-106

Shop Now ››

Other Takeaways and Observation

  • Korg absolutely dominated synth sales on Reverb this year, racking up seven of the ten top overall seller slots. As I've written about before, Korg truly understands the market for entry-level synth gear better than any other brand.

  • Despite the surging popularity of the Minilogue, the earlier digital MicroKORG just eked out the win for overall best seller. This may be due to the enormous used market for MicroKORG sales that the Minilogue has yet to be entered into.

  • The Nord Electro and Stage keyboards earned the most money for retailers on Reverb this year. It's not a surprise given the unmatched embrace for these keyboards within touring and professional circles.

  • Roland is somewhat absent from the list this year, though sales for used Junos like the Juno-106 remain strong.

  • The Make Noise 0-Coast is the only product from a modular-dedicated company to make the list. This integrated desktop synth is a testament to Make Noise's ability to design an instrument that appeals to more mainstream users looking to tip-toe into the modular and Eurorack world.

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