Korg X5D

Back in 1995, this synth brought Korg's acclaimed AI2 synthesis engine—straight from their high-end 01/W series—into a super portable, budget-friendly package that punched way above its weight for live gigs and studio sketches.

It's a lightweight 61-key velocity-sensitive keyboard at just 4.5 kg and slim dimensions of 900 x 254 x 83 mm, with pitch bend and mod wheels up top, plus jacks for expression and sustain pedals. The digital PCM/subtractive engine delivers 64-voice polyphony across 16 multitimbral parts, pulling from 8MB ROM with 340 multisamples, 164 drums, 128 GM patches, plus 100 editable programs and 100 combi modes for layering up to 8 sounds with splits or velocity switches. You get lowpass filters, 3 envelopes, 2 LFOs, and two independent multi-effects units each offering 47 types—like reverb, chorus, delay—for up to four effects at once; full MIDI DIN in/out/thru, headphone out, stereo audio outs, and even RS-232 for computer hookup round it out, though editing via the tiny two-line LCD involves some menu navigation.

Players still dig its thick pads, classic M1-inspired organs and strings like 'Universe,' and surprising depth for an entry-level board—it's held up in setups from electronic pioneers to modern retro hunters, even if pianos feel a touch thin by today's standards.