JX-8P

Back in 1985, when digital FM synths like the DX7 were dominating, this hybrid gem stood out by blending precise DCO stability with warm analog filters to nail both classic sweeps and metallic FM-like hits.

It packs 6-voice polyphony from dual DCOs per voice offering saw, square, pulse, and noise with PWM, sync, and FM, feeding into a resonant low-pass VCF and high-pass filter, shaped by dedicated ADSR envelopes for amp and filter plus an LFO for sine, square, or random modulations. The slim 61-key velocity- and aftertouch-sensitive keyboard spans 38 x 15 x 4 inches and weighs just 25 pounds, with a minimalist front panel of buttons, tone/bank selectors, a pitch bend/LFO lever, and a single slider for edits—pair it with the optional PG-800 programmer for hands-on knob tweaking. Rear connectivity shines with stereo outs, MIDI In/Out/Thru, a programmer port, headphones, and sustain pedal jack, plus chorus effects, portamento, and modes like poly, unison, or solo.

Over decades, players praise its lush, versatile tones in studio classics from new wave to ambient, though some note the button-heavy editing as a learning curve without the programmer.