Sequential roundup
The Best Sequentials for the Money
No single "best" Sequential — just the right one for what you're trying to do. Here's each current model matched to the player it suits.
Rather than ranking Sequential models against each other on a spec sheet, this guide takes a different approach: matching each instrument to the player it actually suits best. Every model in the current range earns its place for a different reason, so read this as a shortlist by use case rather than a single winner.
The Compact Entry Point: Take 5
The Take 5 is the most accessible route into the range for anyone who wants genuine Sequential polyphony without the largest footprint or price tag. Its five voices are plenty for the vast majority of chord work, and its 64-step polyphonic sequencer, complete with ties and rests, means you're not sacrificing the sequencing depth the brand is known for just because the chassis is smaller. It's the pick for a first synth of this kind, or a second one that needs to fit on a crowded desk.
The Classic All-Rounder: Prophet-6
If you want the instrument most people picture when they hear the word "Sequential," it's the Prophet-6. Six voices of analog polyphony, dual oscillators, onboard effects and a proper step sequencer add up to a genuinely complete instrument that doesn't ask you to compromise in any one area. It suits players who want one synth that can cover pads, leads and sequenced parts without constantly reaching for outboard gear.
For Deeper Modulation and Layering: Prophet Rev2
Step up to the Prophet Rev2, one of the deepest Sequential instruments on offer, when you know you'll want more than a single, simple patch at a time. Available with 8 or 16 voices, it can split or stack two independent layers, and its sequencer can double as a gated modulation source running up to four separate 16-step lanes. This is the model for players who think in terms of evolving, multi-part sounds rather than a single static patch.
For a Different Vintage Flavour: OB-6
The OB-6 sits alongside the Prophet-6 in price and voice count, but its voice architecture, developed with Tom Oberheim, gives it a noticeably different tonal fingerprint. Choose this one if you've tried a Prophet-6 and want something with the same practical feature set — sequencer, arpeggiator, effects — but a distinct character underneath.
For Sequencing-Obsessed Sound Design: Pro 2 and Pro 3
Two more Sequential instruments, the Pro 2 and Pro 3, are built for a different kind of player: one more interested in evolving, sequenced sound design than in playing chords. Both trade full polyphony for monophonic or paraphonic voicing, and in exchange offer multitrack parameter sequencing that can automate filter cutoff, oscillator pitch and other parameters independently of the notes being played. The Pro 3 goes further still, adding a digital wavetable oscillator alongside its two analog ones. Pick the Pro 2 for the deepest sequencing focus, or the Pro 3 if you also want wavetable textures in the mix.
The Modern Flagship: Fourm
The newest addition to the range, the Fourm, is built around a responsive polyphonic-aftertouch keyboard and a polyphonic step sequencer worked directly into its arpeggiator section. It's aimed at players who perform as much as they programme, and who want expressive, per-note control alongside serious sequencing muscle.
Matching the Sequential Range to Your Needs
| Model | Best for |
|---|---|
| Take 5 | A compact, affordable way into genuine Sequential polyphony |
| Prophet-6 | A complete, classic all-rounder |
| Prophet Rev2 | Layering, stacking and deep modulation |
| OB-6 | Oberheim-flavoured tone in a familiar format |
| Pro 2 / Pro 3 | Sequencer-driven sound design over conventional chords |
| Fourm | Expressive performance with aftertouch and sequencing combined |
For a closer look at the specs behind each of these, our complete buyer's guide walks through voice count, filter type and connectivity in more detail, while the overview of the range covers the history and design families behind these choices.
A Word on Value
Sequential prices and availability shift with the market and with UK retailer stock, so it's worth checking current listings rather than relying on older figures. What's stayed consistent is the pattern: the Take 5 is the accessible option, the Prophet-6 and OB-6 sit in the middle as full-featured classics, and the Prophet Rev2, Pro 3 and Fourm represent the deeper, more specialised end of the range. Buying secondhand from a reputable dealer is a realistic way to reach the pricier models without stretching to a brand-new unit, and it's worth reading our list of common mistakes to avoid before you commit either way.
The Bottom Line
There isn't one "best" Sequential — there's a best one for what you're trying to do. Work out whether you want compact polyphony, an all-rounder, deep modulation, a different tonal flavour, sequencer-led sound design or expressive performance, and the right model becomes obvious fairly quickly. Newcomers unsure where to start may also want our beginner's guide alongside this one.
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