Oberheim OB-Xa
The OB-Xa was released around 1980 as a follow-up to the OB-X. The OB-Xa is a large polyphonic synth that started life as a 4-voice/32 program memory unit. It latter grew to include 8-voice polyphony and 120 memory locations. It is one of the more sought after units on the vintage synth market because of it's thick and powerful analog sound.
Average Advertised Price:
$400 to $1100. Some units are beat all to hell, some are in perfect condition. Many old Oberheims need some work to keep them running smoothly.
Jetboy's Humble Opinion Of Worth:
A well maintained unit should be worth $850.
Jetboy's Review: A great vintage synth, if not without some limitations. I don't feel it's as flexible sound-wise as other synths of it's vintage, but if you need some bite in your music, the OB-Xa has some very big teeth.
Fairly solid construction-wise, but doesn't have a very comfortable playing keyboard. I never have gotten a feel for those padle controllers either.
If you know what you're looking for and what to expect out of the OB-Xa, you won't be anything short of thrilled with this truely classic instrument.
AdamT at Area 51(?) restrains himself to only the following lines (come on AdamT, you know you wanna say more...): Probably the best alrounder of the OB-Series, with better reliability than the OBX and a meatier sound than the OB8, I sold mine after getting an 8-voice OBX which is decidedly more refined but even more limited in the sound variability front. In the UK OB-Series machines are cheap as everyone seems to aspire to own the complex Matrix-12 which IMO ain`t in the same class as far as sheer grunt is concerned.
Steve D, another guy with a letter for a last name, gives the following praise: I am the proud owner of an OB-Xa, and agree with Jetboy and Adam for the most part. This KILLS the OB8 as far as sheer balls, and phatness. It is a bit limited as far as programmability - unlike the Prophet 5, or Jupiter 8. I hate the fact that it has such a low output, as well. Oberheims were notorious for low output (around -20), whereas the Sequencial and Moog stuff really ROCKED at line level and then some ! For pads - nothing, and I mean NOTHING on God's earth can touch this machine. Especially when you run it through a nice analog chorus such as the Dimension D, or other cool effects like an Eventide, or MXR flanger - WOW, what a sound! Big open filter sawtooth (Van Halen) sounds are also untouchable, and have an incredible, rich, powerful edge unmatched by any other synth out there.
