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Sequential Circuits Prophet 600 Synthesizer

$1,195.00 Price Tier: Standard

4.0 (18)

2 Critic Reviews

4 Reviews

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5 wishlisted

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Page last updated Jun 21, 2026

Pricing and availability

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Price

5.0 (11)

$1,195.00 21 available Used

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Average Price: $1,195

Standard/Professional

$500

$1501+

Price Tier

In the Synthesizers category, Sequential Circuits Prophet 600 Synthesizer is priced in the Standard/Professional range. This is quality gear at a fair price point, suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and pros alike.

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Standard

High-end

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Description

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Discover the unparalleled power of the Sequential Circuits Prophet 600 Synthesizer. A true master of versatility, this synthesizer is equipped with 2 VCOs, each offering a unique blend of waveforms. VCO A takes you on a sonic journey with its saw, pulse, and triangle waveforms. But VCO B takes it a step further, adding an extra layer of complexity with pulse width. Besides this, it comes with an LFO, filter, VCA, and a breathtaking arpeggiator, sequencer that adds depth and texture to your sound. What's more, it is MIDI equipped, ensuring seamless integration into your setup.

Key Features:

Equipped with 2 VCOs: VCO A includes saw, pulse, triangle waveforms; VCO B includes the same with pulse width addition
Featured LFO, filter, and VCA for a wide array of sound manipulation options
Built-in arpeggiator and sequencer for creating complex sound patterns
MIDI equipped for easy integration with other equipment

Product specs

Brand	Sequential
Model	Prophet 600 61-Key 6-Voice Polyphonic Synthesizer
Finish	Black with Wood Sides
Year	1982 - 1985
Made In	United States
Categories	Analog Synths, Keyboard Synths
Analog / Digital	Analog
Key Size	Full Size
Keyboard Action	Synth Action
MIDI I/O	MIDI Input, MIDI Output
Number of Keys	61 Keys
Polyphony	6 Voices

FAQs

Is the Sequential Circuits Prophet 600 Synthesizer polyphonic or monophonic?: The Sequential Circuits Prophet 600 is a polyphonic synthesizer, offering six voices of polyphony, which allows you to play up to six notes simultaneously.
Does the Prophet 600 have MIDI capabilities?: Yes, the Prophet 600 was one of the first synthesizers to feature MIDI, with both MIDI input and output, allowing it to be integrated with other MIDI-compatible equipment and software.
What are the standout features of the Prophet 600's sound engine?: The Prophet 600 features a classic analog sound engine with two digitally controlled oscillators (DCOs) per voice, a 4-pole resonant low-pass filter, and flexible modulation possibilities, making it versatile for a wide range of sounds.
How does the keyboard action of the Prophet 600 feel?: The Prophet 600 features a synth-action keyboard with 61 full-size keys, providing a smooth and responsive playing experience suitable for both expressive playing and fast synth runs.
What type of sounds is the Prophet 600 best known for?: The Prophet 600 is renowned for its warm, rich analog tones, capable of producing lush pads, punchy basses, and classic leads, making it a favorite for creating vintage and contemporary synth sounds.

Videos

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RetroSound

Sequential Circuits Prophet-600 Analog Synthesizer (1982)

RetroSound

Proper Underrated - Sequential Circuits Prophet 600 -

LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER

Prophet 600 // SOUNDS GREAT but why is it underrated and much maligned?

Starsky Carr

Sequential Circuits Prophet~600 | By Design

Alex Ball

PROPHET 600 | Presets, Sounds & Patches | Sequential Circuits【SYNTH DEMO】

synth4ever

Prophet 600 Synthesizer - GliGli Sound Demo - Vintage and Old School patches - Sequential Circuits

Tom Loncaric

SEQUENTIAL CIRCUITS PROPHET 600 Best Vintage Synth to Buy in 2024? Live Demo

Vulture Culture

CHROMA POLARIS vs PROPHET 600: Live Shoot-out of these Analog Synth Titans!

Vulture Culture

Reviews

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PROS

Unique heavy metal-like power and grittiness in sound
Produces full, rich strings and pads smoothly
First MIDI-capable analog polysynth, historically significant
GliGli mod significantly enhances sound quality and features
Extensive modulation section and control knobs
Unison mode allows for fat lead-synth or bass sounds
Comes with great-sounding patches stock from the factory
Midrange sound quality described as superlative
Can realistically mimic power-chord guitar sounds
More lush and integrates better in mixes than some newer models

CONS

Lacks some complex modulation options compared to Prophet 5
Some units may require significant repairs and upgrades

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Sequential Circuits Prophet 600 Synthesizer.

Mods and upgrades

0 0

The Gligli mod enhances filter smoothness and provides snappier envelopes, significantly altering the feel of the Prophet 600.
Source
0 0

The Gligli mod is challenging to obtain due to the discontinuation of Teensy++ SoCs; alternatives like Chinese clones won't boot with the firmware.
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The creator of the Gligli mod was reportedly hired by Behringer to incorporate similar features into their products.
Source

Comparisons

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The Behringer Pro-800 offers a similar Gligli upgrade at a potentially lower cost, especially if you already own a keyboard to drive it.
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0 0

The Prophet 600 shares oscillator sound similarities with some Prophet 5 revisions, both using the CEM 3340 chip.
Source
0 0

The Prophet 600 lacks the high-end brightness and features present in the Prophet 6, making the latter appealing for those seeking a brighter sound.
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0 0

The Prophet 5's Poly-mod section is praised for creating musical FM bells and chimes, a feature less effective on the Prophet 6.
Source

User experience

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Owners appreciate the Prophet 600's raw sound, describing it as a gnarly, character-rich synth that complements models like the Korg Mono/Poly.
Source

Use cases and applications

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It's highlighted for its unique, raw sound, making it a standout choice for those seeking a gritty synth experience.
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Build quality

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Owners mention the Prophet 600's keybed as subpar compared to newer models, impacting playability.
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Setup and maintenance

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Components in the Prophet 600 are described as solid and easily accessible, facilitating repairs and modifications.
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Features and functionality

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The Prophet 600 was the first synth released with MIDI, utilizing the Zilog Z80 processor, which can be easily overwhelmed, causing pot value skips during MIDI use.
Source

Software and compatibility

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A CPU/firmware upgrade project for the Prophet 600 was initiated to address processor limitations, though its current status is uncertain.
Source

Critic Reviews

Vintage music tech icons: Sequential Circuits Prophet-600 | MusicRadar

musicradar.com

The Sequential Circuits Prophet-600 Synthesizer is a vintage gem that holds its own with a unique sound and historic significance as the first synth with a built-in MIDI interface. While it lacks the responsiveness of its sibling, the Prophet-5, due to an underpowered CPU, its aggressive filter and warm analog tones make it attractive. The GliGli mod addresses many original shortcomings, boosting performance and adding features like unison detune and VCA overdrive, making it a compelling choice for enthusiasts seeking a true analog experience. Though not a perfect classic, it’s fun and effective for various soundscapes.

positive

Full Review

Sequential Circuits Prophet-600 (EMM Apr 83)

muzines.co.uk

The Prophet-600 from Sequential Circuits stands out as a budget-friendly yet powerful alternative to the Prophet-5, boasting six voice synthesizers with dual oscillators and MIDI integration—a first for commercial synths. Its programmability and sound quality are impressive, offering a wide range of sonic possibilities. However, it lacks some features like a noise source and complete control over oscillator functions, which might deter some users. The build quality is solid but could benefit from better materials for its wooden end pieces. Overall, the Prophet-600 is a forward-thinking polyphonic synth that remains relevant thanks to its MIDI capabilities, making it a worthy investment for musicians.

positive

Full Review

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4.0 out of 5

Based on 4 Reviews and 18 Ratings

5 star

4 star

3 star

2 star

1 star

chuck_cohen

612

almost 7 years ago

The Best Affordable Polysynth of the '80s, and Still Going Strong

When I wanted to get a Polysynth in the '80s, I put a lot of research into it (over 6 months). Without a lot of money to spend, the only options at the time were the Roland Juno-6 and the Korg PolySix, but then, ...Sequential Circuits released the Prophet 600. On paper and brochures, just the features alone on the Prophet 600 surpassed the other synths, but when I actually played one, I was blown away, because it had the fat oscillator sound of its predecessor, the Prophet 5, not the thinner sound of the Juno-6 and PolySix.

The Prophet 600 had a more extensive "modulation" section and even had more control knobs than the other synths. The knobs were laid-out almost identically to the Prophet 5. It was also the first polysynth to have MIDI In & Out jacks, and one of the best features was that it allowed you to throw all 6 oscillators together on top-of-one-another in "unison" mode to fatten up a lead-synth or bass sound/patch. The Prophet 600 also came with plenty of usable awesome great-sounding patches "stock" from the factory. Another great feature was being able to step-thru (go to the next #) patch using a foot pedal. I owned one for 8 years and (with lots of time and work) was able to create a whole lot of great patches and sounds, including (get this...) "power-chord guitar" patches that I ran through a Boss Heavy-Metal HM-2 distortion pedal to create realistic power-chord guitar.

If you would like to hear this synth being used (especially the power-chord guitar examples) check out some of my old songs for "Prophet 600 Project" on ReverbNation.com at:

https://www.reverbnation.com/prophet600project

...or just google "chuck cohen prophet 600"

If you can find a Prophet 600 today, they are actually upgradable to use a better (and more current) digital processor CPU chip, called the "Gligli" mod. This mod not only improves the resolution of the sound & filters, but adds new features and capabilities that the synth did not have prior.

Roles:

Keyboardist Music Producer DJ

Genres:

Rock Progressive rock Jazz fusion

jimmarchi1

41029

about 6 years ago

at last its mine

I'm over the moon for my prophet 600 right now. My unit has seen some serious road time and has been hacked into at least twice, but one of the hacks was for the GliGli mod which corrects the knob resolution to eliminate stepping, makes the envelopes a lot snappier and adds some prophet5 modulation features via the multi encoder and embrane buttons. Its a great upgrade and it made me open to buying a synth that has always gotten mixed reviews. What the prophet lacks (noise gen, what?) it makes up for in sound quality. The midrange is superlative on this board and the cranked resonance on the filter is the stuff of legend. Its a little more nasal than a prophet 5, but can cop the whole prophet thing better than a the new prophet 6. Its more lush and sits in the mix better. Cuts where it should, never where it shouldn't.

Roles:

Guitarist Bassist Keyboardist

Genres:

Electronic Orchestra Alternative rock

From Gear Setup

mookid_

128

about 6 years ago

good analogue poly from the 80s

mine's broken, thats the only way i was able to afford it. i got it working well enough for a while though, and it was very good. nothing special really, just a very normal polysynth, gets the job done. currently needs a new keypad and oscillator chip, as well as some cleaning on the potentiometers. I'll update my review when i've restored it.