For most of the year, my vote would have easily been the Dreadbox Artemis, but Roland blew my mind with the TR-1000, so that gets my vote.
2025 Hardware of the Year Thread
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- KVRAF
- 12239 posts since 7 Sep, 2006 from Roseville, CA
Here it is, the 2025 version of the possibly somewhat coveted KVR Hardware Subforum Nerds’ Hardware of the Year thread! In previous years, I called this the Hardware Synth of the year, but why be so selective, right? It can be anything hardware/music gear-related, whether you own it or not, so long as it was released and available to buy in 2025.
For most of the year, my vote would have easily been the Dreadbox Artemis, but Roland blew my mind with the TR-1000, so that gets my vote.
For most of the year, my vote would have easily been the Dreadbox Artemis, but Roland blew my mind with the TR-1000, so that gets my vote.
Logic Pro | LUNA Pro | OB-X8 | Prophet 6 | OB-6 | Rev2 | TEO-5 | Pro 3 | SE-1X | Minitaur | Deepmind 12D | Slim Phatty | TR-1000 | Analog RYTM mk2 | Digitakt 2 | TD-3 MO | TD-3 | Maschine+
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thecontrolcentre thecontrolcentre https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=76240 - KVRAF
- 37262 posts since 27 Jul, 2005 from Scottish Borders
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- KVRAF
- 8083 posts since 9 Jan, 2003 from Saint Louis MO
For me it's Make Noise Multimod.
Close behind: Noise Engineering Mimetic Digitwolis.
Also pretty great: Pedal Partners x Maneco Labs Mesmeriser.
Close behind: Noise Engineering Mimetic Digitwolis.
Also pretty great: Pedal Partners x Maneco Labs Mesmeriser.
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- KVRAF
- 8731 posts since 24 May, 2002 from Tutukaka, New Zealand
PWM Mantis.
It was released in 2023 IIRC, but the latest firmware upgrade in 2025 made it into a proper 4-voice poly, so it might squeak in as a new synth? Haven't bought one yet but definitely have to at some point. For me it's the new OSCar of today, only more OSCary.
It was released in 2023 IIRC, but the latest firmware upgrade in 2025 made it into a proper 4-voice poly, so it might squeak in as a new synth? Haven't bought one yet but definitely have to at some point. For me it's the new OSCar of today, only more OSCary.
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Constructed Identity Constructed Identity https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=288890 - KVRian
- 1347 posts since 29 Sep, 2012 from Minnesota
The hardware of the year is the one with the biggest splash, the one that will have the most ripples. It's hardware that will be desired for years to come.
The biggest, most unexpected new release of 2025 is the Roland TR-1000. Drum machine people will be desiring it for years to come.
The biggest, most unexpected new release of 2025 is the Roland TR-1000. Drum machine people will be desiring it for years to come.
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- addled muppet weed
- 111324 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
the make noise nuss system is probably it for me, each module on its own could be "the one" but as a whole system/synth, learning it along with everyone else (it really is a new way of modularing) has also taught me some things about the wider modukar system, as we compare and contrast ways of doing similar things.
another awesome piece would be the stylophone filter module, again, the whole system with the oscillators too, is a complete little synth, and it sounds f**king huge!!
another awesome piece would be the stylophone filter module, again, the whole system with the oscillators too, is a complete little synth, and it sounds f**king huge!!
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- KVRAF
- 20910 posts since 22 Nov, 2000 from Southern California
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- KVRAF
- 13140 posts since 7 May, 2006 from Southern California
Probably Focusrite TNX, for practical reasons.
Too much fun stuff to pick one thing.
Too much fun stuff to pick one thing.