Roland Fantom 8From real comments

Verdict distilled from 41 mentions across 14 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment50%
PROS 50%
CONS 50%

Rank based on 41 mentions across 14 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want a best-in-class workstation interface and workflow with minimal menu diving
  • You value a huge onboard sound library plus free model expansions from Roland Cloud
  • You need a powerful gigging synth/piano/organ with excellent keyboard action

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need deep, flexible sampling like the older Fantom X (chop, tempo-sync, time-stretch)
  • You plan to layer many tones and need reliable, consistent polyphony
  • You need portability - it's very large and heavy, and pricing in Europe is steep

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate sound
Great with extended-range guitars
Strong overall tone quality
Price concerns
2Premium
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog tone
Long-term reliability and board loyalty
Simple, intuitive controls
High price point
Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable
Distortion at high settings
3Premium
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamics
Long-term favorite / durability of appeal
Sweet, low-gain tone quality
High price versus clones
Deluxe loses some original character
Limited mid control
Best value
4Mid
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatility
Natural, amp-like tone
Powerful 3-band EQ
Demo videos undersell the pedal
Noticeable noise floor
Volume drop when engaged
5Premium
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb quality
High-quality warm pitch shifting
Strong aspirational appeal
High price
Cheaper alternatives may suffice
Effect can feel like it plays for you
6Premium
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like tone
Excellent low-to-mid gain drive
Underrated favorite among owners
High price point
Limited gain-staging flexibility
No built-in reverb
7Premium
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drum
Warmer, more alive analog character
Cultural and historical influence
Extremely high collector price
Analog noise and static requiring EQ
Reliability concerns of aging hardware
8Premium
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to playWarm, fat analog toneStrong DAW/VST editor integrationHigh price for what it offersLimited versatility outside bass rangeNeeds effects/partner gear to shine
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to play
Warm, fat analog tone
Strong DAW/VST editor integration
High price for what it offers
Limited versatility outside bass range
Needs effects/partner gear to shine
9
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style tone
Convincing demo influenced purchase
Excellent clean boost
Not suited for metal tones
10Mid
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent tone
Versatile across genres
Works well across many guitar types
Two-channel routing complexity
Dry signal bleed-through
Inconsistent demo impressions
You are here
31Premium
Roland Fantom 8
Excellent interface and workflowGreat keybed and build qualityMassive sound library with free expansionsGutted sampling capabilitySequencer limitationsHeavy and bulky for gigging
Roland Fantom 8
Excellent interface and workflow
Great keybed and build quality
Massive sound library with free expansions
Gutted sampling capability
Sequencer limitations
Heavy and bulky for gigging

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

The workflow and interface win over almost everyone who tries it. Multiple users describe getting 'lost in playing' rather than menus, calling the Fantom's GUI, sequencer and pad layout best-in-class among workstations. Comments compare it favorably to the Fantom-X and Kronos control surfaces, praising the touchscreen, knobs, and ease of accessing thousands of free Roland Cloud tones and model expansions without hunting through layers of menus.

Sampling and sequencing have been downgraded from earlier Fantom generations, frustrating veteran users. Several longtime owners lament that the Fantom X's live sample-chopping and tempo-sync abilities are gone, with no time-stretch and no full multisample editing like Yamaha's Montage. The pattern sequencer caps at 32-64 measures, time signature and tempo changes mid-song are restricted, and some feel it 'can't do what the 1991 board could do,' making it feel less like a true standalone workstation.

Polyphony limits and reverb/effects routing frustrate users pushing the engine hard. Commenters note that layering multiple tones or holding sustain while changing chords can exhaust the roughly 256-voice polyphony quickly, since each partial consumes voices. Others complain only one reverb and limited insert/send effects are available at a time, forcing reliance on a DAW for real sound shaping, undermining the promise of an all-in-one workstation experience.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?