Yamaha DX7

The Yamaha DX7 killed analog synthesis overnight in 1983 by introducing FM synthesis that could produce electric pianos, metallic bells, and glassy pads no subtractive synth could match. It sold over 200,000 units, making it the best-selling synthesizer of all time, outperforming #2 Roland Juno-106's sales by a factor of 20. The preset "E.PIANO 1" is arguably the most famous synth patch ever created, heard on records by Brian Eno, Phil Collins, A-ha, and Whitney Houston. Its 16-note polyphony and digital precision offered 30% more tonal variety than the typical analog rival, yet its cold, clinical sound sparked a backlash that later fueled the analog revival.