The Oberheim Xpander is one of the most loved polysynths ever made, and almost nobody can find, afford or keep one running. ACME Synthworks has an answer: the XP60, a six-voice polyphonic analogue desktop synth that rebuilds the Xpander architecture in a new, smaller instrument. Preorders are open now through the ACME webshop, and the company is building it in small batches.
Faithful where it counts
The spec sheet reads like a checklist for Xpander fans. Each of the six voices gets two analogue oscillators and the famous multimode filter with 15 modes, plus the deep modulation system that made the original a sound designer's playground. ACME centres the signal path on the AS3372 chip and says it tuned the voice toward the character of later Rev D instruments.
The most interesting part is under the hood. The XP60 keeps the original dual-processor architecture, so the instrument behaves the way the Xpander behaves, and ACME says it is fully compatible with Xplorer, the established SysEx editor for the Xpander. There is no software emulation and no FPGA recreation here. That is a bold choice in a market full of digital reissues, and it means existing patches and editor workflows should carry straight over.
Refined, not reinvented
The page-based workflow from the original stays intact, but the hardware around it is new. Three displays, modern switches and tactile encoders lay out a famously dense architecture so you can actually read it. Buyers choose between Dark and Creamy White enclosures and between OLED, VFD or LCD display configurations, which is a nice touch for anyone matching a vintage rack or a cleaner modern studio.
ACME also added a couple of practical upgrades. Turbo Mode makes the LFOs, LAGs and envelopes about 50% faster for snappier modulation, and a dedicated headphone amplifier offers four gain settings. The whole thing is 19 inches wide, which ACME says is substantially more compact than the instrument that inspired it.
Built for a working studio
Connectivity is where the XP60 shows it is meant to sit at the centre of a setup. You get MIDI In, Out and Thru, six individual voice outputs, CV and Gate inputs for every voice, stereo and mono line outputs, headphones, and trigger and pedal inputs. Per-voice CV and outputs are rare on modern polysynths and make the XP60 just as at home next to a modular case as next to a DAW.
How to get one
ACME takes preorders through its webshop on a 50% deposit, with the balance and shipping due before dispatch. The product page lists deliveries beginning in early October 2026, and full pricing for each colour and display option sits on the shop listing. If you want updates before you commit, ACME runs a non-binding interest list with no order or payment required. One note from ACME's own page: Oberheim and Xpander are trademarks of their owners, and ACME is independent and not affiliated with Oberheim.
Our call
This is a passion build for people who already know why the Xpander matters, and that is exactly why it is exciting. A real analogue six-voice with the original processor logic, Xplorer support and per-voice outputs in a desktop box is a serious statement from a small maker. If small batches mean anything, the first run will not hang around.
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XP60 official page · Preorder in the ACME webshop · ACME Synthworks · Contact ACME
