I wanted to give these compact synths a chance, and not knowing the original Jupiter at all, it was the perfect opportunity to explore this world without preconceived notions or particular expectations.

First pleasant surprise: it excels in fat, rave-y basses. The harmonics stand out clearly even at low volume, which is really appreciated. The filter is highly responsive, perfect for staccato lines that cut through a mix. Another pleasant surprise, the filter reveals a very acidic character: you quickly find yourself in sounds similar to the TB-303, which I definitely didn’t expect.

As for features, the available modes are somewhat limited. Direct access to an arpeggiator is nice, but the novelty wears off a bit when you control it via a Keystep 37 or Keystep Pro, where those functions are already available.

The weak point, in my opinion, concerns the lead sounds. The highs lack a bit of thickness; it’s not lifeless, but it remains quite thin and feels a bit disappointing after the great performance of the bass.

Am I going to keep it? I think so, even though it might quickly become redundant with another of my machines, the (too rarely mentioned) MFB Nanozwerg.