The X5 uses the same AI square synthesis method as the other Korg synthesizers that were around at the time, the O series being one of them. Many of the sounds are of a similar nature (so yes, the acoustic piano sound wasn't improved). I did find out though that Dario G (whoa! remember them?) recorded the piano line in Sunchyme using a Korg piano sound which I thought was really cool at the time. The X5 sound combinations were different to the O series, but many of the single sounds were identical, such as Analog Pad. The drum sounds were also much the same as on the O series.

First impressions of the X5 are that it is a low budget synthesizer. It looks a little cheap, and the keyboard felt cheap and spongy (although I imagine it will never get sticky keys no matter how rough you are with it). Plastic? Hmmm was never a fan. I'd rather it were built the old fashioned way.

Appearances aside, the X5 represents great value for money, bringing professional industry standard Korg sounds to the lower budget market, and the X5 is probably the most portable 5-octave keyboard there is. I would also agree that the X5 is a great desktop workstation for the computer-based studio musician.

The X5 - a small, portable package offering some great sounds at a low price. I score 3 on the scale although my actual score is somewhere between 3.5 and 3.9.