Yamaha MX88 vs MOXF8 [2023 Review]

The digital keyboard is one of the most common instruments out there. Many people prefer them because it allows you to have many kinds of sounds and effects through one piece of equipment.

Yamaha MX88 vs MOXF8 are mainly used by pros so you cannot really find affordable options. The prices do not vary, and they are quite expensive. Both Yamaha MX88 vs MOXF8 will be good synth or stage piano. You can also record your music through them.

Although making a good decision can be difficult, you can never go wrong with Yamaha. It is probably one of the most reliable brands out there and it has been going strong even though it has been founded decades ago.

However, before buying one of them, you need to know what they offer and how you can benefit from their features. If you are interested in these models, keep reading our Yamaha MX88 vs MOXF8 review for more information below.

Yamaha MX88 Review

Features: The MX88 is a very compact 88-note weighted board. It weighs about 15kg, which might cause a problem while carrying around. The case it comes with is good but it is made of plastic. If you want something more durable and reliable, you should invest in it by yourself.

The dials and switches are powerful, and it bears the durability and reliability of a Yamaha product. Most significantly, it comes with the GHS keybed. It is well balanced, though the key return is a little slow for playing faster.

The ’88 has the same controls as Yamaha’s previous synth models. There are four multifunction knobs, a data wheel, and plenty of buttons for choosing functions, as well as foot power and sustain pedal inputs.

The four knobs control various functions including filter cutoff/resonance, part volume, panning, envelopes, and FX send levels. You can also use them for DAW functions. Luckily, you can set this synth to DAW remote mode, which is a huge convenience on its own.

The controllers placed on MX88 are ideal for making adjustments in real-time when performing live or in the studio. There is a backlit dual-line screen for displaying voice names and editing activities on this device.

The MX88 is simple to use, so everybody can use it without much trouble. You can set up to 16 different sounds and switch between them through the buttons provided on the keyboard with ease.

Yamaha MOXF8 Review

Features: When you look at the overall nature of the MOXF8, you can easily realize that it is very similar to the Motif XF series. Yamaha MOXF8 has a dark design and style, just like the ones produced before in the same series.

Despite the use of plastic materials in the build, overall MOXF8 looks elegant and stylish. The choice of plastic is to keep this piano light and simple, and it works fine according to our Yamaha MX88 vs MOXF8 review.

Two wheels of Modulation and Pitch are placed on the upper-left side of the panel. Also, the power unit has been removed and replaced with an external AC adaptor. This model features a backlit LCD monitor in the middle, two faders for Master Volume and DAW Level, a knob to change the volume of an aux input.

As you can see, Yamaha MOXF8 comes in a total package. There is a section with assignable buttons and knobs for managing various parameters of the tones, which we think most pros can make the most of easily.

The Effect and Seq Transport parts are also available within MOXF8. They are both useful for controlling the multitrack sequencer or an external DAW via a PC/Mac.

The Yamaha MOXF8 has the same AWM2 sound engine as the Motif XF, with up to 741MB of wave samples and Expanded Articulations.

Yamaha MX88 vs MOXF8 Similarities

Since it has a more complicated purpose, a keyboard synthesizer is not for beginners or learners. So, if you are just getting started with your piano journey, we do not recommend both of these keyboards. Synths create music, which you can use for composing.

They are not newly released and the MOXF8 is the best-selling member of the MO family. The MX series, on the other hand, has been well received in the market, and MX88 was the one that sold the most. It is very similar to the MOX line, so we can say that both Yamaha MX88 and MOXF8 are very similar in terms of their features.

Both of these models have a large number of buttons, knobs, and switches. They both have a small analog monitor in the center which we are familiar to see in almost every synth.

We cannot say that these models are light, but they are still travel-friendly. Do not expect a super lightweight instrument, though. Yamaha MX88 vs MOXF8 are around 52 inches wide, 16 inches deep, and 6.6 inches tall. They also weigh around 30 to 32 pounds. As you can see, they also have a full set of 88-keys.

Moving on, if you take a detailed look into these, you can see or Graded Hammer Standard is used on both of them which is ideal for synths like the Yamaha MOXF8 and MX88. The VCM (Virtual Circuit Modeling) engine allows you to layer up to eight voices and apply a different effects chain to each of them.

Both the Yamaha MOXF8 and MX88 are solid workstations if you are looking for something new and durable. Other than sound, their additional features do not distinguish them from one another. They actually sound very similar to the ear.

Yamaha MX88 vs MOXF8 Comparison

When comparing these synths, the first thing you will note is the difference in the material they have been made with. Yamaha MOXF8 is covered in steel, while MX88 is made entirely of plastic. You don’t have to be concerned, though, because both of them seem to be made well and durable enough to withstand bangs and booms.

When comparing these two, we liked the Yamaha MOXF8’s outer appearance the most, which has purple sides that provide a nice contrast to the rest of the keyboard.

The sound part is where these two models of synth differ greatly. MOXF8 includes up to 741MB of wave samples, as well as Expanded Articulations, which include all of the workstation’s sounds. It comes with a polyphony of 128 notes, a 16-part multi-timbral capacity, and over 1150 tones.

Since the MX88 has a smaller ROM, sound collection, and fewer acoustic guitars mode, it will sound duller in comparison. Even though the difference in sound quality is not a big deal, expandability, inputs, pedal controls, and sequencing make MOXF8 a better keyboard overall when compared with the MX88.

MOXF8 is more convenient because it has A/D inputs for your microphone and any external sound sources, while the MX88 does not. What that means is, you cannot record vocals or instruments directly. It also means that the synth serves as an audio gateway for any external sound sources you have.

Furthermore, the MOXF8 will allow you to extend the storage to store a variety of additional waveforms, which is an intriguing feature to consider if you plan on using a flashboard. MX88, on the other hand, has 3rd-party libraries of samples that you might find useful.

Winner of Yamaha MX88 vs MOXF8: Yamaha MOXF8

Here we are at the core of our Yamaha MX88 vs MOXF8 review. We have mentioned both of these amazing synths from Yamaha, but now we have to decide which one gets all the praise and wins this battle of Yamaha MX88 vs MOXF8.

Since it has more features to offer, the winner is Yamaha MOXF8. As we have mentioned before, MOXF8 has a bigger ROM and it offers more sound effects. Even though they sound almost the same to the ear, if you want to get the most of what you pay for, you should buy Yamaha MOXF8.

In addition to these, MOXF8 gives you the opportunity to extend the storage of your creations which you cannot see in MX88.

Conclusion: Yamaha MX88 vs MOXF8 [2023 Review]

Both Yamaha MX88 vs MOXF8 are good synthesizer choices. Even though there is a variety of keyboards to choose from in the market, we definitely recommend considering one of these since they are from the trusted brand Yamaha. 

If you are looking for a synth that will not cost you a fortune, the Yamaha MOXF8 vs MX88 are excellent options. Both are the most famous members of the Yamaha series and they are offered at reasonable prices.

Even though we had to pick a winner in this review, we think both of them are feasible options to get if you are in need of something new. We hope you liked our Yamaha MX88 vs MOXF8 review and it was helpful.