Comments on: Polyend Play+, new firmware 1.1.0 adds percussion Synthesizer engine to the groovebox

By: seppy2000

seppy2000 — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 08:56:11 +0000

In reply to okeribok. I can totally understand your attitude. A friend, who bought the original version in summer 23 for 799€, told me his anger about polyends policy. Rediculous. To me it sounds quite cynical talking about happiness about an hardware upgrade.

By: D $$$ Extraordinaire

D $$$ Extraordinaire — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 16:51:35 +0000

A lot of this was due to factors Polyend had no control over. They had to work around the chip shortage. They probably couldn’t have waited another year to get the chips. So it was either release the Play as it was, or call it a day as a company. And it doesn’t help that they sold the first batch at $799. A cleaner way to do this would have been to not offer the upgrade and call it a Mk II product. Less hurt feelings at least.

By: Synth Anatomy

Synth Anatomy — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 15:59:43 +0000

In reply to D $$$ Extraordinaire. Many people buy such devices with limited budget. For many $799/799€ is a lot of money and they expect to have a product that is up to date for the next 3 years. I 100% understand the miscontent of the people who are then asked $399/€399 to trade in their device. At the same time, new people pay the same price as them. I would feel ripped off after a year and 7 months of using it.

By: D $$$ Extraordinaire

D $$$ Extraordinaire — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 15:15:36 +0000

Let me make sure I have this straight. The OG Play cost $499, the Plus will be $799. The upgrade is $399. So if you had picked up a play back in the day and want to upgrade, you’re paying the cost difference Plus $100. Hence the name lol. I guess that little extra is for labor.

Y’all know Polyend could have just done like Elektron and called the Plus a “Mk II” product, and never offered a hardware upgrade at all? Would that have really been better for your “investment?”

I think the only people that have a legitimate beef are the early adopters who dropped $799 for an OG Play. Polyend should treat them a little better and maybe do the upgrade at a discount.

I’ve always wondered how much of these instruments are actually being used to make music, and how many are just being traded around. Add a cash-strapped economy, and you’ve got a recipe for severe bellyaching.

By: Neil

Neil — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 09:25:11 +0000

In reply to Space Captain. Seriously, I only come here these days to find out which company is being boycotted. It's hilarious.

By: Space Captain

Space Captain — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 22:03:33 +0000

In reply to okeribok. What?? Are you buying musical gear to make music or as an investment?

By: Bri3n

Bri3n — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 17:39:29 +0000

I’m done with Polyend, I think. I love their early products. I have 2 seqs that I use with my modular and Medusa is pretty great. Prior to getting the second Seq, I asked Polyend about the midi implementation on the Play. They inferred that it would do everything that the Seq does and more, so I got one. Not really the case, so I got a used Seq and am happy. I wish I hadn’t procrastinated selling the Play. It doesn’t really make a lot of sense to sell it at this point.

By: Matthias

Matthias — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 15:49:47 +0000

Just wondering, do they replace the whole PCB or only the MCU (in some cases the more powerfull versions of the same MCU family are pin compatible?), or do you get a completely new unit?

Nonetheless, as i already owm a play i will wait for the play++ with line input for sampling before i upgrade, if i ever will. 😉

By: AEP

AEP — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 09:44:19 +0000

Couldn’t they have just done a firmware update to add functionality? Polyend are usually good with that, I remember after 3-4 years of owning my Medusa there was a 4.0 FM engine update.

Regarding the play wave table FM.. I think that’s the same engine as the Medusa, FM 3OP.. it’s the only FM I know of in a hardware package that can modulate wavetables

By: Andy Callaby

Andy Callaby — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 09:38:23 +0000

All I’m going to say is Orba 2. Respect to Polyend for offering an upgrade. Everyone is feeling the pinch financially so I can see peoples displeasure at that upgrade price.