Behringer JN-80 Synth: Juno-Style Polysynth Finally Arrives

Noise Harmony
1 minute ago
3 min read

Three years is a long time in the synth world. When Behringer first showed the Neptune-80 back in 2023, a lot of producers and gear fans started paying attention. Since then, people have been waiting, guessing, and asking the same question: when is it finally coming out?

Now we have an answer. The synth once known as Neptune-80 has officially arrived under a new name: JN-80, and it’s already up for pre-order at selected retailers.

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The JN-80 is Behringer’s take on the classic Juno-style polysynth. The original Juno-60 became one of the most iconic synths of the 1980s, loved for its warm sound, simple layout, and how easy it was to get musical results. Today, though, vintage units are expensive and out of reach for many musicians. The JN-80 is clearly meant to bring that experience back in a more affordable and modern form.

The basic sound engine sticks closely to the Juno formula. Each voice uses a digitally controlled oscillator with saw and square waves, plus pulse-width modulation. There’s also a sub-oscillator for extra low end and a noise source for texture. A high-pass filter shapes the low frequencies before the signal hits a classic 24 dB low-pass filter with cutoff, resonance, and envelope control.

Modulation is kept simple on purpose. One ADSR envelope handles filter and volume duties, while a single LFO can be routed to pitch, filter cutoff, or pulse width. This kind of limitation is very much in the spirit of the original Juno design: fewer options, faster decisions, and sounds that come together quickly.

The chorus is a big part of that classic sound, and Behringer didn’t skip it here. The JN-80 includes an analog chorus inspired by old bucket-brigade designs. You get two modes that can be used separately or combined, making it easy to create wide pads, lush strings, and animated leads.

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Where the JN-80 moves beyond the original is in its voice count and performance features. Instead of six voices, you get eight, along with several voice modes. You can play normally in poly mode, stack voices for unison leads, or use double mode for thicker, layered sounds.

The keyboard has 49 full-size keys and adds both velocity and aftertouch, which already makes it more expressive than the vintage model. Pitch and modulation controls sit to the left of the keys, keeping the familiar synth layout intact.

Memory and workflow are also much more modern. The JN-80 offers plenty of patch storage, a screen for browsing and saving sounds, and quick recall of presets. There’s also a built-in arpeggiator with different modes and adjustable speed, plus portamento for smooth note slides.

On the back panel, you’ll find everything you’d expect from a modern synth: stereo outputs, a headphone jack, pedal inputs, MIDI in and out on classic 5-pin connectors, USB-MIDI for direct computer use, and extra sync and control options.

Price is one of the biggest selling points. The JN-80 costs far less than a vintage Juno-60, while offering more voices, modern connectivity, and added performance features. Since it’s currently available as a pre-order, exact delivery dates depend on the retailer and region.