as far as I know the 880 is just a 1u rack version of the 88 pro and is still using the 32khz to keep things the same.

BloodyCactus wrote on 2026-01-19, 00:51:

as far as I know the 880 is just a 1u rack version of the 88 pro and is still using the 32khz to keep things the same.

That could be the case. I got the information from Wikipedia, and as I said, I have no idea what is meant by patch mode.

SC-880 has normal synthesizer functions like being able to edit and save patches. It also has some prebuilt patches with EFX built in (more than the 88Pro) which are good for music creation or recording, especially electric guitars and things like that.

Downside, the DAC is newer and more generic sounding (same as the XV-5080 I think), not warm like the 88Pro.

If it had a digital output, the 880 would be cool as hell.

Spikey wrote on 2026-01-28, 07:13:

SC-880 has normal synthesizer functions like being able to edit and save patches. It also has some prebuilt patches with EFX built in (more than the 88Pro) which are good for music creation or recording, especially electric guitars and things like that.

Downside, the DAC is newer and more generic sounding (same as the XV-5080 I think), not warm like the 88Pro.

Aside from the presentation differences (e.g. DAC and filters), would a sequence made on the 88 Pro sound the same on an 880?

NeoG_ wrote on 2026-01-28, 07:20:

Spikey wrote on 2026-01-28, 07:13:

SC-880 has normal synthesizer functions like being able to edit and save patches. It also has some prebuilt patches with EFX built in (more than the 88Pro) which are good for music creation or recording, especially electric guitars and things like that.

Downside, the DAC is newer and more generic sounding (same as the XV-5080 I think), not warm like the 88Pro.

Aside from the presentation differences (e.g. DAC and filters), would a sequence made on the 88 Pro sound the same on an 880?

Exactly what I'm wondering as well. How much difference does the DAC make in reality. I've heard Nuked-SC55 doesn't actually emulate the DAC of the real SC-55 series, but they still sound very, very similar to me.

it makes no difference you can hear. this was a professional musical instrument, not a toy. whatever dac they use is going to be fine.

NeoG_ wrote on 2026-01-28, 07:20:

Spikey wrote on 2026-01-28, 07:13:

SC-880 has normal synthesizer functions like being able to edit and save patches. It also has some prebuilt patches with EFX built in (more than the 88Pro) which are good for music creation or recording, especially electric guitars and things like that.

Downside, the DAC is newer and more generic sounding (same as the XV-5080 I think), not warm like the 88Pro.

Aside from the presentation differences (e.g. DAC and filters), would a sequence made on the 88 Pro sound the same on an 880?

I believe the answer is yes. The answer in reverse would also be yes, EXCEPT for if the 880 sequence used some of the special patches unique to it.

The 8820 and 8850 also do NOT have the special patches from 88Pro or 880, so sequences using those will not work correctly, even on the most "advanced" Sound Canvases.

Exactly what I'm wondering as well. How much difference does the DAC make in reality. I've heard Nuked-SC55 doesn't actually emulate the DAC of the real SC-55 series, but they still sound very, very similar to me.

The DAC on the SC-55 vs SC-55mkII vs Nuked (none emulated I believe?) doesn't make THAT big of a difference, although I haven't studied that as closely as others I've mentioned in this post.

What does make a difference is that the 880 and 88Pro use *substantially* different DACs, different generations, different technologies. They characterise the sound very differently. You can easily find people discussing the Roland JV-1080 vs JV-2080 sound, and those two uses DAC's that weren't THAT different (actually, the same as the ones used in the SC-55mkII and 88Pro respectively, and both are good). The PCM69 DAC in the 88 and 88Pro (and JV-880 and 2080) is highly regarded for its era, particularly in sytnhs.

The new-style AK brand DAC's used in Roland equipment from 2000 onwards, SC-880/JV-1010/XV-5080 etc sound more "hi-fi" but definitely lose some of the warmth and analog sound of the older units. (See also the 8820, which uses a new style BB PCM brand DAC, and the 8850, which uses a new style AK DAC, I definitely prefer the sound of the 8820.) The way I would describe the difference is synths using the AK DAC sound "neutered", something tangible is lost.

it makes no difference you can hear. this was a professional musical instrument, not a toy. whatever dac they use is going to be fine.

I disagree. I mean, you're right in the sense that one isn't "good" and one "bad", both will be fine for general purposes. But if you care about the 'best', or at least, most enjoyable sound, an 88Pro will sound superior to an 880 - at least in my and other people's opinions. Sound Canvases, JVs and old Roland gear weren't meant to sound "hi-fi" (and featured non hi-fi samples), they were meant to impart warm characteristics and lushness on the audio, giving a desirable, memorable output. The more modern DAC's present the audio too "uncoloured" and something is lost. But this is my opinion, check YouTube, audio demos or better yet hear the actual units to make your own opinions. For me, it's fairly noticeable after years of hearing demos of the SC-880 vs SC-88/Pro or JV-1010 vs JV-1080/2080.

Spikey wrote on 2026-01-30, 07:47:

The DAC on the SC-55 vs SC-55mkII vs Nuked (none emulated I believe?) doesn't make THAT big of a difference, although I haven't […]
Show full quote

Exactly what I'm wondering as well. How much difference does the DAC make in reality. I've heard Nuked-SC55 doesn't actually emulate the DAC of the real SC-55 series, but they still sound very, very similar to me.

The DAC on the SC-55 vs SC-55mkII vs Nuked (none emulated I believe?) doesn't make THAT big of a difference, although I haven't studied that as closely as others I've mentioned in this post.

What does make a difference is that the 880 and 88Pro use *substantially* different DACs, different generations, different technologies. They characterise the sound very differently. You can easily find people discussing the Roland JV-1080 vs JV-2080 sound, and those two uses DAC's that weren't THAT different (actually, the same as the ones used in the SC-55mkII and 88Pro respectively, and both are good). The PCM69 DAC in the 88 and 88Pro (and JV-880 and 2080) is highly regarded for its era, particularly in sytnhs.

The new-style AK brand DAC's used in Roland equipment from 2000 onwards, SC-880/JV-1010/XV-5080 etc sound more "hi-fi" but definitely lose some of the warmth and analog sound of the older units. (See also the 8820, which uses a new style BB PCM brand DAC, and the 8850, which uses a new style AK DAC, I definitely prefer the sound of the 8820.) The way I would describe the difference is synths using the AK DAC sound "neutered", something tangible is lost.

it makes no difference you can hear. this was a professional musical instrument, not a toy. whatever dac they use is going to be fine.

I disagree. I mean, you're right in the sense that one isn't "good" and one "bad", both will be fine for general purposes. But if you care about the 'best', or at least, most enjoyable sound, an 88Pro will sound superior to an 880 - at least in my and other people's opinions. Sound Canvases, JVs and old Roland gear weren't meant to sound "hi-fi" (and featured non hi-fi samples), they were meant to impart warm characteristics and lushness on the audio, giving a desirable, memorable output. The more modern DAC's present the audio too "uncoloured" and something is lost. But this is my opinion, check YouTube, audio demos or better yet hear the actual units to make your own opinions. For me, it's fairly noticeable after years of hearing demos of the SC-880 vs SC-88/Pro or JV-1010 vs JV-1080/2080.

Thank you for the great answer. I'll be looking for a good offer on a SC-88 Pro or an SK-88 Pro then.

Thank you for the great answer. I'll be looking for a good offer on a SC-88 Pro or an SK-88 Pro then.

You're most welcome. Warning: Most SC-88 Pro variants do NOT use the same DAC. The SK-88 Pro uses the DAC from the SC-55mkII, for example. I think the SC-88ST Pro is the same.

Spikey wrote on 2026-02-01, 06:09:

Thank you for the great answer. I'll be looking for a good offer on a SC-88 Pro or an SK-88 Pro then.

You're most welcome. Warning: Most SC-88 Pro variants do NOT use the same DAC. The SK-88 Pro uses the DAC from the SC-55mkII, for example. I think the SC-88ST Pro is the same.

Interesting, I thought the entire point of the SK-88 Pro was that it was the exact same as the SC-88 Pro, except with a keyboard. Guess it'll be an SC-88 Pro for me then.

akse0435 wrote on 2026-02-01, 06:41:

Interesting, I thought the entire point of the SK-88 Pro was that it was the exact same as the SC-88 Pro, except with a keyboard. Guess it'll be an SC-88 Pro for me then.

it really makes no difference with the dac. like none you can hear. its so overblown its a pointless argument.