The Roland JUNO line, 2006 to today
JUNO is Roland's working-synth line: cheaper than the flagship, aimed at players who need bread-and-butter sounds plus a synth engine, and revised every few years. Where our database holds the models, the trail runs from — to Apr 2022: 7 JUNO models plus the 3 modern JUPITER instruments that sit above them in the same family tree.
What the letters after JUNO mean
D is the basic line (JUNO-D, JUNO-DS = the current generation). G adds a sampler/workstation layer. STAGE was the live-performance build, Di and Gi the compact and gigging revisions of their era. The names repeat because the line keeps being re-issued around new engines, which is why dating a used JUNO matters more than the name itself - the year column below is the first thing to read.
Every JUNO we hold
7 modelsOldest first. Where a model is discontinued, the status column says so and its page carries the discontinued year if the manufacturer documented one.
| Model | Released | Keys | Key action | Polyphony | Voices | Weight | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roland JUNO-D | — | 61 | Unnamed synth-action keybeds | 64 | 706 | 5 kg | Discontinued (legacy) |
| Roland JUNO-G | Jan 2006 | 61 | Unnamed synth-action keybeds | 128 | 768 | 6.2 kg | Discontinued (legacy) |
| Roland JUNO-STAGE | Jun 2008 | 76 | Unnamed synth-action keybeds | 128 | 1027 | 9.8 kg | Discontinued (legacy) |
| Roland JUNO-Di | Sep 2009 | 61 | Unnamed synth-action keybeds | 128 | 1082 | 5.2 kg | Discontinued (legacy) |
| Roland JUNO-Gi | 2010 | 61 | Unnamed synth-action keybeds | 128 | 788 | 5.7 kg | Discontinued (legacy) |
| Roland JUNO-DS61 | 2015 | 61 | Unnamed synth-action keybeds | 128 | — | 5.3 kg | Discontinued (legacy) |
| Roland JUNO-X | Apr 2022 | 61 | Unnamed synth-action keybeds | — | 4000 | 11.6 kg | Current |
The modern JUPITER instruments
3 modelsThe JUPITER name returned in 2011 as a premium digital synth line; the current JUPITER-X family uses Roland's ZEN-Core engine.
| Model | Released | Keys | Key action | Polyphony | Voices | Weight | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roland JUPITER-80 | 2011 | 76 | Unnamed synth-action keybeds | 256 | — | 17.7 kg | Discontinued |
| Roland JUPITER-X | Sep 2019 | 61 | Unnamed semi-weighted keybeds | — | 4 | 16.9 kg | Current |
| Roland JUPITER-XM | Sep 2019 | 37 | Unnamed mini / slim keys | — | 4000 | 4.4 kg | Current |
Reading a used JUNO listing
The chassis ages better than the engine. A JUNO from a decade ago is still a solid controller with a usable synth engine, but its sound set is fixed - these instruments do not take firmware that adds engines.
61 keys, synth action, light. The line's weights are in the table above; nothing here is a hammer-action instrument, so anyone wanting a piano feel is looking at the wrong family (see the Roland piano ladder instead).
What the current generation buys you. The modern instruments in the tables carry the larger voice counts and the current engine; the older ones carry the vintage-era soul that made the name worth reviving. Both are honest reasons to buy, and the release year is what separates them.
Every maker at a glance - the full map of lines, rungs and price bands - is on the model ladders overview.
Frequently asked questions
Is the JUNO-X a reissue of the original JUNO?
It is a modern instrument in the JUNO line rather than a copy of the 1980s hardware: our database lists it with the release year, engine family and voice count we hold. The original analogue models are outside the scope of this database, which starts with models whose specifications the manufacturers still document.
What is the difference between JUNO-D and JUNO-DS?
A generation apart in the same rung - the DS is the later revision. Compare the release year, voice count and weight rows in the table above.
Do JUNO synths have weighted keys?
No. The line uses synth actions across the range, which the Key action column reflects.
Which JUNO is best for live use?
The lightest chassis with the current engine. The weight column in the table above is the fastest way to answer that for yourself.