Oberheim DMX

Harder and punchier than the 808, the Oberheim DMX played sampled drum sounds and sold for around $3,000, a little more accessible than the Linn. It became a New York hip-hop staple: producer Davy DMX took his name from it and used it on his own records and with Run-DMC and Kurtis Blow. The same machine crossed into new wave, playing a starring role on New Order's "Blue Monday". Choose it to hear how early rap got its stiff, hard-hitting snare before samplers took over.