9.2Essential
Serum 2 is Xfer Records' wavetable synthesizer plugin with five oscillator engines, flexible effect routing, an arpeggiator, and a clip sequencer.
Plugin comparison
Serum 2 vs Phoenix
Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which synth to buy.
Independent score / workflow fit / buying signal
Contenders
The side-by-side
Phoenix by Spitfire Audio and BT is a hybrid cinematic synth with six engines, 16-voice MPE, and about 40 GB. Intro is $239 or £199 through 25 October 2026.
Score verdict
Which should you buy?
On the Dubspot Score, Serum 2 comes out ahead (9.2). That said, the right pick depends on your workflow and budget — read both reviews before deciding.
Technical matrix
Specs compared
| Signal | Serum 2 | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249 | $239 intro / $299 |
| Dubspot Score | 9.2 | — |
| Formats | VST3, AU, AAX | VST3, AU, AAX, standalone |
| Oscillator engines | 5 (Wavetable, Multisample, Sample, Granular, Spectral) | — |
| Factory presets | Over 626 presets | — |
| Wavetables | 288 wavetables | — |
| Plugin formats | VST3, AU, AAX (64-bit) | — |
| Platforms | Windows 10+ and macOS High Sierra+ (Intel) / Big Sur+ (Apple Silicon) | — |
| Additional tools | Arpeggiator, clip sequencer, flexible effect routing | — |
| Type | — | Hybrid cinematic synth |
| Price | — | $239 / £199 through 25 October 2026, then $299 / £249 |
| Engines | — | Spectral wavetable, FM, sampler, 2-op FM transients, subharmonic, noise |
| Presets | — | 552 |
| Voices | — | 16-voice stereo MPE |
| Effects | — | 37 processors, 12 slots, 3 chains |
| Library | — | About 40 GB, 80 GB free to install |
| macOS | — | 15 or later, Apple silicon and Intel |
| Windows | — | 10 22H2 or 11, 64-bit |
| Connection | — | Online required while in use |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.