Ensoniq EPS 16 Plus (1990)

A 16-bit digital sampling workstation with 61-note keyboard and disk-based operating system, introduced in 1990.

Overview

The Ensoniq EPS 16 Plus is a 16-bit digital sampling workstation and keyboard synthesizer produced by Ensoniq starting in 1990. It succeeded the original EPS and offered 16-bit sampling at rates from 11.2 kHz to 44.6 kHz, competing with higher-end samplers of the era. The unit features a 61-note semi-weighted keyboard with polyphonic aftertouch and includes 1 MB of RAM, expandable to 2 MB. It runs from an operating system stored on floppy disk, requiring an OS boot disk to start up.

Specifications

Bit depth	16-bit
Sampling rates	11.2 kHz – 44.6 kHz
Keyboard	61-note semi-weighted with polyphonic aftertouch
Polyphony	20 voices
Memory	1 MB, expandable to 2 MB
Effects	13 onboard effects
Dimensions	432mm x 380mm x 115mm
Weight	13.6 kg (conflicting reports: 13 kg also cited)
Storage	Floppy disk drive; OS loaded from disk
Connectivity	SCSI port

Design

The EPS 16 Plus features integrated DSP effects and stereo audio routing, with true 16-bit linear oversampling for improved sound quality. It uses a floppy disk drive for loading the operating system and storing samples, with the OS version confirmed as v.1.3.0 on boot disks. Some units include internal flash memory, particularly on 'Turbo' models, and support memory expansion via ME16+ module.

Context

The EPS 16 Plus was positioned as the successor to the Ensoniq EPS, offering CD-quality sampling at a competitive price. It brought 16-bit resolution to a broader market, matching capabilities previously found only in more expensive samplers. A rackmount version was also released, and the system supported SCSI connectivity for expanded storage.

Market

Original price was £1795. On the used market, units in very good condition have sold for $1,100, while rackmount versions listed in 1991 were priced at $1,348. Common issues include failing floppy disk drives, leading many owners to install Gotek floppy emulators or seek SCSI interfaces. Users frequently ask about thumb drive compatibility and proper floppy disk formatting for use with the system.

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