Roland TR-8S vs Elektron Digitakt: used prices compared
UK used prices side by side, what each one tends to need fixing, and which keeps more of its value. Updated October 2026.
Quick answer: Used, the Elektron Digitakt is the cheaper of the two: £345 to £400 against £400 to £470 for the Roland TR-8S, usually about £60 apart. The ranges overlap, so a bargain Roland TR-8S can cost less than an ordinary Elektron Digitakt.
| Model | Roland TR-8S | Elektron Digitakt |
|---|---|---|
| Used, working order | £400 - £470 | £345 - £400 |
| New price (UK street) | £599 | Not sold new |
| Holds of the new price | 73% | Not sold new |
| How fast it sells | Sells very fast | Sells very fast |
| Usual faults listed | 4 (costs on its price page) | 3 (costs on its price page) |
The difference
Both are step-triggered drum machines with hands-on controls, and on the used market they change hands for similar money. The TR-8S starts from Roland's classic drum machines, modelled inside, with its own effects on every instrument. The Digitakt starts from samples you load yourself, and its signature move is feeding its own output back into itself to build sounds no source had. The Digitakt also runs other gear over MIDI.
Which to buy
- The Roland TR-8S if you want classic 808 and 909 sounds and effects under your hand.
- The Elektron Digitakt if you want to sample, resample and sequence.
What each one tends to need
Roland TR-8S
- No power: usually £3-£60 to put right (Medium - soldering / disassembly / YouTube guide).
- Missing power supply: usually £8-£30 to put right (Easy - DIY, no special tools).
- Screen / display fault: usually £20-£90 to put right (Hard - specialist repair, usually not worth it).
Elektron Digitakt
- No power: usually £3-£60 to put right (Medium - soldering / disassembly / YouTube guide).
- Missing power supply: usually £8-£30 to put right (Easy - DIY, no special tools).
- Screen / display fault: usually £20-£90 to put right (Hard - specialist repair, usually not worth it).
Those are the first three in the guide for each. The full list, with the cost of putting each right, is on the model pages and in the faults table.
Before you buy either
Each price page lists what to check, the usual faults and rough repair costs: Roland TR-8S and Elektron Digitakt. Then see how to tell if a listing is a good price.
On Marketplace, the flipper extension prices both against real sold prices and flags faults the seller mentions. It is free while in testing. Join the testers.