Need help! buying new gear!

Hard decision.
The ae is way more flexible for sure.
But I also like all the new behringer stuff.
There is a ms 20 clone coming soon, I think it's really cool.
Neutron is also very interesting and maybe I will also buy one. 
Maybe you find a used one and if you save up a bit more you can sell the neutron for the same price and get the ae later.
Your profile picture is in bavaria, not too far away from tangible waves. 

As moruial stated I,m the happy owner of both AE and Neutron. I bought Neutron first, but I didn't know about AE at the time so it wasn't conscious decision. Now, knowing them both I think I would buy AE first, because it's full modular architecture let me learn a lot. Neutron was/is very cool sounding machine with many possibilities but because it's prewired, it was harder for me to understand what does what. Which hadn't stop me from enjoying it a lot during my happy exploring:)  AE is also more versatile (2rack). I would recomend to have them both eventualy as they cooperate very nicely. I often use SQ1 sequencer to fuel both Neutron oscs with A outputs and AE osc of choice with B outputs. With 4in/out AE module and Neutron's patchbay the possible interplay is wide and wild
And they complement each other nicely soundwise. So I would start with AE 2 rack with some additional modules and later would try to find used Neutron (for lowering the price). It's a great instrument too and has some options AE can't do yet 

admin makes an excellent point: it's supposed to be fun, this music thing - fun can make things happen   

An instrument should (and can) be a way of channeling that fun. If you get excited when you start playing, then it's a good match for you, personally. Out of that will emerge your own personal version of music, which may only exist for you, in the moment, or it may be captured in some way. The original question was in essence, to me, is it worth while waiting to buy an AE Modular when there is the possibility to buy something else right now...? My answer stepped around giving actual advice and aimed to provoke thinking about the question as there is no way to know how someone will react to an instrument and if it will be a fun experience.

Is the AE Modular worth waiting for...?  Most certainly, take a listen to what people do with it.
Is it value-for-money...? Completely, for a modular synthesiser.
Is it going to be fun...? Well, read through the data available here and it looks likely. Of course, these are opinions and we need to be aware that we are all a big bag of cognitive biases and not every view is represented here.

Like others, I really enjoy playing with my AE Modular and it does help me to lose myself in making music that I enjoy. I feel like a sonic explorer when I settle myself in front of the blank canvas and I never know where I'll go - I always try to go with that flow, rather than have a plan. That doesn't mean that it can't be used in a planned and structured way, of course it can, and it is by many here.

Hi houze, 

I'm also going to weigh in on this discussion cause I have the Neutron and the AE Modular Starter Rack 2. I'm an absolute beginner with zero knowledge of electronic engineering etc...

I also am mostly based in India so I also understand issues of importing items, it's a drag. Like arti I bought the neutron prior to any knowledge of AE Modular. I took advantage of a trip to the UK to buy the Neutron back in fall 2018. I chose it because of the cost. As I started using it I felt quite disappointed in myself and the synth. What I mean is that because I had watched so many youtube videos of it I sort of figured I'd immediately understand how to use it and magically would make very cool sounds. I actually found the signal flow to be somewhat difficult to follow and had to ask folks at Juno for some help on it. I felt that unless I followed along with some videos it was not very intuitive and that I was constantly feeling like I needed more to compliment it (e.g. sequencer, an actual modular rack with more filters etc). So this is the first point. I think in the long run the Neutron will work out to be more expensive because you'll quickly find that it is not enough in and of itself.

Enter AE Modular...(!) I find it a far more fun exploration because it's entirely modular and while there are obviously learning curves you can feel yourself starting to understand how it works through a lot of trial and error. Especially with a little guidance from people in the forum. Because it's all patching, you can quickly understand what is doing what/causing what sound whereas the Neutron feels a little more uncertain. AE is far more rewarding in this sense. 

If you think you eventually want to be modular over semi modular than I would definitely start with AE. If you are wanting just a standard synth to use with a keyboard and such than maybe the Neutron...


However, a silver lining to this story is that after a week with the AE I thought I'd sell the Neutron but know that I understand some basic patching I find myself having better control over the Neutron. So both are definitely good to have but if you are new than I would recommend waiting for the AE. 

Good luck!

Hi houze, I think you can absolutely create lush and hi-fi sounds with the AE modular system. Have a listen this album which contains tracks that all were made with the AE Modular by members of this forum!

aetherwaves.bandcamp.com/releases