While the OB-Xa offered the same polyphony as its predecessor (4, 6 and 8-voice models were offered), its keyboard could be split into two halves (each with its own voice) or to layer voices to create thicker sound (essentially making two notes sound for every key pressed).

This made the inside of the synth less cluttered, facilitating troubleshooting, and reducing the cost of manufacture.

The OB-Xa was the synthesizer that provided the main part of Van Halen's 1984 single "Jump".

[4] Many other artists used the OB-Xa during the 1980s and 1990s, including New Order,[4] The Carpenters, The Police, Queen, Rush, Rod Stewart, Prince, Miles Davis, Simple Minds and Gary Numan.

The widow of chip creator Doug Curtis released a statement clarifying that the replica was made without permission and that Curtis "would be deeply saddened by the attempt of others to trade on his name and to make unsubstantiated claims of equivalency to his original inventions".