The prophet 5 was designed by some fag in San Francisco as a response to the more chinsier sounding Japanese synths most associated with 80s pop and New Wave. It was supposed to sound more human and like a violin. Less like an in your face pop synth you'd hear on Michael Jackson or a song like Van Halen's jump. A richer, sadder sound. Not very popular at first and extremely expensive. Now considered a classic. Newer versions allow more than 5 voicings. It was recently reissued. I think the guy who invented it died.