For me it’s definitely SQ8L. I know it’s kind of an odd choice, but I just love the way it sounds. It makes its way onto so many of my tracks. A close second would probably be Helix, though it’s GUI often turns black for some reason and I can see anything to change my patch, so I end up stuck with it for that song. 
I’ve been really enjoying Oatmeal lately. I also really enjoy the TAL line, Phoscyon, and QuadraSID.
Talking of this I love QuadraSID to an almost unhealthy degree.
Great thread. I also started looking for some VST/AU to buy recently, and have been evaluating a few different ones in the last few days, and there are probably a few in this thread I want to look at as well. The one I’m currently most impressed with is Aalto. I just wish it had a Linux version too, that would make me buy without further hesitation.
My number one requirement is “no DRM”. Luckily Aalto was one of the few interesting synths that did have reasonable (no) copy protection, so they might get my $99.
I like oatmeal because of the random option, randomize until I find something interesting then maybe tweak some parameters, turn off the synths fx and render the plugin to a sampled instrument for pattern command + native dsp action = win.
Recently I have been using this suite a lot: http://www.genuinesoundware.com/?a=showproduct&b=37
Here’s a comparison of his Rhode VSTi compared to the real thing:
I liked the sound of this plugin untill I noticed how bad are the higher notes and how much DC is added to the signal. I suggest you take a closer look at it.
Some I like: Synth1, the rest in no particular order: Invector_8v, Rez, Texture 1.2, iblit, Triangle II, Freehand Free, oatmeal, LoganA.
(Yeah, all free stuff.)
Edit again… I’ve edited this post like a lot… lol.
Hey, that Arturia jupiter rocks!
btw, for what its worth, this thread totally inspired me to clean out the old, “vstplugins,” folder… yeah… I just ditched a ton of freeware stuff ( but not all of it ) some freeware is pretty darn good.
just deleted a lot of demos… ** but sooner or later, I’d like to purchase that Arturia Jupiter… lol… it totally rules. beautiful low end imo
+1 for the Diva. When i get some cash she´s my nr. 1 purchase.
Harmor.
i mostly use medusa2 (free) and dirty harry ($15).
other freebies:
transister organs: comboV, comboF
‘chip’: unknown64, 38911 bytes, basic_64, tweakbench synths, famisynth
mellotron: tapeworm, meltron
maybe the ‘best sounding free synth’ is zebralette; also, it’s reasonable on the cpu. u-he allowing people to get a taste of the oscillator sure is a great marketing ploy to sell zebra…
Alchemy and Reaktor.
Tal U-NO-LX
ValhallaRoom
ValhallaÜberMod
Charlatan
Synth1
DX10 by mda
Classic VST Effect Series From Kjaerhus
ET-301 (delay)
Arto Vaarala’s Kirnu (arpeggiator)
I’ve gotten a shit ton of mileage out of zebralette … can’t argue with the power/price ratio. In some sense, I think it deserves to be the modern synth1, but most people probably still think of it as a zebra demo. Something about U-he’s synths - they sound golden even when you’re playing a simple, pure, single-oscillator waveform. Not sure exactly what it is, something about the combination of his subtle oscillator drift and lack of aliasing makes even simple patches sound “alive”…
I’m surprised to see garritan personal orchestra. I got it after seeing it so highly recommended on forums, but honestly, the the sound it kind of cheap and underwhelming. I can get it to sound decent, but that’s only after doing a lot of “hiding” to paper over the limitations of the source material. For example the solo cellos sound to me about on par with a 90s rompler.
That was my impression as well. Quantum Leap’s Orchestra is quite more realistic in that regard.
thank’s for the the link bedroom there is lots of things not only for windows i’m on mac and i have find lots of free plugins thank’s to you and i have seen that there is cool samples of battery
I still like Nexus alot, mainly the sound quality, you can’t alter the sounds that much tho. But its good if youre looking for a good sound fast (when lazy 
)