This is a tough one because I would say Absolute covers more types of sounds, etc., and is cheaper BUT Kontakt has some very highly articulated and detailed stuff. For instance the Absolute doesn’t have any bass that are nearly as detailed as the Scarbee stuff. And the new symphony essentials have more articulations than HSO. But I agree with others than I can find a synth sound close to what I am looking for in HALion and edit it slightly if needed.