Is it not time for another multimeter shootout yet?

[EEVblog]

Amprobe AM-160  $270  big brother to the AM-140 already reviewed here on the forums

Brymen BM869 or BM869CFA or Extech MM560A or MM570 $250+ the 869 has been covered before but without video and proper teardown, the Extechs are basically rebrands of the Brymen BM85X series but people have mentioned the MM570A before in suggestions for videos here

The AM-160 is also rebaged Brymen. So only one of those 3. That leaves another slot available...

Dave.

[Wytnucls]

Dave never reviewed the UNI-T UT71E. It could be included in the 200$ shoot-out, selling for about 170$ at the moment and still attracting a fair amount of interest.

[PA4TIM]

I have no wishes about wich meter , i have over 35 upto 7,5 digits so i can do my own shoot out if i want to, but I have a few suggestions.
I think your shootouts are much used before buying a meter, it is good you look at things like fuses, safety, inserted screws ext but I miss the most important things. You buy a meter to measure so it would be cool to know if they do that decent.
- change battery for bench supply and hook meter to voltagestandard and lower psu output to emulate a empty battery and if it affect readings
- test resistance mesasuring a 1 Ohm and a 10K and 10M and 100M
- input resistance ( i know a guy who asked advise after he bought a Fluke electriciens model to use for repairing tube amps, that was a waist of money  (only low Z 110 or 114 can not remember)
- tempco, what does it to at 20 degrees and what at 35 degrees ( must be easy in australia, measure indoor and outdoor)

These are typical things that seperate the boys from the men. And this I would like to know when I buy a meter.

 I see to many tear downs here ( from users ) that do not include a true performance test. And then you get conclusions like the Mastech LCR meter is the same as the IET DE5000 because it looks like they use the same chipset based on nothing other then looks. But nobody mentions that accuracy is different, powersupply demants are different, it has no autopower off ect.

[Lightages]

Unisource DM-931  $110
Amprobe AM-270  $90
Agilent U1231A $100
BRYMEN BM815A  $107
Fluke 17B     $100

Extech MM570A at $330 or Brymen BM869CF at  $260
UEi DM397  $250
Agilent U1242B  $250
Ideal 61-486   $210
TPI 194       $250

and of course if you want to swap in a UT71E for one of the others as suggested.

My last shot at a list or two for these ranges of price and type. It is a bit of a pain selecting things for a good spread on a review isn't it?

[EEVblog]

Unisource DM-931  $110
Amprobe AM-270  $90
Agilent U1231A $100
BRYMEN BM815A  $107
Fluke 17B     $100

The Agilent doesn't have a mA range, so I''d rule it out.
The Unit-T 71E is too far over $100

Dave.

[Lightages]

The UT71E was for the $200 range although not really above $200.

If you want to through a Uni-T into the $100 fray, the n the UT71A for $115?

[Wytnucls]

Maybe, the UNI-T UT71C then, as it can be bought for 120$, plus shipping of course.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Barnd-New-UNI-T-Intelligent-Digital-Multimeters-UT71C-/260824511145?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cba5a32a9
It has the same features as the 71E, only lacking the power measurement function.

[EEVblog]

If you want to through a Uni-T into the $100 fray, the n the UT71A for $115?

I'd get lynched by the Uni-T fanboys if I didn't include one!
The 71C is >$130 here. Too much over the the other meters?

Dave.

[iloveelectronics]

If you want to through a Uni-T into the $100 fray, the n the UT71A for $115?

I'd get lynched by the Uni-T fanboys if I didn't include one!
The 71C is >$130 here. Too much over the the other meters?

Dave.

Perhaps just throw the very popular UT61E into the $100 mix?

[blackknife]

Include also the "Prova 903 multimeter" !

[Wytnucls]

If you want to through a Uni-T into the $100 fray, the n the UT71A for $115?

I'd get lynched by the Uni-T fanboys if I didn't include one!
The 71C is >$130 here. Too much over the the other meters?

Dave.

Go for the 71A or 71B then, if you can get one for less in Oz. Same meter really, just lower count mainly.

[EEVblog]

Perhaps just throw the very popular UT61E into the $100 mix?

Possibly, but it's more like a killer $50 meter really.
I hate Uni-T, so many bloody options.
The UT71A and UT71B are in the $110 price range in Oz, but wildly different specs.
I chose the "wrong" Uni-T in the old $100 shootout and have been copping flack fr that ever since! 

Dave.

[firewalker]

Ask the companies directly. "What is your 100 $ DMM".

Alexander.

[tld]

I hate Uni-T, so many bloody options.

So many bloody options, and *none* of them get it entirely right.  Want backlight?  Then you have to give up something else you'd like, etc.

You'd think that when they put out a new model, they'd at least try to fix what's lacking with the previous, but not Uni-T.

Anyway, the UT61E would probably serve you well as a "baseline" in the test, something for the others to exceed.  It'd also provide a shared point of reference with the viewers, a lot of which seem to have it.  There's a ton of reviews and teardowns as well, for those that might not.

If you draw up the other meters on a scale (not necessarily literally), a shared point of reference will make the scale a lot more valuable.

The other two videos ($50 and $100 shootout), have been somewhat of a go-to-thing for a lot of people, and they were how I found eevblog in the first place.  Someone mentioned them on IRC when I was asking about a meter, or some such thing.  Including a common point of reference, and what seems to be the most discussed and considered meter, would surely fit in such a picture.

Could be worthwhile even if you'd have to do 5 $100 meters, plus the baseline?

Other than that, there seems to be a lot of OEMing, rebranding and that kind of thing going on.  I think the video would do well to not end as a review of two models of one model, three of another, but rather aim for unique designs.  I haven't been able to keep up, so I have little to offer on which are rebrandings of others. :/

(feels like I ask, but cat't offer, but... )

Anyway, I'm glad you're doing this, and looking forward to the video.

tld

[Wytnucls]

The Uni-T UT71 range is not fragmented like the UT61 variants.
All the features found on the A model are carried throughout the range.
Need temperature, higher accuracy or internal data logging (100 points)? Go for B model or higher
Need better accuracy still and higher count? Go for C model or higher (40,000 count)
Need large memory internal data logging? Go for D model (10,000 points)
Need power measurement function? Go for E model
Quite a logical progression and cost effectiveness according to one's needs.

[tld]

The Uni-T UT71 range is not as fragmented as the UT61.

Sounds better range/feature-wise, but isn't the UT71 "known bad"?

(I'm asking because I don't know, just seems to be claimed when discussion pops up around it on the interwebs).

If it's "known bad", it might not make a good choice to include in the test, at least not for a baseline like the UT61E could be.

If I'm just mistaken (which I hope), then it could be very interesting indeed.

(I suppose both would be nice, but I'm not betting on Dave turning it into a Uni-T shootout. )

tld

[tld]

Sounds better range/feature-wise, but isn't the UT71 "known bad"?

If nothing else, then for the archive...

This might have been my bad.  I got a bit curious, worried that I might have spoken too soon, and it turns out there are several favorable reviews of the UT71-series, with some bad comments about the UT71E-model specifically.  When I tracked down the references I vaguely recalled, they all seem to be from one user here on the forum:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/review-uni-t-ut81b-scopemeter/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/which-dmm/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/anyone-ever-use-any-of-the-uni-t-lcr-meters-any-internal-pics/

Maybe differences between models, many be was extra unlucky with his, I don't know.

Just figured I should add some balance to my previous comment, sorry about that one guys.

tld
 

[Wytnucls]

Well, the UT71 is certainly not perfect.
The main criticism has been about its weak input protection and rightly so.
Apart from that, it is just a normal multimeter, with an all-in DMM ADC and a microcontroller.
Its accuracy is within the published specifications, garanteed for one year. Like any meter, it should be calibrated on a regular basis after that time period.
A few vocal individuals have had issues with the cheap meters they bought on line, venting their frustration on blogs and YouTube, instead of sending their meters to a UNI-T repair center.
One ignorant individual, with buyer's remorse, made some negative videos about perceived flaws with his meter, which didn't exist.
I guess one seldom hears from happy customers.
I own two of them and never regretted buying them, to the contrary. I do use them mostly as bench meters.
If one needs a meter for regular work on high power circuits, there certainly are better options out there.

[EEVblog]

One ignorant individual, with buyer's remorse, made some negative videos about perceived flaws with his meter, which didn't exist.

Got a link for that?

I guess one seldom hears from happy customers.

Not so, plenty of Uni-T and other cheap meter fanboys spruiking on here for example.
People just remember the negative stuff more.

Dave.

[Wytnucls]

Here is one video:


You can find the others by searching for UT71.

About happy customers, I was thinking of the UT71 owners in particular.
I only know of a couple of them on your blog. There should be more, but they seem to keep a low profile or perhaps few people here, actually own this meter.
Yes, I know, there are plenty of 61E fanboys here.

[EEVblog]

HEADS UP:
I've contacted Brymen and they are happy to send me the BM869 and BM857a for review. And for the $100 price bracket I suggested the BM815A, but they suggested the BM255 instead.
Thoughts?
Get your opinions in before I hit reply...

Dave.

[nanofrog]

And for the $100 price bracket I suggested the BM815A, but they suggested the BM255 instead.
Thoughts?
Get your opinions in before I hit reply...

Although it seems to be an older model, I'd probably be prone to consider the MB817A as it has a bit of an edge spec wise at a quick glance, including safety.

[Wytnucls]

BM255: 6000 count and not even True RMS for 100$. They must have something better than that surely!

[EEVblog]

BM255: 6000 count and not even True RMS for 100$. They must have something better than that surely!

I'd at least go the BM257 which is slightly over $100 and True RMS.

Dave.

[nanofrog]

BM255: 6000 count and not even True RMS for 100$. They must have something better than that surely!

I'd at least go the BM257 which is slightly over $100 and True RMS.

How much over the magic $100 figure would you be willing to consider for a meter that's worth it (= excellent value for the few extra clams)?