R&S MXO4 review round up by @Sighound36:"Rhode collected the scope at the end of last week, though Dillbert here forgot to pack the scope cover! (Insert appropriate idiot gag here lol) All rectified now.
I would like to thank the team @ R&S UK for their quality service and back throughout the process particularly Joel Jessop & project manager oscilloscopes @ R&S UK Nick Le Bas who’s technical feedback and assistance has been first class.
The MX04 had been with me for over two weeks, I made of point of using it exclusively for my day-to-day R&D, debug and audio investigations. Only used the Lecroy’s for direct comparison purposes.
Well in the previous posts you can read my thoughts on the use of the instrument.
So, to the round up:Thoughts on the experience which the scope imparted on myself were very positive.
I would like to point out first that we have been 12-bit scope users for over four years, so we are well versed in their benefits of much lower noise & higher accuracy measurement potential. We are an SME company and have five employees and are involved with ultra-quiet power supplies/IoT development (home & wearable tech) some EV work /Green energy projects/Digital audio products. The company has 20+ scopes in various locations and eight of them are Lecroy’s so we are no strangers to 12bit accuracy.
The Rhode & Schwarz MX04 is the company’s first venture into 12-bit ADC scope production and for myself its really good first entrance into this segment of the market. Its nice constructed, great form factor sits on the bench easily and comfortably. Screen is good and I love the bezel less formfactor these days. Probes mount and dismount with a quality feel, and engage with that clunk you would expect from a name like R&S.
The scope boot up time is pretty ‘smick’ as Dave would utter, from memory its under a minute or there abouts.The one item that really strikes you, is this scope is seriously quiet, it is deathly quiet, although that’s all down to being totally embedded hardware I suspect and Nick informed that the FFT has its own processing section as well (which I suspected due to the speed of said feature!)
Stock memory is 400Meg and let’s be honest for most users this is more than they will every use, although expandable to 800Meg should you wish (cost option)
Its sample rate on two channels is the norm for this instrument sector Lecroy’s Wavesurfer 4000HD is 5GS/s on two channels, Rigol DHO4000 is 4GS/s and the Siglent SDS6000A is 5GS/s.
So, the MX04 is one really neat package that’s quiet as a whisper with lack of bench presence (space wise), great screen with nice touch gesture ability as well.
Connectivity is all there, RJ45/USB/HDMI/Ref in etc/DSO 16 channels and options twin channel generator.
4.5 million wave forms impressive, 18-bit humm only available with the 20Mhz BW restriction in place and realistically its between 14 & 16bits depending on what BW and sample rate you are using.
Loan scope I used didn’t come with the digital probe set so I can’t comment on that aspect of the scope sorry.
The MX04 fast acquisition time, images on the screen looked crisp and clean easy to identify signal fluctuations and time lapse triggering set up points when looking for those rare event captures.
The FFT is in all honest what I expect from agreeably the best RF measurement company today (maybe the Keysight UXA has some claim to that). Anyway, its fast, precise, easy to read and to SET up one area I appreciated over my Lecroy. The image presented is top draw in the FFT department.
R&S know RF like very few others, so if I was going to entice potential sales from other scope manufacturers why not play to my strengths, it will attract certain buyers no question and that is what all this is really about sales after all.
Given that R&S are relative newcomers to the scope market, they have come on a long way since they entered this market and given, they are privately owned it shows commitment to longer term projects and ranges.
Summing up, this scope warrants more detailed reply than the half baked Keysight MXR offering three years ago (nine of the circles I more in industry wise use these devices I found yet)
What I liked:- Compact & clean lines on the MX04
- Its inconspicuousness on your lab or work bench due to its formfactor and quietness did I mention its very quiet!
- Boot up time & screen clear & crisp views
- Accuracy, repeatability & instrument confidence for myself VERY IMPORTANT
- ****Pricing**** see below.
- HDMI output also very good, for myself this would be a deal breaker for others no.
- Probe quality, identification & calibration excellent.
Not so liked:- The GUI, sorry it’s a mishmash of Keysight/Teledyne/R&S take ways, way too busy. Yes, lots of drop-down options but no flow to using the instrument.
- Resolution enhancement HD yes all the others have a software defined type of filter, but having an HD button that lights up well ok? 18 bits @ 20Mhz or less I know it’s all number crunching but did it really give my anything that I don’t already have Er... no.
- The lights that are around the main rotary knobs are a little bright and distracting (Personal I know).
- When in zoom mode, no indication of that, a zoom descriptor box next to the channel being used box would also be helpful.
- Being able to use the mouse to click and highlight the portions of the waveform of interest to appear rather that showing that four-way arrow indicator.
- When the FFT peak table or marker functions, on a split screen both the FFT & waveform ‘pulsated’ at the same time possibly on the sweep?
- The peak table I just couldn’t move it from the lower left-hand corner which I found strange, used both fingers and mouse. With the frequency markers on the harmonic spurs which were nice and ledge able they looked worse as the two screens pulsed.
- The lack of decoding & serial data apps is telling at the moment, I know that a power analysis app is in the pipeline soon.
Some of them may seem small gripes which I can see and understand, however if you are going to lay out this coinage then you need to feel comfortable with all aspects of your chosen instrument and this for some maybe a sticking point, for others no issues, fully appreciate that.
If having a ‘smick’ FFT and 18 bits in a nice rounded package for you then the MX04 must be on your audition list near the top.
Costings, when this was released the top of line model was close on 30K, today 9 months later the top-of-the-line model with all options and gennys is around 19K for the 1Ghz model I was loaned (plus vat here in the UK). A 200Mhz basic model is £7460 which I would suggest is tempting for a few folks and SME’s I feel. Not sure this is a hacker special though lol
Do I feel it was the world’s most powerful scope? Some, marketing blurb yes lol, yes it more than capable in multiple areas and does that very well indeed and without fuss. However not once did I feel hey, I missing something here apart from the very slick FFT and set up menu absolutely 100% its just right no question.
The Lecroy’s are computationally more powerful (just not geared for 4M waveforms plus) with dedicated apps & the way their MAUI OS runs, but they are powerful PC’s in essence. In fairness the MX04 is ahead of the Wavesurfer 4000HD same sample rate and runs 2.5GS/s on all four channels and slightly better than the HDO4000 which has 10GS/s rate. Though these have far more apps and mature OS.
That said, firmware and features will grow with the R&S MX04 over time, it’s a new platform and with their future ranges not too far away and greater bandwidths and sample rates in the offering there is a lot of promise that will be delivered by R&S I feel.
The package has been engineered to shake up the market and they (R&S) have worked hard to achieve this level of performance. Respect is due here.
Would I change for the MX04, no we are too far down the Lecroy road and probe costs are the biggest outlay here. However as good as the MX04 and it is decent, it’s no 6000 series Lecory, but you do pay a premium for this. IMHO the GUI is far more intuitive and useable, plus the tool box apps are many and very in depth. Very mature software with regular updates. The fact there is no Jitter/power integrity /power conversion /full serial embedded debug is critical for ourselves.
For other potential purchased this may not register for you.
What I can say is this if you are in the market for a quality scope at realistic pricing and are stuck in 8 bit land then, the R&S MX04 should be on your demonstration list no question at all.
Thoroughly recommended B+/A-"
by Sighound36
Home
Help
Search
Login
Register
