first time buyers oscilloscope analysis paralysis help!!!!!

[njkmonty]

after asking questions, reading , watching , reading some more, I thought i had come to a decision.
Rigol Ds1054z
or
Siglent SDS1202X-E

i really dont think i will need a 4 probe model , however good UI
nice big crisp screen, fast response as possible for that price.

But i really also only envisage doing basic stuff,
 measure power supply regulation
biasing bbd chips in effects pedals
biasing clocks in effects pedals
working on valve amps

no real digital requirements come to mind

i dont really want to spend much more than the above , and prefer to buy a reputable brand.
is there a different model within these brands that ticks my boxes?
or do all of these scopes have all this extra stuff i probably wont use? 

i dont want to buy a second hand analogue

just need someone to push me over the edge?

sorry for the gazilianth scope question!

[tautech]

 
Yep, get a DSO but this:

or do all of these scopes have all this extra stuff i probably wont use?

Of that you can be reasonably sure for some time until your skills develop.

SDS1202X-E is a great little scope and my best seller still. You won't be disappointed with its feature set or performance.

[Fungus]

is there a different model within these brands that ticks my boxes?

GW-Instek GDS1054B is good for audio work.

[GeorgeOfTheJungle]

  

[njkmonty]

i gather this is a daily occurrence? 


 how is the GDS1054B  better for audio work?   from what i can tell its specs arent as good as the siglent?  or am i missing something

[Fungus]

SDS1202X-E is a great little scope and my best seller still.

"Best seller" out of a list of how many? Do you even stock the Rigol DS1054Z? 

 

[tautech]

i gather this is a daily occurrence? 

Not daily but we live for it ! 

[njkmonty]

is there anyone here who doesn't have a financial interest in their advice?

[tautech]

SDS1202X-E is a great little scope and my best seller still.

Do you even stock the Rigol DS1054Z?

Nope, I turned Rigol down when they came knocking. 

[tautech]

is there anyone here who doesn't have a financial interest in their advice?

Plainly visible in my profile.

[njkmonty]

yes it is

[njkmonty]

what scope would you recommend if it wasnt in your respective portfolios?

[Fungus]

how is the GDS1054B  better for audio work?   from what i can tell its specs arent as good as the siglent?  or am i missing something

The input circuits are very nicely designed, analog-wise. Good amplifiers and good noise levels.

It also has a much nicer UI. Faster to navigate, and with a separate button for menu selections (instead of pushing a twisty knob).

Neither of those things appear on spec sheets, believe it or not.

[tautech]

what scope would you recommend if it wasnt in your respective portfolios?

There is very good reason why I stock SDS1202X-E and SDS1104X-E primarily for buyers like yourself.
From the Siglent stable I could choose a number of other models to stock but purposely don't as they don't offer the same bang for buck as the above do.
I will say hand on heart that you'd probably never need to buy anything else, such is the run my customers get with them.

[njkmonty]

Can you put your hand on your heart Fungus?
 

or should i keep mine on my wallet!

well bugger me Im still on the fence!

[nctnico]

i gather this is a daily occurrence? 


 how is the GDS1054B  better for audio work? 

It has input filtering so you can filter away excess noise. OTOH the Siglent oscilloscopes have high-res which is a fixed bandwidth filter. In the end the hardware of the GDS1054B is pretty much the same as the Siglent oscilloscopes mentioned. In the end it basically comes down to price & local availability. Another oscilloscope you could throw into the mix is the MicSig TO1072. This should be in the same price bracket. This is touch-screen only and it has a battery so besides bench use it is also portable.

[njkmonty]

 
nctnico

[GeorgeOfTheJungle]

working on valve amps

no real digital requirements come to mind

You definitely want one you can float with ease. Scopes that run on batteries float. A MicSig TO1152 for example.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=micsig+to1152&_sop=15

[Fungus]

But i really also only envisage doing basic stuff,

That's because you don't own one yet. 

...and (b) That doesn't mean a more expensive one wouldn't be much better for a beginner. It's not all about tick boxes on spec sheets, the UI layout can make basic information easier/faster to find and different models can show more information, more clearly, on screen.

eg. Do you want your measurements shown as nondescript numbers at the bottom of the screen or overlaid on the traces, like this?


Scopes that do that are more expensive but they can certainly help beginners to use basic functions.   

Another example: The Rigol DS1054Z has a row of buttons down the left side for turning on measurements. Push a button, the measurement appears. The Siglents make you go through a bunch of popup windows and require a lot of twisting of the multi function knob to do the same thing.


The Keysight 1000X series is the king of the "stuff that isn't on spec sheets" in the sub-$1000 bracket. It's Dave's favorite daily-use 'scope and easily worth the $150 price difference over the Siglent if you have the budget.

[Fungus]

well bugger me Im still on the fence!

Don't expect to come away with a clear answer...  this is a nest of hornets. 

[nctnico]

working on valve amps

no real digital requirements come to mind

You definitely want one you can float with ease. Scopes that run on batteries float. A MicSig TO1152 for example.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=micsig+to1152&_sop=15

Please don't float an oscilloscope. You can still touch the metal parts and get a lethal shock. The only good way to measure high voltages is by using a high voltage probe or a differential probe. These aren't extremely expensive nowadays.

[Mr. Scram]

Oh look. Another Siglent versus Rigol versus GW-Instek with the exact damned same usual suspects. 

[njkmonty]

yep!

what im looking for is a similar experience to the following.
i previously had a $100 dmm
then after a while i thought bugger it i will save up for a better one,
after doing the same procrastinating fence sitting research i bought a fluke 87v
from that experienced i was amazed just using the continuity tested how nice and fast it was to use.
now i feel i dont need to look again for another dmm.
its not the most expensive available, and i enjoy using it.

Im looking for the equivilent experience now with a scope,   im just trying to find my "FLuke"

is the keysight worth aiming for ?  or am i just entering the endless staircase of upsales?

[Fungus]

You definitely want one you can float with ease. Scopes that run on batteries float. A MicSig TO1152 for example.

Please don't float an oscilloscope.

Yep. Always float the device under test. You don't want lethal voltages appearing on your 'scope's BNC input connectors (or, by extension, the clips on the ends of your oscilloscope probes).

[Fungus]

Im looking for the equivilent experience now with a scope,   im just trying to find my "FLuke"

is the keysight worth aiming for ?

Definitely, 100%, yes!

(and that's the information you should have given at the start...)