"Best" scope for ~ $1200 ?

[knave]

I have some end-of-year pressure to upgrade.

I wouldn't mind a new (faster) oscilloscope with digital inputs.  I have a 1054Z already and it's OK but not great, though was a good price at the time.

I see some recent comments about MSO5000 series but I can't tell if the unlock to 350MHz is still possible on those?  What about the 100MHz models?

Thinking MSO5074 or MSO5104 (is there a hardware difference) assuming I can unlock as I did for the earlier models.


Thanks!

[tautech]

I have some end-of-year pressure to upgrade.

I wouldn't mind a new (faster) oscilloscope with digital inputs.  I have a 1054Z already and it's OK but not great, though was a good price at the time.

I see some recent comments about MSO5000 series but I can't tell if the unlock to 350MHz is still possible on those?  What about the 100MHz models?

Thinking MSO5074 or MSO5104 (is there a hardware difference) assuming I can unlock as I did for the earlier models.
Thanks!

Welcome to the forum.

Finishing in a few days are the promos on a number of Siglent models for what firmly now fits in your price range is SDS2104X Plus reduced from $1400 to $1k and the 6 optional decodes bundled in. Sorry not in NA market.
Further if you want LA/MSO capability the very nice SPL2016 16ch MSO probe and licensing and FG licensing for an additional $220.
https://int.siglent.com/info/detail-63.html

SDS2000X Plus is a 500 MHz design that even in my own investigations is very simple to unlock and many members here will attest to also.

[bingo600]

I bought a 2104-Plus MSO , just after the "Offer started" and have all options incl. 500Mhz enabled 
IMHO the 2104-Plus is best value for the money.

Don't miss out on the Offer that expires Dec-31.

The MSO probe is "extra" , but there is a DIY design on the forum.

/Bingo

[BillyO]

Welcome to the forum.

Finishing in a few days are the promos on a number of Siglent models for what firmly now fits in your price range is SDS2104X Plus reduced from $1400 to $1k and the 6 optional decodes bundled in.
Further if you want LA/MSO capability the very nice SPL2016 16ch MSO probe and licensing and FG licensing for an additional $220.
https://int.siglent.com/info/detail-63.html

SDS2000X Plus is a 500 MHz design that even in my own investigations is very simple to unlock and many members here will attest to also.

In Canada (or anywhere in NA) he won't get the 6 optional decodes.  We don't get that deal here for some reason, but there is no problem putting them in yourself.

It's still a kick-ass deal though.  Mine is working out very well.

https://siglentna.com/news-article/sds2000x-plus-super-phosphor-oscilloscopes-promotions/

[Fungus]

I see some recent comments about MSO5000 series but I can't tell if the unlock to 350MHz is still possible on those?

Yes it is, and you can get them for much less than $1000 these days.

[mwb1100]

Rigol MSO5074: current promotion for $800 USD

• 70MHz, can be hacked to 350MHz
• promotion includes serial decoders, power analysis and enabling the wavegen (memory depth increase isn't included).  I believe that all options, including memory depth, can be enabled through hack
  
• digital inputs require a probe - $400 for the Rigol PLA2216 Probe.  PLA2216 clones are available on eBay for about $80 - they appear to be based on a reverse engineered design from this forum.  I can't say how they compare quality-wise.

Siglent SDS2104X Plus: current promotion for $1000 USD

• 100 MHz, can be hacked to 500MHz
• decoders for the most common serial protocols are standard
• also on promotion is a package for $219 that include licenses for the digital inputs, the SPL2016 digital probe hardware, and a license to enable the waveform generator
• I believe that hacks can enable all options, and there are clones of the SPL2016 probes available on eBay for about $40.  I have no idea about the quality of those clones

 
So you can get either of these scopes including the OEM digital probes for about $1200, then hack them to 350MHz (MSO5074) or 500MHz (SDS2104X Plus).
 
Either is a great value, but I'd lean toward the SDS2104X Plus myself (I own an MSO5074 that I haven't hacked yet, but not the SDS2104X Plus).  If you go for the 3rd party digital probes you'd save around $170 going for the MSO5074.

I believe both promotions expire Dec 31.

[MarkusAJ]

I have some end-of-year pressure to upgrade.

I wouldn't mind a new (faster) oscilloscope with digital inputs.  I have a 1054Z already and it's OK but not great, though was a good price at the time.

I see some recent comments about MSO5000 series but I can't tell if the unlock to 350MHz is still possible on those?  What about the 100MHz models?

Thinking MSO5074 or MSO5104 (is there a hardware difference) assuming I can unlock as I did for the earlier models.


Thanks!

If you’re leaning toward the Rigol MSO5074, you should read these 2 threads below before you order it.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/how-much-noise-floor-and-other-things-matter-in-oscilloscope-usability/msg3891491/#msg3891491
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/rigol-mso5000-artifacts/

I ordered both, the MSO5074 and SDS2104X+. After playing for about 1 week, I sent back the MSO5074.

[mwb1100]

I forgot to mention that there's a youtube directly comparing the Rigol MSO5000 and Siglent SDS2000X Plus:

  - https://youtu.be/93QUNt1z6Gw  (note that the XY mode problem on the Rigol mentioned early in the video has been fixed in the latest firmware)

[knave]

Thanks for all the feedback!

I did end up getting the SDS2104X Plus w/ SPL2016.  It arrived a couple of days ago.

The scope build quality seems fine; the SPL2016 feels a little cheap and overpriced, it might be the ribbon cable is mini-coax though, which could explain some of the cost.

The probes are mediocre.  I might get some other probes, I'm not in a hurry to spend though if I don't have to.

In terms of features/reliability...  works so far.

[tautech]

Thanks for all the feedback!

I did end up getting the SDS2104X Plus w/ SPL2016.  It arrived a couple of days ago.

The scope build quality seems fine; the SPL2016 feels a little cheap and overpriced, it might be the ribbon cable is mini-coax though, which could explain some of the cost.

SPL2016 with licensing and FG option licensing is one hell of a deal if you managed to snag one at the promotional $219.
SPL2016 on its own normally retails for $ 379 which indeed is pricey but no worse than from any other brand that uses the exact same logic probe.
At one time the grabbers were US made but a set I checked the other day were unbranded however for years very similar Tek grabbers have been $5ea in bulk which for a pack of 20 that comes with SPL2016 is $100 of its value.
Like I said, if you got it for $220 it's one hell of a deal.

The probes are mediocre.  I might get some other probes, I'm not in a hurry to spend though if I don't have to.

They are.
Unfortunately marketing decisions had only the 350 MHz model supplied with fixed 10x self sensing probes which are double the price of the PP215 probes that the lower BW models are supplied with:
https://siglentna.com/product/sp2035a-auto-sense-350-mhz-oscilloscope-probes/

[knave]

Yes, I got SPL2106 at the discounted rate.

Is there any point getting 500MHz probes over 350MHz?  Unclear how good the front end is.

Maybe https://probemaster.com/5900-series-500-mhz-oscilloscope-probe-10x/ with the readout pin (not sure if that works on Siglent)

[2N3055]

Yes, I got SPL2106 at the discounted rate.

Is there any point getting 500MHz probes over 350MHz?  Unclear how good the front end is.

Maybe https://probemaster.com/5900-series-500-mhz-oscilloscope-probe-10x/ with the readout pin (not sure if that works on Siglent)

Front end is excellent. But passive probes have limited use over 200-300MHz anyways. They present as a too much load to source..
Those Probemaster with readout pin should work no problem. Compensation range will be at the edge.

But I wouldn't buy new probes yet. Ones that come with the scope are more than good enough..
If you really don't like them (mechanically, or how they feel in hand) or they get damaged then you can always buy new ones..

And if you do decide to buy new ones, 300Mhz passive probes will do just fine.

[tautech]

Yes, I got SPL2106 at the discounted rate.

Is there any point getting 500MHz probes over 350MHz?  Unclear how good the front end is.

Maybe https://probemaster.com/5900-series-500-mhz-oscilloscope-probe-10x/ with the readout pin (not sure if that works on Siglent)

They will, in fact every 10x autosense probe I've tried gets sensed just fine and just as 2N3055 says only the compensation range adjustment needs to match.

[Psi]

+1 for Siglent

I have the SDS2104X Plus and love it.

[tautech]

+1 for Siglent

I have the SDS2104X Plus and love it.

Sorry we couldn't offer you yours at the recent promotional pricing. 

[bdunham7]

The probes are mediocre.  I might get some other probes, I'm not in a hurry to spend though if I don't have to.

The PP215 probes are the dreaded 1X/10X switchable and they aren't particularly deluxe feeling or appearing, but they do have a complete accessory kit and used properly, their overall performance is actually very good.  I wouldn't be in a hurry to swap in some other 10X probe.  I still have 4 of them attached to my scope by default even though I have other probes like the Tek P6139.  You might want a 100X probe or two and if you can find one, a Tek P6156 10X/500R that works with the 50R inputs.

Is there any point getting 500MHz probes over 350MHz?  Unclear how good the front end is.

There's almost no point in getting high-impedance probes like that anyway, as 2N3055 explained.  What you should be looking at are the input capacitance and whether the compensation range matches your scope.  I'm not aware of any 10X/10M probes that are going to be a significant improvement over your PP215s in most real life cases. 

If you want to probe higher frequency circuits, there are 100X probes like the Staubli Isoprobe IV/100X (500MHz/4.6pF) and then there is the aforementioned Tek P6156 (3.5GHz/<1pF).  The front end of the SDS2104X is more than up to the task as long as you use it as a 2-channel scope.  With 3 or 4 channels activated, you are probably better off sticking with the original probes.

[knave]

The PP215 probes are the dreaded 1X/10X switchable and they aren't particularly deluxe feeling or appearing, but they do have a complete accessory kit and used properly, their overall performance is actually very good.  I wouldn't be in a hurry to swap in some other 10X probe.  I still have 4 of them attached to my scope by default even though I have other probes like the Tek P6139.  You might want a 100X probe or two and if you can find one, a Tek P6156 10X/500R that works with the 50R inputs.

I'm not in a hurry, it's mostly an observation that the build quality of the scope feels decent, the probes much less so.

[2N3055]

The PP215 probes are the dreaded 1X/10X switchable and they aren't particularly deluxe feeling or appearing, but they do have a complete accessory kit and used properly, their overall performance is actually very good.  I wouldn't be in a hurry to swap in some other 10X probe.  I still have 4 of them attached to my scope by default even though I have other probes like the Tek P6139.  You might want a 100X probe or two and if you can find one, a Tek P6156 10X/500R that works with the 50R inputs.

I'm not in a hurry, it's mostly an observation that the build quality of the scope feels decent, the probes much less so.

As I said, they'll do fine for time being. Probes are consumables, they get damaged etc.
And despite you say they look cheap to you, they have very respectable specs.
Buy new ones when you wear them out.

Like Bdunham7 says, buy some other, specialty probes. For instance, I would rather buy Micsig HV diff probe than that Probemaster you pointed out.
That will give you very important capability no passive probe will..
I have one passive 100X probe (Hameg) that has very low capacitance on tip and is 1500V.. That is interesting too.
I also have an RF demodulating probe, that was very useful to look at RFID ASK modulation for instance...
So plenty other capability to be had for the same money you would spend on probe that will pretty much measure same things as the one you have.

[knave]

Like Bdunham7 says, buy some other, specialty probes. For instance, I would rather buy Micsig HV diff probe than that Probemaster you pointed out.
That will give you very important capability no passive probe will..

That's a good point, I might look at that as it's "on the list".

I have one passive 100X probe (Hameg) that has very low capacitance on tip and is 1500V.. That is interesting too.
I also have an RF demodulating probe, that was very useful to look at RFID ASK modulation for instance...
So plenty other capability to be had for the same money you would spend on probe that will pretty much measure same things as the one you have.

I have some 100x probes elsewhere, I don't know if they will compensate I haven't tried, I forget the bw.  I got them when working with inverters and wasn't keen on using 10x near the scope limit.