Agilent DSO-X3024A v. Rigol DS4024

[Attorney]

I am considering one or the other.   A big factor is whether the Agilent has gradient brilliance like the Rigol.  I am looking for a display that comes as close as possible to analog phosphor.  It looks like the Agilent does but has anyone here compared it with the Rigol? 

Also, will either scope allow for the simultaneous display of o-scope on the top screen and FFT on the bottom?  Many thanks!

Paul

[AndyC_772]

The intensity graded display on both scopes looks very similar. The Agilent shows a much greater number of waveforms/sec, though unless you're looking to spot very infrequent anomalies that's not likely to be a big deal.

Both will show FFT and time domain signals at the same time, but there's a really dramatic difference in terms of display update speed between the two. I've found the Rigol bordering on unusable, whereas the Agilent's waveform display is unaffected by the presence of the FFT trace.

The two scopes are similar on paper in terms of spec, but they're a world apart in terms of how usable they are in a real lab. I don't regret the extra cost of the 3000X at all. (Tip: there's a special offer on at the moment whereby you get a free bandwidth upgrade, so you'll get a 3024 for the price of a 3014 - check Agilent's web site for details. It's a major bargain IMHO.)

[Attorney]

Thanks for the feedback.  In comparing datasheets, it looks like the Agilent DSOX-3000 series has 64 level intensity grading whereas Rigol claims 256 levels with their DS4000 series.  It's tempting to say that a 4x numerical display grading difference results in 4 times the human visual contrast depth, but I doubt that's the case.

Paul

[AndyC_772]

I use both types of scope regularly (DS4054 vs MSO-X3054A) - there's little or nothing to choose between them in terms of the appearance of the waveforms on screen.

The Rigol has an enormous memory, which for some jobs is really useful. The Agilent, however, is much faster and more responsive in every way. Those differences are way more significant than a few shades of colour that I can't even see, IMHO.

[Hydrawerk]

Buy the Agilent DSOX3000. If you have enough money...

[Electro Fan]

One other item that might be worth considering - the Agilent DSOX can be upgraded to a MSOX.  While it will cost more in either configuration (DSO or MSO), at least there is a way to get to the MSO from the DSO as a starting point - which until someone confirms otherwise doesn't appear to be the case with the Rigol.  (Maybe in the future Rigol will offer this capability).

[Attorney]

Thanks to all for the help and guidance.  I just placed an order for the DSO-X 3024A and took advantage of the bandwidth upgrade promotion.   Should be quite an improvement over my Hantek DSO 5102B and Tek 2465B.  The Tek stays, the Hantek will find a new home.

Paul   

[Electro Fan]

That will be a pretty deluxe tandem:  DSOX3024A and 2465B

[grego]

Thanks to all for the help and guidance.  I just placed an order for the DSO-X 3024A and took advantage of the bandwidth upgrade promotion.   Should be quite an improvement over my Hantek DSO 5102B and Tek 2465B.  The Tek stays, the Hantek will find a new home.

Paul

If you don't mind me asking, what did you get quoted for the 3024?

[dr.diesel]

I wonder if the new Rigol MSO4000s will cure any of the responsiveness, or FFT performance issues?  Considering the available hacks for the DS, and hopefully for the new MSOs as well, the value is pretty hard to beat.

[grego]

Yeah - you can't really complain.  They aren't discounting (resellers that is) below the next lowest tier price but who cares -- get a $~10k scope (MSOX3034 - $9169 list - normal discount would probably be around $8000) for $5500?  That's kind of a no-brainer (assuming it's in your price range). 

[grego]

Basically, after talking to Newark and getting pricing - you can get a MSOX3024 for only $500 more than the upcoming Rigol MSO4000 series (MSO4024 specifically so equivalent bandwidth).

Something worth considering.

[Electro Fan]

Basically, after talking to Newark and getting pricing - you can get a MSOX3024 for only $500 more than the upcoming Rigol MSO4000 series (MSO4024 specifically so equivalent bandwidth).

Something worth considering.

How much does that work out to be?

[grego]

Basically, after talking to Newark and getting pricing - you can get a MSOX3024 for only $500 more than the upcoming Rigol MSO4000 series (MSO4024 specifically so equivalent bandwidth).

Something worth considering.

How much does that work out to be?

MSOX3024 is only $4500 with the current deal.  DSOX3034 is only $4200 - or $5500 for the MSOX3304.

So Rigol MSO4024 is $4000 from tequipment.net ($3962 to be exact) and the MSOX3024 is $4500.  Draw your own conclusions on which is "better" - Rigol has more memory and true 1mv/div, Agilent has that sexy 1M wfps and is a more responsive scope.  Rigol can be feature unlocked which is not an insignificant feature (cost-wise) compared to the Agilent.

I had a Rigol MSO4024 on order as I mentioned earlier -- but when I ran the numbers with this new Agilent deal it made more sense to go that route - I get a better scope (I don't think we an argue that Agilent is not better than Rigol) for about the same money that will also retain resale value significantly longer/better.  Since the only things I really need (and not immediately) are CAN decodes I can add in features as I find I want/need them.  I'm ok not having 140Mpt memory (although I will admit that's pretty damn sexy).

Bottom line is the MSOX 2000 series is now a BETTER deal than the Rigol MSO series and the 4000 is functionally at a similar price-point (slight premium, unless you factor in the fact that Rigol can be hacked which will change the math significantly).

Rigol went with the Agilent pricing on the MSO option - it's basically a $1300 add-on from the DSO model as well.

[Attorney]

FYI - Newark/element 14 has the Agilent DSO-X-3024A on a super promotional sale right now at USD $3222. <gasp!>  That's way better than the bandwidth upgrade promotion going on at the moment.  In fact, in about one week, the street price of the 3024A through Newark dropped about USD $1,000.  That means, grab 'em up now while supplies last.  Newark would normally be the last place (okay, eBay) where I would look to purchase a new Agilent DSO.  However, it was where I purchased my first scope -- a B&K Dynascan model back in the late 1970s.  It was 5 MHz, single channel of course and was used mostly for FM broadcast audio measurements. 

Or, with the Agilent DSO-X series getting a bit "long in the tooth," I would not be surprised to see a replacement Agilent series on the near horizon.  When a pricing drops that much, something is almost always happening in the background.

Paul 

[grego]

FYI - Newark/element 14 has the Agilent DSO-X-3024A on a super promotional sale right now at USD $3222. <gasp!>  That's way better than the bandwidth upgrade promotion going on at the moment.  In fact, in about one week, the street price of the 3024A through Newark dropped about USD $1,000.  That means, grab 'em up now while supplies last.  Newark would normally be the last place (okay, eBay) where I would look to purchase a new Agilent DSO.  However, it was where I purchased my first scope -- a B&K Dynascan model back in the late 1970s.  It was 5 MHz, single channel of course and was used mostly for FM broadcast audio measurements. 

Or, with the Agilent DSO-X series getting a bit "long in the tooth," I would not be surprised to see a replacement Agilent series on the near horizon.  When a pricing drops that much, something is almost always happening in the background.

Paul

Heh - they are all selling them at that price right now - it's the promo - what's even crazier is the DSOX3034 is only $1000 more at $4200.

I agree something else may be on the horizon - or it could just be they are feeling some pricing pressure from Rigol.  Personally I think they are in a decent position now with this promo.  The X2000 series beats the Rigol 4000 on pricing and the 3000 now has a slight premium - so it kind of sandwiches the Rigol 4000 series into a weird position.

[Attorney]

Tequipment.net is showing "clearance" on one DSO-X3000 model, and "discontinued" on another.  Sure does look like a new generation is coming down the pike.

Paul

[grego]

Tequipment.net is showing "clearance" on one DSO-X3000 model, and "discontinued" on another.  Sure does look like a new generation is coming down the pike.

Paul

I wouldn't take tequipment as an indicator, they aren't a normal agilent reseller.  Clearance is probably because they have one in stock and want to move it.  In fact when I contacted them about cancelling my Rigol MSO4000 order they asked why - they hadn't seen the Agilent promo.  At least the person I was dealing with hadn't.

Doesn't change the fact that a new model may be coming - but that's fine with me - still get a new scope that beats anything else in its price-point for less money.

[tized]

MSOX3024 is only $4500 with the current deal.  DSOX3034 is only $4200 - or $5500 for the MSOX3304.

So Rigol MSO4024 is $4000 from tequipment.net ($3962 to be exact) and the MSOX3024 is $4500.  Draw your own conclusions on which is "better" - Rigol has more memory and true 1mv/div, Agilent has that sexy 1M wfps and is a more responsive scope.  Rigol can be feature unlocked which is not an insignificant feature (cost-wise) compared to the Agilent.

I had a Rigol MSO4024 on order as I mentioned earlier -- but when I ran the numbers with this new Agilent deal it made more sense to go that route - I get a better scope (I don't think we an argue that Agilent is not better than Rigol) for about the same money that will also retain resale value significantly longer/better.  Since the only things I really need (and not immediately) are CAN decodes I can add in features as I find I want/need them.  I'm ok not having 140Mpt memory (although I will admit that's pretty damn sexy).

Bottom line is the MSOX 2000 series is now a BETTER deal than the Rigol MSO series and the 4000 is functionally at a similar price-point (slight premium, unless you factor in the fact that Rigol can be hacked which will change the math significantly).

Rigol went with the Agilent pricing on the MSO option - it's basically a $1300 add-on from the DSO model as well.

But if you factor in all the Agilent options that come as standard in the Rigol (memory, mem. seg., VGA/LAN, bus triggering, etc.), it still looks as if the MSO4024 if more cost effective. Unless I'm missing something with this new Agilent promotion.
Naturally, it all depends on what you're looking for in a scope. For me the 140Mpts is the major selling feature and 110kwfms/s (85k with the digital part on) is still pretty good. 

FYI - Newark/element 14 has the Agilent DSO-X-3024A on a super promotional sale right now at USD $3222.

On Farnell/element14 the DSOX3024A is listed at US$4,825. 

[Hydrawerk]

Buy the DSOX3000 series if 4mV/div is enough sensitivity for you.

[grego]

MSOX3024 is only $4500 with the current deal.  DSOX3034 is only $4200 - or $5500 for the MSOX3304.

So Rigol MSO4024 is $4000 from tequipment.net ($3962 to be exact) and the MSOX3024 is $4500.  Draw your own conclusions on which is "better" - Rigol has more memory and true 1mv/div, Agilent has that sexy 1M wfps and is a more responsive scope.  Rigol can be feature unlocked which is not an insignificant feature (cost-wise) compared to the Agilent.

I had a Rigol MSO4024 on order as I mentioned earlier -- but when I ran the numbers with this new Agilent deal it made more sense to go that route - I get a better scope (I don't think we an argue that Agilent is not better than Rigol) for about the same money that will also retain resale value significantly longer/better.  Since the only things I really need (and not immediately) are CAN decodes I can add in features as I find I want/need them.  I'm ok not having 140Mpt memory (although I will admit that's pretty damn sexy).

Bottom line is the MSOX 2000 series is now a BETTER deal than the Rigol MSO series and the 4000 is functionally at a similar price-point (slight premium, unless you factor in the fact that Rigol can be hacked which will change the math significantly).

Rigol went with the Agilent pricing on the MSO option - it's basically a $1300 add-on from the DSO model as well.

But if you factor in all the Agilent options that come as standard in the Rigol (memory, mem. seg., VGA/LAN, bus triggering, etc.), it still looks as if the MSO4024 if more cost effective. Unless I'm missing something with this new Agilent promotion.
Naturally, it all depends on what you're looking for in a scope. For me the 140Mpts is the major selling feature and 110kwfms/s (85k with the digital part on) is still pretty good. 

FYI - Newark/element 14 has the Agilent DSO-X-3024A on a super promotional sale right now at USD $3222.

On Farnell/element14 the DSOX3024A is listed at US$4,825. 

Have you checked recently?  It's still $3222.

http://www.newark.com/agilent-technologies/dsox3024a/dsox-series-oscilloscope-4-anlg/dp/21T9288?in_merch=Popular%20Electrical%20And%20Electronic%20Test%20Products

[tized]

Have you checked recently?  It's still $3222.

http://www.newark.com/agilent-technologies/dsox3024a/dsox-series-oscilloscope-4-anlg/dp/21T9288?in_merch=Popular%20Electrical%20And%20Electronic%20Test%20Products

Just now:

http://il.farnell.com/agilent-technologies/dsox3024a/oscilloscope-4-channel-200mhz/dp/1859752

Talk about geographical segmentation...
Wonder if I can order from Newark instead of Farnell. The only other dealer Agilent list in Israel, is one for second hand equipment.
I'll probably go down the DS4024 route anyway.

[ElectroIrradiator]

No changes in prices yet at Farnell Denmark...

[Attorney]

On Farnell/element14 the DSOX3024A is listed at US$4,825. 

I'm not sure what Farnell shows this morning, but on Newark/element 14, the DSO-X-3024A is still listed for USD $3222 with two units remaining in current stock.  I ordered on Saturday with four units showing. 

Paul

[JDubU]

Datasheet says 1mV/div. Still 2x the minimum of the Rigol, but not at all bad.

If you look closely at the datasheet spec, there is a footnote that says:

"** 1 mV/div and 2 mV/div are a magnification of 4 mV/div setting. For vertical accuracy calculations, use full scale of 32 mV for 1 mV/div and
 2 mV/div sensitivity setting."