I think I'm finally going to pull the trigger on a good sub-$1K scope, this will be my max budget, that being said, I've been very interested in the $350-400 scopes with the contemplation of going to around $650-700. The $1K max is just that, not where I want to be but it depends on what the offerings are.
I'm pretty much a hobbyist but I have always been someone who loves to diagnose problems and learn their inner workings. Whether it's automotive, electronics, anything that can be fixed....I'm all in, I just wished I had taken classes early on but I learn quick and have the desire to learn more as I go. Best part, when I get out the soldering gun, the 9YO is in full attention so being able to teach him as I go is a great feeling

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I have a Tek 465B and a Global spec 4001 pulse generator does have it's limitations naturally but it's what I've been messing with.
I don't know if I need more than a 100 MHz scope, or even 4 channels, but I would like to have the capabilities available so that's why I'm asking.
The more I mess with electronics, the more I want to get involved. I have a couple amplifiers I'm trying to repair, I enjoy looking into a circuit and trying to see where I would have any distortion in the signal, whether its speaker crossovers, comparing components, etc. Also going into CATV and USB that's where I'm unsure of which scope will work best within my budget.
The possibilities are endless when you have a good scope and there are many offerings right now that will fulfill my needs. The list goes on, but as far as either designing, troubleshooting, repair, I want a scope that has more than what I need and not just mostly fulfilling my needs. Granted that's a broad statement and goes into more than a 5 digit price tag but I trust you understand what I mean.
So going on price point, I have read a lot about the 1054Z, as well as the 1202X-E. I have also considered the 1074Z and the 2304X.
Should I opt for the 1074 or am I getting into territory with that one where I need to bust the 1K barrier to fully maximize it's potential? I was curious about the cosmetic quality of the Siglent scopes with the screen print on the buttons and the knobs not being as well made (wobble) as the Rigol...is this really an issue?
I also need to factor in a decent signal generator so that can make or break the budget.
I know the Rigol 1054Z has been the one to get based on performance per dollar, but are there other offerings now that I should opt for now or in the near future?
All input and criticism appreciated.