Author Topic: Siglent SDS2104X+ vs. Rigol MSO5074 - display readability  (Read 4346 times)

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Offline sbromTopic starter

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Siglent SDS2104X+ vs. Rigol MSO5074 - display readability
« on: November 16, 2022, 02:45:51 pm »
I own a Siglent SDS1104X-E.  It’s a fine ‘scope, but to my eyes the display text is hard to read at normal working distance (too small).

From a visibility perspective which is a better upgrade?  Both are attractively on sale :-)

            Siglent SDS2104X Plus or Rigol MSO5074 ?
« Last Edit: November 16, 2022, 02:53:53 pm by sbrom »
 

Offline BillyO

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Re: Siglent SDS2104X+ vs. Rigol MSO5074 - display readability
« Reply #1 on: November 16, 2022, 05:19:30 pm »
I have both the 1104 and the 2104, but not the Rigol.

The 2104 Siglent is a easier to read than the 1104 due to the larger size, however I don't find the 1104 all that hard to read.

Maybe these scope should allow font size adjustments.
« Last Edit: November 16, 2022, 05:39:08 pm by BillyO »
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Offline mushroom

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Re: Siglent SDS2104X+ vs. Rigol MSO5074 - display readability
« Reply #2 on: November 16, 2022, 05:28:18 pm »
Same for me. Readability is not great on the SDS1000.
Considering one of those flat Fresnel lenses. They where pretty common and cheap in the '90s for 14" monitors, and worked pretty well (used one for some time, before I switched to 17").
Using the scope through the network and a browser, duplicating the display on a larger monitor, could also be considered before spending big bucks... (not great, but does work)
 
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Offline skander36

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Re: Siglent SDS2104X+ vs. Rigol MSO5074 - display readability
« Reply #3 on: November 16, 2022, 05:55:12 pm »
You can indirectly(filmed) compare here :
But is not a real feel.
I don't have Siglent SDS1104X-E, but I think SDS1202X-E is similar. Compared to Rigol 5074 I think the upgrade worth  because of the bigger screen 9" vs 7", not because brightness. Also in this way Siglent SDS2104X is a clear winner, because his screen is 10", and does not seem to have a lower brightness than Rigol.
Another reason for winning is that  SDS2104X is curently in a promotion that challenge price supremacy of Rigol 5074.
 
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Online Martin72

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Re: Siglent SDS2104X+ vs. Rigol MSO5074 - display readability
« Reply #4 on: November 16, 2022, 06:17:05 pm »
Quote
(...)and does not seem to have a lower brightness than Rigol.

Made my day.. ;)
 
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Re: Siglent SDS2104X+ vs. Rigol MSO5074 - display readability
« Reply #5 on: November 16, 2022, 07:53:40 pm »
I own a Siglent SDS1104X-E.  It’s a fine ‘scope, but to my eyes the display text is hard to read at normal working distance (too small).
Have you attempted to change any settings in the Display menu to improve readability ?
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Offline sbromTopic starter

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Re: Siglent SDS2104X+ vs. Rigol MSO5074 - display readability
« Reply #6 on: November 16, 2022, 08:07:18 pm »
I own a Siglent SDS1104X-E.  It’s a fine ‘scope, but to my eyes the display text is hard to read at normal working distance (too small).
Have you attempted to change any settings in the Display menu to improve readability ?

Yes, good suggestion!  I tried optimizing the ‘scope but it comes down to my aging eyes…. I have reading glasses but the range at which they work is optimal for my laptop screen (for programming), the scope is farther away.
 

Offline sbromTopic starter

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Re: Siglent SDS2104X+ vs. Rigol MSO5074 - display readability
« Reply #7 on: November 16, 2022, 08:14:05 pm »
You can indirectly(filmed) compare here :
But is not a real feel.
I don't have Siglent SDS1104X-E, but I think SDS1202X-E is similar. Compared to Rigol 5074 I think the upgrade worth  because of the bigger screen 9" vs 7", not because brightness. Also in this way Siglent SDS2104X is a clear winner, because his screen is 10", and does not seem to have a lower brightness than Rigol.
Another reason for winning is that  SDS2104X is curently in a promotion that challenge price supremacy of Rigol 5074.

Thanks, I’ve checked the video and the Siglent does seem to have a slight visibility edge.  I can get all-in with the Rigol for $900 (5074 model for $800 + $100 homemade logic cable).  All-in for the Siglent is $1200 (SDS1204 for $1K + $219 LA license and cable).   Tough decision,  the Siglent is worth it, but my wallet says think hard first.
« Last Edit: November 16, 2022, 10:28:56 pm by sbrom »
 

Offline skander36

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Re: Siglent SDS2104X+ vs. Rigol MSO5074 - display readability
« Reply #8 on: November 16, 2022, 10:53:43 pm »
I'm not a financial advisor, but if I really want a good scope I will buy the scope now, and after a short period (for refilling the wallet) I will invest in a logic cable. In the meantime I will uise a 8 $ chinese Saleae clone, for digital signals ( with Sigrock will decode much more protocols than a scope).
Or if I have a neighbour student I will ask him to help me :) (Tequipment).
 
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Re: Siglent SDS2104X+ vs. Rigol MSO5074 - display readability
« Reply #9 on: November 16, 2022, 11:06:11 pm »
I'm not a financial advisor, but if I really want a good scope I will buy the scope now, and after a short period (for refilling the wallet) I will invest in a logic cable. In the meantime I will uise a 8 $ chinese Saleae clone, for digital signals ( with Sigrock will decode much more protocols than a scope).
Or if I have a neighbour student I will ask him to help me :) (Tequipment).
Well if you could see the real savings of the MSO promotion you may have another POV.
It’s one hell of a deal compared to normal RRP.
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Offline thm_w

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Re: Siglent SDS2104X+ vs. Rigol MSO5074 - display readability
« Reply #10 on: November 16, 2022, 11:26:07 pm »
Have you checked with an optometrist?

Same for me. Readability is not great on the SDS1000.
Considering one of those flat Fresnel lenses. They where pretty common and cheap in the '90s for 14" monitors, and worked pretty well (used one for some time, before I switched to 17").
Using the scope through the network and a browser, duplicating the display on a larger monitor, could also be considered before spending big bucks... (not great, but does work)

Yeah, either use the HDMI on the Rigol or the Ethernet on the Siglent to an external monitor, would result in the largest text size.
Getting a larger screen scope, will increase some font sizes a bit, but may still not be enough for OP.
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Online Martin72

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Re: Siglent SDS2104X+ vs. Rigol MSO5074 - display readability
« Reply #11 on: November 17, 2022, 12:17:19 am »
Elder man as I am, I can´t live anymore with 7" screens... ;)
The 9"of my former owned rigol was a huge step, the 10" of my siglents another - But the 15.4" of our lecroy waverunner are too much,.
12.1", the size of our lecroy HDO6034A, was the perfect one in every case...


 
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Offline Fungus

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Re: Siglent SDS2104X+ vs. Rigol MSO5074 - display readability
« Reply #12 on: November 17, 2022, 06:31:23 am »
Thanks, I’ve checked the video and the Siglent does seem to have a slight visibility edge.  I can get all-in with the Rigol for $900 (5074 model for $800 + $100 homemade logic cable).  All-in for the Siglent is $1200 (SDS1204 for $1K + $219 LA license and cable).   Tough decision,  the Siglent is worth it, but my wallet says think hard first.

Both of them have HDMI output so you add a 20" screen for not much money. I think that would be the real solution rather than trying to compare tiny differences in pixels on Youtube.
 
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Offline BillyO

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Re: Siglent SDS2104X+ vs. Rigol MSO5074 - display readability
« Reply #13 on: November 17, 2022, 02:13:18 pm »
Both of them have HDMI output so you add a 20" screen for not much money. I think that would be the real solution rather than trying to compare tiny differences in pixels on Youtube.
The SDS2104XP has no HDMI output.
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Offline colorado.rob

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Re: Siglent SDS2104X+ vs. Rigol MSO5074 - display readability
« Reply #14 on: November 17, 2022, 03:32:52 pm »
The SDS2104XP has no HDMI output.
Probably *the* main thing that kept me from buying one months ago.
 
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Online Martin72

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Re: Siglent SDS2104X+ vs. Rigol MSO5074 - display readability
« Reply #15 on: November 17, 2022, 08:29:20 pm »
A "bigger screen" you can get via webinterface.

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Re: Siglent SDS2104X+ vs. Rigol MSO5074 - display readability
« Reply #16 on: November 17, 2022, 08:49:50 pm »
A "bigger screen" you can get via webinterface.
That's the only option, port the display to a PC with LAN and the inbuilt webserver as they used the rear cover from the earlier 2000X whereas the 5000X was a new design and offered a VGA output.
2000X HD also has no display output other than via the webserver so currently only 5000X with VGA or SDS6000A with HDMI and their webservers offer the whole package to port the display to a larger screen.
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Offline sbromTopic starter

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Re: Siglent SDS2104X+ vs. Rigol MSO5074 - display readability
« Reply #17 on: November 17, 2022, 09:40:13 pm »
Thanks to all respondents for some creative and well-considered suggestions. 

I lean toward the Rigol - lower net cost and built-in HDMI port.  If the display is too small I’ll add an external HDMI monitor.

Final decision early December.

What a great site EEvblog!
 

Offline BillyO

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Re: Siglent SDS2104X+ vs. Rigol MSO5074 - display readability
« Reply #18 on: November 17, 2022, 09:57:29 pm »
A "bigger screen" you can get via webinterface.
Exactly.  And you can also monitor and control it remotely.  The other day I used AnyDesk to show a friend of mine a waveform I had captured from a memory device.  We were able to control the scope and look at the history.  All being 30KM away.
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Re: Siglent SDS2104X+ vs. Rigol MSO5074 - display readability
« Reply #19 on: November 17, 2022, 10:29:28 pm »
A "bigger screen" you can get via webinterface.
Exactly.  And you can also monitor and control it remotely.  The other day I used AnyDesk to show a friend of mine a waveform I had captured from a memory device.  We were able to control the scope and look at the history.  All being 30KM away.
;D
A Oregon beta tester opened a port for us in NZ and we were operating his instrument and grabbing screenshots from the other side of the world !
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Offline skander36

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Re: Siglent SDS2104X+ vs. Rigol MSO5074 - display readability
« Reply #20 on: November 17, 2022, 10:45:16 pm »
For Rigol 5K, HDMI is a plus as it also has Web interface.
I don't understand why Siglent 2k does not have HDMI as it cost more.
 
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Offline BillyO

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Re: Siglent SDS2104X+ vs. Rigol MSO5074 - display readability
« Reply #21 on: November 17, 2022, 10:49:40 pm »
For Rigol 5K, HDMI is a plus as it also has Web interface.
I don't understand why Siglent 2k does not have HDMI as it cost more.
It is also more scope.
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Online Martin72

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Re: Siglent SDS2104X+ vs. Rigol MSO5074 - display readability
« Reply #22 on: November 17, 2022, 10:59:22 pm »
Hi,
Let´s be honest, the missing video output on several siglent models is a feature lack.
Honest the second, only the two highest models got it, one of the two, the 5000X, got an ancient VGA output...VGA in times where every new monitor got hdmi only...
And honest the last, yes, having the webinterface is a fine thing, remote control and external visibility, no question.
BUT:
The mentioned rigol got it too AND a hdmi output... ;)
I like my siglent very much and my former siglent scope too plus I don´t need a external monitor output, because I´m sitting 50cm from the 10" screen away.
But some people want to have a external connection without using LAN and then siglent will lost in this case.
Sad but true because nearly everything else is better with a siglent.


 
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Offline thm_w

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Re: Siglent SDS2104X+ vs. Rigol MSO5074 - display readability
« Reply #23 on: November 17, 2022, 11:28:04 pm »
For Rigol 5K, HDMI is a plus as it also has Web interface.
I don't understand why Siglent 2k does not have HDMI as it cost more.
It is also more scope.

Kind of a meaningless statement, its better in some ways worse in others. Better screen, better noise, 4x less wfm/s (in normal mode), 4x less sample rate:

https://www.tequipment.net/Rigol/MSO5074/Digital-Oscilloscopes/
https://siglentna.com/product/sds2104x-plus/

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Online Martin72

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Re: Siglent SDS2104X+ vs. Rigol MSO5074 - display readability
« Reply #24 on: November 17, 2022, 11:49:33 pm »
Well, it depends on the question if worse is really worse, especially what the hunting of wfms/s concerns.
Samplerate is another thing, we got lecroy waverunners here, which got 500Mhz bandwith and 500MSa/s max.
That would be a fine idea for a new thread - having more samplerate, benefits in practice.
 
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