My leading contender is the Siglent SDS2204X Plus. They've got a deal right now that boosts the frontend max frequency (so that'd do 350MHz which seems like more than enough) and I'd get the func gen module too.
No need to buy a 2204+, a 2104+ is (easily and durable) hackable to "full ammo", this means all options and a bandwith of 500Mhz (2Ch, 1+3 or 2+4).
The saved money you can use to buy a SDG1032X for example - The in-built generator is a nice to have in "urgent cases", but it´s limited in output level and waveforms (modulation).
The things I know I'm looking for are:
- 200MHz+
- 4 channels
- bode plot generation
- decent FFT visualization, especially down near the audio range (sub 100kHz)
- obviously, more sampling rate and waveform depth are better. I don't know if I need to worry about more than the usual 2G/s max, that's probably fine?
The SDS2k+ series fits all your needs, coming from a Rigol MSO5074(max. 8GSa/s) I was worrying about to have "only" 2GSa/s, but in practice it doesn´t matter.
Some other considerations are desk space, ability to connect to a windows PC (at minimum for screenshot download, but control / live viz on a bigger monitor would be a bonus).
Same as before but nowadays nearly all scopes offer these features.
I tried looking at Rigol's site to see if there was an alternative to consider but they don't make it easy to compare the various scopes they have, of which several are 200MHz.. They focus on front end frequency and don't really clearly highlight how the options are different. Are there some particular models to consider as an alternative to siglent?
Well, directly not.
The new DHO series (and then the DHO 4000 series) are offering 12 bit and lower noise level, but no bode plot and actually a "unfinished" UI, not recommendable at the moment.
The Siglent's 8 bit adc with 10 bit high res mode seems like it'd likely be fine? I don't know in what cases I'd really need 12 bit sampling.
Although I have a SDS2504+ HD, there is a kind of hype to offer 12 bit models for the "low-end" market.
12 bit or more you need when you want to observe very, very low signals, I dare to say in 95% of all cases you won´t need this.
At work we have a lecroy WR9054, which is quiet expensive (> 12000€), full packed with (additional) features, a really top scope - But "only" 8bit (plus eres).
I also looked at Keysight and Tek's websites but it seemed like comparable scopes from them would be way more expensive, which doesn't seem worth it.
They (as well as lecroy) are actually not "used" to offering a scope under 5000€.
That is, everything you get from them for little money, is rather to be seen as a concession to the market, lecroy e.g. offers in the class relabeled scopes from Siglent....
This segment is well served by Siglent, Rigol but probably also GWInstek and usually "better".
As long as you can not spend "real" money for a scope, I would not worry about the brands, with one exception:
R&S.
Like nctnico already mentioned, the RTB2000 series could be a alternative to the sds2000x+.
In my opinion, they´re the only competition although they´re a more expensive.
My verdict about the SDS2k+ series is clear:
I had an SDS2104X+ in use for 2 years at home, now we have six of them at work.
All in all, for me it's the best you can get for the money and beyond.
It's not perfect, that's not a scope.
But the overall package is convincing, if you need significantly "better", you have to dig really deep into your pocket.
At work we also have the "smallest" lecroy wavesurfer scope, which still costs at least 4000.
Even that can not pull in the sum past the siglent.
And the new rigols are still simply too immature.
That leaves the RTB2004 series.
If I were you, I would compare the data with the siglent and then decide.