Stanford Research Equipment

[tomato]

I don't see many references to Stanford Research gear in this forum.  Is it too expensive or do people just not like it?

[xrunner]

Website -

https://www.thinksrs.com/

Well, the last one of their units I used was an SR530 lock-in amp at work, which was synced to a chopper wheel that detected IR.

I don't have any of their stuff at the moment but that's not to say it's bad. Just doesn't pop up much in general Ebay searches, but they do have some of their test equipment on Ebay. A lot of it is niche sort of test equipment also - not really general hobbyist type of things.

[DaJMasta]

They're typically expensive, there's not a large quantity out on the market, and because they are reliable and expensive, they tend to be in use for a long time, so many just haven't ever been resold.


Maybe try searching a specific model number or SRS instead of the full name, I've seen some discussions of their FFT analyzers come up a few times and I know Shahriar has used a lock in amp and I think a bench preamp of theirs in videos, and a counter, if I remember right.

[LapTop006]

It's often niche, but usually some of the best of their class.

I have a TEA-worthy SRS collection, of that some of the standouts are the SR620 frequency counter, and the CG635 clock generator.

On the way is a DS360 low-distortion generator, which will be handy when doing audio work.

The only real downside I have with their equipment is they don't respond to support requests if you're not the direct customer. A few of the units I picked up had obviously been rackmounted in the past, but no longer had the rack kit, and were also missing the bench mount feet, attempts to buy replacements from them got nothing.

[Bud]

I was always puzzled by their ads in magazines of devices with floppy drives and green LCD text screens. Are they really that retarded or it was a method of advertising of their solidity i still do not know how to interpret it.

[tomato]

Maybe try searching a specific model number or SRS instead of the full name, I've seen some discussions of their FFT analyzers come up a few times and I know Shahriar has used a lock in amp and I think a bench preamp of theirs in videos, and a counter, if I remember right.

Thanks, but it was just a general question; I'm not looking for model-specific information.

[maxwell3e10]

They were leaders in producing relatively inexpensive high-performance equipment in the 90s, but have been overtaken by Chinese brands for the most common equipment. They still make state-of-the-art lock-in amplifiers, low-frequency spectrum analyzers and various kinds of niche scientific equipment. Their most recent models have touchscreen displays, but others are still sold as new with CRTs and weight 60 lbs as they never seem to discontinue any model they started making in the 80s.

[LapTop006]

I was always puzzled by their ads in magazines of devices with floppy drives and green LCD text screens. Are they really that retarded or it was a method of advertising of their solidity i still do not know how to interpret it.

CRTs on many of them. They don't tend to update models unless they have to, which does lead to some very ancient devices.

[rx8pilot]

SRS is a great-grandfather company. I believe they REALLY know their stuff on the analog design - but somehow still have 3.5in floppies in a 2018 advertisement. They make high-end, low volume niche products - so the price is accordingly high from the perspective of hobbyists and small business.

Wonder if you have to fax order forms to purchase. Perhaps mailing money orders to pay?

[duak]

We got a couple of their DS345 Synth/Arb Generators in 1990.  When I left in 2010, they were still working fine.  Kind of amazing considering how much electronics was stuffed inside them.  The only complaint I have is that you had to press keys to do anything and it often became fiddly.  SRS could have used knobs to at least control frequency, amplitude and offset.

[JonM]

I have a SR560 Low Noise Pre-Amp that I originally bought in the 1980s and never used as intended (I planned to break it apart and put the front-end into a superconducting magnet which SRS said "could be possible"). Two years ago I re-acquired the unit from a former colleague who had it in storage. I replaced the lead acid batteries and it still seems to work fine

The amazing thing is that it is full of 7400 TTL chips, and they still sell it! I have seen the SR560 advertised in a full-page Physics Today ad twice in the past two years.