Author Topic: What are your thoughts on this 14-bit oscilloscope?  (Read 4253 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline ballsystemlordTopic starter

  • Regular Contributor
  • *
  • Posts: 248
  • Country: us
  • Student
What are your thoughts on this 14-bit oscilloscope?
« on: November 18, 2023, 02:05:55 pm »
So recently there's been a lot of talk about Rigol's higher bit oscilloscopes, but no one has brought up other brands. Out of curiosity, I'm asking you about this scope called the MULTICOMP PRO MP720106 US. It's on sale for USD $410. The manual and datasheet are available for download.
Newark's offering.

They seem to be using oversampling to get higher resolution. It's unclear to me if Rigol's offerings are doing the same thing.

Thanks!

EDIT: To be clear, I wasn't actually planning to buy this. I was just curious.
« Last Edit: November 18, 2023, 02:41:43 pm by ballsystemlord »
 

Online Fungus

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 17518
  • Country: 00
Re: What are your thoughts on this 14-bit oscilloscope?
« Reply #1 on: November 18, 2023, 02:12:20 pm »
They seem to be using oversampling to get higher resolution. It's unclear to me if Rigol's offerings are doing the same thing.

No, they aren't. Rigols have real 12 bits.

(...and that's why there's multiple threads discussing them while nobody's heard of the Multicomp Pro)
 

Online nctnico

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 28429
  • Country: nl
    • NCT Developments
Re: What are your thoughts on this 14-bit oscilloscope?
« Reply #2 on: November 18, 2023, 02:19:40 pm »
So recently there's been a lot of talk about Rigol's higher bit oscilloscopes, but no one has brought up other brands. Out of curiosity, I'm asking you about this scope called the MULTICOMP PRO MP720106 US. It's on sale for USD $410. The manual and datasheet are available for download.
Newark's offering.

They seem to be using oversampling to get higher resolution.
No. These do have 14 bit ADCs from Analog Devices but likely this is a rebadge from a low-end brand like Owon or Hantek (one of both have 14 bit models). But these are not high-end devices with poor firmware. If you want 14 bit or better, look at the Analog discovery or devices from Picoscope.

Besides that, avoid the Multicomp brand from Farnell / Newark. You are better off buying from Aliexpress where it comes to product quality.
« Last Edit: November 18, 2023, 02:21:39 pm by nctnico »
There are small lies, big lies and then there is what is on the screen of your oscilloscope.
 

Offline UK

  • Regular Contributor
  • *
  • Posts: 77
  • Country: ma
Re: What are your thoughts on this 14-bit oscilloscope?
« Reply #3 on: November 18, 2023, 02:22:28 pm »
MULTICOMP PRO MP720106 is just a rebranded old 14-bit OWON scope.
 

Offline ballsystemlordTopic starter

  • Regular Contributor
  • *
  • Posts: 248
  • Country: us
  • Student
Re: What are your thoughts on this 14-bit oscilloscope?
« Reply #4 on: November 18, 2023, 02:23:33 pm »
No. These do have 14 bit ADCs from Analog Devices but likely this is a rebadge from a low-end brand like Owon or Hantek (one of both have 14 bit models). But these are not high-end devices with poor firmware. If you want 14 bit or better, look at the Analog discovery or devices from Picoscope.

Besides that, avoid the Multicomp brand from Farnell / Newark. You are better off buying from Aliexpress where it comes to product quality.

Umm, is multicomp really that bad?
 

Online nctnico

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 28429
  • Country: nl
    • NCT Developments
Re: What are your thoughts on this 14-bit oscilloscope?
« Reply #5 on: November 18, 2023, 02:30:47 pm »
Multicomp is the cheapest crap they can source and sell for a premium. OK-ish when you need cheap plastic casings.
There are small lies, big lies and then there is what is on the screen of your oscilloscope.
 

Offline ballsystemlordTopic starter

  • Regular Contributor
  • *
  • Posts: 248
  • Country: us
  • Student
Re: What are your thoughts on this 14-bit oscilloscope?
« Reply #6 on: November 18, 2023, 02:33:20 pm »
Multicomp is the cheapest crap they can source and sell for a premium. OK-ish when you need cheap plastic casings.

And how did you find this out? I looked extensively for reviews of several of their products across the net without finding anything. This is in part due to the fact that unlike some of the other companies, they don't hand out review samples.
 

Offline UK

  • Regular Contributor
  • *
  • Posts: 77
  • Country: ma
Re: What are your thoughts on this 14-bit oscilloscope?
« Reply #7 on: November 18, 2023, 02:33:45 pm »
Umm, is multicomp really that bad?
No, it is just a guy who sent his logo to OWON for scopes and to Pro'skit for multimeters ... so check the reviews on YouTube for the 14-bit OWON scope lineup.

Multicomp is the cheapest crap they can source and sell for a premium. OK-ish when you need cheap plastic casings.
Exactly! ;D
« Last Edit: November 18, 2023, 02:39:18 pm by UK »
 

Offline Kosmic

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 2554
  • Country: ca
Re: What are your thoughts on this 14-bit oscilloscope?
« Reply #8 on: November 18, 2023, 02:41:50 pm »
Owon is not all that bad. I have been using one for some time and decided to keep it over a Rigol. Not sure why they have a bad rep like that.

The problem with their 14bits scope though is that sampling rate is dropping fast as you increasing resolution. I think the new Rigol are doing a better job at maintaining a decent samplings rate at 12bits resolution.
 
The following users thanked this post: ballsystemlord

Offline Martin72

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 7019
  • Country: de
  • Testfield Technician
Re: What are your thoughts on this 14-bit oscilloscope?
« Reply #9 on: November 18, 2023, 02:48:22 pm »
14bit is not everything, there is a bit more to it. the rest must also be right so that you have advantages.
Very difficult to accept at this price and noname.
In fact, I would rather go for the only slightly more expensive rigol DHO804, which should be much better.
 
The following users thanked this post: voltsandjolts, ballsystemlord

Offline KungFuJosh

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 3163
  • Country: us
  • TEAS is real.
Re: What are your thoughts on this 14-bit oscilloscope?
« Reply #10 on: November 18, 2023, 05:01:15 pm »
decided to keep it over a Rigol.

That's a really low bar. 😉😉
"Right now I’m having amnesia and déjà vu at the same time. I think I’ve forgotten this before." - Steven Wright
 

Offline Kosmic

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 2554
  • Country: ca
Re: What are your thoughts on this 14-bit oscilloscope?
« Reply #11 on: November 18, 2023, 05:24:45 pm »
decided to keep it over a Rigol.

That's a really low bar. 😉😉

Well when you have to choose between a cheap scope vs another one. I'm not saying they compare to the big brands (Tektronix, Keysight, Lecroy, etc ....)
 

Online 2N3055

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 7465
  • Country: hr
Re: What are your thoughts on this 14-bit oscilloscope?
« Reply #12 on: November 18, 2023, 09:59:53 pm »
Owon is not all that bad. I have been using one for some time and decided to keep it over a Rigol. Not sure why they have a bad rep like that.

The problem with their 14bits scope though is that sampling rate is dropping fast as you increasing resolution. I think the new Rigol are doing a better job at maintaining a decent samplings rate at 12bits resolution.

Would you be so kind and clarify which Owon model do you use and over which Rigol did you make that decision?
"Just hard work is not enough - it must be applied sensibly."
Dr. Richard W. Hamming
 

Offline coppice

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 10034
  • Country: gb
Re: What are your thoughts on this 14-bit oscilloscope?
« Reply #13 on: November 18, 2023, 11:02:58 pm »
Owon is not all that bad. I have been using one for some time and decided to keep it over a Rigol. Not sure why they have a bad rep like that.
Owon is a company like Uni-Trend.  Its not good or bad. Its highly variable. One product seems pretty good. The next is quite iffy.
 
The following users thanked this post: egonotto, voltsandjolts, Martin72

Offline Kosmic

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 2554
  • Country: ca
Re: What are your thoughts on this 14-bit oscilloscope?
« Reply #14 on: November 19, 2023, 12:07:30 am »
Owon is not all that bad. I have been using one for some time and decided to keep it over a Rigol. Not sure why they have a bad rep like that.

The problem with their 14bits scope though is that sampling rate is dropping fast as you increasing resolution. I think the new Rigol are doing a better job at maintaining a decent samplings rate at 12bits resolution.

Would you be so kind and clarify which Owon model do you use and over which Rigol did you make that decision?

The Owon I kept is the XDS3202E with the optional battery. And the Rigol I sold was the DS1054Z.

The screen on the XDS series is pretty good.
« Last Edit: November 19, 2023, 12:14:26 am by Kosmic »
 
The following users thanked this post: 2N3055

Online DaneLaw

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 660
  • Country: dk
Re: What are your thoughts on this 14-bit oscilloscope?
« Reply #15 on: November 19, 2023, 02:36:13 am »
At least they are down in the price ballpark that more or less fits the bill for these rebadge units for the US market.
Around 400 US - as they seem to be selling for atm in the states (-75%).

If I recall correctly, these 2ch Multicomp MP720106 can do an aspect of FRA (frequency response) on the fly..

« Last Edit: November 19, 2023, 04:12:59 am by DaneLaw »
 

Offline modoran

  • Regular Contributor
  • *
  • Posts: 72
  • Country: ro
Re: What are your thoughts on this 14-bit oscilloscope?
« Reply #16 on: November 19, 2023, 06:04:31 am »
Stay away from Multicomp pro crap, it is an Owon in this case, but at much higher price, of course.  If you really want this model, just buy directly from Owon, you get exactly the same thing, but cheaper.

All multicomp pro scopes and multimeters are the same, just a personalized logo, the trick is to find the chinese brand who makes it and buy from them cheaper, thats all.
 

Offline radiolistener

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 4135
  • Country: 00
Re: What are your thoughts on this 14-bit oscilloscope?
« Reply #17 on: November 19, 2023, 10:20:18 am »
If you want 14 bit or better, look at the Analog discovery or devices from Picoscope.

I'm agree, if you want 14 bit, it's better to look for something like Analog Discovery or Picoscope
 

Online DaneLaw

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 660
  • Country: dk
Re: What are your thoughts on this 14-bit oscilloscope?
« Reply #18 on: November 19, 2023, 10:56:41 am »
If you really want this model, just buy directly from Owon, you get exactly the same thing, but cheaper.

Just to keep things level.. Maybe you could help the OP by actually linking to this cheaper "variant" than the 410US  :popcorn:  and what OP is posting as source with regional warranty..
I reckon it went over your head.. the only reason why OP is likely looking at it, is because of the price reduction (-75%)

Multicomp Pro usually fronts as a US rebadging brand with a hefty mockup, but it looks like they are clearing these at prices, that are difficult to get the native XDS-Owon at..
Even Owon's discounted regional prices in China seems a tad higher.
« Last Edit: November 19, 2023, 11:16:41 am by DaneLaw »
 
The following users thanked this post: egonotto, ballsystemlord

Offline J-R

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 1319
  • Country: us
Re: What are your thoughts on this 14-bit oscilloscope?
« Reply #19 on: November 19, 2023, 11:33:17 pm »
I also have the XDS3202E, from the Arrow fire sale some time ago.  $150 delivered, but it has ZERO options.  The Multicomp being discussed appears to have all the options except the battery, which I admit raises the attractiveness a bit.  Touch screen, Wi-Fi, ARB, DMM, LAN.

My opinion on the Owon products is that they offer the stated basic functionality at a low price point, but otherwise you absolutely get what you pay for even on discount.  The scope can be slow and and the menus are very shallow compared to what you'd see in a typical Keysight, for example.  Don't plan for any support, firmware updates, etc.  Although rarely some have reported differently.

I became annoyed with my Owon pretty much immediately and eventually forked over about $750 for a liberated 4-channel Keysight DSOX-2004A.  Life is better now.
 

Offline ballsystemlordTopic starter

  • Regular Contributor
  • *
  • Posts: 248
  • Country: us
  • Student
Re: What are your thoughts on this 14-bit oscilloscope?
« Reply #20 on: November 20, 2023, 04:37:02 am »
If you really want this model, just buy directly from Owon, you get exactly the same thing, but cheaper.

Just to keep things level.. Maybe you could help the OP by actually linking to this cheaper "variant" than the 410US  :popcorn:  and what OP is posting as source with regional warranty..
I reckon it went over your head.. the only reason why OP is likely looking at it, is because of the price reduction (-75%)

Multicomp Pro usually fronts as a US rebadging brand with a hefty mockup, but it looks like they are clearing these at prices, that are difficult to get the native XDS-Owon at..
Even Owon's discounted regional prices in China seems a tad higher.

That is correct.

As an additional example, the Multicomp Pro DMMs, which are actually UNI-T rebadges, are also cheaper than the official UNI-T brand and they have English pdf user manuals (I mean actual manuals, not just a collection of safety info). This is much more than I can say for most Chinese off brand electronics.
 

Offline Kosmic

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 2554
  • Country: ca
Re: What are your thoughts on this 14-bit oscilloscope?
« Reply #21 on: November 20, 2023, 04:50:08 am »
Look like the Multicomp Pro MP720106 is actually a rebranded Owon XDS3202A Plus. And 410$ look like a good price, can't find a XDS3202A cheaper.

Note that in 14bits mode, the bandwidth drop to 20MHz and sampling rate to 100MS/s.
« Last Edit: November 20, 2023, 05:03:25 am by Kosmic »
 

Offline J-R

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 1319
  • Country: us
Re: What are your thoughts on this 14-bit oscilloscope?
« Reply #22 on: November 20, 2023, 06:40:38 am »
XDS3202E:
200MHz - 8-bit - 1GS/s - Single Channel
200MHz - 8-bit - 500MS/s - Dual Channel

XDS3202A:
200MHz - 8-bit - 1GS/s
150MHz - 12-bit - 500MS/s
20MHz- 14-bit -100MS/s
(Same for both single and dual channel)
 

Offline Berni

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 5050
  • Country: si
Re: What are your thoughts on this 14-bit oscilloscope?
« Reply #23 on: November 20, 2023, 08:40:28 am »
Pretty much all Multicomp or Tenma brand things are just Farnell store band rebadges of other cheep Chinese gear.

So id suggest buying the cheep brands like Owon directly.

As for how good they are. Well... the truth is somewhere in between. You will see people on the forums saying they are complete crap that is barely a toy, others will say they are perfectly fine. Yes if you compare it to a Keysight, R&S, Tek...etc they are certainly lacking in quality (especially in software quality), they clearly have the rushed chinese product vibe. However if you pick the better Chinese products they are good enough to be perfectly usable, while costing WAY less than the name brands. Sure they might not be as nice, but not everyone has 3 grand to spend on a piece of brand name test gear.

You can get a lot of bang per buck out of chinese gear. Just make sure to always do some research on reviews before you buy. That way you can avoid buying the worse chinese products that have software so bad that it makes the product borderline unusable. But yes don't expect to get something as good as the name brand stuff.
 
The following users thanked this post: ballsystemlord

Offline J-R

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 1319
  • Country: us
Re: What are your thoughts on this 14-bit oscilloscope?
« Reply #24 on: November 20, 2023, 11:42:19 am »
After going down a few different paths, such as buying the cheap stuff or whatever someone else thinks is best, I've mostly settled on finding good deals on higher-end name-brand equipment.  The best results for me have been used/broken/liberated/etc.  For example, the $750 scope I previously mentioned is almost $7k new with all the options.  Obviously my path wouldn't work for someone employed by a company or if you're not interested in tinkering.
 
The following users thanked this post: ballsystemlord


Share me

Digg  Facebook  SlashDot  Delicious  Technorati  Twitter  Google  Yahoo
Smf