Digilent Analog Discovery 3 vs Rigol DHO914S
Head-to-head spec comparison to help you pick the right scope for your bench.
Spec-by-Spec Comparison
| Spec | Digilent Analog Discovery 3 | Rigol DHO914S |
|---|---|---|
| Bandwidth | 50 MHz | 125 MHz |
| Sample Rate | 0.125 GSa/s | 1.25 GSa/s |
| Channels | 2 | 4 |
| Memory Depth | 32 Kpts | 50 Mpts |
| Display Size | N/A | 7" |
| Weight | 0.15 kg | 1.78 kg |
| Price | $379 | $769 |
| Rating | 7.5/10 | 8.0/10 |
| Protocol Decoder | Yes | Yes |
| Function Gen | Yes | Yes |
| WiFi | No | Yes |
| Battery | No | No |
| Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon |
Pros & Cons
Digilent Analog Discovery 3
Pros
- 14 instruments in one: scope, logic analyzer, protocol analyzer, function gen, power supplies, network analyzer, and more
- WaveForms software is excellent, free, and regularly updated
- 16-channel logic analyzer is invaluable for digital protocol debugging
- Fits in a pocket — genuinely portable full lab capability
- Great for students and educators who need multiple instrument types
Cons
- Only 125MSa/s — significantly lower than benchtop scopes
- Requires a PC to operate — no standalone use in the field
- 2 analog channels with limited bandwidth compared to benchtop alternatives
- 32Kpt analog memory depth is very shallow for longer captures
- Not a replacement for a dedicated scope when analog performance matters
Rigol DHO914S
Pros
- Built-in 25MHz arbitrary waveform generator — saves buying a separate signal source
- 16 digital channels available via optional logic probe — true mixed-signal capability
- 12-bit ADC with 125MHz bandwidth is a solid all-around combination
- 50Mpt memory depth matches the DHO924S
- Same compact DHO form factor with USB-C power support
- Bode plot analysis built in — useful for filter and feedback loop characterization
Cons
- In the upper-$700s, it costs more than the DHO804 while offering lower bandwidth than the DHO924S
- 125MHz bandwidth is lower than the DHO924S's 250MHz
- Logic analyzer probe is an additional purchase — not included
- Fan noise is present, consistent with the DHO series
- The DHO924S also includes a function generator, making the price gap harder to justify
Our Verdicts
Digilent Analog Discovery 3
The Digilent Analog Discovery 3 isn't really an oscilloscope — it's a multi-instrument lab that happens to include a 2-channel oscilloscope alongside 13 other tools. The 16-channel logic analyzer is its killer feature for embedded work: you can monitor SPI, I2C, GPIO pins, and PWM outputs simultaneously, something a 4-channel scope simply cannot do. WaveForms software is genuinely excellent — one of the best oscilloscope software experiences on any platform. As a pure oscilloscope, the 125MSa/s sample rate and 32Kpt memory are real limitations that you'll notice on any non-trivial analog signal. This is the right tool if you need a logic analyzer AND a scope AND a function generator and can only buy one device — especially for embedded development and student labs. If you primarily need to measure analog signals or capture long waveforms, a dedicated benchtop scope will serve you better.
Rigol DHO914S
The Rigol DHO914S is Rigol's Swiss Army knife oscilloscope — 4 analog channels, a 25MHz function generator, optional 16-channel logic analyzer, and Bode plot analysis in the compact DHO form factor. The mixed-signal capability is the real differentiator: if you're debugging embedded systems where you need to correlate analog and digital signals simultaneously, the logic analyzer option makes this genuinely useful in ways a pure analog scope isn't. The built-in AWG saves you $100-200 on a standalone function generator. The catch is that pure oscilloscope buyers can either spend less on a DHO804 or spend more on the 250MHz DHO924S. The DHO914S only pulls ahead if you need the logic analyzer capability or the Bode plot feature for control loop design.