Rigol DHO804 vs Siglent SDS2104X Plus
Head-to-head spec comparison to help you pick the right scope for your bench.
Rigol
$439
Siglent
$1099
Spec-by-Spec Comparison
| Spec | Rigol DHO804 | Siglent SDS2104X Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Bandwidth | 70 MHz | 100 MHz |
| Sample Rate | 1.25 GSa/s | 2 GSa/s |
| Channels | 4 | 4 |
| Memory Depth | 25 Mpts | 200 Mpts |
| Display Size | 7" | 10.1" |
| Weight | 3.8 kg | 4.5 kg |
| Price | $439 | $1099 |
| Rating | 7.0/10 | 8.0/10 |
| Protocol Decoder | Yes | Yes |
| Function Gen | No | Yes |
| WiFi | Yes | No |
| Battery | No | No |
| Buy on Amazon · $439 | Buy on Amazon · $1,099 |
Pros & Cons
Rigol DHO804
Pros
- 7-inch IPS touchscreen — same display as the DHO924S
- 25Mpt memory depth is solid for extended capture sessions
- Modern, intuitive interface makes learning easy
- 4 channels with protocol decoding (SPI, I2C, UART)
- WiFi connectivity for remote viewing and data export
Cons
- 70MHz bandwidth is the real compromise — limits this scope's ceiling
- No built-in function generator unlike the DHO924S
- 25Mpts memory is half the DHO924S's 50Mpts
- At $439, the DHO924S adds 250MHz, a function gen, and double the memory for just $10 more
Siglent SDS2104X Plus
Pros
- 200Mpt memory depth is exceptional — capture minutes of data at full sample rate
- 10.1-inch IPS touchscreen is genuinely gorgeous to work with
- 2GSa/s sample rate handles fast signals better than 1GSa/s scopes
- Comprehensive protocol decoding including FlexRay, I2S, and MIL-STD-1553
- Built-in 25MHz AWG function generator
- Feels like a professional instrument — because it is one
Cons
- At ~$1,099, it's at the top of hobbyist budgets
- 100MHz bandwidth is surprisingly low for this price tier
- Large and heavy — needs permanent bench space
- Overkill for casual Arduino projects or simple bench work
Our Verdicts
Rigol DHO804
The Rigol DHO804 is the entry point to Rigol's DHO platform, offering the same 7-inch IPS touchscreen experience as the DHO924S with 70MHz bandwidth and 25Mpt memory at $439. For Arduino, basic analog work, and learning, 70MHz is genuinely sufficient — most signals you'll encounter stay well under this limit. The honest challenge at this price is the DHO924S: it costs only $10 more but gives you 250MHz bandwidth, 50Mpt memory, and a built-in function generator. At a $10 price gap, it's very hard to recommend the DHO804 over its sibling. Unless you find a significantly better deal on the DHO804 specifically, the extra $10 for the DHO924S is obviously worth it.
Siglent SDS2104X Plus
The Siglent SDS2104X Plus is a professional-grade scope that happens to be affordable enough for serious hobbyists, and using it for a long debugging session makes the price feel justified. The 200Mpt memory depth is the headline — you can capture minutes of data at full sample rate, then scroll back and zoom into any moment without re-triggering. The 10.1-inch IPS touchscreen is excellent. The comprehensive protocol decoding (including FlexRay and I2S) makes it the right tool for serious automotive or audio embedded work. The surprise is that all this comes with only 100MHz bandwidth — you're paying for depth, features, and build quality, not raw frequency response. At $1,099, this is a serious investment. It only makes sense if you do electronics work regularly enough to amortize that cost, and if you want an instrument you genuinely won't outgrow.