Rigol DHO804 vs Siglent SDS804X HD
Head-to-head spec comparison to help you pick the right scope for your bench.
Rigol
$439
Siglent
$438
Spec-by-Spec Comparison
| Spec | Rigol DHO804 | Siglent SDS804X HD |
|---|---|---|
| Bandwidth | 70 MHz | 70 MHz |
| Sample Rate | 1.25 GSa/s | 2 GSa/s |
| Channels | 4 | 4 |
| Memory Depth | 25 Mpts | 50 Mpts |
| Display Size | 7" | 7" |
| Weight | 3.8 kg | 2.6 kg |
| Price | $439 | $438 |
| Rating | 7.0/10 | 8.0/10 |
| Protocol Decoder | Yes | Yes |
| Function Gen | No | No |
| WiFi | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | No | No |
| Buy on Amazon · $439 | Buy on Amazon · $438 |
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 SDS804X HD
Pros
- 12-bit ADC with what Reddit considers a cleaner analog front-end than Rigol — LeCroy heritage shows
- 2GSa/s sample rate is genuinely faster than the DHO804's 1.25GSa/s
- 50Mpt memory depth matches the DHO924S and doubles the DHO804
- CAN and LIN decoding included free — Siglent's standard generosity on protocols
- 70MHz bandwidth is unlockable to 200MHz via software license — massive upgrade path
- 7-inch capacitive touchscreen with responsive multi-touch gestures
Cons
- 70MHz stock bandwidth is limiting — you're paying for the upgrade path, not the base spec
- No built-in function generator (optional add-on)
- Siglent's community is smaller than Rigol's — fewer tutorials and forum answers
- At ~$438, you're close to the DHO924S at $449 which has 250MHz stock bandwidth
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 SDS804X HD
The Siglent SDS804X HD is THE competitor to the Rigol DHO804 that Reddit can't stop debating. On paper, 70MHz for $438 looks underwhelming — but the real story is Siglent's 12-bit ADC implementation, which the community consistently praises as having a cleaner noise floor than Rigol's, thanks to Siglent's LeCroy heritage in analog front-end design. The 2GSa/s sample rate and 50Mpt memory depth are both better than the DHO804. The bandwidth unlock to 200MHz via software license is the ace up its sleeve — it turns a $438 scope into a legitimate 200MHz instrument for an additional fee. If you value measurement quality over raw bandwidth numbers, this is the 12-bit scope to buy. If you just want the most bandwidth per dollar, the DHO924S at $449 with 250MHz is hard to argue against.