Rigol DHO914S vs Siglent SDS804X HD
Head-to-head spec comparison to help you pick the right scope for your bench.
Verdict
It's a Tie
The Rigol DHO914S and Siglent SDS804X HD are evenly matched — your choice depends on which features matter most to you.
Spec-by-Spec Comparison
| Spec | Rigol DHO914S | Siglent SDS804X HD |
|---|---|---|
| Bandwidth | 125 MHz | 70 MHz |
| Sample Rate | 1.25 GSa/s | 2 GSa/s |
| Channels | 4 | 4 |
| Memory Depth | 50 Mpts | 50 Mpts |
| Display Size | 7" | 7" |
| Weight | 1.78 kg | 2.6 kg |
| Price | $769 | $461 |
| Rating | 8.0/10 | 8.0/10 |
| Protocol Decoder | Yes | Yes |
| Function Gen | Yes | No |
| WiFi | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | No | No |
| Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon |
Pros & Cons
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
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
- The DHO804 is the closest Rigol rival near this price
Our Verdicts
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.
Siglent SDS804X HD
The Siglent SDS804X HD is THE competitor to the Rigol DHO804 that Reddit can't stop debating. On paper, 70MHz around $461 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 mid-$400s scope into a legitimate 200MHz instrument for an additional fee. If you value measurement quality over Rigol's UI, this is the 12-bit scope to buy. If you want the simplest modern first scope, compare it directly against the DHO804.