Rigol DHO924S vs Siglent SDS804X HD
Head-to-head spec comparison to help you pick the right scope for your bench.
Spec-by-Spec Comparison
| Spec | Rigol DHO924S | Siglent SDS804X HD |
|---|---|---|
| Bandwidth | 250 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 | 3.8 kg | 2.6 kg |
| Price | $899 | $461 |
| Rating | 9.0/10 | 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 DHO924S
Pros
- 250MHz bandwidth with 4 channels and a modern touchscreen workflow
- 7-inch IPS touchscreen with 1024x600 resolution — sharp and responsive
- 50Mpt memory depth for extended captures
- Built-in function generator and WiFi connectivity included
- Modern phone-like interface has almost no learning curve
- Protocol decoding for SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, and LIN
Cons
- 1.25GSa/s sample rate could be higher given the 250MHz bandwidth
- Newer platform means less community documentation than the DS1054Z
- Some early firmware bugs have been reported — check version before updating
- Fan can be audible in a quiet room
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 DHO924S
The Rigol DHO924S is no longer the default hobbyist oscilloscope recommendation now that Amazon pricing is around $899. The 7-inch IPS touchscreen is still excellent — pinch to zoom, tap to place cursors, swipe to scroll through captures — and the spec stack is serious: 250MHz bandwidth, 4 channels, 50Mpt memory, a function generator, WiFi, and CAN/LIN protocol decoding. But at this price it belongs in the premium-upgrade tier, not the beginner tier. Buy it if you need the bandwidth, mixed-signal-ready feature set, and modern Rigol workflow. Most first-time buyers should start with the DS1054Z or DHO804 instead.
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.