Batronix Magnova vs Siglent SDS3000 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Gadolinium
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 03, 2025, 08:04:56 pm
content: Hi there,I am a silent reader since a few years, but can't find an answer for this "problem".I’m currently looking for a new scope for home office use and narrowed it down to two candidates: Batronix Magnova BMO350 or a Siglent SDS3000X HD (probably SDS3054X)My use cases:-Low-noise analog circuits up to a few MHz → low-noise frontend is a must (12-bit preferred)-Bode plots of amps/filters (internal AWG in the BMO vs external with Siglent)-Large memory for captures (320 Mpts vs 400 Mpts)-Switching supply analysis (ringing etc., >200 MHz BW needed)-Occasional SPI integrity checks (up to 100 MHz clock)-Future: maybe higher-speed digital work (don’t want to limit myself too early)From the review I read here and elsewhere I see the following:BMO350+Large screen+Built in AWG (optional) up to 90 MHz+Strong support and frequent updates+Silent without the fan+DisplayPort-Output-Only 350 MHz and no way to upgrade: enough for today, maybe not in the future-Only 1 Gsps on Channel 3&4 : Oversampling for higher resolution quickly hurts bandwidth-No webserver: at least until now not availableSDS3054X HD+4 Gsps in interleaved and 2 Gsps when all channels are active+Options to get up to 1 GHz bandwith+Frontend supports higher offsets+Built in Webserver-10.1" screen with only 1024x600 pixels-AWG is external: Another device on the desk-potentially noisy fanPrices I would get from Batronix:SDS3034X HD + 25 MHz AWG: 4306 €SDS3054X HD + 25 MHz AWG: 5853 €BMO350 + 90 MHz AWG: 5351 €So: my gut says BMO (fun UI, nice screen, good support), but specs and upgradeability point me to the SDS3054X HD.For those who own/used both: which do you end up using more, and why?Which scope would you recommend me more for my usecase? This won’t be my only scope (I also have access to higher-end ones at work), but it will be the one I use most at home.

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2025, 08:54:22 pm
content: I recently made exactly this choice. I had the SDS2504X HD, with the opportunity to upgrade to the SDS3104X HD, or the Magnova BMO 350.I wanted the 1GHz scope with 4GSa/s, but I don't need it.I recently had the SDS5054X and I really liked the sample rate, but it was a step backwards otherwise. While I was using the SDS5054X, I noticed some issues with frequencies not matching well enough between devices. All within spec, but the spec was annoying to me. So I used the external reference in on the SDS5054X, and all was good. It also had a VGA out, which was handy, though an HDMI would have been preferred.Then I went back to my SDS2504X HD scope, and the lack of those features started to bother me more and more.At that point I realized, that for my needs, there was no point in going to the SDS3104X HD, as I would not be gaining the ext ref input, or video out; two features I decided were more important to me than a frequency range I didn't need on a scope.Besides that, I wanted a bigger screen with higher resolution. While those 10 to 12" screens on the Siglents are nice, sometimes things weren't that easy for my glasses-wearing eyes to see. Then the resolution wasn't great either.At this point I decided I wanted to get the new Siglent SDS5000X HD series scope. 5GSa/s, 1GHz, HDMI out, ref in, but...still not a FHD screen, and no VESA mount. Also, very expensive.This is what led to me getting the Magnova. While the sampling rate is its biggest weakness, its strengths generally outweight it. One of those strengths being its fast waveform update rate that only the SDS7000A can beat.Now I have the Magnova rackmounted, connected to a 32" wall-mounted TV, and it's connected along with everything else to a 10MHz external reference.It's true that the Magnova is a younger product, and that's where some patience will pay off. Things like the web server, windowing, etc. will all be coming soon.The Siglent is a far more mature product since the platform is shared across the HD line.Using an external sig gen is a pro, not a con, in my opinion. I've recommend to Batronix that they support 3rd party sig gens for their bode plot, and I hope it happens. If I can control my SDG6052X with the Magnova for a nice Bode plot, that would be awesome. If they don't do it, I probably will.Anyway, the truth is, both are excellent scopes. You can't really go wrong either way.If you want higher than 350MHz, then that's a point for the Siglent.If you want external ref + external monitor support, and VESA mount, that's up to 3 points for the Magnova.If you want a much better screen in FHD, that's a huge point for the Magnova.If you want a platform that's ready to go now without waiting for updates to acces a web console, that's a point for the Siglent.Higher sample rate? Siglent.Higher waveform rate? Magnova.What's important to you?One thing to note is that I've developed a driver for the Magnova to use with TestController that will give a lot of power and remote control for data logging with the Magnova. I will release it after the next firmware update is released for the Magnova, which I think should be within a week or two.I've attached some similar screenshots between the Magnova and the SDS2504X HD. The Siglent has a higher sample rate, but the higher waveform rate on the Magnova makes a difference too. Image 124 shows 186.8 kwfms/s, which is about 2/3 the rate of the Magnova's max (though history mode can hit 1.3 Mwfms/s), and double that of the Siglent's max rate.I'm a big fan of both brands, and I've had great experiences with both.Thanks,JoshPS. I think your pricing is off if you're using the Magnova at home:http://batronix.com/shop/oscilloscopes/Batronix-Magnova-BMO350-NC.html

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2025, 09:41:33 pm
content: Quote from: Gadolinium on October 03, 2025, 08:04:56 pmComments on highlighted bits:Your use case indicates in the future a need for active probes which the SAPBUS probe interface supports, you may want to give this further thought especially for Power Analysis where it is common to need differential and current probes.SDS3000X HD use a smart fan which except at boot is pretty quiet, not as good as SDS2000X HD but certainly not objectionable.

author: Martin72
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2025, 10:25:32 pm
content: Hi and welcome to the forum...QuoteI have both at home...And that's been the case for quite some time, so I know them.The advantages of the Magnova are well known; the display is unique in its price range in terms of size and resolution.The same goes for its virtually silent design—at least, I haven't managed to activate the internal fan to date.The software lags behind Siglent in terms of features/Design, but it is software, so it can be changed, and Batronix is constantly working on improving it.So the hard facts remain, and Magnova is inferior in this respect.1 GHz bandwidth and 4 GS/s are simply superior to 350 MHz and 1.6 GS/s.The fact that the SDS3000X HD has a little more memory is, in my opinion, irrelevant.I don't miss the missing video output, as I don't use the one on the Magnova.The vexing issue of 10 MHz ref in/out is not a problem for me, as long as all signals are measured with the same scope, the time base of the scope is the standard, and any deviations between the channels can be eliminated with deskewing if necessary.The display of the 3000X HD has a lower resolution, but this does not affect the signal display, meaning that nothing is “lost.”It just does not look as “nice” as a Full HD display.In short, if you can live with the lower bandwidth and almost half the sample rate, and are confident that more features will be added to the software in the future, the Magnova would be a serious contender.QuoteThe SDS3000X HD would be more suitable for this if it were “upgraded” to 1 GHz.

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2025, 10:31:56 pm
content: Here's an example comparing acquisition between the SDS2504X HD and the Magnova BMO350. Both scopes were fed an AM+FM 350MHz signal from an R&S SML03.I used the Siglent screen capture as a basis for the test. 1ns/div, 2us time delay (offset), 20pts, 2GSa/s.In the 1st shot from the Magnova, you can see it reporting 166.7 kwfms/s, 1.6GSa/s, 56pts. Lower sample rate, higher waveform rate, nearly triple the memory depth, and what you see is pretty clearly different.The Siglent series doesn't display the waveform update rate, so to try and guess, I increased the memory depth which in turns decreases the waveform update rate on the Magnova.In the 3rd shot from the Magnova, 200kpts mem depth dropped the waveform update rate to 6.195 kwfms/s, which is closer but still better than what the Siglent showed. Increasing to 500kpts mem depth looks slightly worse, so the Siglent waveform rate is between the two. I would guess somewhere around 4 kwfms/s.For screenshots 5-7, I had all 4 channels active to drop the sample rate to 1GSa/s. In image 5 you can see it still looks clearly better at 10kwfms/s and 50kpts, and image 6 shows 23.42 kwfms/s with 12.5kpts mem. Image 7 at 4.864 kwfms/s seems the closest to me, but still slightly better, so I think my guess of it being to 4 is pretty close.I guess the point being not to get too hung up on the sample rate, though I too wish it was higher on the Magnova.Martin, can you capture a similar AM+FM modulated waveform on the SDS3104X HD and see how it looks? I assume it should look nicer than the SDS2504X HD, as yours has double the waveform update rate of its little brother.Thanks,Josh

author: Martin72
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2025, 10:51:31 pm
content: QuoteThis is also a rather suboptimal signal example for the need for a higher sample rate.QuoteI can try (study cleared out), maybe tomorrow.

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2025, 10:58:07 pm
content: Quote from: Martin72 on October 03, 2025, 10:51:31 pmMaybe, but it certainly is useful for testing some stuff.QuoteThank you. I'm curious to see how it looks.Thanks,Josh

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2025, 11:38:04 pm
content: IMHO it is not very worthwhile to look at AM modulated signals. Pretty pictures don't pay the bills. In this price range the sane thing to do is come up with some real world tests related to actual work projects and try both scopes. See how they operate, how easy or difficult it is to set things up. There is a lot more to base a choice on which can't be judged by comparing datasheets. And depending on the budget limit, I'd consider scopes from other brands as well like R&S (the MXO3 model seems to be around the corner). With doing digital work in mind (FPGA?) it is a good idea to see how well digital channels are integrated and operate.

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2025, 11:46:18 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on October 03, 2025, 11:38:04 pmThe AM+FM modulated test shows acquisition capability of a scope pretty darn well without a specific immediately needed "real world" test. If the scope shows more of what's going on with a modulated waveform, then it's more likely to catch something specific than a scope that can't show the same in higher detail.IOW, you might be able to do some tricky triggering if you know you need to, but one of the two scopes in that situation is more likely to let you know there might be something to catch.

author: Gadolinium
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 04, 2025, 05:47:51 am
content: Thank you very much for all the replys!Quote from: KungFuJosh on October 03, 2025, 08:54:22 pmHi Josh, those are some good points to make a decision, although I can only answer a few of them.The external reference and the VESA mount is not critical to me, the external monitor support is nice to have, although due to the big display not that heavily needed. Waiting for the platform to get ready is also fine, most of the stuff I want to do is available now.The big questions come in the points of sample rate and waveform rate. I could probably live for a long time with the 1.6 Gsps withouth even missing the higher one. Waveform rate is probably the same thing, as long as i don't have a direct comparison. Thanks for the screenshots that showcase the difference really good.That TestController driver would sure come in handy - I would usually do something like that manually in python, so this could save some work.As I would use this scope for work, I can not go with the NC version sadly.Quote from: tautech on October 03, 2025, 09:41:33 pmRegarding the probes I would have simply hoped that batronix delivers some active probes themselves in the near future. Does someone know if they have something planned? The active differential and current probes at work luckily have external powering and are not Scope-specific, so I could use those with any scope.That is good news regarding the fan - it then probably comes down to simply getting my hands on both and see how loud the Siglent is.Quote from: Martin72 on October 03, 2025, 10:25:32 pmYou were the person I had in mind when it comes to "having both of them".When it comes to "simple" measurements where both scopes have sufficient bandwidth, which do you prefer in terms of ease of use and "fun" when measuring? I would guess that for 98 % of my day to day usecases the magnova is sufficient, so let's assume for a second that the argument of not covering 2% or more in the future is irrelevant. Which would you choose if you had to choose one?Regarding the SDS3104X HD - That would sure be the nicest one regarding specs. I could get it for 4000 € used with all encoders and software options unlocked, so the temptation there is rather high.Quote from: KungFuJosh on October 03, 2025, 10:31:56 pmThank you very much for the new measurements! But to be honest I can not quantify how much that will impact me on a day to day use. Almost all of the signals I had to deal with were "always there", so I haven't had the need to catch something weird yet. Due to lacking experience I can therefore not estimate how important that is to me. Do you guys have a rough estimation of how important that is in real world? Once again I have no real clue yet what future work brings, so this will be a lot of guessing. But that's still better than buying blind although buying equipment for unknown usecases is always not the best idea.Quote from: nctnico on October 03, 2025, 11:38:04 pmGood point there, I will try to get both models from Batronix next week as demo units to do just that - datasheets only go a certain distance when it comes to making these decisions.When looking at the current price range at R&S, I don't think that they are a viable option. Spending more than 6 k€ on something where the usecases in the future are not well defined is something I don't want to do. And to be honest I am not that big of a fanboy of the R&S scopes - at least when using them in the past I didn't have a "uh this is nice, i need to get me one" feeling (RTB2004 and RTE1204 mostly).When it comes to digital channels I prefered using logic analyzers for use with a pc because they were just nicer to interface (Saleae). But when it comes to faster logic and problems with risetime etc. I guess having them combined with 4 analog channels is better? I am missing the experience here again and happy for some pushes in one or another direction.Thanks,Gado

author: egonotto
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2025, 06:12:32 am
content: Hello,if you can borrow both devices, that would of course be the best way to make your decision.There are two German YouTubers who have made several videos about the Magnova.https://www.youtube.com/@Elektronik-1/videoshttps://www.youtube.com/@OsziWissen/videosPerhaps one more point that is rarely discussed:What data in what format and how quickly can you get it onto your PC for further processing?Best regards,egonotto

author: Gadolinium
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 04, 2025, 06:24:30 am
content: Quote from: egonotto on October 04, 2025, 06:12:32 amExcellent question, from experience with the R&S devices, I saw that csv export took ages (20-30 Minutes on the RTE1204 for 100 Mpts). I would assume that binary export on the Magnova and Siglent are rather quick.

author: egonotto
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2025, 07:21:23 am
content: Hello,I just tried to save various files on the SDS3000X HD.The internal memory is very slow and very small (1.7 GB).But you can use SMB. The SDS3000X HD is the client, and I have shared a 4 GB RAM disk on my PC. When using binary, 400 MSamples become almost 800 MB. The transfer took about 14 seconds. When using Matlab, 80 MSamples become about 914 MB and take about 43 seconds for me.So with SMB, I get about 55 MB/s for binary and 21 MB/s for Matlab format.That's very good.Best regards,egonotto

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2025, 07:45:12 am
content: It can save up to 80-90 MBytes/s if your network and PC are up to it..

author: Gadolinium
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 04, 2025, 07:50:01 am
content: Thank you for the test. That is definetly a quick transfer and it will surely be quick enough. Has anyone some experience with the transfer speeds of the Magnova?

author: egonotto
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2025, 07:52:22 am
content: Hello,I just tried to save various files on the SDS3000X HD.Unfortunately, I was unable to save all segments at once with segmented memory.Maybe it is possible after all, and someone can tell me how to do it?Best regards,egonotto

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2025, 09:34:42 am
content: Quote from: egonotto on October 04, 2025, 07:52:22 amHi,you saved it and it did not save all the segments in the same file?Best,Siniša

author: egonotto
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2025, 10:49:18 am
content: Hello,I have created 10 segments and can use history to select a segment to be displayed. This is then saved. However, I am unable to save all segments in a single file. And I can only save the segment that is currently displayed.It would be nice if I could save all segments with a single command.Best regards,egonotto

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2025, 11:31:55 am
content: Quote from: Gadolinium on October 04, 2025, 05:47:51 amOver the decades I have been doing quite a bit of FPGA and other digital development. I have and used both high-end logic analysers and MSOs for this work. However, an MSO is my first port of call. Having the digital signals visible in realtime helps a lot to visualise a problem and you can see things changing immediately when trying something. Contrary to logic analysers which typically have a (manual) acquire and analyse cycle which is slower to work with. I only use my logic analyser (Tektronix) when I need really complicated trigger scenarios to find a problem or when I need more than 16 channels. In 99.9% of the cases an MSO is just more convenient because I can do all from a single instrument. Especially if the digital channels are properly integrated so you can do measurements on them like counting pulses, delay, frequency, etc.

author: egonotto
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2025, 11:47:53 am
content: Hello,What is your best MSO in this regard?Kind regards,egonotto

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2025, 01:03:02 pm
content: Quote from: egonotto on October 04, 2025, 11:47:53 amThe best one so far is the one I currently have: R&S RTM3004. It just ticks all the boxes for me. The previous MSOs I owned (Siglent SDS2000 and Agilent MSO7104) have been sold off a long time ago as these where horrible to use each in there own way. At work I have also used the first MSOs made by HP.

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2025, 01:23:13 pm
content: Quote from: egonotto on October 04, 2025, 10:49:18 amOk in that case just be patient for a bit more...

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 12:33:38 am
content: Speaking of being patient...I saw egonotto's post above about saving in segment (history) mode, so I wanted to try it. I think I picked aninterestingcombination of settings.I set it to save all records with 13.29Mwfms/s. Anyway, you can see the progress after 8 hours.

author: egonotto
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 08:56:46 am
content: Hello,CSV format creates extremely large files. I estimate it will be 2 to 6 GB in size.I would use binary format instead.Best regards,egonotto

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 09:10:17 am
content: Quote from: egonotto on October 05, 2025, 08:56:46 amYup, even the SDS1000X-E scopes from 2017 had the option to save in BIN format which reduces the file size for sure but not to anything tiny and really fast to download.Since way back then even the BIN2CSV converter utility has been available to download from a Siglent scopes internal memory and install on a PC for BIN to CSV conversion.

author: egonotto
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 09:23:50 am
content: Hello,The program manual for the SDS800 and SDS3000X HD contains a sample program:"Read Sequence Waveform Data Example"Perhaps this can be used to save all segments in one go.Best regardsegonotto

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 11:30:33 am
content: Quote from: egonotto on October 05, 2025, 09:23:50 amI loaded last public FW, SDS3000X-HD_1.0.3.9_EN.I set memory to 10MPts and Sequence to 20 segments.I do single shot.I go to file save, select CH1 and binary, and save to SMB share.I can clearly see that is saves segments one by one, on label on the screen.Best,

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 03:15:50 pm
content: Quote from: egonotto on October 05, 2025, 08:56:46 amI'm going to try binary today. I also tried bin/csv before just csv which obviously wasn't fast either.ETA: Hmm, I don't know if I can do just binary. I'll email them about that.ETA2: Nope, not currently a dedicated BIN option; only bin & csv.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 03:24:28 pm
content: Quote from: KungFuJosh on October 05, 2025, 03:15:50 pmCSV exports are typically slow due to conversions. BTW, nowadays having a JSON export would make a lot of sense because JSON offers much more in terms of support of additional data like channel settings, type of data, time & date. In a CSV file this is typically hacked in (or left out completely) and it makes parsing the data much harder.

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 03:31:04 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on October 05, 2025, 03:24:28 pmI think that's a great idea. Maybe they'll think so too.

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 04:17:32 pm
content: JSON might sound like a good idea from standpoint of internal format transparency.But AFAIK it does not support variety of number formats and only universally supported format is IEEE-754 double-precision floating-point format for all numeric values.I didn't look into BSON and how universally accepted it is.None of the XML like type formats will ever be as efficient as BIN

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 04:18:30 pm
content: Quote from: KungFuJosh on October 05, 2025, 03:15:50 pmOr maybe I was being impatient?I tried bin/csv again, and it's slow, but much faster than the csv option. It's been an hour, and it's already up to maybe 15%? That's a huge improvement.

author: Martin72
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 04:32:54 pm
content: In order to repeat Josh's “Spirograph” test, I first had to bring the equipment back to the study—it's currently being renovated, so the good measuring devices are stored away to protect them from dust and other debris.Setting it up is one thing, maybe I'll manage to do the test today, but I'm a bit short on free time.I took the opportunity to show once again how compact the Magnova actually is (second picture).It's hard to believe that it has a 15.6“ display...Our 15” Lecroys at work are giants in comparison.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 04:57:26 pm
content: Quote from: KungFuJosh on October 05, 2025, 04:18:30 pmYou are being sarcastic... I hope?Is this to a network share or local? I thought my old Tektronix TDS510A from the early 1990's was slow when saving CSV to a 3.5" diskThings should improve in a 30 year timeframe.

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 05:07:13 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on October 05, 2025, 04:57:26 pmNo, your scope from the 1990s couldn't do13 MILLIONwaveforms per second in history mode. What I'm trying to doisstupid, but that's a different story.It wound up saving a bin file that was 342MB after a little over 1.5 hours, but I don't think it's complete, so I'm testing again to see.

author: Martin72
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 05:58:11 pm
content: Oh, I've gone and done it now and started up the Spirograph, sorry, the generator.

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 06:22:02 pm
content: Thanks!That side-by-side tells me I made the right choice for my needs.Screenshots: clearly the 3000 is better than the 2000, but still can't catch up to the Magnova; though that was expected.

author: Martin72
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 07:10:37 pm
content: QuotePainting surreal images?

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 07:16:43 pm
content: Quote from: Martin72 on October 05, 2025, 07:10:37 pmFaster update rate for catching tricky signals, and the larger screen for my glasses-wearing-eyes. The VESA mount and video out help with that too. The Magnova rackmount makes it easy to pull it right up to my face.But, yeah, I like Oscillospirographing™ too.

author: Martin72
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 07:19:58 pm
content: Quote

author: Andre77
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2025, 12:30:54 pm
content: Regarding waveform data saving on the Magnova:- Data can be saved in CSV or binary format. We apologise if the “Bin/CSV” label in the menu has caused any confusion. To clarify, when this format is selected, the actual waveform data is saved in binary format. Additionally, a small CSV file containing supplementary information such as the sampling period, time intervals and start times of each waveform is created. This extra information is helpful for correctly interpreting the binary data. The CSV file is usually very small and has almost no impact on save speed.- Saving a binary file (+ CSV) with 10 Mpts, for example, takes about 5 seconds, regardless of whether it is saved to internal memory, a USB stick or a network drive via SMB. We’ll take another look at this, as there may be scope for optimisation.- Josh managed to identify an interesting case that we hadn’t apparently tested yet: when saving three million segments, each with only a small number of points, the saving process takes significantly longer, and the CSV information file becomes quite large. We’ll investigate this further. For comparison, saving only 1,000 segments with 1 kpts each takes less than two seconds.- The data to be saved is highly configurable. As well as selecting channels, format and notation, you can choose to save all records (segments), the last N records, specific ranges or individual records.Quote from: KungFuJosh on October 03, 2025, 10:31:56 pmTo determine the waveform update rate, you can measure the trigger signal on the SDS AUX output. For this, you will need a second oscilloscope (or a counter) to count the number of edges occurring within a one-second period.Quote from: Gadolinium on October 04, 2025, 05:47:51 amWe are happy to lend you both oscilloscopes for testing purposes.

author: Gadolinium
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 11, 2025, 05:15:00 pm
content: Thank you all for the tests.Batronix was so kind to send me over the SDS3104X HD and the BMO350. So i did some thorough tests in the last days.Josh was absolutely right when saying that both are excellent scopes - they really are.The waveform update Rate sure is a touch faster on the Magnova, but not that I would say that it matters to me.I decided to go with the BMO350, as it had some points I really liked about it:Bode-Plot:Up to 5000 Points with a nice table and good visualisation. I really like the ramp feature of the amplitude profiles, therefore I can get away with specifying less points - something I missed on the RTB2004 of R&S that I used for bode measurements until now.FFT:The big screen really helps with viewing the FFT data. Compared to the SDS3104X HD, the FFT-Calculation-Rate seems to be roughly four times faster on the Magnova. That really helps with noise measurements as the average also converges faster. Only thing I really miss here: Logarithmic X-Scale and color grading of the FFT-Data. The SDS has both.History-Mode:The time stamp for every capture could come in quite handy. Playback is also very nice. Only thing I noted: Playing back the captured waveforms feeds the data into the measurement modules - so trend-charts and statistics will get "corrupted". Maybe that is a feature? I am not even sure If I like it or notDigital-Mode:Grouping, naming and coloring of different input channels is super easy with the Settings-Table. Best implementation I have seen yet.Hotkeys:Very handy for some often needed tasks. I defined a hotkey for Quicksave and therefore can save a screenshot and Waveform-Data together with just one press of a button to my work pc that runs a smb-share. The option of doing different saving operations under one quicksave command is gorgeous.Export Format:The seperate CSV header file with a plain Binary file is very nice to process it later. Took me a couple minutes to get an import job ready in python that reads the data. The SDS has a binary with included header, so a bit more effort to decode it (i did not search for how it is done, so it might still be easy, but it doesn't get easier than having uint16_t's in a file).Edit for clarification: The SDS ships with an .exe that can convert the binary to CSV for you. But for me automating things in python it is a touch easier not to first feed the data into that nice little program. If you are interested in CSV than the Siglent approach is a great one for sure.Silent:This might even be the biggest point for me when I made the decision for the Magnova. Even with the fan on, it is very quiet and the fan has a nice hum to it. The SDS is definetely louder, while still beeing absolutely fine for lab equipment. But I personally prefer the hum of the Magnova over the hussshhh of the SDSOf course it also has it's downsides and some things that could be better (for example math mode that can have the reference waveforms as input, more efficient usage of screen space, measurements reducing the waveform acquisition rate drastically under certain circumstances, ...).But for my usecases, it is the clear winner. Regarding the waveform export speed, it is currently rather slow (took 6 Minutes to save 327 Mpts to a SMB-Share, SDS took less than a minute for 400 Mpts), but Batronix told me they would rectify this issue soon, so I am hopeful that it also get's up to SDS speedsThanks,Gado

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2025, 06:12:43 pm
content: Quote from: Gadolinium on October 11, 2025, 05:15:00 pmCongrats on your new scope!A lot of new features and display updates are coming. Hopefully, we'll soon see the windowing and improved labels and such that they have planned.Share your other feedback in the Magnova thread (and/or with Batronix directly); they've been good about listening to user experience and suggestions.Thanks,Josh

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2025, 06:39:59 pm
content: Quote from: Gadolinium on October 11, 2025, 05:15:00 pmWhat else did you miss ?The BIN2CSV converter utility is available from the Save/Recall menus to install on PC.Small, fast and convenient PC utility already packaged in the DSO.

author: Gadolinium
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 11, 2025, 08:42:46 pm
content: Quote from: tautech on October 11, 2025, 06:39:59 pmI know about the converter and sure is a great idea to ship the exe with the scope. As I directly import the data in python, it is a touch nicer to have them directly in such an easy binary format, that's why I wrote it the way I did.I added a short clarification to not lead other people making decisions in the wrong direction

author: Gadolinium
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 11, 2025, 08:51:44 pm
content: Quote from: KungFuJosh on October 11, 2025, 06:12:43 pmI will certainly do so in the Magnova thread and with Batronix directly. I already talked to them yesterday and they were really eager to get to know what suggestions I had for future features.

author: Martin72
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2025, 09:00:08 pm
content: I didn't expect anything else from Batronix; after all, the Magnova is their baby.It's also their only child, so they can take care of it as often as they want.