Few years ago ITTSB Blog has the opportunity to write an in depth product review about DE-208A that is a product aiming professionally working audience.
While DE-208A it is superior as measuring device and build quality among safety both are at high standards, what seemed as negative this was the price point.
Back then it seems that management of DER EE co., Taiwan, it did receive wrong advice due their own marketing team, of what international consumers’ was willing to pay for it.
In the beginning, pricing expectation about DE-208A this was to placed at 400 USD price range, overall performance of this multimeter this is very close to FLUKE 87V.
DE-208A comes with two additional advantages that FLUKE 87V does not have:a) mV range this measuring with precision from single millivolt , so this to support external AC/DC current clamp probe. Such an advantage helps DE-208A to be considered as essential (first choice) multimeter and for audio applications. At 2018 FLUKE 87V this is now an old meter, limited to electrical applications, when DE-208A this is still a multipurpose multimeter.
b) Second advantage, this is data logging capability due USB cable. Such feature was mainly an advantage introduced from Agilent (Keysight) U1272A.
Now it makes sense that DER EE co., Taiwan, by thinking that their DE-208A this is one product standing between FLUKE 87V and Keysight U1272A, that this can also stand at that price range.
We are now four years later, and DER EE co., Taiwan it did realize their mistake.
Latest pricing equalization this is at about 150 Euro as retail price for DE-208A.
Such a move this is now an opportunity for DE-208A this to win market share and appreciation from the technical community.
DE-208A under the microscope:a) Very advanced electronics (speed – precision – bandwidth)
b) Range switch design (Made in Japan)
c) High quality banana plug inputs & safety standards for EU & US
d) Multimeter body this has layer of rubber material (equal product design to U1272A).
e) And finally only it front mask cover of the LCD display this seems as poor choice of materials in my eyes even today.
f) But when DE-208A this is offered at 150 Euro and below, I am ready to accepts this product as good over all choice even if aesthetics this is not it strong point.
In conclusion, Within 2018 four brand names are dominant in the market
of modern and well made multimeter for professional use.
And these are HIOKI (Japan), Keysight U1272A, BRYMEN (Taiwan) and DER EE (Taiwan).
It is unfortunate that other brands with small or larger brand reputation, does not shown identical bravery at equalizing the price of their offerings, neither they care to offer products
with updated features in a market that always moves ahead and this now changes more rabidly than ever.
Speaking of signs of innovation, HIOKI invested more thought recently so their high quality handheld multimeter DT4282, this to deliver more in the area of electric vehicles, with AC/DC volts measurement (high speed) and both values are displayed simultaneously.
U1272A this is also capable of AC/DC volts measurement but at much slower display update speed.
For latest pricing and availability you need to contact DEREE website, they do accepts PayPal.
Another option this is offerings due eBay.
I am simply informing of latest news, final purchase decision this is always your own.
DER EE/ DE-208A multimeter Review – By the eye of the Industrial electrician.