If you're shopping for data acquisition recorders, you may be weighing a higher-resolution general-purpose recorder against a dedicated interface for pClamp. The IOtech Personal Daq/56 and the Axon Instruments Digidata 1320A both count as data acquisition recorders, but they are aimed at different lab workflows. The fastest way to decide is to check your software, your wiring, and your listed-price tolerance.
Quick Verdict
The Axon Digidata 1320A is the direct companion for patch-clamp recording, while the IOtech Personal Daq/56 is the more general-purpose DAQ with a higher bit-depth profile. Neither is a universal replacement for the other; the right choice depends on whether your experiments are built around dedicated electrophysiology software or broad-signal capture.
At-a-Glance Comparison
Here is how the two used data acquisition recorders compare on listed price and the specs stated for each unit.
| Product | Listed price | Price bar | Key specs |
|---|---|---|---|
| IOtech Personal Daq/56 USB Data Acquisition System DAQ56 22-Bit w/ Terminal Bloc | USD 599.99 | 22-bit; USB; four removable screw-terminal blocks; used; MPN DAQ/55 | |
| Axon Instruments Digidata 1320A 16-Bit Data Acquisition System for pClamp Lab | USD 99.99 | 16-bit; Clampex/Clampfit compatibility; used; MPN 1320A |
Where Each Recorder Wins
The IOtech Personal Daq/56 wins for general-purpose acquisition. It is the higher-resolution unit with a USB connection and removable screw-terminal blocks, so it reads as a bench-top recorder for a range of signals. The unit is described as a used, lightly used classroom unit with the terminal blocks and USB cable included.
The Axon Instruments Digidata 1320A wins for pClamp-based patch-clamp work. This is the system whose listed application is electrophysiology/patch-clamp recording, and its compatibility points to Axon pClamp, Clampex, and Clampfit. If your software stack is pClamp, that direct match matters more than bit-depth on paper.
Product Notes
IOtech Personal Daq/56 USB Data Acquisition System DAQ56 22-Bit w/ Terminal Bloc
The IOtech Personal Daq/56 is the choice when you want a used USB data acquisition recorder with 22-bit resolution and direct screw-terminal wiring. The four removable terminal blocks give you a practical way to connect multiple signals, and the unit is described as having been used lightly in a classroom setting with the USB cable included. The MPN is DAQ/55, and the condition is listed as used. Its limitation is that pClamp compatibility is not part of the stated feature set, so a pClamp-based patch-clamp lab would be better matched to the Axon Digidata 1320A. For general bench-top data acquisition, though, the IOtech gives you the higher bit depth and the terminal-block connectivity that point to a general-purpose bench role.
Axon Instruments Digidata 1320A 16-Bit Data Acquisition System for pClamp Lab
The Digidata 1320A is the more focused instrument of the two. It is a 16-bit system, which is lower than the IOtech's 22-bit figure, but its listed application is electrophysiology/patch-clamp recording and its compatibility includes Axon pClamp, Clampex, and Clampfit. For scientists who already run pClamp, that compatibility is the deciding factor. The unit is used, and the model and MPN are both identified as 1320A, with the manufacturer listed as Molecular Devices, formerly Axon Instruments. The limitation is the resolution: at 16-bit, it is not the higher-spec DAQ on paper, so if bit depth is the primary goal, the IOtech is the one with the numerical advantage.
Final Choice by Use Case
Choose the IOtech Personal Daq/56 (USD 599.99) if you need a 22-bit USB data acquisition recorder with removable screw-terminal blocks for general lab measurements and you want the included terminal blocks and USB cable to make wiring straightforward.
Choose the Axon Instruments Digidata 1320A (USD 99.99) if your experiments are built around Clampex/Clampfit and patch-clamp recording. The 16-bit interface is described specifically for electrophysiology, and its Clampex/Clampfit compatibility gives it a clear role in that workflow.
If your primary question is which one matches your lab's software and wiring style, the Axon recorder answers the pClamp question directly, while the IOtech answers the connect-a-range-of-signals question with more bit depth and screw-terminal convenience.
