New TDK 8x burner the same as the PX-708A

by **aviationwiz** on Thu Oct 30, 2003 6:06 pm

What do you guys think?

Check this out:
http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php ... adid=78278

by **Ian** on Thu Oct 30, 2003 8:36 pm

The only thing TDK has told me so far is that it isn't an NEC this time around. TDK has used Plextor in the past as their OEM.. wouldn't be surprised if they did once again.

by **RJW** on Fri Oct 31, 2003 4:17 am

But it also has the same specs as the new sanyo based chipset drives like Optorite 8x. And Sanyo has been a OEM suplier for TDK in the past.

by **controller2k4** on Sat Nov 01, 2003 2:53 am

Hiya...

I'm the original poster from the other forum. I discovered CDRLabs and am happy I found another great resource!

Anyway... I actually purchased this drive on Monday this week at my local BestBuy for $250 (USD). Not a bad deal at retail. It IS available in at least my local stores... just not advertised yet.

I believe it is identical to the Plextor 708A for a few reasons -besides the identical specs and performance- :

1) The drive case is the same. The front of the TDK drive and the front of the plextor drive are identical, right down to the glossy black stripe at the bottom of the cd-tray's cover. They are absolutely 100% physically identical, except of course for the markings (TDK instead of Plextor). If you compared the black bezel 708A to the TDK 840G, and removed the markings on the front of both, you would think they were the same drive.

The tray is also black, like Plextor's.

The back, right down to the vent holes and their placement is identical as well.

2) The firmware follows the same convention... i.e., this drive has a TLA # of 0002 (I think that is what it said... ) and a firmware # of 1.02, like Plextor.

Either TDK took the same chipset as Plextor and basically copied their design to the most minute detail... or Plextor OEMed for TDK.

Of course, in the end the performance of the drive and the price are what counts not the design of the front (though I do love the design), and I think the drive is as good if not better than my old Sony DRU500ax... the primary advantage being speed increases all around (8X +R -on 4x discs no less-, 4X+RW, 40X CD-R).

-P

by **dodecahedron** on Sat Nov 01, 2003 5:40 am

hi controller2k4 and welcome to CDRLabs.

I discovered CDRLabs and am happy I found another great resource!

is that because of me? :wink:

by **RJW** on Sat Nov 01, 2003 8:50 am

PLextor hasn't sold designs in the past. So I just think the OEM-ed like they did in the past for TDK.

by **Ian** on Sat Nov 01, 2003 1:43 pm

controller2k4,

Welcome to CDRLabs and thanks for your comments. I know a lot of people are wondering about this new drive.

I have one small request. Would it be possible to get a picture or two of the drive? Back and front?

Ian

by **controller2k4** on Sun Nov 02, 2003 1:06 am

Here are direct comparison shots of my TDK drive (pardon the blurriness on the front shot; it is hard to shoot because of the color), and the Plextor drive as taken from this site.

You will notice that even the topside labels seem identical, except for some small TDK related details and of course the manufacture date and the TLA #.

(BTW, I put these pics on a quickly-made geocities site... no saying how long they will last...)

http://www.geocities.com/controller2k/

-P

by **hoxlund** on Thu Nov 13, 2003 1:33 am

yeah my guess there the same, if so, can someone pass the word along to the powers that be

CRACK THE FIRMWARE!

to real plextor firmware

cause i plan on swapping my Pioneer DVR-106D to this TDK we sell at my staples store, mainly cause its a free swap for me

by **flash** on Thu Nov 13, 2003 2:15 am

Just out of curiosity why pay $250 for the clone when
you can purchase the real Plextor 708A through an authorized
dealer like Buy.com for $206 delivered. (US)
Here is the linke:http://www.buy.com/retail/PEProduct.asp?sku=200773376&dcaid=15890

by **hoxlund** on Thu Nov 13, 2003 2:23 am

cause i get a free upgrade from my Pioneer DVR-106D to the Plextor clone, which hopefully will have a crack to turn it into real plextor

by **flash** on Thu Nov 13, 2003 2:35 am

I didn't mean you Hoxlund because you have the Staples deal working for you. :wink:

I was just referring to people purchasing for the first time.
Of course people could purchase the clone from Staples and hopefully flash it like you said and then upgrade like you've been doing.

by **hoxlund** on Thu Nov 13, 2003 2:52 am

yeah just search in the forum for the stuff on flashing memorex or any OEM pioneer, to real pioneer

by **choppedliver** on Thu Nov 13, 2003 2:25 pm

looking at the pics, ... yeah id have to say thats a plextor... you know i bought my trusty plextor ultraplex40 scsi reader
(to this day, its the only drive i will rip cds on because it just plain works, the quality is incredible, others are faster now, but not as reliable)
as an oem deal... doesnt say plextor anywhere on it. So i wouldnt be surprised if TDK has OEM'd it from plextor. For me i guess if the price is the same id buy the true plextor unless the TDK came with a better software package. I couldnt care less about the media they come with.

by **choppedliver** on Thu Nov 13, 2003 2:30 pm

btw, i just did a search on pricegrabber.com for both... the plextor is $20 bucks cheaper delivered to my house, $205.99, than the TDK

http://www.diymicro.com/product.asp?pf_ ... D224%2D001

by **hoxlund** on Thu Nov 13, 2003 4:17 pm

reason i got the tdk is because it was a free swap out from my pioneer dvr-106D, haha its nice workin at staples

just told them "its broke"

by **choppedliver** on Thu Nov 13, 2003 4:31 pm

cool that makes sense lol

by **wicked1** on Fri Nov 14, 2003 2:05 pm

hoxlund wrote:cause i plan on swapping my Pioneer DVR-106D to this TDK we sell at my staples store, mainly cause its a free swap for me

heresy! pure and simple trade a perfect drive for a plextor :lol:

by **aviationwiz** on Fri Nov 14, 2003 6:41 pm

wicked1 wrote:
hoxlund wrote:cause i plan on swapping my Pioneer DVR-106D to this TDK we sell at my staples store, mainly cause its a free swap for me

heresy! pure and simple trade a perfect drive for a plextor

I would not even go close to calling either the A06 or the 708 "perfect."

by **Matrix3** on Fri Nov 21, 2003 7:18 am

you know i bought my trusty plextor ultraplex40 scsi reader
(to this day, its the only drive i will rip cds on because it just plain works, the quality is incredible

Strange! I had to dump that Plextor model 4 years ago because it couldn't read any Macrovision encrypted game like C&C Tiberium Sun, Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine, and many others.

New TDK 8x burner the same as the PX-708A

New TDK 8x burner the same as the PX-708A

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