dru500a vs. dru500ax - just different firmware?

by **msuiter** on Fri Mar 28, 2003 12:03 pm

it's been a while since i've checked this forum and did a search and couldn't find my answer. i know this topic has been debated on here before. has anyone finally figured out if the "X" model is just a firmware upgrade? my local BB has the older model and i have a 10% coupon. just wondering if i would be missing out on anything buying this model?

thanks.

by **tazdevl** on Fri Mar 28, 2003 12:31 pm

Same drive different firmware. That's it.

by **Justin42** on Fri Mar 28, 2003 1:57 pm

There is some speculation that the "AX" models have a different (bigger) firmware chip, as well as a different drive mechanism, that will make it be able to eventually be upgraded to an 8X burner.

This is NOT confirmed by anyone official, only hearsay I've picked up over the net. Sony has NEVER talked about any difference officially. I would NOT spread this info as "Fact" or even close to it! Just rumour.

Of course, being as there is no official 8X standard, and it's still nearly impossible to find 4X media at a decent price, I have a feeling by the time 8X is feasible it's going to be time for ALL DRU500 owners to be looking for a new drive if they're serious...!

by **Dartman** on Fri Mar 28, 2003 5:55 pm

The latest firmware is for both drives so must not be much difference except for whatever running updates they might make to improve the quality.

by **citizen** on Thu Apr 03, 2003 5:06 pm

But how to explain this then ?
I bought a DRU500AX, it says so on the box that was factory sealed. I'm absolutely sure noone messed with that drive.
In windows XP Nero 5.5.10.15 and XP identify it as a Sony DRU500A with 2.0c firmware.

Why does a AX drive show up as a A drive ????
It's brandnew.

by **Dartman** on Thu Apr 03, 2003 5:26 pm

Their isn't much difference between the 2 except for firmware probably and maybe where it was built. So they didn't take the time to change the ID string for the newer drives, besides they claim they are the same once the firmware is up to date.
When I bought mine they were selling A and X drives with similar build dates. They didn't have any x models at Frys when I got mine.
They all use the same firmware now so maybe they were more or less truthfull, all I know is mine has worked very nicely.

by **arklab** on Fri Apr 04, 2003 12:30 am

Well, this is hardly definative, but I "poped" the cover off an "AX", and the circuit card (and as far as I could tell, allthe IC's) were IDENTIACL with the review pictures of very early "A" drives.

Still, I suspect some things have changed ... I'm just not sure what! :roll:

by **VEFF** on Fri Apr 04, 2003 1:04 pm

arklab wrote:Well, this is hardly definative, but I "poped" the cover off an "AX", and the circuit card (and as far as I could tell, allthe IC's) were IDENTIACL with the review pictures of very early "A" drives.

Still, I suspect some things have changed ... I'm just not sure what!

Thanks for the info!
That piece of info, along with the exact same firmware being used by both, and the fact that Sony has stated they are the sam (I doubt they would want to lie, since they know anyone could pull the two apart and compatre them) would appear to make it pretty clear that it is the same drive, as most have been saying for a while now.

by **lmb** on Sun Apr 13, 2003 1:38 pm

citizen wrote:Why does a AX drive show up as a A drive ????
It's brandnew.

Yes, my ULX drive identifies itself as A as well. Odd that they'd opt not to change the identifier string. What's also weird is in Nero it only lists two possible DVD writing speeds, 2x and 3.1x even though I've installed the 2.0e firmware upgrade. Is this supposed to happen? It does write DVD+R disks at 2.4x which is not listed and DVD-R at 2x, so if I popped in a 4x DVD+/-R disk, would it actually burn at 4x even though it's not listed?

by **Rpbertxyz** on Mon Apr 14, 2003 11:28 am

I have the Sony 500AX and used a Ritek 4X-R and Nero showed it burning at 4X.

by **Justin42** on Mon Apr 14, 2003 11:46 am

lmb wrote:What's also weird is in Nero it only lists two possible DVD writing speeds, 2x and 3.1x even though I've installed the 2.0e firmware upgrade. Is this supposed to happen?

Do you put the blank DVDR into the drive before or after you tell it to burn? I've noticed Nero does weird things determining burn speed if there's no blank in the drive (it must wait for the drive to tell it which selections to use)

No problems burning 4X DVD+Rs here on my DRU500A, although I've never gotten any 4X DVD-Rs.

by **freeloader** on Wed Apr 16, 2003 3:29 pm

Well, I've had my ...AX for a few weeks now. Everything except the box and the lable on the unit says it's an ...A.

I don't care. I'm glad I waited for the ...AX. I'm convinced that there is a reason Sony changed the model number. They aren't saying why because they're afraid it will impact the sales of the ...As still out there. My best guess (right or wrong, I don't care) is that it is related to some manufacturing change.

With all that said, I'm ecstatic with mine. It beats my old Sony CRX-140E 2X, 4X, 8X on CDs alone, no sweat. I've burnt several dozen CDs, about a dozen DVD-Rs and 1 DVD+RW. Not one coaster to be seen. The included software (Record Now DX) does it's job very nicely.

A bit expensive, yeah. But, it's doing the job I bought it for. What more can I say?

by **lmb** on Wed Apr 16, 2003 4:33 pm

Justin42 wrote:
lmb wrote:What's also weird is in Nero it only lists two possible DVD writing speeds, 2x and 3.1x even though I've installed the 2.0e firmware upgrade. Is this supposed to happen?

Do you put the blank DVDR into the drive before or after you tell it to burn? I've noticed Nero does weird things determining burn speed if there's no blank in the drive (it must wait for the drive to tell it which selections to use)

No problems burning 4X DVD+Rs here on my DRU500A, although I've never gotten any 4X DVD-Rs.

No I wait until it requests a disk, next time I will try to put a disk in first before I start burning. I think that's just the way Nero behaves and it will write a 4x disk at 4x though I have no intention of buying 4x media in the immediate future, at 2-3x the cost I don't need to spend over a hundred dollars for a 50 disk spindle just to save a few minutes.

by **VEFF** on Wed Apr 16, 2003 8:01 pm

citizen wrote:But how to explain this then ?
I bought a DRU500AX, it says so on the box that was factory sealed. I'm absolutely sure noone messed with that drive.
In windows XP Nero 5.5.10.15 and XP identify it as a Sony DRU500A with 2.0c firmware.

Why does a AX drive show up as a A drive ????
It's brandnew.

As mentioned, it IS the same drive, so there shouldn't be much of a surprise that it shows up as 500A.
Also, as someone mentioned, they did NOT bother changing the drive string...
It is all in the thread above your post

dru500a vs. dru500ax - just different firmware?

dru500a vs. dru500ax - just different firmware?

Who is online