C't test results. burners.

by **RJW** on Thu Nov 06, 2003 6:36 pm

Since sources as CDR-labs and CDfreaks can not test some things like writing quality for dvd burning. (Some people like to let you believe different things, however the K-probe ain't enough).Now some people asked me for the results. I opened this topic to make the data easier for people to get. In this topic I will post as much C't DVD writer test data as possible.

Tolerance for Max jitter.
Note highest tested is 20. And starting value is 8. These measurements are based on audiodev cats equipement and use a special manipulated disc. So 20 is the maximum jitter tollerance level they can test.
This gives some info on tollerance for reading bad burned disc's.(not on DVD 9 disc's)

So far tested

Drive- maximum jitter it can read

Benq DW400A(B1HY) -15,7
Dix-all DIX-DRW416(0039) -20,0
Iomega Super DVD (A106) -15,9
LG GSA-4040B (A104) -14,0
LiteOn LDW-401S (ES0G) -17,4
Mitsumi DW-7802TE (1.00) -12,9
MSI DR4-A (2.21) =15,9
NEC ND-1300A (1.06) =15,5
Nu Tech DDW-081 (BX02) =14,7
Pioneer DVRa06(1.06) -20,0
Plextor PX-708A(1.01) -20,0
Ricoh MP-5240A (1.05) -16,0
SONY DRU-510A (1.0C) 20,0
Toshiba SD-R5112(1031) -16,4

If people would like other stuff as the results for reading protected audio then let me know.

C't uses Verbatim (MCC) media, Maxell (DVD-R)and Ricoh(DVD+R) media. All media has shown that in earlier disc quality tests to be of good manufactureing quality when it comes to trackin. So it's the drive task to burn with good error levels and HF signal.

Drive
OEM
Firmware
burnspeed DVD+R/+RW/-RW/-RAM/CD-R/CD-RW
readspeed DVD-5/DVD-RAM/CD-R
Burnquality: DVD+R media tested -quality
(Note if it states (C't )after burnquality then it's based on C't interpretaion)
Note rateing system is from --(very bad),-(bad),0(ussable),+(good),++(excellent)
Ct number with test data.

Freecom FX-10 (*Note this is the dual format version with the model name FX-10)
NEC ND-1300A
1.05
DVD 4x/2,4x/4x/2x/- CD 16x/10x
12x/-/40x
Burnquality
DVD+R verbatim DVD+R 4x +(C't)
DVD+R ricoh DVD+R 4x +
DVD-R Maxell DVD-R 4x +
DVD-R TDK (Taiyo Yuden) DVD-R 4x ++
DVD-R verbatim DVD+R 4x ++ (C't)
Test in C't: 16

Pioneer DVR-A06/106D
-
1.05
DVD 4x/2,4x/4x/2x/- CD 16x/10x
12x/-/32x
Burnquality
DVD+R verbatim DVD+R 4x ++ (C't)
DVD+R ricoh DVD+R 4x 0
DVD-R Maxell DVD-R 4x --
DVD-R TDK (Taiyo Yuden) DVD-R 4x +
DVD-R verbatim DVD-R 4x + (C't)
Test in C't: 16

Ricoh MP5240A
-
1.08
DVD 4x/4x/-/-/- CD 16x/10x
12x/-/40x
Burnquality
DVD+R verbatim DVD+R 4x ++ (C't)
DVD+R ricoh DVD+R 4x ++
Test in C't: 16
* Note C't is experiencing quality problems on the cd-burning side with this firmware and older ones.(It's not one drive they tested a second model)

Traxdata RW1300
NEC ND-1300A
1.05
DVD 4x/2,4x/4x/2x/- CD 16x/10x
12x/-/40x
Burnquality
DVD+R verbatim DVD+R 4x +(C't)
DVD+R ricoh DVD+R 4x +
DVD-R Maxell DVD-R 4x +
DVD-R TDK (Taiyo Yuden) DVD-R 4x ++
DVD-R verbatim DVD+R 4x ++ (C't)
Test in C't: 16

IOMEGA Dual DVD (DVDRW4216IND-A)
NEC ND-1300
1.20
DVD 4x/2,4x/4x/2x/- CD 16x/10x
12x/-/40x
Burnquality
DVD+R verbatim DVD+R 4x ++(C't)
DVD-R verbatim DVD+R 4x o (C't)
Test in C't: 18

LG GSA 4040B
-
A104
DVD 4x/2,4x/4x/2x/3x CD 24x/16x
12x/3x/32x
Burnquality
DVD+R verbatim DVD+R 4x - (C't)
DVD-R verbatim DVD+R 4x ++ (C't)
Test in C't: 18

SONY DRU 510
=
1.0C
DVD 4x/4x/4x/2x/- CD 24x/16x
12x/-/32x
Burnquality
DVD+R verbatim DVD+R 4x + (C't)
DVD-R verbatim DVD-R 4x - (C't)
Test in C't: 18

TEAC DV-W50d
Pioneer DVR-A06
1.05
DVD 4x/2,4x/4x/2x/- CD 16x/10x
12x/-/32x
Burnquality
DVD+R verbatim DVD+R 4x ++ (C't)
DVD-R verbatim DVD-R 4x + (C't)
Test in C't: 18

BENQ DW400A
Ricoh MP5240A (according to C't)
B1HY
DVD 4x/4x/-/-/- CD 16x/10x
12x/-/40x
Burnquality
DVD+R verbatim DVD+R 4x -
DVD+R Ricoh DVD+R 4x ++ (C't)
Test in C't: 20

Lite ON
LDW-401S
-
ES0G
DVD 4x/4x/-/-/- CD 40x/24x
12x/-/40x
Burnquality
DVD+R verbatim DVD+R o 4x
DVD+R Ricoh DVD+R 4x + (C't)
Test in C't: 20

Mitsumi DW-7802TE
NEC ND-1300A
1.00
DVD 4x/2,4x/4x/2x/- CD 16x/10x
12x/-/40x
Burnquality
DVD+R verbatim DVD+R 4x +
DVD+R Ricoh DVD+R 4x ++ (C't)
DVD-R Verbatim DVD-R 4x o
DVD-R Maxell DVD-R 4x + (C't)
Test in C't: 20

Plextor 708
-
1.01
DVD 8x/4x/4x/2x/- CD 40x/24x
12x/-/40x
Burnquality
DVD+R verbatim DVD+R 4x ++ (C't)
DVD+R Ricoh DVD+R 4x ++
DVD+R verbatim DVD+R 4x at 8x +(C't)
DVD+R Ricoh DVD+R 4x at 8x --
DVD-R Verbatim DVD-R 4x ++ (C't)
DVD-R Maxell DVD-R 4x ++
Test in C't: 20

Toshiba SD-R5112
-
1031
DVD -/-/4x/2x/- CD 16x/10x
12x/2x/40x
Burnquality
DVD-R Verbatim DVD-R + (C't)
DVD-R Traxdata (RITEK G04) DVD-R 4x -
Test in C't: 20

IOMEGA SUPER DVD (DVDRW-4224)
LG GSA 4040B
A106
DVD 4x/2,4x/4x/2x/3x CD 24x/16x
12x/3x/32x
Burnquality
DVD+R verbatim DVD+R 4x +(C't)
DVD+R Ricoh DVD+R 4x o
DVD-R Verbatim DVD-R 4x + (C't)
DVD-R Maxell DVD-R 4x +
Test in C't: 23

MSIDR4-A (MS-8404A)
Optorite dd0201 ?(SANYO ?)
2.21
DVD 4x/2,4x/4x/2x/- CD 24x/10x
12x/-/40x
Burnquality
DVD+R verbatim DVD+R 4x -- CATS Analyzer and drive can not read the burnt disc's. :evil:

DVD+R Ricoh DVD+R 4x + (C't)
DVD-R Verbatim DVD-R 4x o
DVD-R Maxell DVD-R 4x + (C't)
Test in C't: 23

DIX-all DIX-DRW416
-
0039
DVD 4x/2x(!)/4x/2x/- CD 40x/24x
12x/-/40x
Burnquality
DVD+R verbatim DVD+R 4xo (C't)
DVD+R Ricoh DVD+R 4x -
DVD-R Verbatim DVD-R 4x --
DVD-R Maxell DVD-R 4x -- (C't)
Test in C't: 23
(!) note it writes 2x DVD+R weird stuff !.

Nu Tech DDW-081
-
BX02
DVD 8x/4x(!)/-/-/- CD 40x/10x
12x/-/40x
Burnquality
DVD+R verbatim DVD+R 4x +
DVD+R Ricoh DVD+R 4x ++(C't)
DVD+R Verbatim DVD+R 4x at 8x (9:20) --(problem is very high errors when switching from 6x to 8x)
DVD+R Ricoh 4x at 8x ++(C't) (9:13) Excellent performance very good jitter and error levels. Better as Plextor 708 has shown with firmware 1.01
Test in C't: 23

by **Vanderlow** on Thu Nov 06, 2003 9:26 pm

This gives some info on tollerance for reading bad burned disc's.(not on DVD 9 disc's)

Whats's interesting and its not the same thing (I quess) is in Tom Hardware review the LG GSA-4040B got a good (if not the best) score for reading badly scratch DVDs, but it has one of the worst read-jitter scores (I asume higher is better).

http://www20.tomshardware.com/storage/2 ... er-13.html

by **Ian** on Thu Nov 06, 2003 10:06 pm

I have more faith in C't. I don't understand Tom's testing methodologies at all.

by **dolphinius_rex** on Thu Nov 06, 2003 10:15 pm

Ian wrote:I have more faith in C't. I don't understand Tom's testing methodologies at all.

Forget the methadoligies, I can't understand TOM! :wink:

by **Halc** on Fri Nov 07, 2003 5:44 am

RJW,

thank you again for taking the time to write us these summaries.

This information is very much appreciated!

Thank you!

cheers,
halcyon

by **RJW** on Sun Nov 09, 2003 9:54 am

New info was added( C't 16.)

by **anders** on Wed Nov 19, 2003 9:44 pm

My library didn´t have that magazine so I guess I have to rely on your work,
but that´s ok by me :O)

I'm sorry to say my slow brain aint so witty tonight,
whats the difference between Drive and OEM?

I guess by drive you mean the burner, but OEM?

by **BMR** on Wed Nov 19, 2003 11:39 pm

anders wrote:I'm sorry to say my slow brain aint so witty tonight,
whats the difference between Drive and OEM?

I guess by drive you mean the burner, but OEM?

Some of the burners come in a retailed package with box, software, dvd's , cables, etc, but have the same version
of the drive without all the extras, just the drive itself and a manual.

An example would be the Pioneer A06 Retail version and the Pioneer 106 OEM version

OEM = "Original Equipment Manufacturer"

BMR

by **anders** on Thu Nov 20, 2003 12:17 am

Haha, yes, I know that part :O)

But if you look at the text

TEAC DV-W50d
Pioneer DVR-A06

you (at least I) wonder what burner was really tested...

Other stuff:

Was there no "Drive- maximum jitter it can read" for TEAC ?
I´m not sure I understand the difference between the rates WITH (C't) after and those without. Are they not both interpretations of the testresults?

by **anders** on Thu Nov 20, 2003 12:43 am

I forgot to ask about NEC ND-1300A.
Have they tested it yet?

by **RJW** on Thu Nov 20, 2003 5:12 am

They have tested the version of the drive with the drive model.
The OEM Model next gives info on which the drives hardware/design is based. Now some oem partners do very little and just repackage drives while others write there own firmwares. The nice thing of C't giving away on which writer it is based might give you a better idea of reproduction in the quality.

Update on info the Dix-all-Dix- DRW416 is based on the following OEM drive: BTC DRW 1004IM ¡V DVD+/-RW Drive

The NEC-N1300 was tested itself in C't number 11-2003 I think (I don't have that number (yet)) still you could look at the results of the OEMS traxdata just repackages things.

by **dolphinius_rex** on Sun Dec 07, 2003 6:26 pm

Would it be possible to make this thread sticky? I think the info is very useful, and I had to scroll down a couple of pages to find it!

by **MediumRare** on Fri Dec 26, 2003 9:37 pm

The newest issue of c't (no. 1/2004) contains a plethora of articles on DVD-burners and burning:
- survey of available burners with new tests of 5 drives
- DVD copiers (transcoding software) for Windows, MAC
- transcoding software for Linux
- semi-professional authoring programs
- packet-writing software for DVD drives
- 4x DVD+RW media
- technology of 2 layer DVD+R9 media
Anyone interested in DVD-burners who can get hold of this issue should do so! It goes on the newsstands on Mon. 29 Dec. in Germany (but subscribers get it earlier

) [/end unpaid plug].

I'll add the test results for the drives here and put a summary of the results for the DVD+RW media in another thread: c't test results: 4x DVD+RW media.

The new drives tested are:

Code: Select all: Drive Firmware AOpen DRW 4410 1.11 (~ Ricoh MP-5240A) BenQ DW-800A B2G7 (~ Philips) LiteOn LDW-411S FS07 LiteOn LDW-811S HS06 Philips DVDRW824K P1.2 (~ BenQ)

The AOpen and BenQ/Philips drives write +media only. The BenQ achieved the best burn quality, even at 8x, was fast and had good reading quality. The LDW-811S with (rather early version) firmware HS06 had very high error rates for the +media.

Here is a summary similar to what RJW has posted. The tag c't for a media-type refers to the type used for the rating the c't summary table(s). For other media, the maximum (not mean) values for "PI Sum 8 / PIF / POF" are given.
The DVD norm requires PI Sum 8 <= 280, PIF <=4 (+R(W)) and POF = 0.

Code: Select all: AOpen DRW 4410 Fw 1.11 (OEM Ricoh MP-5240A) Write DVD+R/+RW/-R/-RW/-RAM 4x / 4x / - / - / - Write CD-R/-RW 24x / 10x Read CD-Rom/DVD-5 40x / 8x Media PI Sum 8 / PIF / POF Ricoh DVD+R 4x 116 / 6 / 0 Plextor (TY) DVD+R 4x 22 / 4 / 0 Verbatim (MCC) DVD+R 4x 19 / 3 / 0 ++ c't

Code: Select all: BenQ DW-800A Fw B2G7 Write DVD+R/+RW/-R/-RW/-RAM 8x / 4x / - / - / - Write CD-R/-RW 24x / 10x Read CD-Rom/DVD-5 40x / 12x Media PI Sum 8 / PIF / POF Ricoh DVD+R 4x 23 / 4 / 0 @8X Plextor (TY) DVD+R 4x 12 / 1 / 0 @8x ++ c't Verbatim (MCC) DVD+R 4x 15 / 2 / 0 @8x Verbatim (MCC) DVD+R 4x 35 / 3 / 0 @4x Plextor (TY) DVD+R 4x 12 / 1 / 0 @4x ++ c't

Code: Select all: LiteOn LDW-411S Fw FS07 Write DVD+R/+RW/-R/-RW/-RAM 4x / 4x / 4x / 2x / - Write CD-R/-RW 40x / 24x Read CD-Rom/DVD-5 40x / 12x Media PI Sum 8 / PIF / POF (detailed tests with Fw FS02) Ricoh DVD+R 4x 304 / 5 / 0 Plextor (TY) DVD+R 4x 80 / 3 / 0 Verbatim (MCC) DVD+R 4x 29 / 3 / 0 ++ c't Maxell DVD-R 4x 73 / 3 / 0 Verbatim (MCC) DVD-R 4x 72 / 3 / 0 ++ c't

Code: Select all: LiteOn LDW-811S Fw HS06 Write DVD+R/+RW/-R/-RW/-RAM 8x / 4x / 4x / 2x / - Write CD-R/-RW 40x / 24x Read CD-Rom/DVD-5 40x / 12x Media PI Sum 8 / PIF / POF Ricoh DVD+R 4x 1036 / 31 / 1 @4x -- c't Plextor (TY) DVD+R 4x 1664 / 208 / 1 @8x Verbatim (MCC) DVD+R 4x 1499 / 111 / 1 @4x Maxell DVD-R 4x 145 / 3 / 0 4x - c't Verbatim (MCC) DVD-R 4x 288 / 3 / 0 4x

Code: Select all: Philips DVDRW824K Fw P1.2 (OEM BenQ DW-800A) Write DVD+R/+RW/-R/-RW/-RAM 8x / 4x / - / - / - Write CD-R/-RW 24x / 10x Read CD-Rom/DVD-5 40x / 12x Media no detailed tests. c't ratings same as BenQ (++)

G

by **RJW** on Sat Dec 27, 2003 8:56 am

Quite Funny about the Philips being a Benq OEM. The Benq is actually a Philips OEM since Philips designed the drive arround there chipset.
A bit strange that MCC now performs better as TY media. The last info I got showed a slightly favour for TY.

Also Lite On newer firmwares for the 811S has done some mayor improvements !
Still it's like I said behind the Plextors when it was released.
Also the 411S while it isn't a bad drive is a little behind Plextor and Pioneer.

by **MediumRare** on Sat Dec 27, 2003 9:29 am

RJW wrote:Quite Funny about the Philips being a Benq OEM. The Benq is actually a Philips OEM since Philips designed the drive arround there chipset.

Sorry- that was my interpretation. They just said that the drives differed only in the firmware. German: "baugleich".
In the past, though, Philips CD-burners were actually manufactured by BenQ and I'm sure these drives are not being built in the Netherlands. :wink:

I'll change the note in the previous post if you want.

G

by **Halc** on Mon Dec 29, 2003 1:34 pm

Offtopic:

Mediumrare and RJW,

can you help me in deciphering the various c't magazine subscription options?

I want to order, but I'm baffled by all the options.

http://www.heise.de/abo/ct/

Now, I don't read German, but I'm thinking that the tests will be self-explanatory and I can do a little bit of dictionary searching as well.

Please drop me a PM or send me e-mail if you have time to help me out.

Thanks!

rgds,
Halcyon

by **MediumRare** on Mon Dec 29, 2003 2:09 pm

halc- sent you an e-mail. You may want to remove or "hide" the e-mail address from your post to keep the spambots away.

G

by **Tazan007** on Wed Jan 14, 2004 12:18 am

Did they test the NuTech DDW-081 ? Where can I look at the results of the NuTech drive. I have the NuTech and the Liteon 811S and using Kprobe, the NuTech consistently has lower PI and PO errors no matter which speed read speed I use on the test.

I have the newest DDW-081 firmware and the newest 811S firmware and the NuTech has far better write quality and they seem to have fixed the spike when it changes speeds at 6x to 8x. Of course I was using Kprobe but that's all I have.

Thanks

by **Ciryadin** on Mon Jan 26, 2004 11:47 am

It seems the test on the NU-Drive was done with the old BX03 firmware this is a far outdated.

I hope they can perhaps redo the test with the new BX30Pro f/w or the B361 Dual so atleast the rewrite capabilities will be far better then they are in the results we have seen now.

by **Gooberslot** on Tue Feb 17, 2004 10:03 am

Hmm, it looks like the Nec 1300a beats the Pioneer in write quality. That doesn't seem right. Is it true?

by **MediumRare** on Sun Feb 22, 2004 3:48 am

Gooberslot wrote:Hmm, it looks like the Nec 1300a beats the Pioneer in write quality. That doesn't seem right. Is it true?

I had a look at the article in c't no. 16/03 and the NEC 1300-A did indeed do better than the Pioneer DVR-106D, for both + and - media. Keep in mind, though, that the burn quality depends a great deal on the firmware (coincidentally 1.05 in both cases). The Pioneer was relativley new at the time and the NEC had been available for several months. NEC's results were dramatically improved over the prior test (c't no. 11/03), apparently because of the more "mature" firmware.

The latest c't no. 5/04 has a test of 15 8x burners with 9 media types (see the blurb at http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/44873). I'll try to get a summary up, but it'll take a while. :roll:

G

by **MediumRare** on Sun Feb 22, 2004 8:13 pm

Be warned: this is a long post!

The latest issue of c't has a test of 15 8x DVD burners with 9 media types (3 each of 8x DVD+R, 4x DVD+R(W) and 4x DVD-R). All DVD results are based on scans by Audiodev.

Because of the flood of information, they've defined a quality index based on 3 important parameters:
- PI Sum 8 / PIF / POF (linear) (max: 280 / 4 / 0)
- DC Jitter (quadratic) ( > 10% is problematic)
- signal asymmetry (exponent 1.5) (% value should not vary more that 10)
This index is 100 for "perfect" burns and negative if all paramters are outside of the specs. Don't ask about further details about this index, they're not available.

Rating:

Code: Select all: ++ >= 75 + >= 50 0 >= 25 - > 0 -- <= 0

I'll tabulate the quality index along with the rating (there are simply too many numbers otherwise). I'll try to answer specific requests for more information as time allows. Maybe RJW will jump into the discussion again when he gets his c't.

I had to split this into 3 (!!) tables because the lines got too long. :roll:

The first line per drive is the recording speed, the second line contains the quality index and c't rating.

Code: Select all: ' DVD-R DVD-R DVD-R Maxell Taiyo Yuden Verbatim Modell + Firmware (Fuji/TDK) (MCC) BenQ B3B7 2.4 2.4 2.4 DW-800A 74 / + 87 / ++ 87 / ++ LG A101 4 4 4 GSA-4081B 88 / ++ 90 / ++ 70 / + LiteOn HSOK 4 4 4 LDW-811S 40 / O 76 / ++ 78 / ++ Mitsumi 0054 4 4 4 DW-7872TE 66 / + 81 / ++ 81 / ++ MSI 130D 4 4 4 DRS-A -460 / -- 43 / O -182 / -- NEC 1.06 8 8 8 ND-2500A 57 / + 58 / + 54 / + 4 4 4 82 / ++ 88 / ++ 85 / ++ NuTech B362 2 2 2 DDW-081 73 / + 78 / ++ 45 / O Pioneer 1.05 4 4 4 DVR-107D 77 / ++ 76 / ++ 43 / O Plextor 1.04 4 4 4 PX-708A 75 / ++ 83 / ++ 69 / + Sony l.Od 4 4 4 DRU-530A 50 / + -87 / -- -48 / -- Teac H4S2 4 4 4 DV-W58G 74 / + 81 / ++ 86 / ++ Waitec GSX1 4 4 4 Action 8/1 -219 / -- -47 / -- 58 / +

Code: Select all: ' 4x DVD+R 4x DVD+R 4x DVD+RW TaiyoYuden Ricoh Verbatim Modell + Firmware (Plextor) (Fuji/TDK) (MCC) Cascade BenQ B3B7 8 8 DW-800A 75 / ++ 62 / + 56 / + hp BH04 8 4 DV0400i 81 / ++ 78 / ++ 55 / + LG A101 4 4 GSA-4081B 32 / O 70 / + 63 / + LiteOn HSOK 8 8 LDW-811S 10 / - -7 / -- 35 / O Mitsumi 0054 8 4 DW-7872TE -537 / -- 39 / O -11 / -- MSI 130D 8 8 DRS-A -589 / -- -555 / -- 63 / + NEC 1.06 8 6 ND-2500A 24 / - 59 / + 62 / + 4 4 76 / ++ 64 / + 55 / + NuTech B362 8 8 DDW-081 21 / - -70 / -- -329 / -- Philips 1.2 8 4 DVDRW824K 80 / ++ 85 / ++ 46 / O Pioneer 1.05 4 4 DVR-107D 52 / + 74 / + 57 / + Plextor 1.04 8 8 PX-708A 30 / 0 -223 / -- 58 / + Sony l.Od 4 4 DRU-530A -106 / -- -377 / -- 25 / O Teac H4S2 8 4 DV-W58G 10 / - 50 / + 0 / -- Waitec GSX1 8 4 Action 8/1 -442 / -- -422 / -- 45 / O

Code: Select all: ' 8x DVD+R 8x DVD+R 8x DVD+R Verbatim Philips Traxdata Modell + Firmware (MCC) (Ritek) BenQ B3B7 8 8 8 DW-800A 72 / + 68 / + 73 / + hp BH04 8 8 8 DV0400i 59 / + 70 / + 70 / + LG A101 8 8 8 GSA-4081B 56 / + 34 / O -86 / -- LiteOn HSOK 8 8 8 LDW-811S -462 / -- -473 / -- -847 / -- Mitsumi 0054 8 4 8 DW-7872TE -472 / -- 62 / + -615 / -- MSI 130D 8 4 8 DRS-A -330 / -- -541 / -- -148 / -- NEC 1.06 8 8 4 ND-2500A 38 / O 18 / - 34 / O NuTech B362 8 8 8 DDW-081 -315 / -- -480 / -- -515 / -- Philips 1.2 8 8 8 DVDRW824K 12 / - -283 / -- 47 / 0 Pioneer 1.05 8 8 4 DVR-107D -177 / -- -557 / -- 73 / + Plextor 1.04 8 8 8 PX-708A -367 / -- -207 / -- -67 / -- Sony l.Od 8 4 8 DRU-530A -466 / -- -445 / -- 49 / 0 Teac H4S2 8 8 8 DV-W58G -305 / -- -245 / -- -467 / -- Traxdata 8 8 8 RW-2500 66 / + -6 / -- 74 / + Waitec GSX1 8 8 8 Action 8/1 -868 / -- -577 / -- -605 / --

Some general remarks:
- CD burn quality was good in all cases (based on scans in a Plextor Premium).
- most drives (as tested) were unable to write at 8x, 4x quality was gereally OK
- the manufacturers contacted were apalled by the results: apparently their tests were much more positive. This is probably due to variations in media quality "in the wild"
- be sure to look at the burning speed before making comparisons- it varies from case to case!!
- the Verbatim column in 4x DVD+RW is for a "rewriting cascade" on this +RW media. See c't test results: 4x DVD+RW media for more information.

Some particular remarks:
- firmware is not necessarily the newest version (inevitable with the lead times in print magazines)
- Teac and Waitec are based on LiteOn, MSI and Sony on Accesstek
- Philips, BenQ and HP differ only in firmware, BesQ is newest
- NEC and Traxdata are identical, including firmware. Hence tests at 4x and 8x. Why the values differ for 8X +R media wasn't explained.
- the "walking OPC" implemented by Philips & co is a definite win as is the "tilt compensation" also implemented by Pioneer
- the Plextor has problems at 8x (other than with 4x Verbatim/MCC), but with the 6x region at the start of the burn not with the 8x part!
- Plextor and LiteOn read all the copy protected audio discs tried.

OK, enough for now- I'm off to bed.

G

edit 25 Feb: straightened tables, added description of entries

by **dolphinius_rex** on Sun Feb 22, 2004 8:44 pm

quite dissapointing!

Too bad they didn't have access to Pioneer's 1.10 firmware for the DVR-107.

by **Halc** on Mon Feb 23, 2004 12:38 pm

Thank you again MediumRare for your Herculean efforts at summarizing.

I received my copy today and am going through the main text of the article with a dictionary :)

What struck me when reading the article:

- both Pioneer 107 and NEC 2500 have "issues" even with quality media
- at this point 8x writing is more of a gamble than a guaranteed success (we don't yet know why, perhaps media batch to batch variance is truly that big?)
- It's easier to generalize what is a good disc than what is a good burner (i.e. imho TY again comes out on top, even though it's far from being perfect in all burns)
- LG 4801b was much better on many burns than I really expected

regards,
Halcyon

by **dodecahedron** on Mon Feb 23, 2004 12:51 pm

Halc wrote:both Pioneer 107 and NEC 2500 have "issues" even with quality media
...
LG 4801b was much better on many burns than I really expected

my thoughts exactly! i was surprised how well the LG did in comparison with some of the other drives.

LiteOn 811 is disappointing

C't test results. burners.

C't test results. burners.

Keep up the good work!

Re: Keep up the good work!

another question.....

new results from c't No. 1/2004

8x DVD tests for 15 drives in c't 5/04

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