Teac DV-W50D and Memorex Dual-X1 - Page 2

- Memorex Dual-X1

Memorex, is the famous provider of CD-R and CD-RW media. Its range of products includes a large selection of optical storage products, computer peripherals and accessories for both the private consumer and the professional user. The Memorex product line includes IT CD-R/RWs, floppy discs, Digital Audio CD-Rs, Mini Discs and Compact Flash/ Smart Media Cards. Its hardware portfolio includes the latest state-of-the-art CD-RW models and combination drives (DVD+CD-R/RW+CD-ROM), multimedia keyboards and accessories.

Memorex decided to enter the dual format DVD burner market with the new model Dual-X1. The drive parts are borrowed from the well known Pioneer DVR-A06 which means that Memorex has all the features for success. It is capable to write DVD-R and DVD+R at the maximum speed of 4X, DVD-RW at 2X, DVD+RW at 2,4X. The drive also supports CD-R writing at 16X and CD-RW at 10X. Apart from burner Memorex can play DVD-ROM at the maximum speed of 12X and CD-ROM at 32X. Bellow are all the burner's features thus our thorough test.

- Drive features

Dual Format Recording: Memorex supports both DVD+R/RW and DVD-R/RW discs.

Recording Speeds:

• DVD±R: 4X
• DVD+RW: 2.4X
• DVD-RW: 2X
• DVD-ROM: 12X
• CD-R: 16X
• CD-RW: 10X
• CD-ROM: 32X

Buffer Memory: Memorex Dual-X1 is equipped with 2MB of buffer memory.

Buffer Underrun Protection: The drive features buffer underrun management system,to eliminate the possibility of buffer underruns errors.

Defect Management: The drive features the DRT-DM (Distributed Real Time Defect Management) system, to offer high reliability recorded discs.

High Precision Servo System: Imbalanced discs may cause vibration that affect performance at high speed reading and wirting.To prevent these vibrations the drive use the DRA technology which allows the precision servo system to remain stable at high speed recording and playback.

Smart Laser Drive Technology: The laser driver uses a pickup that incorporates a write strategy control circuit to ensure stable write performance.

Liquid Crystal Tilt Technology: The liquid crystal tilt mechanism provides accurate and reliable operation with discs that have been uneven curvature or thickness. This technology used during both reading and writing process.

Memorex DualX-1 supports as a reader all CD-Rom/R/RW discs except the CD+G . On the DVD format it doesn't supports DVD-Ram, all other DVD recordable/rewritable discs are readable. Memorex uses the RPC II region control, allowing user to change the drive's region 5 times in total. For our tests, we set the region code to 2 (Europe).

The supported writing formats are Disc At Once, Track At Once, Session At Once and Packet Writing

- The package

The retail package includes the internal DVD recorder, a quick start guide, installation map, mounting screws, IDE cable, audio cable , two blank Memorex DVD+R 4X and DVD+RW 2X media.

As for softwares the package includes Roxio's Digital Media Software Suite with Easy CD&DVD Creator 6, DVD Max player, PhotoSuite 5 and VideoWave Movie Creator.

By taking a look at the front panel of the drive, we are seeing that is black while the loading tray is white.The originate of the drive is easily identified by the Memorex logo which is placed on the left side of the tray. We can also remark the CD-RW, DVD+RW and DVD-Rom logos.

On the rear panel there are the analog and digital output (SPDIF) , the IDE connector, the device jumper configuration and the power input.

After removing the screws we can see the drive's internal design, an action which of course voids the drive's warranty. Clicking the follow image you can enlarge it for seeing the details.

The chipset of Memorex and Teac DV-W50D are of the same series.

- Installation

Memorex was connected on IDE1 of our test PC as "Master" and worked in Ultra DMA Mode 2 transfer mode. The drive was identified as "Memorex DVD+/-RW Dual-X1"under WinXP. To make the reading/writing tests we used the firmware version 1.05