AOpen RW5120 IDE DVD+RW

Review Pages

1. Introduction
2. Data/DVD Tests
3. CloneCD reading Tests
4. DAE Tests
5. CDR Tests
6. RW-Packet Writing Tests
7. DVDRW Tests
8. Conclusion

AOpen DVD+RW RW5120A - Page 8

Conclusion

Positive (+)

Negative (-)

- Super DVD combo recorder
- Supports 8x DVD playback
- Supports "JustLink" anti-coaster technology
- Good reading/writing packet writing performance
- Good access times
- Very good CloneCD reading performance
- Supports HS-RW standard (10x re-write)
- Supports DAO-RAW
- Supports reading of SubChannel data
- Supports CD-Text (writing)
- Supports Overburning ( up to 99mins)
- Supports Ultra-DMA 33
- Can read/rip Cactus Data Shield 200 protected CDs

- Very Dad DAE quality with dusted/scratched CDR media
- High C1 errors with low quality CDs
- Creates partial working SD2 backups
- Cannot read CD-Text
- - Doesn't support reading of DVD-RW discs
- DAE could be higher
- Cannot handle all AudioCD protections

The AOpen RW5120A comes to complete the pazzle of the DVD+RW recorders. The drive has almost the same performance as with Ricoh's MP5120A and Philips DVD208 drives. The reason is quite simple. All three drives are based upon the same mechanisms and have similar features. Of course there are variations of the reading/writing performances between the comparable drives which can be examplain due to different firmware revision. Our tests of Ricoh's MP5120A done with 1.30, Philip's DVD208 with 1.35 and AOpen's with 1.37.

The benefits and negatives of buying a DVD+RW recorder is more or less known from our previous reviews. The AOpen does offer the same level of performance ,in some cases better/worse, with Ricoh's/Philips DVD+RW recorders so you cannot make any mistake buying the drive. The arrival of the drive at the market is later than Ricoh's/Philips proposals and a new generation of DVD+RW recorders ,supporting DVD+R authoring, is coming. The price of the drive is around .... Euro and for countries like USA where Ricoh drives are hard to find is a nice solution.