Reading tests

Although the LVW-5045's main function is recording to DVD/HDD, many people may consider buying this as a solution for playback/recording without requiring a separate DVD player. The performance of a DVD player can be described in terms related to reading speed, reading accuracy, compatibility with various CD/DVD recordable/rewritable formats as well as data/audio playback support, stored on any common medium.

DVD support

• DVD-Video

The LiteOn LVW-5045 we received for testing is a Region-2 drive, meaning that the unit is able to decode (play) only the pressed DVD-Video discs coming from the European region. However, the player can be made region free by entering a certain key combination through the remote control, making it possible to use with any disc regardless of the regional restrictions applied on it.

The LVW-5045 supports both PAL and NTSC TV signal transmission formats. By default, the player will recognize only the region 2 or region free NTSC DVD-Video discs. This feature is adjustable through the setup menu (look for the System menu, NTSC/PAL )

We connected the LVW-5045 from the Scart interface using the corresponding cable, which was included in the unit's package. Of course, the LVW-5045 supports the DVD-Video format.

We recorded a 4.35GB DVD-Video file on various DVD-R/-RW and DVD+R/+RW media. As seen from the specifications, this recorder can record on any type of disc conforming to the DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW standards.

We also tried some DVD+R9 media (Dual layer recordable discs) from various brand manufacturers.

We recorded DVD-Video discs with DVD-ROM booktype and with DVD+R9 booktype and the DVR-720H-s could recognize them, apart from some minor glitches. So bear this in mind if DVD+R9 reading support is important to you. The dual-format burners we used for the reading tests are some of the latest available on the PC market, as well as some 1st generation recorders. Pressed single / dual layer DVD-Video discs were also included in the test. All the test discs were created with the same PC /software in the DVD-Video mode.

Recorder	Media	Speed	Recognition	Playback
Sony DRU-530A v2.0h	Taiyo Yuden DVD-R 4x	4x	OK
Pioneer DVR-107D v1.05	CMC DVD-R 4x	4x
NEC ND-2500A v1.06	Ritek DVD-R 4x	4x
	JVC DVD-RW 4x	4x
	TDK DVD+R 4x	4x
	Taiyo Yuden DVD+R 4x	4x
	Mitsubishi Chemicals DVD+R 4x	4x
Optorite DD0401 v1.30E	Hi-Space DVD-R 4x	4x
	Verbatim DVD-R 4x	4x
BTC DRW1008IM v0.55	Pioneer DVD-R 4x	4x
LiteOn LDW-811S vHS0K	FujiFilm DVD-R 4x	4x

As was expected, all the burned DVD discs were recognized and played successfully without problems.

• DVD-ROM

The LVW-5045 as expected, supports reading of the DVD-ROM format.

• VCD/SVCD

Both formats are supported.

• JPEG File Support

The LVW-5045 supports the Baseline JPEG file format and EXIF 2.2 (used by digital cameras). Also, the DVR-720H-s will recognize a CDR/CD-RW/DVD-R/DVD-RW/DVD+R/DVD+RW data disc containing image files. The display of images is accomplished in the same manner as used to view video or playback music files. There, we can navigate through the disc's directory structure, and view thumbnails of the image files before selecting one to view full screen.

• CD support

The LVW-5045 works well with AudioCD, CD-R/-RW, VideoCD and Super-VideoCD playback. The tracks are recognized correctly regardless of whether the disc is factory- pressed or a CD-R/RW. Please note, that when talking about data CDs (CD-R/-RW), we refer to either compressed audio files (MP3, WMA, Ogg Vorbis.), pure wav files, or to VideoCD and Super VideoCD.

• AudioCD

In the case of pressed/recordable/rewritable AudioCDs, the player recognizes and plays all the tracks. The device played audio files from CD-R, 10x HS-RW, 24x US-RW and 32x US-RW discs we inserted in the disc tray.

The LiteOn LVW-5045 will not let anyone who has purchased any protected audio discs in a music store down. The tested discs were "Natalie Imbruglia - White Lilies island" protected with Macrovision' Key2Audio system, and "Celine Dion - A New Day Has Come" protected with Cactus Data Shield 2000. Both titles were recognized and played without any problems, which is good news as this kind of media is practically not playable on PCs due to the protection schemes designed to discourage PC users from copying them.

• Super AudioCD

The LiteOn LVW-5045 does not support the Super AudioCD format.

Read on to the next page to see how the LVW-5045 performs with compressed audio.