For our CD transfer rate tests, we used the Nero CD-Speed utility and a set of pressed CD-ROMs, US-RW and Audio CDs. The drive can read CD media at a maximum speed of 48X. For reference, we present a comparison of the MRX-525GE drive with the Plextor PX-760A, LiteOn LH-20A1P and Samsung SH S182D drives.

Pressed CD

US RW CD

For all the CDSpeed graphs, you can click on the image to see the full CDspeed snapshot.

The MRX-525GE was the fastest in the reading process.

- AudioCD

In the CD Speed Advanced DAE quality test, the drive's average speed was 28.65X with a quality score of 100.

A typical DAE task with an 80min non-protected Audio CD produced a 27.9X average ripping speed.

- 90/99 mins Audio disc

Both the 90min and the 99 min audio CD readings returned an error, as you can see in the screenshots above.

- DVD Format

Now let's have a look at how the drive performs with DVD media. This time, a set of SL and DL DVD media were used. The drive is capable of reading at 16X maximum speed for single layer and at 8X for dual layer media.

DVD-ROM SL media -

PTP DVD-ROM -

The two layers of a PTP DVD-ROM disc are read sequentially with the drive starting reading from the inner part of the disc, which is the beginning of each layer, progressing towards its outer range.

OTP DVD-ROM -

The first layer of an OTP dual layer DVD-ROM is read exactly the same way as the first layer of the PTP disc we tested previously. The difference here is the reading strategy of the second layer of the disc. The beginning of the second layer is located in the outer part of the disc, so the drive starts reading from the outer tracks and progresses towards the inner part of the disc.

- DVD-R /-RW

A 16X CAV reading strategy for DVD-R and DVD-RW media:

- DVD+R /+RW

- DVD+R DL

-DVD-R DL

-DVD-RAM

- DVD Ripping speed.

Average - 7.803 KB/s (5.6x)
Maximum - 11.177 KB/s (8.1x)