Mitsumi CR-4809TE CD-RW

Review Pages

1. Specifications
2. Data Tests
3. RW reading tests
4. DAE Tests
5. CDR Tests
6. Writing Quality Tests
7. RW Writing Tests
8. Conclusion

Mitsumi CR-4809TE IDE CDR-W - Page 8

Conclusion

Positive (+)

Negative (-)

- Supports 24x writing (Z-CLV) speed
- Supports 12x re-writing (CLV) speed
- Includes 16MB Buffer (!!)
- "ExacLink" anti-coaster technology
- Has build-in media quality detection system
- Low C1 errors when 24x CDR media used
- Good data reading performance with both CDR/pressed media
- Highest re-writing/packet writing performance
- Good DAE speeds
- Very good DAE ripping quality
- Supports HS-RW standard
- Supports DAO-RAW
- Supports reading/writing of SubChannel Data
- Supports CD-Text (reading/writing)
- Supports Overburning (up to 99mins)
- Supports Ultra-DMA 33 connection interface
- Retail package includes Nero 5.5
- Low price ($137<=)

- Drive arrives late at the market..
- Competition is faster at both reading/writing speeds
- Higher seek times than competition
- Failed to backup SD2 protected CDs
- Low PSX ripping speed
- Very bad CloneCD reading performance
- Can read only up to 89mins
- Competition offers 2 years of warranty (applies only for Europe)

Mitsumi's proposal for the 24x recording speed is very interesting. Although the drive arrives quite late at the market, it has all the potentials to compete and win ,at least at some points. The drive supports 24x writing, 12x re-writing, 40x reading and a huge 16Mb of buffer making it unique in its category. The ExacLink anti-buffer underrun technology is also present but the internal 16MB buffer makes things easier.

The drive performed very well in most of our tests and managed to get the first place in some of them -mostly in the re-writing test due to increased 12x RW speed. Its 24x writing Z-CLV implementation is not the fastest you can find at the market but the writing quality is very good, when 24x certified media are used. The built-in media quality system detection will prevent low quality media to be written at maximum speed (24x), something that in normal cases might cause un-readable CDs. As our tests showed, with further tweaking it can compete the fastest 24x recorders from TEAC & Plextor. The 12x re-writing speed will make users happy since no problems will occur and the current 4-10x HS-RW media can handle it. Lastly, the drive's DAE ripping speed/quality performance was very good. On the other side, the bad CloneCD reading performance among with the lack of SD2 support will not please users since the (LiteOn/Plextor/TEAC) competition offers such highly wanted features.

The drive's estimated price is expected around $137 (retail package), which makes it directly comparable with the TEAC CD-W524E. The LiteOn LTR-24102B costs much less ($90) and the PleXWriter PX-W2410A much more ($170). If the drive included SD2 support it could easily get our "Editor's Choice Award" but since it doesn't....