Optorite DD1205 Dual DVD±RW Recorder - Page 19

The Optorite DD1205 is a good CD reader with high speeds and low seek times. However we would like error correction to be better, as it performed below average with our defective test CD media.

According to our DVD reading tests, the drive performed very well with fast speeds and once again low seek times. The DVD error correction here is strong and all of our test media did not pose a problem for the drive. The DVD ripping speed is also very good.

With protected games, the drive had poor performance. The ripping speed for all the game protections we tried was low while the drive didn't manage to make working backups with SD protection over v2.8. The performance is the same as its predecessor, the DD1203.

The DD1205 managed to play and rip both Key2Audio and CDS200 protection schemes. However, the drive may not rip the discs 100% accurately since EAC reported timing problems. Our 90min test disc was played successfully while the 99min reports problems in the last few tracks.

The CD recording quality is good with most media we tried, something that has been fixed since the DD1203.

As for the writing quality with DVD media, it was good, while in the case with DL and RW, very good. However, there were cases with increased PI/PIF levels. This is also something that we would like to see improved. However, no matter what the recording quality was, all the media we burned were playable on our standalone DVD players from Pioneer and Philips, excepting DL media since there is no bitsetting option, something else that we would like to see fixed as soon as possible.

Concluding, we can say that as a reader, the DD1205 performs identically with the DD1203. Some differencies that you might see are negligible. As a writer, the drive has improved its media compatibility and writing quality. However, we would like to see more 4X certified media burned at 8X and better recording quality. The most important difference is the Double Layer writing option.

At the time of the writing of this review, the retail price was around US$70, which is rather low making the burner a good choice since at the same price you can usually buy only 8X and DL.

- The Good

• Double Layer recording
• 12X DVD+R recording
• Good DVD error correction
• HD-Burn feature
• Fast ripping with DVD-Video discs
• Supports protected Audio discs (CDS200, Key2Audio)
• Second bezel included (different color)
• Good support

- The Bad

• Doesn't support Booktype Bitsetting
• DVD±R needs improvement as drive produces high PI error rates and PI failures in many cases
• CD error correction is not very good
• Doesn't support C2 error reporting
• Doesn't backup SafeDisc v2.9 & 3.1x protected discs
• Slow SafeDisc protection ripping
• Doesn't support reading of DVD-RAM media
• Cannot be used to scan (measure) CD/DVD media (this could be fixed with a newer UMDoctor version)

- Like to be fixed

• DVD±R writing performance and quality
• CD recording quality with several media (can be fixed with firmware upgrade)