Philips JackRabbit FireWire CD-RW

Review Pages

1. The portable war continues!
2. Data Tests
3. HS-RW reading tests
4. DAE/MP3 Tests
5. CDR Tests
6. Writing Quality Tests
7. RW Writing Tests
8. Philips PCRW1208Jr Conclusion

Yamaha CRW70 vs Philips JackRabbit - Page 8

Philips PCRW1208Jr Conclusion

Positive (+)

Negative (-)

- Supports 12X CLV writing, 8x rewriting, 36x reading
- Supports Seamless Link anti-buffer underrun protection
- 4MB buffer
- Thermo Balanced Technology (TBW) produces very good writing quality!!!
- Supports both Firewire/USB 1.1 interfaces
- Very good reading performance with pressed/cdr media
- Can playback all MP3 CBR/VBR encoded files
- Can read/write CD-Text
- Retail package includes 2-years warranty

- Doesn't support overburning
- No LCD screen
- Problems writing 80min/HS-RW CDs
- Very Bad CloneCD reading performance
- Doesn't support reading SubChannel data from Audio/Data tracks
- Cannot read 90/99 min cds
- Cannot backup SD2 CDs
- Produces lot of noise and HEAT during operation!
- Price (?)

Yamaha CRW70 Conclusion

Positive (+)

Negative (-)

- Attractive design
- Supports USB 1.2/2.0 interfaces
- SafeBurn anti-buffer underrun protection
- 8MB buffer
- Includes LCD screen
- Supports Mp3 Playback (up to 192kpbs)
- Can write CD-Text
- Supports DAO-RAW
- Very good CloneCD reading performance
- Supports reading of SubChannel data
- Supports overburning (up to 91mins)
- Very good retail package (contains Nero)
- Includes 2-years warranty (applies only for Europe)

- 12x P-CAV writing speed is slower than 12x CLV
- LCD screen doesn't support ID3 tags
- High C1 error rate with low quality media
- Cannot playback VBR and CBR (>192kbps) Mp3 files
- Cannot backup SD2 CDs
- Cannot read 90/99 min cds
- Produces lot of noise during operation!
- Expensive ($300)

In past we had few expectations from external portable recorders, but nowadays this has changed. The Philips PCRW1208Jr and Yamaha CRW70 are two fine examples of the evolution of CD recording. Both drives support 12x writing, even with different writing technologies approaches, 8x re-writing and 36x/24x reading speeds respectively. Also both drives support Mp3 playback, without the need of PC, and 2 years of warranty!

In details, the Philips drive is faster when reading/writing pressed/CDR media. Its writing quality seems superb and its embedded USB 1.1/FireWire interfaces makes the drive as a perfect solution for both PC/MAC users. On the other hand the lack of LCD screen, the high noise/heat during operation, the various problems we encountered during trying writing 80min/HS-RW media will disappoint you. Lastly even the drive has the Philips label upon it will not backup SD2 CDs :(

The Yamaha drive has more attractive design, includes a smart LCD screen, has very good CloneCD reading performance and the retail package is complete. On the other hand its slower when reading/writing CDs, the LCD screen should be bigger - to include ID3 tags - and the writing quality seem high enough when low quality media being used. The Yamaha CRW70 seems a better solution due to its very good behaviour with 80min/HS-RW CDs.

None of the two drives will make its owner 100% pleased since our needs keep growing day by day. Each drive has its own positive/negatives and probably targets to different audience as the connection interface(s) shows off. The price could be the ultimate criterion for your final judgment but then again as it seems, both drives are priced high enough. As it seems nothing in this life is perfect ;-)