Plextor PX-708A dual DVD±RW recorder - Page 4

DVD reading tests

In the following charts we also include the results of two other DVD writers that support 12x CAV DVD-ROM reading. These are Pioneer DVR-A06 and Optorite DD0203.

- Single Layer PTP DVD-ROM (Click for CDSpeed results)

Plextor PX-708A started the reading task at 4.99x and finished at 12.15x, resulting to an average reading speed of 9.09x. In the same task, the Optorite drive was slower at 8.81x, and the Pioneer DVR-A06 is the faster reader in this test achieving 9.52x.

Plextor PX-708A performed well in the seek tests with DVD-ROM discs. The drive was very fast in the random and 1/3 reading tests, attaining times around to 100 msec, while it was slower in the full mode with 190 msec. The Optorite DD0203 drive gave approximately the same results, while the Pioneer DVR-A06 is slower, especially in the full seek mode.

- Dual Layer PTP DVD-ROM (Click for CDSpeed results)

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, towards the outer range, for each layer.

Plextor PX-708A limits the reading speed to 8x with dual layer DVD-ROM discs. The reading speed in the beginning of the disc was 3.38X and the ending speed was 8.01X. The drive used the CAV reading strategy, as you can see in the CDSpeed test link.

In the same task, the Pioneer A06 was slightly faster with a 6.16x average reading speed. The Optorite drive is the slowest reader since it supports only 4.5x CAV reading.

In addition, the seek test gave the Plextor drive the lowest seek times among the rest drives:

- Dual Layer 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 toward the inner part of the disc.

The transfer rate graph is smooth and each layer was read at 3.37x~8x CAV.

- DVD Ripping Tests

We measured the DVD ripping speed of Plextor PX-708A using the DVD Decrypter software. The DVD Video title is the "Matrix" pressed DVD.

Plextor PX-708A supports by default 2x DVD Video reading, in order to avoid noise and vibration. The drive ripped the DVD movie files to the hard disk at 2,707 KB/sec, and the Pioneer drive performed in a similar way. Optorite DD0203 is faster in this test with 5,846 KB/sec.

However, pressing the eject button for 3 seconds (no disc inserted) will enable DVD ripping at higher speeds. In this case, the average ripping speed for the same movie reached the 8,957KB/sec (6.5X).

- DVD Recordable / Rewritable reading Tests

The chart below shows the Nero CDSpeed results with the following media:

• 4x DVD-R
• 2x DVD-RW
• 4x DVD+R
• 4x DVD+RW

Plextor PX-708A supports 8x CAV reading for the DVD±R/RW formats. The CDSpeed tests confirmed it and each disc was read flawlessly at 6x average. Optorite and Pioneer drives are slower due to lower supported reading speed.