PleXWriter PX-W4012A IDE CDR-W - Page 12

VariRec - Tests

So far Nero and PlexTools support "VariRec" function. In order to activate "VariRec" you need to select the AudioCD project and over the "Write" tab you will find a new button "VariRec" options. If we press it, a new window "Options for VariRec" will show up, giving us some information about VariRec and the slide bar to select between -2,+2 values:

After pressing "Ok' the writing speed dialogue disappears since VariRec works only at 4x (either TAO or DAO). The BURN-Proof function is still enabled when VariRec is selected. Note that VariRec cannot be used with RW media. If you try so, Nero will prompt you that:

At the PlexTools v1.12, VariRec function can be found under the "Drive Settings" tab:

In case you need more information about VariRec, PlexTools will give you a short description of this new technology:

- Tests

In order to test VariRec, we used a high quality AudioCD with classical music. We ripped the contents of the disc with EAC v0.9 beta 2 using the Plextor PX-W4012A under the secure mode (with C2 error information option enabled). The extracted tracks were tested two times in order to ensure maximum quality.

For all burns the same media was used - Noname based upon Plasmon Data and Acer. Both media are low X speed rated (12x). This would give us the chance to see if VariRec technology produces higher quality CDs as Plextor claims. We made 6 discs with the same Audiotracks at various recording modes and VariRec values (-2, -1, 0, +1, +2) and at 4x, 16x and 24x recording speeds. For comparison levels we burned the same task with Yamaha's 3200E "AudioMASTER" technology.

Plasmon Media

ATIP start of lead in: -02:32:56 (sector: -11456)
ATIP start of lead out: 79:59:74 (sector: 359999)
Manufacturer code: 97 27 19 - Plasmon Data systems Ltd. (Type: 9)
Disc subtype: Medium Type B, low Beta category (B-)
Target writing power: 5

As the results show, the Plasmon based media produces lot of C1 errors at 16x recording speed. At the 4x recording speed, the PX-W4012A produces much lower C1 errors. When user activates VariRec function the C1 error rate seems increased. The various (-2, +0,-2) values doesn't seem to affect the C1 error rate. On the other hand, Yamaha's AudioMASTER does produce better quality CDs with lower C1 error rate.

Acer Media

ATIP start of lead in: -02:37:09 (sector: -11784)
ATIP start of lead out: 74:25:00 (sector: 334875)
Manufacturer code: 97 22 66 - Acer Media Technology, Inc. (Type: 6)
Disc subtype: Medium Type B, low Beta category (B-)
Target writing power: 5

With Acer media, the Plextor drive worked better. We now were able to write up to 24x writing speed and the C1 error rate is higher than with 4x recording speed. Again the VariRec doesn't improve much the C1 error rate. Last Yamaha's AudioMASTER continues to produce very good quality CDs with the lower error rate at this test.

The above tests showed that in general Yamaha's AudioMASTER produces slight better quality AudioCDs. Of course the withdraw of that technology is the lower recording time ,due to larger pits. The VariRec doesn't seem to offer any major difference than normal 4x recording speed of PX-W4012A at C1/C2 error rate...

- Compatibility

Our tests showed that in general the VariRec function creates compatible AudioCD with CD Players as Plextor claimed. However when the maximum values are being used (+2,-2) you might get partial working AudioCDs. The Denon DCD-950 standalone CD player didn't recognized the CD that burned with VariRec (+2) value. It is possible that other CD players cannot be able to recognize CDs with VariRec (-2) even we didn't witnessed that that in our tests.

What about hearing differences? Even we tried we couldn't saw any major quality difference between various values of VariRec. The correct testing method would be to have two identical high-end CD players side by side to make such tests. If someone got such equipment, we would be glad to send our test discs for such "hearing" tests.