Ricoh MP5125A DVD+RW

Review Pages

1. Introduction
2. CD Data Tests
3. CloneCD Reading Tests
4. DAE Tests
5. CDR Tests
6. HS-RW Writing Tests
7. DVD Tests
8. Conclusion

Ricoh MP5125 IDE CD/DVD+RW- Page 8

Conclusion

Positive (+)

Negative (-)

- Faster DVD recorder
- Can playback DVD movies
- "Just-Link" anti-coaster technology
- 'LossLess Linking' avoids buffer underruns problems for DVD format
- Very good data reading performance with CDs/HS-RW media
- Good CD-R writing quality
- Good reading/writing packet writing performance
- Good access times
- Very good DVD playback/reading performance
- Supports HS-RW standard (10x re-write)
- Supports DAO-RAW
- Supports reading of SubChannel data
- Supports CD-Text (reading/writing)
- Supports Overburning (up to 99mins)
- Supports Ultra-DMA 33
- 2 years of warranty

- DVD+R has less compatibility than DVD-R (with several tested drives)
- Doesn't support defect management (DVD+MRW)
- Failed to backup SD2 protected CDs
- Price is higher than DVR-A04
- DAE speed limited to 24x
- Bad DAE quality with dusted/scratched CDR media

Ricoh is the first manufacturer that ships DVD+R/+RW recorder, with the codename "MP5125A". It is the first drive that supports both DVD+R and DVD+RW among with CD-R/RW formats. The so called 2nd generation of DVD+RW recorders comes now with more features to compete competitor drives from Pioneer (DVR-A04). Making a comparison between those two drives we can say that

- MP5125 is faster in both CD and DVD formats
- MP5125A has a 2-year warranty
- DVD+R seems to have lower compatibility than DVD-R, at least with the tested drives.
- Again no protection against media defects is present (DVD+MRW)
- Drive and media are price more than DVR-A04

It is obvious that the MP5125A has many advantages against the DVR-A04 but also several disavtanges also. The biggest "problems" are the less compatibility of DVD+R and the higher price of the drive (DVR-A04 costs around $320 (bare drive), while MP5125A is expected around $430. The media prices are also much different, $1-2 for unbranded media, 5-6$ for branded DVD-R media, while DVD+R is expected to cost around $8-10. For sure the choice would be difficult. Again you must judge upon your own needs and decide which format is the suitable for you;-)