- CD Format

The Sony DRU-800A supports up to 48X reading speed for CD-R media and 40X for CD-RW media. Below are the transfer rate graphs, where we compare its performance against the other two drives:

In all cases, the NEC drive seems to be the fastest reader for the CD and CDRW formats.

- DVD Format

Similar performance for all three tested drives with the DVD-ROM format. When however it comes to DL media, Pioneer dominates with NEC close behind. The Sony DRU-800A had satisfactory performance. A while back, this performance would have been considered as good, but now it is just on average.

Once again, the Sony drive showed average performance with the recordable and rewritable formats.

In this section, when it comes to ripping a DVD-Video, the Sony drive was very good.

- Appendix

Nero CD-DVD Speed Graphs

• CD Pressed / CD-R / US-RW
• DVD Pressed SL / DVD Pressed PTP DL / DVD Pressed OTP DL / DVD-R / DVD-RW / DVD+R / DVD+RW