CDR Tests

The TEAC CD-W524E uses Z-CLV for achieving 24x writing speed. Below is a graph which represents the main differences of TEAC implementation of Z-CLV writing technology compared to the fastest 24x Z-CLV recorder from Plextor. A quick look shows that the TEAC CD-W524E shifts from 16x to 20x and to 24x later than the PleXWriter PX-W2410A. That means TEAC's total recording time would be higher than Plextor's...Correct? Yes. Our tests confirmed that claim but the maximum difference in times is no more than 4-5secs:

The TEAC drive starts writing at 16x (0 mins), shifts to 20x at 8mins, shifts again up to 24x at 18mins and writes at 24x till the end of the disc. Plextor's writing speed shifting points come earlier (6-16mins). In the following table we can see the average writing speed of the TEAC CD-W524E, PleXWriter PX-W2410A, LiteOn LTR-24102B and AOpen CRW2440, according to the Nero CD Speed:

The TEAC CD-W524E has an average writing speed of 22.55X, very close to both LiteOn and Plextor 24x recorders.

As the TEAC CD-W524E shifts its writing speed later than the PleXWriter PX-W2410A, it has lower rotation speeds which never exceed 8000rpm. Higher rotation speeds produces more noise but also give higher recording speeds.

- Procedure

We tested the TEAC CD-W524E with Nero v5.5.5.6, Ahead InCD v3.12b, CloneCD v3.1.0.0 and, Padus DJ v3.50.799 software. We used various of media for performing our tests: Mitsubishi Chemicals 74/80min 24x certified, Mitsui 74min 24x certified, Taiyo Yuden 74/80min 24x certified, Ricoh 74min 24x certified and Ricoh's 74min HS-RW.

TEAC drive doesn't include any mechanism for reducing the maximum writing speed when lower quality media beeing used. TEAC promises maximum writing quality even with lower quality media at 24x due to High speed ROPC (Running Optimum Power Control) based on the sampling at approx. 4,800 times per second. Below is a sample of the media supported list for TEAC CD-W524E. Frequent updates will ensure TEAC's compatibility with even more media, as happens with the competition:

Certified: The CD-W524E has the writing strategy for it, and the quality of written media is certified.
Certified #: The CD-W524E has the writing strategy for it, and the quality of written media is certified if it is designed for higher speed than 16x.
Tuned: The CD-W524E has the writing strategy for it, and the quality of written media seems to be O.K. in the actual usage.
Brank: The CD-W524E has the writing strategy for it, but the quality of written media seems to be not enough and there may be any compatibility problem.
X: The quality does not satisfy TEAC criteria.

- 74min CD-R Tests

We created a "DataCD" job with data slightly more than 74mins (74:03:65). We burned the same job with all 4 CDR-W drives:

The TEAC CD-W524E has the lowest burning time at 16x (CLV) writing speed. The PleXWriter PX-W2410A needs 2 extra second to end the task. Both LiteOn/AOpen drives need 318secs which exceeds TEAC's writing time (7 secs).

We saw earlier that the TEAC CD-W524E is slower than the PleXWriter PX-W2410A. The real question is how much? The above graph gives the answer. The drive's fastest performance was 3:56mins for writing a full 74min CD. The PleXWriter PX-W2410A is 6secs faster but only with one type of media (Mitsui 24x). With other media the time difference is lower down to 2-3secs.

- 80min CD-R Tests

In our normal burning tests the 80min CD contains slightly more than 80min data (80:01:47):

Again the TEAC CD-W524E is the faster drive at the 16x writing speed.

The TEAC CD-W524E managed, with one specific type of media - Creation 12x- to lead the competition and gives the lowest recording time. The PleXWriter PX-W2410A is faster by one-two seconds when other media are used.

- Overburning Tests

Using Nero CD Speed, we saw that the drive can overburn up to 89:00minutes.

- CD-Text Results

We created several AudioCDs with CD-Text enabled. The TEAC CD-W524E can read/write CD-Text AudioCDs without any problems.

- CloneCD Writing Tests

The CloneCD v3.1.0.0 reports that the drive supports the DAO-RAW feature. We performed our usual tests and we confirmed that the drive supports fully the DAO-RAW writing mode (Safedisc 1.0/2.0, LaserLock 1/2 and SecuROM 2).

- SD2 Support
For the SD2 test we used the "No One Lives For Ever", "Max Payne" and "Emperor Battle of Dune" game titles. We used the TEAC CD-W524E both as reader/writer. The produced backup did play at the following drives without any problems:

Plextor PX-40TS
PleXWriter PX-W2410A
TEAC CD-W524E
Yamaha CRW2200E
Yamaha CRW3200E
LiteOn LTR-24102B
LiteOn LTD-163

Judging from the test results we assume that the TEAC 24x recorder can produce accurate SD2 backups.

- 8cm mini CDs

The TEAC supports reading/writing of 8cm CDs.

- Buffer Underrun tests

The TEAC CD-W524E supports "BURN-Proof" anti-coaster technology. The drive has passed BURN-Proof Center tests and got the BURN-Proof certificate which ensures the maximum writing quality. We made several on-the-fly copies with CloneCD v3.0x series without any problems and we also stopped PC (with ctrl+shit+del) several times. In all cases the drive continued writing!