Hi,

there is a test of DVD writers in the current issue of germany's most renowned computer magazine, c't, among others they tested the BenQ 1640 with the following media, analysing the results using professional CATS equipment from AudioDev. They give very detailed disc-scans, Jitter values, PIE, PIF graphs, etc., but I will only post the "basic" results here. If you need more detailed values, just ask for them, or buy the current issue if you can

All media was written at rated speed except for Verbatim DVD+R DL:

Taiyo Yuden DVD-R 16x (TYG03): very good
Sony DVD-R 16x (SONY16D1): very good
Verbatim DVD-R DL 4x (MKM 01RD30): good
Verbatim DVD+R 16x (MCC 004): good
Verbatim DVD-R 16x (MCC 03RG20): good
Sony DVD+R 16x (SONY D21 (000)): average
Ricoh DVD+RW 8x (RICOHJPN W21(001)): average
Verbatim DVD-RW 6x (MKM 01RW6X01): very bad
Verbatim DVD+R DL 2.4x @8x (MKM001): very bad

Firmware was BSLB, which produced significantly better results than the tested PX-740A Fw1.01, except for the Verbatim DVD+R DL 2.4x, which the Plextor wrote at 8x with "average" quality.

Some more results from the testers:
- Solidburn is highly recommended, it produces better results than the default strategies according to the tester.
- Overspeeding is not recommended, you should disable it.
- Without Solidburn, especially jitter increased significantly
- The Benq is a fabulous reader (yes, we know )
- they mention the quality analysis function with Nero DVD Speed 4.01, but unfortunately they do not tell how "good" those results are compared to their professional results.
- There are no "winners" in c't magazine, but in the writing disciplines the Benq significantly beats its rivals.

Summed up in the three categories:
writing quality DVD R / RW / DL, the drives get the following scores:

BenQ DW1640: good/bad/average
Plextor PX-740A: average/bad/good
Liteon SOHW-1693S: bad/bad/good
LG GDA-4167B: bad/very bad/good
Pioneer DVR-110D: bad/very bad/average
Samsung SH-W162C: average/bad/average
Toshiba SD-R472:bad/bad/average

I hope you find this useful in some way. If you need further details, just ask.

cu,

Jackie

Linky would be nice.

I'm sure quite many members understand german...

It's a paper magazine if I'm right and thus the article is not available online...

Right, OC-Freak, it's a physical magaziine you can buy here in germany from next monday on for 3€, sorry, but I doubt they will tolerate posting that article openly

cu,

Jackie

The Verbatim +R DL MKM 001 results @ 8X are disapointing since I just bought 20 at the buy.com deal. Did they post any results at slower speeds? Did any of the other burners do well in their +R DL testing?

With BSLB, I'm only seeing 2.4x, 4x, 8x speed selections in DVDDecryptor, Nero Express and DVDInfoPro although I've seen others post of burning these at 6x and MCSE shows 6x in the stock firmware.

I wish some of the US reviewers used "professional CATS equipment". Based on my experience, I've seen very poor correlation between PIE/PIF "Quality" scans and disc readability in an assortment of drives and standalones.

Mike

The best writer with +R DL at 8x is the Plextor PX-740 (Which is an OEM DW1640 - go figure) which just got "average". Maybe the disc they used on the DW1640 was bad as the result differs so much.

The second best was Pioneer DVR-110D.

But overall the BenQ outperformed the other drives (LG GSA-5163D, Plextor PX-740, Lite-On SOHW-1693S, Pioneer DVR-110D, Samsung SH-W162C, Toshiba SD-R5472)

@oc-freak: I believe it is simply the different firmware on the Plex, but since you can crossflash, that should be no problem testing. Unfortunately, they did not test the Benq writing at slower speed, but they also mentioned that they were waiting for 8x approved DL media to come. I also think they should have tested each media twice or three times, in order to filter bad media, but I think that may have been to expensive? Does anybody know how much these professional tests cost?

cu,

Jackie

Disappointing that the tester's did not include a Plextor 716A in the roundup since it is one of the major competitors of the 1640. This is like reviewing luxury sedans, testing BMW's and Lexus' but not looking at Mercedes.

Hi bulletx,

they tested only newer dvd writers, the Plex 716A was already tested some issues ago, if you like I can tell you the results. But of course, they are hardly comparable since the tested it with different media, and an early Firmware Release i think. So it would be best if they tested all current drives regularely, maybe we can suggest that to the author by mail ;-)

cu,

Jackie

cu,

Again 16x DVD-R show better writing-quality than DVD+R

Benq performed well on DVD R, that´s right.

I´m a little disappointed about the LG and Pioneer, but those are new writers, FW-Updates will maybe make them much better.

But the Samsung performed average on DVD R? I´m surprised, that is unbelievable

The firmwares used on the LG, Pioneer and Samsung are already outdated. LG DL11 is alot better that DL10 used in the test.

@Scour: c't was also surprised how well the Samsung performed, but also with BenQ's performance compared to previous models - seems that the "noobs" among the drive manufacturers are improving, whereas the "big players" have become a bit too fat and lazy......

cu,

Jackie

Well stated Jackie78. Precisely because the 716A has "matured" and still is the flagship burner for Plextor should it have been tested as well. Not everything new must be better.

Oh well. If wishes were horses then beggars would ride.

Doesn't tally with my findings at all, strange. No intention of getting any CATS equipment yet though.

CATS is ex...and not getting my fingers burnt for that piece of CAT...