detail information

Positive:

• Supports DVD±R/+R9 DL writing at 16x*/6x
• Supports CD-RW writing at 32x
• Extracts CD-DA at full speed with EAC
• Excellent writing quality on CD-R's
• Can Rip Protected audio discs
• 'Two sheep" writer
• Supports DAO-RAW writing
• Can read/write 99/100 minutes CD-R's
• Excellent documentation/Owner's Manual on CD
• Very good Software package
• Nice design and robust cabinet
• Easy to install (Plug & Play)

* At least according to the official specifications.

Negative:

• Does not support Mt. Rainier
• Other drives offer 48x writing on CD-R media
• Other drives offer 48x reading on CD-RW media
• 8x reading speed DVD±R/DVD±RW media
• Can't write DVD±R certified media at higher speed *
• 16x certified DVD media is required for 16x writing  
• Does not support DVD-ROM bitsetting on DVD+R/RW/+R9 DL media
• Media compatibility could be improved
• USB Bridge needs to be improved to allow real 16x writing/reading

* Except Verbatim DVD+R9 DL media (2.4x at 6x)

Conclusion:

Let us summarize the most important positive and negative points below:

The main positive points: The first point we would like to mention is the DVD+R9 DL support at 6x - nowadays speeds over 4x are getting more common though. Next point - the Samsung TS-E552U also extracts CD-DA disc at full speed - included copy protected audio CD's, which is an advantage when ripping/extracting music. Very good writing quality on CD-R's. Due to 'two sheep" burner and the DAO-RAW writing mode - the drive can be used to backup copy protected CD's. It also supports reading/writing CD-R's up to 99/100 minutes. As a last point we would like to point out the excellent documentation/owner's manual and the very good software package that comes with the retail drive.

The main negative points: We would like to start with: other drives offer 48x writing on CD-R media. Also, other drives offer faster reading speed on DVD±R/DVD±RW/CD-RW media. Further - the drive does not offer DVD-ROM bitsetting on DVD+R, DVD+RW and DVD+R9 DL media. Finally, as a last point the Media compatibility could be improved together with the USB-Bridge to allow 'real" 16x writing/reading.

To sum it all up, this is what we would say: 'An affordably priced external DVD-Writer, but with some points that needs improving".

By using our price grabber feature cdfreaks.pricegrabber we didn't find any offers, and the same goes for getprice feature. But at a local computer store (Germany) the drive is listed at 114,90 € (22. February 2005).

You may discuss/comment this review below or in this forum thread.

Thanks to:

Conrexx Technology B.V./RITEK Europe - The Netherlands for providing the Traxdata DVD-R 8x, DVD+R9 DL 2.4x, CD-R 52x and CD-RW 24x used in this review.

EMTEC (MPOTEC GmbH) - Germany for providing the CD-R 52x media used in this review.

MMORE International B.V. - The Netherlands for providing the CD-R DA, CD-R 52x and DVD-R 8x media used in this review.

Sky Media Manufacturing sa - Switzerland for providing the DVD+R 8x, DVD-R 8x and CD-R 52x media used in this review.

Verbatim GmbH - Germany for providing the DVD+R 8x, DVD+R 16x, DVD+R9 DL 2.4x, DVD+RW 4x, DVD-R 8x, DVD-RW 4x, CD-R 52x and CD-RW 32x media used in this review.