Reading performance:

For these tests we will use Nero CD-DVD Speed to read various CDs and DVDs, including audio and video discs. The LG GSA-H22N supports up to 16x DVD-R/-ROM reading and up to 48x CD-R/-ROM reading.

Pressed discs:

For this test we used a pressed CD-ROM data disc, about 73 minutes in length.

The LG GSA-H22N reached 44.60x, and would reach approximately 47x-48x on a full 80-minute disc. Let's compare the result with other drives performance in the table below:

The LG GSA-H22N is about average when reading pressed CD-ROMs.

CD-R:

For this test we used a Data CD-R that was made using Nero CD-DVD Speed. The disc was a Memorex 48x CD-R manufactured by CMC Magnetics Corporation.

The LG GSA-H22N reached almost 43x when reading a full CD-R disc. Now let us compare the result to some other drives:

The LG GSA-H22N is about average when reading CD-R discs.

CD-RW:

Again, we made a Data CD with Nero CD-DVD Speed. This time we used a Memorex Ultra Speed (24x) CD-RW manufactured by Infodisc Technology Co., Ltd.

The drive reads CD-RW discs at the same speed as CD-R discs, approximately 43x. Check how this compares to other drives below:

The LG GSA-H22N is one of the fastest drives when reading CD-RW media.

Audio - digital audio extraction:

To test the digital audio extraction performance of the LG GSA-H22N, we used Nero CD-DVD Speed to measure the transfer rate. The audio disc we used was 76 minutes long.

The LG GSA-H22N reached 42x reading the Audio-CD.

The LG GSA-H22N audio extraction speed was in line with other drives, with relatively slow seek times but perfect 10/10 quality and accuracy.

Advanced audio - DAE quality test:

For this test we used the "Advanced DAE Quality Test" feature of Nero CD-DVD Speed.

The CD-R media was a 40x certified Memorex Music CD-R made by CMC. (Thanks to Memorex USA for providing this media.)

The LG GSA-H22N showed 48x as an available speed with this media, and we created the test disc at 48x.

The test shows that audio extraction quality is perfect, with a quality score of 100, and that the drive supports reading CD text, subchannel data and the lead-in.

On the downside, the speed of on-the-fly copying appears to be limited to 8x.

DVD reading performance:

Again, we will use Nero CD-DVD Speed to measure reading performance, this time for various types of DVD discs.

DVD - DVD-Video:

For our DVD reading performance tests we are going to start with single- and double-layer DVD video discs.

While only 1x speed is required to watch DVD movies, it is useful to be able to read the discs at higher speeds when extracting the content of the disc to a hard drive.

DVD-Video Single Layer

DVD-Video Double Layer

The LG GSA-H22N reads pressed single- and double-layer DVD-Video discs at 8x CAV (Constant Angular Velocity).

In our test, a nearly full single-layer DVD-Video disc was read in 9 minutes and 41 seconds, and a nearly full double-layer DVD-Video disc in 17 minutes and 37 seconds.

As you can see, the LG GSA-H22N turns out to have the slowest double-layer and (especially) single-layer DVD-Video extraction speed among all recently tested drives.

DVD - DVD+R/RW:

For this test we used a Verbatim 16x DVD+R and a Verbatim 4x DVD+RW with 4.38 GB of data each. (Thanks to Verbatim USA for providing this media.)

DVD+R

DVD+RW

The LG GSA-H22N is a fast reader of DVD+R and DVD+RW discs, maxing out just above 16x and 12x, respectively.

DVD - DVD-R/RW:

For this test we used a Verbatim 16x DVD-R disc and a Ritek 6x DVD-RW disc filled with 4.38 GB of data each. (Thanks to Verbatim USA and Advanced Media/Ritek USA for providing this media.)

DVD-R

DVD-RW

The LG GSA-H22N is a fast reader of DVD-R and DVD-RW discs, again maxing out just above 16x and 12x, respectively.

DVD - DVD±R DL:

For this test we used a Verbatim 8x DVD+R DL disc and a Verbatim 8x DVD-R DL disc filled with 7.96 GB of data each. (Thanks to Verbatim USA for providing this media.)

DVD+R DL

DVD-R DL

The LG GSA-H22N is a fast reader of DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL discs, maxing out at 12x.

Curiously, it reads recordable DVDs with data faster than pressed DVD-Video discs.

DVD - DVD-RAM:

For this test we used a Maxell 12x DVD-RAM filled with 4.27GB of data. (Thanks to ExtremeMhz for providing this media.)

DVD-RAM 

The LG GSA-H22N reads DVD-RAM at 12x using P-CAV (Partial Constant Angular Velocity) in 5 minutes and 34 seconds.

Features and technology

CD-R/RW writing performance