Positive:

• Supports DVD±R/+RW/-RW/±R DL writing at 8x/8x/6x/4x
• Supports CD-R/RW writing at 24x/20x
• Supports DVD-RAM reading and writing at 5x
• Good media support and compatibility on DVD+R, DVD-RW and DVD±R-DL
• Supports Bitsetting for DVD+R DL (sets auto. BookType to DVD-ROM)
• Supports disc quality scanning
• Can read DVD±R/RW at 8x
• Supports Lableflash direct disc labelling system
• Reads DVD-Video SL/DVD-Video DL at 5x
• “Two sheep” writer
• Supports DAO-RAW writing
• Can overburn CD-Rs (around 92 minutes)
• Very good user community support with several programs and modifications to get the most out of the drive.
• Good retail and software package
• The hardware components are “lead-free”

Negative:

• Does not support Mt. Rainier
• No Bitsetting support (BookType - DVD-ROM) on DVD+R/RW media
• Green LED for both reading and writing
• Room for writing quality improvements on DVD±R/±R DL media

Conclusion:

Before summarizing the most important positive and negative points below, please note that slimline drives are limited in their reading and writing speeds due to their lower rotational speed.

The main positive points: The NEC ND-7551A being a so called “Multi Recorder” and supports recording on currently available media formats (CD-R/CW, DVD+R/+RW/+R DL and DVD-R/-RW/-RAM/-R DL).

The NEC ND-7551A can write most CD-R/RW media with very good quality, and can write those media types at at a fairly high speed. DVD±R/RW writing quality is good with most media.

DVD-RAM is well implemented on the NEC ND-7551A, not only can the drive write at 5x using a Z-CLV writing method. Unfortunately we did not have any 5x DVD-RAM to test this feature. The NEC ND-7551A can also read DVD-RAM media, regardless of the disc’s rated speed at 5x, using a Z-CLV reading method.

During our tests the NEC ND-7551A audio ripping quality was excellent, unfortunately speed is not the fastest, but as good as it gets with a slimline drive.

The NEC ND-7551A also supports Labelflash direct disc labelling and allows images to be burned onto the special label side of the disc as well as any free space on the data side of the disc.

The supplied Nero Express software suite is also very good, with a nice balance of features and ease of use.

This DVD writer is also one of those burners which have very good user community support with several programs and modifications to get “the most out of the drive”. (Be aware, that most of these programs and modifications will VOID the drive’s warranty).

As a last point we would like to mention that this DVD burner are a “lead-free” product, which will meets the recycling standards that came into effect on the 1st of January 2006.

The main negative points: There are not too many negative things to say about the NEC ND-7551A. But we did note a few things we would like to see improved.

Although writing quality with DVD±R media was overall good, the writing quality with some media could be improved.

DVD±R DL writing quality, although within specification could also be improved, as some of our tested media had fairly high PI/PIF errors. DVD-R DL media could also be improved.

We would also like to see Bitsetting for DVD+R/RW media, to set BookType to DVD-ROM, as this would help improve compatibility with older set top players.

We would also like to see a dual coloured LED, with one colour used for read and a different colour used for writing, instead of the present single coloured green LED.

To sum it all up, this is what we would say: “The NEC ND-7551A is a well specified drive with good overall performance”.  However, there are areas where the drive could be improved.

You may comment on this review below or in this forum thread.

Thanks to:

Bell Technology spol s.r.o. – Czech Republic for providing the media used in this review.

Conrexx Technology B.V./RITEK Europe – The Netherlands for providing the media used in this review.

 Daxon Technology Inc – Taiwan for providing the BenQ media used in this article.

E-Net Distribution – United Kingdom for providing the media used in this review.

Medea International – United Kingdom for providing the media used in this review.

MMORE International B.V. - The Netherlands for providing the media used in this review.

Plextor SA/NV – Belgium for providing the media used is this article.

Ricoh Europe – For providing the media used in this review.

SVP Communication – The United Kingdom for providing the media used in this review.

Verbatim - Germany and United Kingdom for providing the media used in this review.

Introduction