detail information

Positive:

• Supports BD-R/BD-RE read/write at 2x
• Supports DVD-RAM read/write at 5x
• Supports DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL at 4x writing speed
• Supports DVD+RW at 8x and DVD-RW at 6x writing speed
• Can write DVD±R DL media at higher than certified speed
• Very good write quality on most DVD±R and DVD±RW media
• Very good write quality on most CD-R media
• Supports overburning 99 minutes CD-R
•  A 'Two Sheep" writer

Negative:

• Reads DVD-Video SL/DL at 6x, and DVD±R/RW/DL media at a slow 8x
• Maximum CD-R/DVD+R/-R write speeds of 24x/8x/8x
• Z-CLV writing technique leads to longer burn times
• Does not support bitsetting on DVD+R, DVD+RW, and DVD+R DL
• Write quality on CD-RW media could be improved
• Write quality on DVD-R DL media could be improved

Conclusion:

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

The main positive points: The Panasonic SW-5582 is able to read and write the latest media generation, Blu-ray Discs, offering a huge 25 to 50GB of data which is needed for high definition video materials or high capacity data storage. Our tests show that the drive has no compatibility issue with all kinds of BD-R and BD-RE media we've tested. The drive also produces very good write quality on DVD+R/-R and DVD+RW/RW media we tested. From the Kprobe scans we can see that error levels are low and read back curves (Transfer Rate tests) are smooth. The Panasonic SW-5582 was able to burn CD-R media with very good quality given the low error levels shown by our Kprobe scans.

The Panasonic SW-5582 also shows its capability to burn the popular Verbatim DVD+R DL 2.4x certified speed at 4x with good results. Our smooth read back tests also prove that it produced a quality burn. The Panasonic SW-5582 is able to read and write DVD-RAM, thus covering all kinds of media types currently available.

In our DAE quality test, it shows that the extracting quality is excellent. The Advanced Tests illustrate that this Panasonic drive can be categorized as a 'Two Sheep" writer, which implies that it should be sufficient for backing up some copy protected discs.

Another positive point is that the Panasonic SW-5582 supports overburning 99 minutes CD-R media, which is useful for advanced users. Finally, the blue LED indicator is very pleasant to see.

The main negative points: There are some issues that we would like to mention and see improved in the future. As the first generation of Blu-ray drive, the Panasonic SW-5582 reads and writes CD and DVD media at slower speed compared to current released DVD burners. In our tests, the Panasonic SW-5582 is locked at 8x when reading DVD±R, DVD±RW and DVD±R DL media and 6x when reading DVD-Video Single and Double Layer discs. Write speed on DVD media is also limited to 8x on DVD±R and 4x on DVD±R DL media.

In our disc quality tests, the Panasonic SW-5582 needs some improvements when burning CD-RW as well as DVD-R DL media. In the CD-RW area we can see that the drive produces high error levels with the presence of C2 errors, which are unwanted.

The Panasonic SW-5582 lacks of bitsetting support (Book Type DVD-ROM) for DVD+R, DVD+RW and DVD+R DL which may be a problem during playback on some standalone players.

Finally, the current price tag of $1000 is considered high although we will expect to see lower pricing in the near future.

Final Thoughts: To sum it all up, this is what we would say: "As the first generation Blu-ray drive, the Panasonic SW-5582 is overall a very good multi burner that produced high quality burns on most quality media currently available."

By using our CD Freaks price grabber feature we found the retail Panasonic SW-5582 is listed at US$1,000 (August 2006).

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

Thanks to:

SLI for providing the Panasonic Blu-ray drive used in this review.

 For providing the Maxell media used in this review.

 For providing the Memorex media used in this review.

 For providing the Panasonic Blu-ray media used in this review.

Advanced Media/Ritek-USA for providing the RiDATA media used in this review.

For providing the Sony Blu-ray media used in this review.

 For providing the TDK Blu-ray media used in this review.

For providing the Verbatim media used in this review.

Introduction