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Philips DVDR1660 DVD-Writer Review
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Posted by Jan S.
Posted on 26/03/06 23:37
Menu
 Conclusion
 Introduction
 Features
 Reading performance
 CD-R/RW Writing performance
 DVD+R/RW Writing performance
 DVD-R/RW Writing performance
 DVD+R DL/-R DL Writing performance
 Advanced tests
Text Size  Text Size
DVD+R DL/ R DL Writing performance
 

DVD+R/-R Double Layer writing speed and compatibility:

The Philips DVDR1660 supports the DVD+R DL/-R DL standard for writing Double Layer/Dual Layer discs with a size around 8.5 GB at a writing speed of 8x/4x.

Testing procedure:
We created an ISO Image from a pre-authored DVD-Video compliant file set, with a total on-disc size of 8103 MB. We then wrote this image file using Nero Burning ROM 6. Below are the results:



Verbatim media

Nero completed the burn successfully with the Verbatim media in 47 minutes and 2 seconds.

Let us take a look at the K-Probe result:


Brand:

Verbatim - Thanks to Verbatim (D)
for providing the sample.

Manufacturer:

Mitsubishi Kagaku Media

Code:

MKM 001

Disc Type:

DVD+R DL

Capacity:

8103MB

Certified Speed:

2.4x

Write Speed:

2.4x

Write Time:

47m:02s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

3.88

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.03

The result is very good.



Verbatim media

Nero completed the burn successfully with the Verbatim media in 31 minutes and 58 seconds. According to the total writing time there must have been a slowdown in speed since the writing time is too long for an 8x burn.

Let us take a look at the K-Probe result:


Brand:

Verbatim - Thanks to Verbatim (D)
for providing the sample.

Manufacturer:

Mitsubishi Kagaku Media

Code:

MKM 003

Disc Type:

DVD+R DL

Capacity:

8103MB

Certified Speed:

8x

Write Speed:

8x+slowdown

Write Time:

31m:58s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

10.48

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.07

As we can see from the KProbe scan there are some high PIF's around the layerbreak. And in the reading curve we can see the slowdown near the layerbreak.

Let us compare the Philips DVDR1660 results with some other DL capable drives.

Drive

Size

Writing
Speed

Writing
Time

Book
Type

KProbe
avg.
PI

Kprobe
avg.
PIF

Samsung
TS-E522U

8103MB

6x
Z-CLV

23m:30s

DVD+DL

11.58

0.03*1

Philips
DVDR16LS

8103MB

2.4x

45m:52s

DVD-ROM

2.28

0.04*

NU
HDW-164

8103MB

4x

37m:00s

DVD-ROM

1.89

0.02*1

NEC
ND-3540A

8103MB

2.4x
2.4x
8x

44m:08s
44m:03s
19m:02

DVD-ROM

37.44
12.36
1.91

0.02*3
0.02*2
0.01*1

BenQ
DW1640

8152Mb

8x

15m:36s

DVD-ROM

3.26

0.02

Pioneer
DVR-110D


8145MB

2.4x
2.4x
8x
2.4x

45m:13s
45m:29s
18m:04s
45m:15s

DVD-ROM

5.51
20.45
2.16
4.39

0.10*3
0.23*2
0.04*1
0.08*4

LG
GSA-4167B

8103MB

2.4x
2.4x
8x(4x)

44m:48s
44m:19s
28m:49s

DVD-ROM

14.15
81.01
7.71

0.02*3
0.64*2
0.01*1

Philips
DVDR1648

8103MB

8x (4x)
8x

28m:26s
15m:43s 

DVD-ROM

31.41
3.93

0.03*3
0.01*1

NEC
ND-4550A

8103MB

8x

18m:41s
18m:44s

DVD-ROM

64.47
24.57

0.04*3
0.08*1

NEC
ND-4551A

8103MB

8x

18m:59s

DVD-ROM

13.50

0.05*1

Philips
DVDR1660

8103

2.4x
8x

47m:02s
31m:58s

DVD-ROM

3.88
10.48

0.03*1
0.07-1

*1 Verbatim DVD+R DL
*2 Traxdata DVD+R DL
*3 Ricoh DVD+R DL
*4 DataWrite DVD+R DL

DVD-R DL:

As mentioned at the beginning of this page, the Philips DVDR1660 supports the DVD-R DL standard at 4x. Again, we used Nero Burning Rom 6 to write the DVD Image:


The Philips DVDR1660 used 32 minutes and 28 seconds to write the Verbatim DVD-R DL 4x media at 4x.


Brand:

Verbatim - Thanks to Verbatim
for providing the sample.

Manufacturer:

Mitsubishi Kagaku Media

Code:

MKM 01RD30 

Disc Type:

DVD-R DL

Capacity:

8103MB

Certified Speed:

4x

Write Speed:

4x

Write Time:

32m:28s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

9.13

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.05

The result is ok.

 

Standalone DVD-Player compatibility:

We only have 4 standalone DVD-Players and 1 standalone DVD+R/W recorder available to test the DVD+R DL media (BookType: DVD-ROM) and the DVD-R DL media (BookType: DVD-R) with:

  • Aiwa DVD Player XD-DV370
  • Medion DVD/DivX Player MD7457
  • Medion DVD/DivX/NeroDigital Player MD80796  
  • Red Star DVD-Player 230G
  • Mustek R100A DVD+R/W Recorder

Compatibility results: 

Drive

Verbatim
DVD+R DL

Verbatim
DVD-R DL

Comments

Aiwa
XD-DV370

OK

OK

No problems

Medion
MD7457

OK

FAILED

Reports disc as DVD-Video, but not playable

Medion
MD80796

 OK

FAILED

Reports disc as DVD-Video, but not playable

Mustek
R100A

OK

FAILED

Reports ?NO DISC?

Red Star
230G

OK

FAILED

Reports disc as DVD-Video, but not playable

All DVD Standalone devices played the Philips DVDR1660 burned DVD+R DL media. But only one DVD Standalone devices would play the DVD-R DL media.

We would like to mention, that the compatibility issue with standalone DVD Players/Recorders and the DVD-R DL media format is caused by incompatibilities with the standalone devices used in this review, and not the Philips DVDR1660 or media format used.

Summary: The results are ok. However, some room for improvements is always welcome.

 

Before we round off this review, let us run the drive through some advanced tests at next page…
DVD-R/RW Writing performance
Advanced tests
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Reactions on this item
Posted by chas0039 on Monday 27 March 2006 04:20
As always, it is unfortunate that reviews do not tell us which BenQ this is. It is easy enough to find out, but such a complete review leaves out important information that buyers will want to know. It would also be helpful to see more testing of burns with Solidburn on and off. I may have missed it, but I don't know which way the tests here were done.
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