detail information

Positive:

• Fastest DVD recorder on the planet with 8x (!) DVD+R, 4x DVD+RW, 4x DVD-R, 2x DVD-RW, 40x CD-R and 24x CD-RW recording speeds!
• Excellent software package
• Two year warranty with on-site collect & return service (Europe, Norway and Switzerland)
• Supports 'BURN-Proof' technology
• Supports 'PoweRec' and 'VariRec' technology
• Excellent CD and DAE read speeds
• Excellent DVD read speeds
• Excellent performance with copy-protected data
• Good performance with copy-protected audio
• Supports overburning up to 99 minutes and can read 'GigaRec' discs
• Supports Mount Rainier (CD-MRW/DVD+MRW) format
• Supports DAO-RAW writing
• Supports reading and writing of 8cm discs
• Supports reading and writing of CD-Text information
• Supports reading and writing of full SubChannel Data
• Could back-up all SafeDisc 2 versions without weak sectors amplification

Negative:

• Only 2MB data buffer
• Write quality with certain CD-R media questionable
• No printed manuals and media included in European retail package

Conclusion:

With their new PX-708A drive Plextor has simply put together a great drive. The PX-708A is the world's first 8x DVD+R recorder and thus, from now on, you can burn a complete DVD in around 8 minutes. Besides supporting the world's highest DVD+R recording speeds the dual format DVD recorder doesn't lack speed when it comes to recording other types of media. For instance, the drive supports 4x recording to both DVD+RW media and DVD-R media. And, as a welcome addition, we finally have a DVD recorder that also supports fast CD-R (40x) and CD-RW (24x) recording speeds.

When it came to CD read performance the Plextor drive showed great performance. The drive was able to read all kinds of CD media at maximum speed, including CD-RW media and audio discs. The Plextor drive also performed very well when reading DVD media. Although we first thought that the drive was limited to 2x when reading DVD-Video discs, it turned out that the PX-708A drive can be 'unlocked' so that it's able to read single layered DVD-Video discs at full speed (12x). Besides that the drive can read DVD±R(W) media at 8x which is not a bad speed at all.

As we already mentioned the Plextor PX-708A supports the world's fastest DVD+R recording speeds and because 8x DVD+R media is currently not available, the Plextor drive can record certain 4x certified DVD+R media at 8x. During our review we found that the drive was able to do this without any problems. When looking at the drive's performance when recording other types of media we also can't complain. One thing that did bother us was the drive's write quality with certain low quality CD-R media. But, on the other hand, when we used quality media like Maxell and Taiyo Yuden there were no problems.

During our advanced tests we were pleasantly surprised by the PX-708A's performance as the drive had no problems with any of our data copy protections. The DVD drive could back-up the SafeDisc 2 protection without needing additional software help and this will be appreciated by a lot of people. Reading SubChannel Data, 99 minute media, GigaRec discs and 8 cm media were also no problems for the Plextor drive.

The price of the Plextor PX-708A drive is about $ 239.00 which is quite low for a Plextor drive. The reason why this price is low is because Plextor has decided not to include any printed manuals or media in the European retail package we received. The drive has also been fitted with a rather small 2MB buffer. But, when looking at the drive's overall performance and considering the few minor disadvantages it has, I would recommend this drive to anyone.

Introduction