detail information

Positive:

• Excellent write quality with CD-R/RW media
• Good write quality with most DVD+R media
• Supports DVD-RAM read/write at 5x
• Supports DVD+RW/-RW at 8x/6x
• Supports DVD+R DL/-R DL at 8x/4x writing speed
• Good DVD-RW write quality
• Can write DVD+R DL certified media at higher speed
• Good CD-R reading performance
• Good DAE quality
• Can over-burning CD-R media
• Supports auto Bitsetting for DVD+R/RW/+R DL (BookType to DVD-ROM)
• Can read Pressed DVD-ROM/DVD-Video SL/DL at 16x/8x
• 'Two Sheep" writer
• Supports DAO-RAW writing
• Supports Mini DVD-R/RW discs
• Supports Mt. Rainier
• Good software package
• Extra 'black" bezel included in the package
• Excellent 2 year warranty

Negative:

• Read speed is locked at 10x for DVD±R media
• Single colored LED for read/write
• Write quality on some DVD-R media could be improved
• Write quality on DVD+RW media could be improved
• Only supports 24x write speed on CD-RW
• Media compatibility with DVD±R media could be improved
• Does not over-speed DVD±R media
• Write quality on some DVD+R DL media needs to be improved
• Small buffer size
• Does not support PI/PIF disc quality scanning

Conclusion:

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

The main positive points: The Plextor PX-750A can write most DVD+R with very good quality. The PX-750A was able to handle some media that is known to be troublesome; the PX-750 handled those media with ease.

CD-R write quality was also excellent, again handling some troublesome media with ease. CD-R media compatibility was also very good.

DVD-RAM was also very well implemented, the drive is the fastest drive so far tested, when writing DVD-RAM media at 5x. DVD-RAM reading is also very good, with all rated media speeds read at 5x CLV.

The supplied software is also of very good quality, with PlexTools Professional supplied with the drive, although some of the media diagnostic features are not supported by the drive. Also included is the ever popular Nero suite, and Pinnacle suite 8.3 LE.  This should provide enough software for the beginner and the more advanced user. There are also trial versions of many other software packages, which will allow the end user a chance to try out software before they buy it.

The Plextor PX-750A also runs quiet and cool. This could be important if the drive was used in the main living area or bedroom, and running cool could become important if the drive was to be used in a hot climate or cramped PC case.

Last but by no means least. The 2 year collect and return warranty (within the EU) is the best around.

The main negative points:  Every drive has its weak points, and the Plextor PX-750A is no exception.

DVD-R write quality and media compatibility could be better. From our test results, we are sure that this could be overcome by means of a firmware update. Media compatibility on DVD+R could also be improved, again this is something we are sure could be improved with a firmware update.

DVD+RW write quality is also something that needs improving. Our 8x DVD+RW did not perform well with the PX-750A.

Some work is also required to improve DVD+R DL write quality with certain DL media.

We would also like to see the read speed of DVD±R media being increased. 10x is a bit slow by today's standards.

To sum it all up, this is what we would say: 'The Plextor PX-750A is an interesting and good performing drive". Some areas need attention, but overall the drive works well.

By using our price grabber feature cdfreaks.pricegrabber we were unable to locate a listed price for the Plextor PX-750A, however getprice has the retail drive listed for 75.97 Euro (January 2006). 

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Thanks to:

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

SVP Communications - The United Kingdom for providing the media used in this review.

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

Medea International - United Kingdom for providing the Infiniti and HP media used in this review

Plextor SA/NV (B) for providing the Plextor media used in this review.

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

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

For providing the Memorex media used in this review. Memorex is one of the largest providers of all types of media for larger parts of the world.

Daxon (Taiwan) for providing the Daxon media used in this review.