detail information

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

The Plextor PX-755A 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 10x for DVD+R DL, and 6x for DVD-R DL. Let us first take a look at the media we will use:

Let's find the manufacturer and media information too, for this we will use Nero CD-DVD Speed version 4.11:

Verbatim 8x - Manufactured by Mitsubishi Kagaku Media. Thanks to Verbatim for sending us this media.

This media is manufactured by Mitsubishi Kagaku Media. Thanks to SVP UK for sending us this media.

Ricoh JPN D00, manufactured by Ricoh. Thanks to Ricoh Europe for sending us this media.

Infiniti reference series - Manufactured by CMC Magnetics. Thanks to Medea International UK for sending us this media.

Testing procedure:
We created an ISO Image from a pre-authored DVD-Video compliant file set, with a total on-disc size of 8146 MB. We then wrote this image file using Nero Burning ROM 6. Below are the results:

Verbatim 8x media

Nero reported a successful burn with the Verbatim 8x media in 15 minutes and 7 seconds. (write speed 10x)

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

Although there are a few PIF spikes and the usual cluster of PIF errors at and around the layer break, the result is very good.

Verbatim 2.4x Media

Nero reported a successful burn with the Verbatim 2.4x media in 19 minutes and 8 seconds. (write speed 6x)

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

The result is once again very good, considering this 2.4x media was written at 3 times its rated speed.

Ricoh Media

Nero reported a successful burn with the Ricoh 8x media in 16 minutes and 55 seconds. (write speed 8x)

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

PI and PIF errors are out of specification, with alarming spikes around and after the layer break. A poor result.

Infiniti 2.4x Media

Nero reported a successful burn with the Infiniti 2.4x media in 27 minutes and 41 seconds. (write speed 4x)

Now let us take a look at the K-Probe result:

Once again we have alarming spikes at the layer break, a poor result.

Now let us try and read the Double Layer media back, first on the Plextor PX-755A and then the BenQ DW1640.

Plextor PX-755A read-back test (MKM003)

BenQ DW1640 read-back test (MKM003)

Plextor PX-755A read-back test (MKM 001)

BenQ DW1640 read-back test (MKM 001)

Plextor PX-755A read-back test (RICOH JPN D01)

BenQ DW1640 read-back test (RICOH JPN D00)

Plextor PX-755A read-back test (Infiniti CMC MAG D01)

Benq DW1640 read-back test (Infiniti CMC MAG D01)

As we can see from our results, both drives were able to read our Verbatim media without to many problems. However, both drives had problems reading our Ricoh and Infiniti media.

Let's compare the Plextor PX-755A with some other DL capable drives.

*1 Verbatim DVD+R DL (MKM001)
*2 Traxdata DVD+R DL (RITEK D01)
*3 Ricoh DVD+R DL (RICOH JPN D00)
*4 Datawrite DVD+R DL (CMC MAG D01)
*5 Verbatim DVD+R DL (MKM 003)
*6 Ricoh DVD+R DL (JPN D01)

DVD-R DL

As mentioned at the top of this page, the Plextor PX-755A supports the DVD-R DL standard at 6x. Let us first take a look at the media we will use:

Let's find the manufacturer and media information too, for this we will use CD-Speed 4.11:

This media is manufactured by Mitsubishi Kagaku Media. Thanks to SVP UK for sending us this media.

Again, we used Nero Burning Rom 6 to write the DVD Image:

The Plextor PX-755A took 18 minutes and 39 seconds to write the Verbatim DVD-R DL media at 6x.

To check the disc quality we used the Plextor PX-755A along with PlexTools Professional XL to test our disc. First we carried out a sum8 test, and followed this by a sum1 test.

PlexTools Professional XL sum8 test

PlexTools Professional XL sum1 test

As we can see from our PlexTools Professional XL results, the Verbatim DVD-R DL media has written with very good quality

We will now check the read-back curves on two different drives.

Plextor PX-755A read-back test

BenQ DW1640 read-back test

As we can see from the above read-back tests; both drives were able to read the Verbatim DVD-R DL media without problems.

Standalone DVD-Player compatibility:

We only have 3 standalone DVD-Players available and 1 standalone DVD-RAM DVD-R recorder to test the DVD+R DL medias (Book Type: DVD-ROM) and the DVD-R DL media (Book Type: DVD-R):

• Panasonic DVD-RV32
• Panasonic SA-HT520
• Proline DVDP350
• Panasonic DMR-E50 recorder

Compatibility results: 

All our DVD Standalone devices played the Plextor PX-755A burned Verbatim DVD+R DL media, but two of our standalone players had problems playing the PX-755A burned Ricoh and Infiniti DVD+R DL media, with both players failing at the layer break.

Only one DVD Standalone device would play the Plextor PX-755A burned DVD-R DL media without any problems.

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 Plextor PX-755A or media format used.

Summary: All our Verbatim double layer media burned with very good quality, but there was clearly issues with the Ricoh and Infiniti media. Let us hope this can be fixed with a future firmware update for the Plextor PX-755A.

Let us take a look at some of the features of PlexTools Professional XL on the next page….