1. Introduction
Plextor PX-208T
combo CDRW/DVD - Page 1
- Introduction
Plextor
PX-208T combo drive is a CD-RW and DVD combo player, designed for all those
that ask for a portable drive able to write their daily CD-R/RW and read almost
all kind of DVD formats. The drive supports USB1.1/2.0 interfaces and small
dimensions, offering increased portability and easy installation.
Plextor PX-208T is an 8X8X24 CD-RW drive plus an 8X DVD-ROM. (USB 2.0).
Main features:
- 8x writing ,8x re-writing, 24x reading (CD), 8x DVD
- Supported interfaces: USB 1.1 & 2.0
- Dimensions: 141 x 22x 171 mm (L x W x H)
- Weight: 470 gr
- Buffer: 2MB and BURN-Proof technology
- PoweRec II technology
- Write methods: TAO, SAO, DAO Packet writing
The drive has RPCII region protection, meaning you can change the region 4
times. Till now there isn't any region free firmware. Nero Info tool reports
faulty that the drive supports RPCI region. Using CDVDInfo software, we can
see the region status of the drive:
- Unpacking
The
supplied package was the retail Japanese and included the drive, a manual, Nero
Express and InCD as a writing/packet writing software and Cyberlink PowerDVD
XP v4.0 as a DVD movie software. The package also included a 650MB black CD-R,
a warranty registration form, a pluggable power module an AC power adapter and
USB 1.1/2.0 connection cable. There isn't any HS-RW media included in the retail
package.
The drive comes with one-year warranty in Japan and USA. As Plextor informed
us, the drive will not be available in the European territory...The price in
the USA is around $260, as pricewatch.com reported.
The
drive has a front-open tray, is colored to black included the tray, specially
designed for minimizing the jitter when you write your favorite audio CDs. On
the top of the drive there is the "Plextor" logo among with two more
logos with the drive's writing/reading specifications.
On the front panel (tray) there are the "DVD-ROM" and "HS-RW"
logos, the eject button, the operation led and a emergency eject hole.
On the rear panel there are the power and the USB connectors.
The volume control, headphone jack and power switch are found on the right
side of the drive.
- Installation
Windows XP recognized the drive immediately after connecting it through the
USB 2.0 interface, with the name "Plextor PX-208T". The software installed
is v1.00, TLA # 0000. The drive is a June 2002 model.
2. Data CD Tests
Plextor
PX-208T combo CDRW/DVD
- Page 2
Data CD Tests
- Pressed CD results: (Click
to see the CD Speed Graphs)
Plextor PX-208T finished the pressed disc reading test with 18.96X
average speed. Compared to the Freecom Traveller II, the Plextor drive is slightly
faster, due to the increased reading speed in the end of the disc, which reached
the 25X.
In the same test, we measured the seek time of the drive. As you can see
in the graph above, Freecom Traveller II is faster and takes the lead from Plextor
with 86 ms in the random access test. In the full seek mode, Freecom is still
faster with 198 ms.
- CDR Media results: (Click
to see the CD Speed Graphs)
Both drives improved their reading performance with the CDR
media. The differences are the same, and Plextor is faster with 19.41X average
reading speed.
In the seek test, the Plextor drive kept approximately the same
performance as in the pressed disc test. Freecom Traveller is still faster in
all seek modes.
- HS-RW media: (Click
to see the CD Speed Graphs)
For the RW tests we used the Ricoh HS-RW media.
The PX-208T supports 10X CLV maximum reading speed and that was confirmed from
our tests. Freecom traveller is faster since it supports 24X reading speed for
HS-RW media.
3. CD Error Correction tests
Plextor
PX-208T combo CDRW/DVD
- Page 3
CD Error Correction tests
In the following tests we examine the error correction capabilities of Plextor
PX-208T. We use the built-in Nero CD Speed v0.99.3 CD Quality test. The reference
test media come from ALMEDIO and Philips corporations.
- ABEX TCD-714R
This test disc has been produced for measuring and adjusting the tracking servo
characteristics of the drive, against the eccentricity of compact disc. The
fundamental characteristics of this disc other than on eccentricity are compatible
with the standards in "Red Booklet".
The test examines the ability to trace eccentricity of the compact disc player.
In reference to a zero eccentricity disc, we check the following phenomena:
a. There is skipping of sound tracks
b. Requires excess time to locate or cannot locate the starting point of the
tune.
c. Mechanical noise is heard from the CD player
d. Requires excess time to read or cannot read the TOC information
e. The spindle motor runs wild
Physical characteristics of disc:
Eccentricity: 280 micro meters
Deviation: 3 micro meters
Our tests did not show any of the above negative behaviors from the Yamaha
CRW-F1.
- ABEX TCD-721R
This test disc is produced with the objective of measuring and adjusting the
CD player's tracking servo characteristics and error correction ability against
scratches on the disc. Artificial scratches with lengths from 1.8 mm to 3.0
mm are found on the disc. The phenomenon that may occur during playback of the
disc contents are:
a. Noise is created
b. The sound skips
c. The same section is repeatedly played
d. Start of the tune cannot be detected
e. The spindle motor rotates erratically (reverse rotation, change in revolution,
e.t.c)
Nero CD Speed showed that the drive gave 1178633 read errors during the reading
process. The read errors occurred when the size of the errors on the disc became
large enough, and continue until the end of the disc.
- ABEX TCD-726
This disc is produced for measurement and adjustment of error ability and tracking
/ focusing servo characteristics of a CD player against defects included in
some discs. Three kind of defects, interruption, black dots and fingerprints
are prepared in this disc. The interruption defects are sized from 0.5 mm to
1.0 mm. The black dots are from 0.4 mm to 1.0 mm. Lastly, the fingerprints are
from 65 to 75 micro meters.
Plextor PX-280T gave some read errors in the artificially interrupted areas
of the disc, and also in the wide black dot spot.
- PHILIPS SBC-444A
Another test disc that comes from Philips. The purpose of this disc is adjustment
/ checking of the CD player. Note that the disc is not within specification
concerning local defects. The defects found on the disc are interruptions of
the information layer, black dots at out-read area, and simulated fingerprint.
The drive did not have any reading problems with the specific disc. The reading
speed was gradually increased as the drive reached to the end of the written
data, at 60min.
4. DVD Tests
Plextor
PX-208T combo CDRW/DVD
- Page 4
DVD Tests
- Test Method
We used Nero DVD Speed v0.53 to run DVD tests (DMA enabled on all drives).
All tests were performed at least 3 times with the same DVD title (we took the
worst results). The tests discs were one single sided, single layer DVD-ROM,
one single sided, dual layer DVD-ROM, and DVD-R,-RW, +R and DVD+RW media.
- Single Layer DVD reading: (Click
for DVDSpeed results)
Plextor PX-208T read the DVD-ROM disc at 8230KB/sec. The increased end speed
(11008KB/sec) makes the drive faster than Freecom Traveller II.
In the same test, DVD Speed reports that the Plextor drive has higher seek
times from Freecom Traveller II. However, the results agree with the PX-208T
specifications.
- Dual Layer DVD reading: (Click
for DVDSpeed results)
The reading performance of Plextor PX-208T with dual layer DVD
media is not as high as in the previous test. The average speed is 4092 Kb/sec.
The seek times for the dual layer disc are the same as for the single layer
ones.
- DVD Ripping Tests
We measured the DVD Ripping speed using the Matrix title and DVD Decrypter
v3.0 software.
Plextor PX-208T ripped the movie to the hard disk at 3989 kb/s.
Plextor drives usually keep the movie ripping speed in lower levels than the
drive's maximum speed capabilities, in order to maintain higher quality. Freecom
is faster in this test with 7118kb/s.
- DVD reading Tests
The chart below shows the Nero DVD Speed results of both drives with DVD+R,
DVD-R,
DVD-RW
and DVD+RW
media.
Plextor read all the DVD media except from DVD+RW, where the DVD Speed gave
a read error. The Freecom drive cannot read correctly DVD-R and DVD+R media.
5. DVD Error Correction tests
Plextor
PX-208T combo CDRW/DVD
- Page 5
DVD Error Correction
tests
In the following tests we examine the DVD error correction capabilities of
Plextor PX-208T. For the tests we used CDVD Benchmark v1.21 and Nero DVD Speed
v0.53. The reference test media comes from ALMEDIO.
- Single Layer media
ABEX TDR-821
This is a single sided, single layer DVD-ROM with a 4.7GB capacity, in which
there are scratches with dimensions from 26 to 48 mm. The following picture
comes from CDVD Benchmark v1.21.
Plextor PX-208T did not give any read error during the reading process. The
reading speed was lowered in the heavily "scratched" areas of the
disc.
ABEX TDR-825
This is also a single sided, single layer DVD-ROM with a 4.7GB capacity. The
data structure of the disc is exactly the same as the TDR-821, with the difference
that there no scratches on it but defected areas with dimensions from 0.5 to
1.1 mm. There also fingerprints sized from 65 to 75 mm.
The drive did not have any problems to read the disc contents. As you can see
from the above graph, the yellow dots correspond to the current speed in each
area of the disc. No read errors were reported.
- Dual Layer media
ABEX TDR-841
This is a 8.5GB dual layer, single sided DVD-ROM disc with artificial scratches
with dimensions from 0.4 to 48 mm, in both layers.
The CDVD Benchmark did not report any read errors in both Layer 0 and Layer
1. Notice that the white lines indicate the "scratched" areas.
ABEX TDR-845
The disc is a single sided, dual layer DVD-ROM disc with a capacity of 8.5GB.
The only difference between the TDR-845 and the TDR-841 is that the first includes
defected areas and fingerprints. The dimensions of the defected areas are ranged
from 0.5 to 1.1 mm and the fingerprints are sized from 0.065 to 0.075 mm.
As in the previous tests, no read errors were reported.
ABEX TDV-541
The TDV-541 is a single sided, dual layer DVD-VIDEO disc, with capacity of
8.5GB. The disc is based upon the TDV-540 series which is designed for inspection
and adjustment of DVD-VIDEO players. The discs check the layer switch operation
from layer 0 to layer 1 and also include test pictures and test signals for
DVD sound files. The current TDV-541 checks also the error correction capabilities
of the drive and includes scratches from 1.8 to 3 mm.
Nero DVD Speed shows the reading speed of Plextor PX-208T from the beginning
of the disc until the end of it. The average reading speed is 4098kB/s and the
layer change time is 102ms.
ABEX TDV-545
The TDV-545 disc is based on the TDV-540 series. It is a single sided, dual
layer DVD-VIDEO disc with a capacity of 8.5GB. The TDV-545 includes artificial
black dots on the data surface, sized from 0.8 to 1.0 mm. It has also 0.065
- 0.075 mm fingerprints.
Plextor PX-208T did not have any problems in the reading test. The behavior
of the drive is almost the same as in the previous test with the scratched DVD-VIDEO
disc, and the layer change time is 73 ms.
6. CloneCD Reading Tests
Plextor
PX-208T combo CDRW/DVD -
Page 6
CloneCD Reading
Tests
- Procedure
We used CloneCD and 4 original CDs - Serious Sam 2 (SafeDisc 2), Desperados
(LaserLock 2), V-Rally 2 Expert (SecuROM 2) and NBA Jam Extreme (PSX) - in order
to test the reading time of the drives. We also tested the reading performance
with backups of the original CDs, since the reading speed varies between original
and backup media. The following pictures show the drive reading/writing capabilities
as CloneCD reports:
- PSX Pressed Media
For this test we used the PSX game 'NBA Jam Extreme' and we ripped the image
to the HD with CloneCD. The Plextor drive was faster than Freecom traveller
II and took it 1:45 min to finish the task.
- SafeDisc v.2 Results
Plextor PX-208T is faster than the freecom drive. The duration of the test
for the original CD was 21 min and 23min for the backup one.
- LaserLock v.2 Results
With the LaserLock v.2 protected disc, Freecom Traveller II is slightly faster
than the Plextor drive, in the original CD test. In the backup CD test, Freecom
is also faster with 166.12 sectors/sec..
- SecuROM Results
Both drives can read SubChannel data from Data/Audio tracks. Plextor PX-208T
is faster in both tests and needs 4:30 min to finish the task.
7. Dae Tests
Plextor
PX-208T combo CDRW/DVD
- Page 7
DAE Tests
- DAE features
We
used EAC v0.9 reports that Plextor PX-208T drive supports caching of data, "Accurate
Stream" and does not retrieve "C2" error info.
- Pressed AudioCD results
In this test we examine the speed of the DAE of the drives. Plextor PX-208T
ripped the audio files to the hard disk with 7.6X average speed. Freecom kept
the ripping speed at 8X during the process.
- CDR AudioCD results
With CD-R media, Plextor improved the ripping speed to 7.7X, and Freecom
still ripped the files at 8X.
- EAC Secure Extract Ripping mode
EAC's secure extract ripping mode results, which ensures maximum produced
WAV quality. Note that for each drive we used the build-in detection function:
Tested Drives
|
Average DAE Speed (X)
|
Pressed
|
CDR
|
Plextor PX-208T
|
4
|
4.1
|
Freecom Traveller II
|
2.1
|
2
|
- Advanced DAE Quality
Both drives got a 100 score (best) in the Nero CD Speed Advanced DAE test.
The average speed for Plextor PX-208T was 7.67X. The drive can also read data
from SubChannel and CD Text.
- CD-Check Audio Test Disc
Error Level
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
Plextor PX-208T
|
5/5
|
5/5
|
5/5
|
5/5
|
5/5
|
Plextor PX-208T fulfilled all level requirements of CD-Check test disc. The
drive didn't produce any pops during the playback process.
- Bad CDR Media results
We used CD DAE 99 software to rip the whole disc (756539616 sectors) to
the hard disk.
|
Average Speed (X)
|
Errors
|
Errors Of Total Disc (%)
|
Plextor PX-208T
|
6.7
|
131230297
|
20.33
|
Freecom Traveller II
|
8
|
86458
|
0
|
Plextor PX-208T ripped the files at 6.7X average speed, and the 20.33% of
the disc contents were not correct.
- Ripping 90 and 99mins AudioCDs
Tested drives
|
Ripping up to
|
Plextor PX-208T
|
90 min
|
- Reading/Ripping Protected AudioCDs
For the test procedure we used 2 protected AudioCDs, which we
tested in both recognition and ripping (with EAC) processes:
* Pressed AudioCD with Sony Key2Audio (Celine Dion - New Day Has
Come)
* Pressed AudioCD with Cactus Data Shield 200 (Natalie Imbruglia - White Lilies
Island)
|
Key2Audio
|
CDS200
|
EAC
|
Plextor PX-208T
|
Rips entire disc without problems
|
Rips entire disc without problems
|
Freecom Traveller II
|
Recognizes all tracks but cannot rip
|
Cannot recognize the disc contents
|
Plextor PX-208T did not any problems to rip the audio files with both key2audo
and CDS200 discs. The drive recognized the key2audio protected disc not immediately
after we inserted it to the tray, but finally it had no problem to finish the
task. Freecom Traveller II cannot handle audio protected discs.
8. CDR Tests
Plextor
PX-208T combo CDRW/DVD
- Page 8
CDR Tests
We tested the drive with latest version of Nero/CloneCD. Plextor PX-208T supports
the 2X, 4X and 8X and writing speeds. The drive uses the CLV writing strategy,
as you can see from the graph below. Plextor PX-208T does not support overburning,
so we burned 79min data compilations for our recording tests. The addition of
PoweRec media detection system is present, even in our opinion is not needed
for such low recording speeds.
- Recording Tests
Plextor PX-208 finished the task in 10:39 min. The recording
time could be lower, as Freecom Traveller II burned the same amount of data
in 10:02 min.
- Writing Quality Tests
We used Creation's (Plasmon based) 16x certified media for our writing quality
tests. We used Nero and the CDs contained 699MB of data. The produced CDs, were
measured from DigitalDrives
and results are illustrated in the following tables:
Media
|
C1
|
Average Burning Time (secs)
|
Max
|
Average
|
Plasmon 16x 80min
|
30
|
1.6
|
639
|
Ritek 24x 80min
|
23
|
1.4
|
640
|
Plextor PX-208T gave very good quality results, with low C1 error rate at
8x. The graph below shows the C1 error rate appeared in the whole recorded area
of a Ritek 24X 80min CD, written with PX-208T at 8X.
-- Overburning Tests
The drive does not support overburning.
- CD-Text Results
The drive can read/write CD-Text without any problems.
- CloneCD Writing Tests
The
CloneCD reports that the drive support the DAO-RAW feature. We performed our
usual tests and we confirmed that both drives support the DAO-RAW writing mode
at the following CD protections: SafeDisc 1/2, LaserLock 1/2 and SecuROM 2.
- SafeDisc v2.x tests
For the SD2 test we used the "Max Payne"and "Serious Sam -
The Second Encounter" game titles. We used the Plextor PX-208T both as
reader/writer at maximum reading/recording speed. The produced backups were
tested in the following drives.
Game Title
|
Tested Drives
|
Protection Build
|
Amplify Weak Sectors On
|
Amplify Weak Sectors Off
|
Max Payne
|
Creative 52X
|
v2.50.020
|
OK
|
NO
|
TEAC 40X
|
OK
|
NO
|
LiteOn 32123S
+ hide CDR media
|
OK
|
OK
|
Serious Sam - The Second Encounter
|
Creative 52X
|
v2.60.052
|
NO
|
NO
|
TEAC 40X
|
NO
|
NO
|
LiteOn 32123S
+ hide CDR media
|
OK
|
NO
|
The PX-208T cannot backup any SD2 protected discs without the need of the "Amplify
Weak Sector" setting. The drive will back SD2 v2.50.020 build with "AWS"
accurately. However the newer SD2 v2.50.021+ builds are not supported even with
the "AWS" enabled.
9. RW Writing Tests
Plextor
PX-208T combo CDRW/DVD -
Page 9
RW Writing Tests
We used Nero 5.5.9.3 for writing CDs at the maximum RW speed for all the
tested drives. The data we burned were 651MB. The Plextor PX-208T supports 8X
re-writing while the Freecom Traveller II only 4X. As it was expected the Plextor
PX-208T comes first with 592secs.
- Philips CD-RW Testdisc
Philips offers a CD-RW testdisc for verification of HS-RW recorders. The
disc has an illegal subtype basically reserved for future HS-RW standards. When
the drive fully supports ,and accurately, the Orange Book Part III Vol.1 (HS-RW),
it should refuse writing in that disc. There will be a message such as "unusable
disc" or "incompatible disc" or "format not recognized"
e.t.c.
If the drive is writing on this disc, according to Philips, compatibility
problems will possibly occur with this drive with future versions of high speed
rewriting formats (Ultra HS-RW).
The testing procedure is quite simple. Insert the CD-RW test disc and try
to burn upon it. Unfortunately, Plextor PX-208T wrote the disc at 4X, while
it should't. Plextor can fix this in-compatibility with a newer firmware upgrade.
- Packet Writing Tests
We used Ahead InCD v3.31 for all Packet Writing tests with a Ricoh HS-RW
media. The formatted disc had 534mbs of free space. We copied a 403 MB file
(403.147 kbs) from a Hard Disk (on the same PC as the writers) to the formatted
RW media using Windows Explorer (we dragged and dropped) and we completed the
test twice to eliminate any possible time measurement faults and user errors:
Plextor PX-208T wrote the file to the formatted disc at 5.65X and read it
back at 5.1X. Freecom traveller II is slower due to its lower (4X) RW writing
speed.
10. Conclusion
Plextor
PX-208T combo CDRW/DVD
- Page 10
Conclusion
Positive (+)
|
Negative (-)
|
- Attractive design
- External combo DVD/CD-RW drive.
- Supports 8X DVD reading
- 2MB buffer & BURN-Proof
- Supports PoweREC media detection system
- Very good reading performance with pressed/CDR media
- Excellent DVD error correction and DVD playback
- Fast CloneCD reader compared to other external portable drives
- Very good writing quality
- Very good packet writing performance
- Can "handle" protected Audio discs
|
- Doesn't support overburning
- Locked DAE at 8X
- Cannot backup newer SD2 builds even with AWS enabled
- CD Error correction needs improvement
- Possible compatibility problems with future HS-RW formats
- Didn't recognize written 99min CD
- Didn't playback accurately DVD+RW media
- High price
|
Apart from the fact that an external portable drive is always welcomed from
users who do not only use their office internal PC recorder for their daily
needs, Plextor PX-208T additionally offers the chance to use one device for
both CD writing/reading and DVD reading. The 8x8x24x8 drive does not offer less
than its specifications promise.
The main advantages of the drive is the fast reading performance for the 24X
category, even with protected data discs, the high writing quality, and the
ability to read DVD-ROM and DVD recordable/rewritable media in adequate speeds.
Plextor PX-208T is also fast reader/writer under the UDF format, can backup
your favorite protected audio CDs without any problems, and seems to offer increased
error correction capabilities in the DVD media reading. The drive showed an
excellent behavior in the DVD error correction test since it did not give any
read errors in the test with the artificially defect ABEX DVD test discs.
On the other hand, there are some issues that Plextor could possibly work
on for a performance improvement. The lack of the overburning feature could
be annoying for some users, as well as the locked 8X (max) DAE speed. The Philips
CD-RW disc test left us some questions concerning the drive's compatibility
with future HS-RW formats, and this is something that the Plextor engineers
should improve.
In the error correction tests with the ABEX CD test discs, the PX-208T did
not manage to give zero read errors, with the scratched media. Of course this
does not mean that your drive will not read accurately your daily discs, since
the ABEX CDs stresses the drives capabilities to the limits. Lastly, the drive
had some issues with DVD+RW discs, while it read perfectly DVD-R/-RW and DVD+R
media.
Plextor offers one year warranty and free tech support for the PX-208T, and
the price of the drive is approximately $260. The price is high, but the overall
performance and the excellent DVD performance worth the increased cost for those
who need a good portable DVD reader and a CD-RW drive in the same package.