1. Introduction
Plextor
PX-S2410TU portable CD-RW drive -
Page 1
- Introduction
A
couple of months ago Plextor shipped a new portable CD-RW recorder. The PlexWriter
S2410TU is a stylish portable slim supporting 24X CD-R writing, 10X HS-RW writing
and 24X reading. With a light weight and easy to use USB interface, the drive
is a very attractive solution for Notebook and desktop PC use.
- Drive features
The supported writing speeds are the 4X and 10X (CLV), 16X and the maximum
24X (Z-CLV). The 24X speed the supported reading speed for the CD-R and the
HS-RW media can be written at 10X. Note that the performance is lower when the
drive is connected through the USB1.1 interface. In this case, the drive behaves
as a 4x/4x/6x device.
The drive offers Buffer Underrun Proof Technology among with a 2MB cache buffer
and supports the well known PoweRec Technology for reliable recordings in various
media. The supported writing formats are the CD-ROM Modes 1 and 2, CD-XA Form
1 and 2, CD-DA, CD-I, Video CD & Photo CD, and CD+G. The supported writing
modes are the Disk-At-Once, Track-At-Once, Multisession, Packet Writing. Last,
the PX-S4210T is Mount Rainier compatible.
The following pictures show the available reading/writing speeds:
PlexTools software also provides detailed information about the supported
reading and writing speeds:
- The package
The
Retail package contains: PlexWriter S2410TU ,1 blank CD-R disc, 1 blank CD-R/W
disc, CD-Recording software Nero + InCD (OEM version), Plextor Utility software
(PlexTools), manual in 16 languages, 1 USB cable and 1 AC power adapter.
Plextor offers a two year full-warranty (parts, labor, and replacement) valid
in Europe, Middle-East and Africa and the On-Site Collect & Return Service,
for the EU-Countries, Norway and Switzerland. The PX-S2410TU is priced at $170-190.
Plextor PX-S4210TU has a very stylish silver and black casing and its dimensions
are 141 x 22 x 171 mm (W x H x D), while its weight is less than 410g.
The "Plextor" among with the "24x/10x/24x" logos are stamped
on the top of the drive. The auto eject tray is black and covers the front panel
of the drive.
On the tray you can see the eject button, the emergency eject hole and the
busy LED indicator.
On the rear panel there are the power supply input (DC 5.25V) and the USB
connector. As we have mentioned the drive can be connected either in USB1.1/2.0
interface..
On
the side panel of the drive there are the power button, the headphone mini-jack
(0.8V at 32 Ohms) and the volume control knob.
- Installation
The Plextor PX-S2410TU was connected to our test PC through the USB2.0 interface,
and was identified as "PLEXTOR PX-S2410T" under WinXP. The
November 2002 TLA#0000 model came with firmware version v1.00 installed, that
was used for all the reading/writing tests.
We compare the new drive with an already tested slim drive, the INcoder TS24C-C1.
2. Data CD Tests
Plextor
PX-S2410TU portable CD-RW drive -
Page 2
Data CD Tests
- Pressed CD results (Click
to see the CD Speed Graphs)
Both Plextor PX-S2410TU and INcoder TS24C-C1 drives support the
24X maximum reading speed. The PX-S2410TU gave an average reading speed of 18.05X.
The drive performed according to its specifications, and is slightly slower
than the INcoder drive, due to the lower speeds maintained in the beginning
and the ending of the task.
The Plextor drive was faster in the random seek with 94msec and also faster
in the full see mode with 185msec. In the 1/3 seek mode the INcoder drive takes
a slight lead with 101msec.
- CDR Media results (Click
to see the CD Speed Graphs)
Both drives behaved very well with CD-R discs. This time Plextor
is faster than its competitor, although such a difference (0.35X) is not very
important for the mid-user.
In the seek test, the results for the Incoder drive were even
better than in the pressed CD test. The PX-S2410T, however, kept up with the
good performance.
- HS-RW media (Click
to see the CD Speed Graphs)
For the RW tests we used the Ricoh HS-RW media.
The CDSpeed graph showed that the PX-S2410TU supports 7-16X CAV reading for
the HS-RW format. The INcoder drive was faster due to the 24X CAV supported
speed.
3. Error Correction Tests
Plextor
PX-S2410TU portable CD-RW drive -
Page 3
Error Correction Tests
In the following tests we examined the error correction capabilities of the
Plextor PX-S2410TU, while reading a recorded CD-R.
- EAC CD-R Test Disc
- Test Results (Max Reading)
Plextor PX-S2410TU started reporting errors in the 6min. The errors within
the black triangle defect, reached -24dB in specific areas. The five scratches
also produced errors and the signal/noise level was increased to -7.2(A). The
average error level for all the disc is -33.7dB(A), is high enough. In addition,
the drive gave many muting and skip samples, resulting to a low score of 52.5
points out of 100 (max).
Errors total
|
Num: 115367728
|
Errors (Loudness) dB(A)
|
Num: 636036
|
Avg: -33.7 dB(A)
|
Max: -7.2 dB(A)
|
Error Muting Samples
|
Num: 77633
|
Avg: 1.0 Samples
|
Max: 622 Samples
|
Skips Samples
|
Num: 353
|
Avg: 44.2 Samples
|
Max: 2934 Samples
|
Total Test Result
|
52.5 points (of 100.0 maximum)
|
- ABEX TCD-721R
- Test Results (Max speed)
Errors total
|
Num: 4600553
|
Errors (Loudness) dB(A)
|
Num: 172529
|
Avg: -72.9 dB(A)
|
Max: -1.1 dB(A)
|
Error Muting Samples
|
Num: 20326
|
Avg: 61.5 Samples
|
Max: 3584 Samples
|
Skips Samples
|
Num: 12
|
Avg: 7.0 Samples
|
Max: 12 Samples
|
Total Test Result
|
60.8 points (of 100.0 maximum)
|
Again the drive gave a -72.9dB(A) average error level and many samples were
muted. The performance is improved over the previous test, but again the 60.8
points score is less than adequate.
- ABEX TCD-726
- Test Results (Max Speed)
The drive gave a very high score of 79 points out of 100. The amount of errors
loudness occurred is not very high, and their level is average. The error samples
had an average length of 1.5 samples.
Errors total
|
Num: 18325
|
Errors (Loudness) dB(A)
|
Num: 22288
|
Avg: -87.8 dB(A)
|
Max: -32.7 dB(A)
|
Error Muting Samples
|
Num: 449
|
Avg: 1.5 Samples
|
Max: Samples
|
Skips Samples
|
Num: 0
|
Avg: 0.0 Samples
|
Max: 0 Samples
|
Total Test Result
|
79.0 points (of 100.0 maximum)
|
- Conclusion
Test Disc
|
Reading Speed
|
Score
|
EAC CD-R
|
Max
|
52.5
|
ABEX TCD-721R
|
60.8
|
ABEX TCD-726
|
79
|
Average Score
|
64.1
|
The Plextor PX-S2410TU gets a low score of 64.1 points out of 100 at
our reading error correction tests. The performance is not the expected and
should possibly be improved in order the drive to compete other drives in the
same category.
- C2 Information accuracy
- Test Results (MAX Speed)
The drive missed 3640179 C2 marks and gave 947 sync errors. The
quality score is extremely low since the drive reported many unreadable areas
on the disc. Although we cannot compare the EAC tests with the CDSpeed test
in terms of numbers, we could say that both tests showed a negative behavior
for the Plextor drive. The C2 accuracy is also very low.
The EAC software gave the drive a 62.7% C2 accuracy. In the following
table there are the C2 accuracy score for each test with the EAC and ABEX discs.
Test Disc
|
Reading Speed
|
INcoder TC24C-C1
|
Score
|
EAC CD-R
|
Max
|
50.1 %
|
ABEX TCD-721R
|
Max
|
70.9
|
ABEX TCD-726
|
Max
|
67.1
|
Average Score
|
62.7
|
4. CloneCD Reading Tests
Plextor
PX-S2410T portable CD-RW drive -
Page 4
CloneCD Reading
Tests
- Procedure
We used CloneCD and 3 original CDs - Serious Sam 2 (SafeDisc 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. Plextor PX-S2410TU needed 147 seconds to finish the
task, while the INcoder drive was 25 seconds faster.
- SafeDisc v.2 Results
The PX-2410TU needed approximately 35min to finish the task. The performance
is not the very high but the drive is faster than INcoder TS24C-C1.
- SecuROM Results
Both drives can read SubChannel data from Data/Audio tracks, but the TS24C-C1
does not support 96 bytes of Subchannel data (CD+G). 4:20 minutes were enough
for the Plextor drive to make the image file to the hard disk. The INcoder is
slightly slower.
5. DAE Tests
Plextor
PX-S2410TU portable CD-RW drive -
Page 5
DAE Tests
- DAE features
EAC v0.9 reports that the PX-S2410TU supports caching of data, "Accurate
Stream" and retrieves "C2" error info.
- Pressed AudioCD results
In this test we examine the DAE speed of drive. The PX-S2410TU ripped the
audio files at 8X average. The ripping speed is not very high but is almost
the same we had measured for previous portable Plextor drives. The INcoder TS24C-C1
is faster by 2X.
- CDR AudioCD results
With CD-R media, the ripping for Plextor speed is again 8X, while the INcoder
is a little slower than in the test with the pressed CD.
- 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-S2410T
|
2.8
|
2.8
|
INcoder TS24C-C1
|
9.6
|
9.7
|
- Advanced DAE Quality
Plextor PX-S2410TU got a 100 score (best) in the Nero CD Speed Advanced DAE
test. The average speed for the drive is 8.03X. The drive can also read data
from SubChannel and CD Text. On the other hand, the INcoder produced 7050 data
errors.
- Bad CDR Media results
We used CD DAE software to rip the whole disc (756539616 sectors) to the
hard disk.
|
Average Speed (X)
|
Errors
|
Errors Of Total Disc (%)
|
Plextor PX-S2410T
|
Read error at 90% of ripping
|
INcoder TS24C-C1
|
Read error at 90% of ripping
|
The PX-S2410TU did not manage to finish the test and gave a read error in
the last tracks of the disc.
- Ripping 90 and 99mins AudioCDs
Tested drives
|
Ripping up to
|
Plextor PX-S2410T
|
Up to 99min
|
INcoder TS24C-C1
|
Up to 88min
|
- 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-S2410T
|
Cannot recognize disc contents
|
OK (detect TOC manually feature)
|
INcoder TS24C-C1
|
Recognize disc contents, but rips the
first 5 tracks only
|
Recognizes disc contents but not all
files have high quality
|
The drive cannot recognize the tracks of the Key2Audio protected title. With
the Cactus Data Shield disc, it ripped the disc contents but the TOC had to
be manually detected through the available feature of EAC software.
6. CDR Tests
Plextor
PX-S2410TU portable CD-RW drive -
Page 6
CDR Tests
We tested the drive with latest version of Nero/CloneCD. Plextor PX-S2410TU
supports the 24X (Z-CLV) maximum writing speed.
The drive starts writing at 10X till 4mins, shifts up to 12X at 6mins, accelerates
to 16X at 20mins, shifts up again to 20X at 42mins and lastly reaches the 24X
at 68mins. Due to the increased number of steps in order the drive to reach
the 24X, the average writing speed is kept at 17X (17.04X).
- Recording Tests
We burned 80 minutes of data. As you can see, the drive needed
358 seconds to finish the task, and the duration seems to be increased for a
24X recorder. The explanation for this is can be found in the CDSpeed graph
above, where you can see the Z-CLV implementation of the drive. The following
picture comes from Nero after a successful burning at 24X.
In the graph below you can see the best recording times we got for all the
supporting writing speeds.
- Other features
Overburning
|
Up to 98min
|
CD text reading/writing
|
Yes
|
- CloneCD Writing Tests
The CloneCD software reports that the drive supports the DAO-RAW feature.
In some cases the drive didn't worked properly with specific media.
For checking the drive's EFM correction status, we used 3 different game
titles with different SafeDisc 2 versions with the latest software patches installed.
We used the drive as reader/writer at maximum reading/recording speed. Two discs
were burned for each game (Amplify Weak Sectors On/Off). The results are posted
in the table below:
Game Title
|
Tested Drive
|
SD2 Build
|
Settings
|
CloneCD (Amplify Weak Sectors On
|
CloneCD (Amplify Weak Sectors Off
|
Max Payne v1.05
|
Creative 52XCD-ROM
|
v.2.50.020
|
OK
|
NO
|
TEAC 40XCD-ROM
|
BTC DV316DVD-ROM
|
Serious Sam - The Second Encounter v1.07
|
Creative 52XCD-ROM
|
v.2.60.052
|
NO
|
TEAC 40XCD-ROM
|
BTC DV316DVD-ROM
|
OK
|
NO
|
The Sims - Unleashed
|
Creative 52XCD-ROM
|
v2.80.010
|
NO
|
TEAC 40XCD-ROM
|
BTC DV316DVD-ROM
|
The drive seems to handle up to SafeDisc v.2.60 protected titles, with the
"Amplify Weak Sectors" feature enabled.
7. Writing Quality Tests
Plextor
PX-S2410TU portable CD-RW drive -
Page 7
Writing Quality Tests
We used Taiyo Yuden 80min 40X CD-R media and burned the same AudioCD project
(with CD-Text) at all recording speeds from 4X-24X. Below you can see the 3T
Pit & Land Jitter graphs.
- 3T Pit results
As we can see from the above graphs, the 3T Pit Jitter stays below the 35ns
RED book limit for all the available recording speeds. The jitter value is constant
for all the area of the disc, for the 4X and 10X writing speeds, where the CLV
recording strategy is used. In the 16X and 24X the Z-CLV recording seems to
produce slightly higher jitter values, but again the performance is very good.
The average 3T Jitter values for all recording speeds are illustrated in the
following table.
The average value of jitter is less than 35nsec for all the recording speeds.
Since the differences in the average jitter values is very small, we could say
that you can safely burn your favorite audio discs in any available speed.
- 3T Land results
The 3T Land results are slightly increased over the in the previous measurements
of the 3T Pit Jitter. The maximum jitter values reported were 32ns, and come
from the measurements on 16X and 24X recorded discs.
- Conclusion
Recording Speed
|
3T Pit Jitter (ns)
|
3T Land Jitter (Ns)
|
> 35ns
|
Max value (Ns)
|
4X
|
27.24
|
30.05
|
No
|
24 Pit, 31 Land
|
10X
|
25.76
|
29.61
|
No
|
26 Pit, 30 Land
|
16X
|
25.71
|
30.00
|
No
|
26 Pit, 30 Land
|
24X
|
27.24
|
30.03
|
No
|
31 Pit, 32 Land
|
The average 3T Pit and Land jitter values are below the 35nsec standard for
all the recording speeds. The combination of low writing speeds and the CLV
writing technology seems to guarantee the quality results. But also the Z-CLV
technology adopted for 16X and 24X speeds does not affect the writing quality.
8. HS-RW Writing Tests
Plextor
PX-S2410T portable CD-RW drive -
Page 8
HS-RW Writing Tests
We used Nero Burning Rom for writing CDs in the maximum RW speed Plextor
PX-S2410TU. The drive supports the 10X CLV maximum rewriting speed.
The Plextor drive finished the task in 8:13 minutes, and needed 43 seconds
to perform the "quick erase" task with Nero. The INcoder drive 8 seconds
is slower.
- Packet Writing Tests
We used InCD and Ricoh HS-RW media for all Packet Writing tests. The formatting
of the media takes around 10min. The formatted disc had 530mbs 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 explorer (we dragged and dropped) we
completed the test twice to eliminate possible time measurement faults and user
errors:
In the writing part, the PX-S2410S gave a 7.11X average speed, and was even
faster in the reading test with 8.27X. The INcoder drive seems to have some
problems in the reading part, since it gave a very low performance.
- Mount Rainier Tests
Plextor PX-S2410TU officially supports the Mt Rainier format. Unfortunately
we did not manage to perform the usual tests with InCD since the drive gave
back errors during the formatting process of the rewritable media.
9. Conclusion
Plextor
PX-S2410T portable CD-RW drive -
Page 9
Conclusion
Positive
(+)
|
Negative
(-)
|
- 24/10/24 portable drive
- Attractive and stylish design
- USB2.0 supported interface
- Buffer Underun protection/ PoweRec
- Complete retail package
- Fast CD-R reader - Low seek times
- Supports 99min audio ripping
- Supports overburning up to 98min
- Supports CD-Text (reading/writing)
- Low jitter on audio CDs
- Supports reading of SubChannel data
- 2 Years warranty
|
- HS-RW reading speed lower than 24X
- Low DAE speed (8X)
- Error correction needs improvement
- Slow CloneCD reader - Partially supports
SD2.x versions
- Does not fully support audio protected discs
- Bad DAE quality with dusted/scratched CDR media
|
The Plextor PX-S2410TU offers nothing less than its specifications state.
Besides the very stylish and robust metal design, the drive comes in a complete
retail package with all the essentials for easy usage and fast connection through
USB1.0/2.0 interface.
The Plextor PX-S2410TU supports the 24X Z-CLV maximum recording speed for the
CD-R format. The PoweRec feature and the Buffer underun protection are available
to assure the success of your recordings. Our tests showed that the current
implementation of the Z-CLV technology does not offer the drive the lowest writing
times for the 24X category, but the writing quality seems to be high. The drive
writes accurately to the inserted media and produces low jitter values on audio
CDs.
In the reading part, the drive is fast and the reading speed reached the supported
24X with pressed and CD-R media. The seek times are also low, but the reading
accuracy could be definitely higher, as well as the ability to correct possible
faulty bits on defected and scratched media. (Almedio Abex). However, it seems
that our aged physically defected audio disc was very hard for the drive to
read, since it gave a read error by the end of the ripping process. The drive
also supports the 16X CAV reading speed for the HS-RW format, although we expected
a higher performance.
The supported DAE speed is locked to 8X but it could be higher. The drive can
also handle Cactus Data Shield 200 protected audio discs with the appropriate
software but does not recognize the tracks of a Key2Audio disc. The reading
/writing of CD-Text on audio discs is also supported.
The CloneCD users will be partially satisfied from the drive's abilities to
create working backups of SafeDisc v.2 protected titles, but the reading speed
is generally low.
The PlexWriter PX-S2410TU left us a with positive overall impression. It could
be safely considered as an alternative solution for your daily burning and reading
needs, connected to your notebook or desktop PC. The drive is priced at $175-185,
and remember that Plextor offers users 2 year warranty for the drive. For more
information you can visit www.plextor.com.