PleXCombo PX-320A
9. VariRec Tests
PleXCombo PX-320A IDE DVD/CDR-W - Page 9
VariRec - Tests
Both the PX-W4012A and PX-320A support the "VariRec" function. In order to activate "VariRec" you need to select the AudioCD project and over the "Write" tab you will find a new button "VariRec" options. If we press it, a new window "Options for VariRec" will show up, giving us some information about VariRec and the slide bar to select between -2,-1,0,-1, +2 values. The recording speed will automatically lower to 4x and we would need 19mins to end the task:
- Tests
We used the same methodology as with the PX-W4012A review. We burned two types of media with VariRec enabled/disabled and measured the writing quality in terms of C1/C2 errors. For comparison reasons we post results from the PX-W4012A and from YAMAHA 3200E.
Plasmon Media
ATIP start of lead in: -02:32:56 (sector: -11456)
ATIP start of lead out: 79:59:74 (sector: 359999)
Manufacturer code: 97 27 19 - Plasmon Data systems Ltd. (Type: 9)
Disc subtype: Medium Type B, low Beta category (B-)
Target writing power: 5
|
Recording Mode
|
C1
|
|
|
Max
|
Average
|
|
|
PX-W4012A 4x recording PX-320A 4x recording |
49 46 |
12.8 12.5 |
|
PX-W4012A VariRec (-2) PX-320A VariRec (-2) |
62 60 |
13.4 13.2 |
|
PX-W4012A VariRec (0) PX-320A VariRec (0) |
43 44 |
13.3 13.4 |
|
PX-W4012A VariRec (+2) PX-320A VariRec (+2) |
50 45 |
13.5 13.6 |
|
Yamaha's AudioMASTER
|
35
|
8.7
|
The test results showed that both the PX-W4012A and PX-320A initialize the same "VariRec" engine. The produced results are in the same level in almost all cases. The differences can be explained from the quality of each specific media. Yamaha's AudioMASTER produces CDs with lower C1 error rate.
Acer Media
ATIP start of lead in: -02:37:09 (sector: -11784)
ATIP start of lead out: 74:25:00 (sector: 334875)
Manufacturer code: 97 22 66 - Acer Media Technology, Inc. (Type: 6)
Disc subtype: Medium Type B, low Beta category (B-)
Target writing power: 5
|
Recording Mode
|
C1
|
|
|
Max
|
Average
|
|
|
PX-W4012A 4x recording PX-320A 4x recording |
28 25 |
1.7 1.5 |
|
PX-W4012A VariRec (-1) PX-320A VariRec (-1) |
44 45 |
2.7 2.8 |
|
PX-W4012A VariRec (0) PX-320A VariRec (0) |
26 24 |
1.8 1.9 |
|
PX-W4012A VariRec (+1) PX-320A VariRec (+1) |
23 25 |
1.5 1.6 |
|
Yamaha's AudioMASTER
|
20
|
1.0
|
With the Acer media, both Plextor drives produced better results, in terms of C1 error rate. Yamaha's AudioMASTER produces CDs with lower C1 error rate than Plextor's VariRec. Using other media it's possible to have totally different results.
- Compatibility
|
Drive
|
VariRec (-2)
|
VariRec (-1)
|
VariRec (0)
|
VariRec (+1)
|
VariRec (+2)
|
|
Denon DCD-950 (stand alone)
|
No problems during playback
|
Cannot recognize disc contents
|
|||
|
JVC XL-P31 (portable)
|
No problems during playback
|
||||
|
AIWA LCX-257 (midi system)
|
No problems during playback
|
||||
As with the PX-W4012A test, we had only one case that the disc wasn't recognized from a stand-alone CD player. Plextor also recommends leaving the value zero (0) since the +2, -2 selections can result in un-readable CDs.
