PleXWriter PX-W4012U external CDR-W - Page 09

Conclusion

The PleXWriter PX-W4012U is a new external recorder from Plextor, continuing a tradition of solid and un-problematic operation recorders. The drive is based upon the internal PX-W4012A, but with several enchaments. The drive writes at 40x faster than its twin brother, due to new firmware, and AudioCD authoring is permitted up to 40x. The "PowerRec II" system is again present and in general the writing quality stays in high levels with proper media. No changes found at the VariRec function and a new tool is present called "SelfTest" diagnostics. The retail package is complete and the offered 2 years of warranty (for European users) gives a big motive to possible buyers. Lastly we must note the drives quiet operation, compared to other drives of the same category.

On the negative side, the drive is slower than competition, in reading speeds, due to its lower maximum speed (40X), while the supported media list for 40X is still limited. The DAE performance was a bit lower than what we had measured with the PX-W4012A, and Mt. Rainier is not present, even Plextor claims that it is on the way.

The suggested retail price in Europe is 239 Euro (excl. VAT), but probably the price in shops will be lower. If you are looking for a quality external.recorder, PX-W4012U can cover your needs.