Dual-Layer DVD Duel

Write speed tests

For standard, single-layer 16x DVD burning, the Pioneer has a clear lead over the Plextor, despite being rated at the same speed. Indeed, while the Pioneer can burn a full 4.7GB disc in 6 minutes 6 seconds, the Plextor takes a whopping 7 minutes 43 seconds - some 27% slower. Since the drives run in CAV mode for this test, neither comes close to achieving the rated 16x across the full disc; the Pioneer comes closest at 9.5x

Switch to DVD+R and while the result is closer, the honours again go to Pioneer, winning by 23 seconds. Read speed for both drives across both formats was near identical at 6 minutes 40 seconds (11.75MB/sec).



Unfortunately the Plextor only detected the 6x -RW media as 4x compatible so lost out on the burn, talking half as long again as the Pioneer. This is consistent with the incorrect detection of the media. Strangely the Pioneer seems to have had a read issue with -RW media, taking nearly 10 minutes to verify the data, while the Plextor managed the same in under 7 minutes. This almost makes up for the 50% slower write speed, but not quite.

Switch to +RW media, the Pioneer wins again, but just as we saw with the write-once media, by a smaller margin of 15%. Curiously, the Pioneer then took an agonising 14 minutes to verify compared with just 6.5 minutes for the Plextor, which wins this round on total time taken.




The all-important Dual-Layer test produced an interesting result: a virtual dead heat. This was somewhat unexpected, since the Plextor detected the media at 6x and the Pioneer at 8x - their maximum rated speeds. Yet, the total burn time was nearly identical at 5.4x across the entire disc. Once again, the Pioneer's read speed came up wanting: over a minute longer than the Plextor.