TDK 16x DVD+R media review

Transfer and playback tests

So far in this review we have reported on how well/bad the TDK 16x DVD+R media has performed on our 6 review recording devices and given you a good idea as to how many errors may be left on the media. These are some of the main influences for a playback or Transfer device to correct according to our Liteon-IT 1673S with KProbe and the Plextor PX-716A using PX Scan. One thing this hasn't prooven to us is just how well the recorded media can be transfered at high speeds, although we can with experience draw an educated opinion on whether the discs will transfer ok from the KProbe and PX Scan results shown earlier in this review.

Of course playback will be performed at 1x on a DVD playback device and so judging by the results we have shown up to now during our other tests we are happy that we should have no problems with playback on any of the TDK 16x DVD+R media we have recorded to.

Small slowdowns are accepted for a perfect transfer but what we don't want to see is any places where data refuses to transfer on the NEC ND-3540 or any of the recordings refusing to playback properly on our review playback devices.

Below you will find the results of the Transfer tests on the NEC ND-3540 which we feel is a most reliable PC DVD reading device.

CD Speed high speed transfer tests Below you will find the transfer tests carried out on the NEC ND-3540 at its fastest reading speed. Please click on a drive thumbnail for more detailed information about the transfer tests carried out on the TDK DVD+R media. BenQ DW 1620A with firmware version B7V9 Plextor PX-716A with firmware version 1.08 NEC ND-3540 with firmware version 1.01 BenQ DW 1640 [OEM] with firmware version BSLB Liteon 1673S with firmware version JS0C Pioneer DVR 109 XL [OEM] with firmware version 1.58

Results show that the NEC ND-3540 encountered no fatal errors during the CD Speed transfer tests, reaching its maximum single layer reading speed of 16x for all pieces of the TDK 16x DVD+R media used for this review. Given these facts we feel there are no reasons why we should see any problems with playback on these devices.

Our final test is the playback test of a DVD Video. For this review we chose the Liteon 1673S with firmware JS0C to record a DVD Video compilation with CopyToDVD of 4464Mb (4.36GB) in size to the TDK 16x DVD+R media, again at 16x. During the Disc Quality tests we kept finding that the Liteon 1673 produced out of spec beta and some quite high jitter compared to other devcies used.

Again we will back this up by doing a Transfer test at high speed on the NEC 3540 AG.

As expected at a read speed of 1x the recording showed no problems with playback in any of tested playback devices, whether they be PC based, standalone or console driven. Fast forwarding the DVD Video compilation at 16x on our PRISM standalone DVD player did not show any areas where the high speed fast forwarding stopped. We would also like to reconfirm that a high speed transfer on this disc did not produce any slowdowns either that may have an impact on the quality of the disc. It seems that because the rest of the reported levels of potential errors are nicely within set limits that the out of specification beta reported had no influence.