Sony DRU-540A: Sony's Answer to the 12x Call

Burn Tests DVD+R Media

We have a number of different brands of DVD+R media ranging in quality...

CMC MAG F01

This is an Imation disc rated at 8x write speeds...

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The CMC media did not do well, writing at only 4x speeds when it was rated at 8x.

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The transfer rate test produced the same results, reading the disc at only 4x.

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Nero's CD-DVD speed had some trouble reading the disc towards the end at 12x. The drive never got back up to 12x most likely due to some errors in the burn quality. PlexTools also scanned a good amount of C1 errors that shows this media isn't the best to use.

Ritek R03

Here's another 8x disc, this one by Ritek...

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The Ritek brand media, however, performed better as it peaked at the end at about 12x. Sony claims in its documentation that the DRU-540A is capable of burning some 8x media at 12x speeds. The Ritek R03 was one of them.

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The transfer rate tests proved a reliable burn...

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PlexTools shows that it may have had some trouble reading the disc towards the middle but smoothed out as it continued.