It used to be the case that the fastest optical drive was, by default, the best. Reducing CD burn times from 12 minutes to eight and then to six was considered significant evolutionary progress. But then a barrier was encountered, where the imperfect nature of mass-produced compact discs precluded, or at least made it much more difficult, to spin them faster than 52x. Rather than risk spontaneously disintegrating media, drive manufacturers have since focused their attention elsewhere. After all, we'd tend to agree that a polycarbonate saucer spinning in excess of 10,000 rotations per minute next to our knees is plenty, thank you.

So, now we have DVD burners flying along at 16x, or roughly 22MB per second, and it's said that we won't see those devices spin much faster either. Not that we'd be disappointed otherwise since it's already possible to fill a 4.7GB DVD in about six minutes.

The big focus today centers on accelerating the performance of dual-layer drives and media until Blu-Ray and HD-DVD technologies become more prevalent. That's a particularly good thing, too, because the first generation of DL (dual-layer) hardware was aggravatingly slow, often occupying the better part of an hour to fill a single 8.5GB disc. And don't even get us started about the prices of blank DL media. Fortunately, those prices are slowly eroding and it's now possible to get a pack of three discs for about $30. They're still a far cry from the $.50 per blank DVD-R that you can find online, but forward progress nonetheless.

Performance is improving as well. The fastest DL drives write at 5.5MB per second (4x) or almost twice as fast as the 2.4x drives they replace. Further, single-layer speeds persist at 16x and the best hardware even burns standard CDs at 48x. Though not quite 52x, that'll certainly suffice.

Today, we have a collection of five, cherry-picked (by us, not the manufacturers) DL DVD writers at several different price inflections and with a number of performance characteristics. They're all armed with the latest firmware files and ready to battle, so if you've been holding off on a new optical drive, we're giving you the opportunity to compare software packages, burn speeds, and prices.

Specifications for ASUS' DRW-1604P DL DVD+/- R/RW Drive Fulfilling The Need For Speed

Performance: •16x DVD+R writing / 4x DVD+RW rewriting / 16x DVD+R reading •16x DVD-R writing / 4x DVD-RW rewriting / 16x DVD-R reading •32x CD-R writing / 24x CD-RW rewriting / 40x CD-ROM reading •8.5GB Dual-Layer Technology @ 4x •FlextraLink prevents buffer under-run and minimizes recording failures •Supported over-speed feature (4x DL write on 2.4x media) •FlextraSpeed optimizes writing speed •Optical pickup head LCT (Liquid Crystal Tilt) •2MB internal buffer •Enhanced IDE/ATAPI interface •Horizontal and vertical operation •DDSSII anti-vibration for more precise tracking and noise reduction •Supports optimum power control •Supports DVD+R write speed at 2.4x, 4x, 6x, 8x, 12x and 16x •Supports DVD+RW write speed at 2.4x and 4x •Supports DVD+R DL write speed at 2.4x and 4x •Supports DVD-R write speed at 1x, 2x, 4x, 6x 8x, 12x and 16x •Supports DVD-RW write speed at 1x, 2x and 4x •Supports CD-R write speed at 4x, 10x, 16x, 24x, and 32x •Supports CD-RW write speed at 4x, 10x, 16x, 20x and 24x

Retail Package DRW-1604P Writer Multi-language Quick Installation Guide Manual Ahead Nero Burning ROM + Ulead DVD MovieFactory 3 Audio Cable Mounting Screws

Quality and Setup of the ASUS DRW-1604P DL DVD+/- R/RW Drive Standard Fare For Optical Drives

ASUS leverages its experience as a motherboard manufacturer to include a reasonable bundle with its latest DL DVD drive. There's an easy-to-follow quick installation guide, a more complete users manual, mounting screws, all of the necessary cabling, and a pair of CDs with Nero 6 OEM Edition, which can be upgraded though Nero's website, and Ulead DVD MovieFactory 3 Suite SE. It would have been nice to see some sort of DVD playback software as well, but perhaps we should just be thankful that ASUS included Nero instead.

Most optical drive manufacturers are fairly conservative when it comes to design and ASUS is no exception. The front panel is beige - par for the course - and the back boasts IDE, power, and analog audio connections, in addition to a jumper block for configuring the drive's IDE status.

There are a few unique features that ASUS lists in its specification sheet, including FlextraLink, FlextraSpeed, DDSSII, and LCT technology. FlextraLink is essentially a marketing name for buffer under-run support. All drives come with it nowadays and you shouldn't expect anything less. FlextraSpeed allows the drive to make write adjustments to compensate for the variable qualities of media. According to ASUS, this has the effect of reducing noise, prolonging the motor's life, and conserving CPU resources. DDSSII is ASUS' patented anti-vibration technology that stabilizes the pickup head both vertically and horizontally for more precise tracking. And finally, LCT (liquid crystal tilt) purportedly improves the pickup head's accuracy on substandard media.

The ASUS drive is a little more expensive than the value drives in our roundup, and while it performs admirably in DL DVD tests (it posted the fastest times in our tests), 32x CD writing speeds put the DRW-1604P about a minute behind the fastest competition. You'll have to decide if the $75 asking price is worth that trade-off.

Specifications for BenQ's DW 1620 DL DVD+/- R/RW Drive More 4x DL Action

Performance: •16x DVD+R writing / 4x DVD+RW rewriting / 16x DVD+R reading •16x DVD-R writing / 4x DVD-RW rewriting / 16x DVD-R reading •40x CD-R writing / 24x CD-RW rewriting / 40x CD-ROM reading •8.5GB Dual-Layer Technology @ 4x •WOPC II evaluates writing power to optimize across the entire disk •BLER OPC enhances write quality toward end of disc, an area susceptible to warping •Tilt control repositions optical pickup head to maintain 90-degree angle, even on warped disks •2MB internal buffer •Enhanced IDE/ATAPI interface •Horizontal and vertical operation •Supports DVD+R write speed at 2.4x, 4x, 8x, 12x and 16x •Supports DVD+RW write speed at 2.4x and 4x •Supports DVD+R DL write speed at 2.4x and 4x •Supports DVD-R write speed at 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x, 12x and 16x •Supports DVD-RW write speed at 1x, 2x and 4x •Supports CD-R write speed at 4x, 10x, 16x, 24x, and 32x •Supports CD-RW write speed at 4x, 8x, 16x, and 24x

Retail Package DW 1620 Writer Hardware quick-start guide Sonic RecordNow!, InterVideo Win Cinema, QVideo 2.0 Audio Cable Mounting Screws

Quality and Setup of the BenQ DW 1620 DL DVD+/- R/RW Drive A Little More Of The Same

BenQ's package is also fairly comprehensive, as it includes the DW-1620 drive, relevant mounting hardware, installation instructions, and a software disc. There's no Nero; rather, BenQ includes Sonic RecordNow! burning software (a $30 value), InterVideo's WinCinema, a suite consisting of WinDVD, WinProducer, WinRip, and WinCoder, QVideo 2.0 Book Type Management, and one blank DVD disc.

BenQ actually sells the DW 1620 in three different colors: black, beige, and silver. The front panel is uniform in whichever shade you purchase, unlike the Plextor and Sony models, both of which include other aesthetic highlights. The drive's backside features an IDE interface and power connector, in addition to analog and digital audio outputs.

As with most other manufacturers, BenQ advertises a handful of unique features that purportedly improve the performance and quality of burns. WOPC II (Walking Optimal Power Control II), for example, is an algorithm that dynamically adjusts laser power to optimize quality across different types of media. The BLER OPC (Block Error Rate Optimal Power Control) feature specifically improves quality near the end of a disc, where it's more susceptible to warping. Whether or not it actually makes a difference will be explored in the upcoming quality investigation. Finally, Tilt Control repositions the pickup head in order to maintain a 90-degree angle over the disc surface, even if it's uneven.

Of course, the most impressive feature is undocumented by BenQ. Although the DW-1620 is advertised as a 2.4x DL writer, flashed with the latest firmware and in conjunction with Nero 6.6, our sample had no problem churning out DL discs at 4x speeds and landing itself in the upper echelon of performance drives in the process.

Another of the DW-1620's redeeming qualities is price. Currently available online for about $65, it's one of the least expensive writers in our roundup, though slightly more expensive than Lite-On's SOHW-1633S. Although CD burning performance lags somewhat at 40x (at least compared to the Lite-On), BenQ maintains an advantage in dual-layer performance and its maximum 16x DVD-R speed.

Specifications for Lite-On's SOHW-1633S DL DVD+/- R/RW Drive More 4x DL Action

Performance: •16x DVD+R writing / 4x DVD+RW rewriting / 16x DVD+R reading •8x DVD-R writing / 4x DVD-RW rewriting / 16x DVD-R reading •48x CD-R writing / 24x CD-RW rewriting / 48x CD-ROM reading •8.5GB Dual-Layer Technology @ 2.4x •SMART-BURN buffer under-run prevention •SMART-X for fastest data extraction speeds •Power-saving mode •2MB internal buffer •Enhanced IDE/ATAPI interface •Horizontal and vertical operation •Supports DVD+R write speed at 2.4x, 4x, 6x, 8x, 12x, and 16x •Supports DVD+RW write speed at 2.4x and 4x •Supports DVD+R DL write speed at 2.4x •Supports DVD-R write speed at 1x, 2x, 4x, 6x, and 8x •Supports DVD-RW write speed at 1x, 2x and 4x •Supports CD-R write speed at 8x, 16x, 24x, 32x, 40x, and 48x •Supports CD-RW write speed at 4x, 10x, 16x, and 24x

Retail Package SOHW-1633S Writer Quick-installation guide Nero Express, Nero Vision Express 2, and PowerDVD Audio Cable Mounting Screws DVD media

Quality and Setup of the Lite-On SOHW-1633S DL DVD+/- R/RW Drive This time, cloaked in black

Lite-On is an automatic favorite amongst "backup" enthusiasts thanks to its consistently robust drive features. The SOHW-1633S is instantly at a disadvantage in this roundup because of its 2.4x DL performance, though. To be fair, BenQ and Sony also entered the fray with 2.4x drives, but went back with re-worked firmware files and added 4x support as well. That level of dedication isn't necessarily expected from a manufacturer looking to sell newer products; however, it does give BenQ and Sony an advantage from a customer support perspective.

The SOHW-1633S is much smaller than the other drives in our roundup, making it an ideal candidate for use in a small form-factor chassis or BTX case. It also comes with a black front bezel for easy integration with a sleek home theater PC (yes, the SOHW-1633S is available in beige for those of you who are more traditional). The bundle package includes an ideal mix of burning (Nero Express 6) and playback (Cyberlink's PowerDVD), in addition to everything you'd need to get the drive installed.

Fortunately, the SOHW-1633S is lighter on marketing acronyms than many of its competitors. There's SMART-BURN, a buffer under-run protection scheme that adjusts the drive's writing strategy for optimal quality, along with SMART-X, a technology to improve the rate at which data may be extracted from media. Finally, VAS is a vibration and noise reduction technology included with Lite-On's SOHW-1633S.

Prices change so quickly that it's almost pointless to discuss where the SOHW-1633S falls. However, this drive is an extremely impressive value compared to a majority of other dual-layer products. If you can get over the fact that DVD-R burn speeds top out at 8x and dual-layer disks run at 2.4x, the Lite-On SOHW 1633S offer the most bang for your buck. For a point of reference, it's currently selling for $60 online.

Specifications for Plextor's PX-716A DL DVD+/- R/RW Drive The much-anticipated arrival of Plextor

Performance: •16x DVD+R writing / 8x DVD+RW rewriting / 16x DVD+R reading •16x DVD-R writing / 4x DVD-RW rewriting / 16x DVD-R reading •48x CD-R writing / 24x CD-RW rewriting / 48x CD-ROM reading •8.5GB Dual-Layer Technology @ 6x •AutoStrategy develops a writing routine for media types not listed in the drive's internal catalog •IntelligentTilt ensures optimal recording through liquid crystal and 3D adjustment •PowerRec adjusts laser power and write speed on a per-disc basis •8MB internal buffer •GigaRec enables high-capacity storage  of up to 900MB on a 700MB disc •Horizontal and vertical operation •Supports DVD+R write speed at 2.4x, 4x, 6x, 8x, 12x, and 16x •Supports DVD+RW write speed at 2.4x, 4x, and 8x •Supports DVD+R DL write speed at 2x, 2.4x, 4x, and 6x •Supports DVD-R write speed at 2x, 4x, 6x, 8x, 12x and 16x •Supports DVD-RW write speed at 1x, 2x and 4x •Supports CD-R write speed at 4x, 10x, 16x, 24x, 32x, 40x, and 48x •Supports CD-RW write speed at 4x, 8x, 16x, and 24x

Retail Package PX-716A Writer Quick-start guide Roxio Easy Media Center 7, Roxio PhotoSuite 7, Roxio DVDMax player Audio Cable Mounting Screws Blank DVD+R media Replacement front bezel (black)

Quality and Setup of the Plextor PX-716A DL DVD+/- R/RW Drive A Little More Of The Same

It's no secret that Plextor charges a premium for its products, which are in turn generally embraced by the enthusiast community. The PX-716A, available in parallel ATA and Serial ATA interfaces, includes a respectable bundle that features Roxio's Easy Media Center 7, Roxio PhotoSuite 7, DVDMax Player, and a trial version of Dantz Retrospect. You'll also find a replacement black bezel, an ATA cable, spare DVD+R media, and a massive 125-page users manual that covers every possible aspect of the PX-716A's feature set.

One of the most prevalent reasons to tap Plextor's lineup is fantastic support. Consistent firmware updates fix initial glitches and in many cases, add functionality. The latest PX-716A update does both, improving write quality, reading performance, and the AUTOSTRATEGY feature, as well as adding support for 2x DVD-R DL media and support for writing at 6x on qualified +R DL discs.

And then there's the exhaustive list of features proffered by the Plextor PX-716A. AUTOSTRATEGY, to begin, identifies unknown media with questionable quality characteristics and develops a customized write strategy for that disc. IntelligentTilt employs liquid crystal and tilt-adjustment in order to maintain proper alignment on uneven surfaces. PowerRec adjusts laser power and write speed on a per-disc basis.

The value-added features include GigaRec, which allows up to 900MB of capacity on standard 700MB discs, Q-Check, for reporting disc quality, SilentMode, to slow the spin-up/down process, and SecureRecording for password-protected discs.

Priced at $139 (available online below $100), the Plextor PX-716A establishes itself as one of the priciest dual-layer products in our roundup. Nevertheless, dedication to support and a comprehensive feature set help justify that price to higher-end users. We'd prefer Nero to the bundled Roxio suite; however, that's a somewhat minor qualm next to industry-leading DVD-R DL support and 6x DVD+R DL capabilities.

Specifications for Sony's DRU-710A DL DVD+/- R/RW Drive Was that 2.4x or 4x?

Performance: •16x DVD+R writing / 4x DVD+RW rewriting / 16x DVD+R reading •16x DVD-R writing / 4x DVD-RW rewriting / 16x DVD-R reading •48x CD-R writing / 24x CD-RW rewriting / 48x CD-ROM reading •8.5GB Dual-Layer Technology @ 2.4x •2MB internal buffer •Enhanced IDE/ATAPI interface •Buffer Underrun Protection •Horizontal and vertical operation •Supports DVD+R write speed at 2.4x, 4x, 6x, 8x, 12x and 16x •Supports DVD+RW write speed at 2.4x and 4x •Supports DVD+R DL write speed at 2.4x •Supports DVD-R write speed at 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x, and 16x •Supports DVD-RW write speed at 1x, 2x and 4x •Supports CD-R write speed at 8x, 16x, 24x, 32x, 40x, and 48x •Supports CD-RW write speed at 4x, 10x, 16x, and 24x

Retail Package DRU-710A Drive Software quick-start guide Nero Software bundle Black replacement bezel Audio Cable Interface Cable Mounting Screws

Quality and Setup of the Sony DRU-710A DL DVD+/- R/RW Drive A Little More Of The Same

Like Plextor, Sony throws in a lot of extras with its DRU-710A dual-layer writer. The package includes a guide through Nero's software suite, operating instructions, a hardware quick-start guide, and a tutorial on replacing the front bezel with a black unit. The standard IDE interface cable, mounting screws, and software disc are all, of course, obligatory inclusions as well.

Outside of the bundled hardware, though, Sony doesn't advertise many additional drive features. It just sort-of, works. That's fine by us, as we'd rather spend time evaluating performance instead of deciphering marking speak, but it's certainly a different approach compared to most other manufacturers.

One interesting point to note is that Sony recently unveiled a new firmware for the DRU-710A that dramatically accelerates performance in dual-layer burns through an upgrade to 4x speeds. Although we had the opportunity to test that supercharged setting earlier in the month, it's only fair to mention that Sony has seemingly updated the drive's firmware once again, purportedly improving write quality and performance, but nixing the 4x DL setting (at least as far as Nero 6.6 recognizes). Perhaps Sony is trying to carve a market for its upcoming DRU-720, which officially does support 4x DVD+R DL.

Priced at $129, minus a $30 mail-in rebate, the Sony drive is a respectable buy. With the 4x DVD+R DL feature it would have been a contender for higher honors considering its leading DVD+R writing speeds, competitive CD-R performance, and thorough software bundle. We'll take the addition of 16x DVD-R in Sony's latest firmware as a valuable update, though.

The HotHardware Test Machine Much DVD media was harmed in the making of this story

Utilities and Media Used For Testing

DVD+R DL Write Test:

There's a lot of variation in the time it takes for each drive to write several directories full of WinRAR files to a dual-layer disc and a lot of that is attributable to drive specifications. The Plextor drive, for example, writes at a maximum of 6x, which is good enough to tie ASUS' 4x burner for first place. In comparison, Plextor's time at 4x with the previous firmware was roughly 36:00, significantly slower than any other 4x drive.

The Sony drive equipped with the older 4x DL firmware file, manages a second-place finish. Bear in mind that the currently posted firmware only does 2.4x speeds (taking 43:44 per disc), but representatives at Sony are claiming the 4x file will re-emerge on the website mid-February. Lite-On's SOHW-1633S is the only drive still officially rated for 2.4x speeds, resulting in lackluster performance.

Despite its slower DVD-R and dual-layer burn speeds, Sony's DRU-710A flies through the DVD+R tests in under six minutes, followed closely by Lite-On's 16x solution. Plextor's PX-716A, burning at 16x, is also very competitive. The ASUS drive runs at 12x, besting BenQ's offering.

With an impressive 48x CD-writing spec, Plextor easily ducks under the 3:00 minute mark. The next fastest drive, from Lite-On, also burns CDs at 48x, yielding respectable performance as well. All of the other contenders write at either 40x or 32x speeds, ranging all the way up to in excess of 4:00 minutes.

Media Read Performance The Basics

Throughout our testing of these five drives, we utilized Nero's CD/DVD Speed.  This is an exceptionally versatile tool that allows us to peer into the drive's behavior during various operations.  In the next section, we ran several read tests on each product using CDs, DVD+R media, and dual-layer discs.  Please note that in each test, the Green line represents Rotation Speed while the Yellow Line represents the drive's progress.  CD performance is viewed on a scale of 80 minutes, and DVD in Gigabytes.

Nero CD-DVD Speed - DVD+R DL Read Test:

In order to test the read characteristics of each drive we used dual-layer discs with 8,134MB of data. And rather than use one disc for testing all drives, we used the DL disc burned by each product to test its read performance.

ASUS DRW-1604P	BenQ DW-1620
Lite-On 1633S	Plextor PX-716A
Sony DRU-710A

Plextor scores the highest burst speed, highest average transfer speed, lowest initial seek times, and most respectable CPU usage numbers while reading dual-layer media. BenQ's offering comes in second place for read speed and random seek times.

Nero CD-DVD Speed - DVD+R Read Test:

We followed the same procedure for testing DVD+R media, only we used a 4,476MB +R disc, instead.

ASUS DRW-1604P	BenQ DW-1620
Lite-On 1633S	Plextor PX-716A
Sony DRU-710A

All five drives sport comparable burst speeds, but the similarities fundamentally end there. ASUS scores the fastest average read speed at the expense of very high seek times and processor usage. Plextor scores second place in average read speed, despite odd (and readily repeatable) behavior toward the end of the disc. Seek times are lower, as are the measured processor usage rates. Sony, BenQ, and Lite-On all follow, performing very similarly.

Nero CD-DVD Speed - CD-R Read Test:

This time around we measured the read performance of a 690MB CD in each of the drives.

ASUS DRW-1604P	BenQ DW-1620
Lite-On 1633S	Plextor PX-716A
Sony DRU-710A

Lite-On owns the performance aspect of Nero's metric, but with higher than average seek times. If it's seek time you're looking at, Plextor and BenQ are actually a bit quicker. Each drive's burst rate is pretty much the same and CPU utilization rates are also all pretty low.

Media Write Quality Error-Free? Not Quite...

Note that Plextor's PX-716A wouldn't run any of the quality tests in Nero's suite.

Nero CD-DVD Speed - DVD+R DL Quality Test

ASUS DRW-1604P	BenQ DW-1620
Lite-On 1633S	Sony DRU-710A

Nero CD-DVD Speed - DVD+R Quality Test:

ASUS DRW-1604P	BenQ DW-1620
Lite-On 1633S	Sony DRU-710A

Nero CD-DVD Speed - CD-R Quality Test:

ASUS DRW-1604P	BenQ DW-1620
Lite-On 1633S	Sony DRU-710A

It's a good time to be in the market for an advanced dual-layer DVD burner, an all-in-one drive capable of burning CDs and DVDs, in addition to playing back your favorite movies. When you take into account the online prices and rebates, each and every one of our contenders can be had for less than $100 and they all offer a boatload of functionality for the money. However, the drive that you choose as a favorite will depend on several different factors, including performance, price, features, software, and bundles.

ASUS DRW-1604P:
Though its principal forte is motherboards, ASUS' optical drive offerings are also strong. The DRW-1604P ties Plextor's PX-716A in dual-layer writing performance and comes with a useful bundle. Where it falls a bit short is DVD+R write speed and CD-R recording, which is limited to 32x speeds. It's available for under $80 online, quite possibly compensating for the modest performance numbers, though. Given the balance between price, performance, and a respectable feature set, ASUS' DRW-1604P is an admirable mid-range burner.

BenQ DW-1620:
A true value proposition, BenQ's DW-1620 shows up online at about $65--an admittedly tempting entry point for novices looking to dabble in home video production or simple music compilation backups. Naturally, performance isn't one of the drive's strong points and support through firmware updates looks to be lacking. Then again, you get what you pay for. In this case, it's a budget drive with great stability, consistent burns, and moderate speed.

Lite-On SOHW-1633S:
There's actually a lot to like about Lite-On's SOHW-1633S, including a $60 price tag, an ultra-small chassis for use in small form-factor systems, a great bundle, and excellent 48x burn speeds for CDs. However, there's no working around the fact that we're looking at a new breed of drives that flaunt dual-layer capabilities at the top of their specification sheets and this SOHW-1633S is limited to 2.4x while the competition is doing 4x or 6x numbers. By all means, grab an inexpensive drive if you're on a budget, but remember that 2.4x performance means waiting roughly 45 minutes for a dual-layer disc rather than 26 or 27 minutes.

Plextor PX-716A:
Now here's where things start to get interesting. The Plextor PX-716A is available online for about $90. That's a fairly substantial price when you look at the drive's competition. And although we're looking at 6x DVD+R DL speeds and the first DVD-R DL capabilities, performance with dual-layer discs is equal to ASUS' offering at 4x speeds. Granted, the sub-three minute CD-R burn times are phenomenal. However, we were certainly expecting more from the DVD-related features. Plextor is known for its exceptional customer support, though, and we're anticipating additional firmware releases to properly age the drive. Hopefully, by then we'll see improved performance to match the impressive feature set.

Sony DRU-710A:
Sony had this one in the bag with the older firmware that enabled 4x dual-layer burn speeds. Problems with that file prompted Sony to remove it, though, replacing it with 2.4x performance times once again. According to Sony it will re-post the accelerated firmware soon, after rectifying reported bugs. In the meantime, Sony's DRU-710A turns in blazing-fast DVD+R speed and competitive numbers with 40x CD-R burning. Priced at about $90 online, the DRU-710A falls right behind Plextor's drive in our roundup given its feature set today.

Bear in mind also that Sony has just announced its DRU-720A, which officially introduces 4x dual-layer performance.

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