What is a good cd-rw to get?

[traveler]

What is every one's opinion on a good cd-rw?

From my limited research a good cd-rw should be capable of ripping and burning the "underchannels" on a cd-rom and be "burnproof".

[Timothy]

I happen to like the Ricoh line of burners. I haven't had any problems with them as of yet.The one I have is a 12x10x32x8DVD
drive.I keep upgrading everytime they come out with a faster one.
IMO they make high quality drives, just MHO though.It supports burn-proof also.

Tim

[Keri]

Originally posted by traveler
What is every one's opinion on a good cd-rw?

From my limited research a good cd-rw should be capable of ripping and burning the "underchannels" on a cd-rom and be "burnproof".

If you want the ABSOLUTE best you need a Plexwriter by Plextor! BurnProof Technology is built in and for AWESOME CD "Ripping" speeds add a Plextor reader. You can't beat them!

[bobmitch]

My last two CD-RW's have been Plextor

8x4x32
12x10x32

Both are still in Great shape...can't kill them!

Quiet...reliable...

Beware! the 12x10x32...some builds won't read sub channel data...which inhibits the ability to burn RAW data and bypass copy protection.

Bob

[cryogen_abx]

i'd have to go with plextor too..they make one of the most solid lines available atm....altho the newer yamaha burners are pretty kewl too... 16x burn mmmmmm
cryogen

[rdmpe]

How can I tell if my cdrw can read subchannel data, and does it also depend on the software? I use EasyCD creator 4.0. I have a Sony 12/8/32 dont have model number handy but will look into it.

[jdmba]

C'mon - you can't ask whats the best cdr any more than you can ask whether PC is better than MAC; what's the average CPU temperature; or ... I started burning CD's when the speed was 1x and they cost $10 per blank ... oh how the times have changed.

Go to www.cdrinfo.com if you have questions and want reviews.

Over the years, Plextor has gone from worst (along with Phillips and Pinnacle) to best. TDK nosed it out on the 12x recently but only due to the included software suite.

Right now the market is in flux - people are 'introducing' 16x, 20x, and 24x (I mean, TDK just did a 24x but some other companies are also JUST releasing 20x). I would hold tight. I assume, however, that the TDK 24x will hold up, and that will probably be the way to go. If I had my drothers, I would probably wait for a Plextor 24x.

I also prefer external scsi to internal IDE, but again, this decision is mostly personal taste.

Go to the site, and do your homework, and you will do fine.

[Mushkin Rules]

To tell that your CDRW read subchannel data, you can install CloneCD, and there is an option for that. If it's ticked, then your CDRW can read it, and vice versa.

For me, the best CDRW & CDROM would be Plextor. Plextor' PlexWriter 12/10/32A IDE CDRW is excellent, but Plextor has come out with a newer & better 16/10/40A. Second best & cheaper would be Yamaha CRW2200E IDE CDR-W and TDK CyClone 12/10/32A (uses exactly the same Plextor Engine as PlexWriter 12/10/32A IDE CDRW but cheaper). Yamaha CRW2200E also arrives with impressive 8MB of buffer and "SafeBURN" anti-coaster system. Yamaha has now also an anti-coaster technology, with the help of OAK Technology, and from what the review saw it works very well -just as good as BURN-Proof/JustLink/SimlessLink does


This link: www.cdrinfo.com is the best CDRW/DVDROM/CDROM web info

[BladeRunner_abx]

All really down to personal preference.
I own a Yamaha internal 16/10/40 CD-RW and I'm very happy with it.
No BURNProof, but the 8MB buffer and the fact it's SCSI make up for this.
Don't be afraid to get a drive that doesn't have BURNProof, although it does help it's still not a guarantee, I can still get coasters on the Plextor we have at work.
If a drive doesn't have BURNProof you can bet your life the company in question have built in something else instead, with the Yamaha it's an 8MB buffer, it's just BURNProof is the most well know of the 'anti-coaster' systems.

[simbatran]

Ricoh MP7120A 12x/10x/32x and works for me, no failure after at least 20 CD burns on the fly. One important point is you should have an ATAPI capable CD-ROM, otherwise, underun error will likely to happen, it;s not the CD-RW fault, if the source is too slow, you cannot do it on the fly, buffer will be empty which cause the underrun condition.

[patman1782]

I like my TDK 12/10/32/32 (audio rip) It works pretty damn (i mean darn) good. It can do just about everything. The only thing it can't do is burn Barcodes. And if you want to use Easy CD Creator 5 you have to get the update to 5.01.

[traveler]

I checked out www.cdrinfo.com. It is an information packed site.

But (with respect to underchannels):

Other than testing a cd-rw for the underchannel capability after you buy one (with CloneCD as Mushkin states) (BTW where can one get CloneCD and does it also indicate if the cd-rw can write the underchannels?), where in the information provided about a cd-rw can one determine the existance of this capability before you buy one? Does this capability exist in the hardware, the software, or in the build (as bobmitch states)? Or do we have to call or email each manufacturer for the information?

[JeffMD]

PLextor baby.. yea yea plextor. Ive had a plex 12/20, and now I have plextors 12/10/32 and the ultraplex 40.. plex plex plex!!!

[Mushkin Rules]

Usually, if CDRW can read subchannel data, it will be stated by the manufacturer. My Plextor's PlexWriter 12/10/32A is officially cannot read subchannel data, because it is not officially stated by Plextor. But, with the tweaked jumper at the back, not only can I manage to let this baby read subchannel data, it can also run at ATA 33 (UDMA 2) rather than run at default PIO 4.

[Yoda_abx]

Plextor Rules!