BenQ DW1600 16x DVD+RW Preview

[Ian]

If you thought your new 12x DVD writer was the fastest drive around, you might want to think again. BenQ recently announced the world's first 16x DVD+RW drive, the DW1600. To give you an idea of what to expect, we've put together a short preview of this new drive.

[url=http://www.cdrlabs.com/articles/index.php?articleid=32]
BenQ DW1600 16x DVD+RW Preview[/url]

This preview focuses primarily on the DW1600's DVD writing performance. In particular, we see how fast 16x writing speeds really are and whether or not its truly feasible to write to 8x DVD+R at this speed. Some of the results might surprise you. If you have any comments or questions, please post them in the forum using the link provided below.

[Raz0rX]

I have to agree that its writing performance is very impressive, even @ 16x! Nice (p)review, Ian!

[dolphinius_rex]

Thanks for the preview Ian! Looks like it took a lot of work!

That being said, I'm not really impressed with the results

The only good looking results were on the Taiyo Yuden disc *you* provided, and the Mitsubishi disc which was burned rather slow in comparison. The Memorex 4x DVD+RW was also burned well, but I would hope a 16x DVD+R burner could handle a 4x DVD+RW

All in all I'm rather dissapointed by the lack of writing quality from this drive as shown by your results. I'm also a little surprised that there is nothing said to address the fact that most of the tranfer rate tests do not mesh almost at all with the K-Probe scans.... in fact in some cases they are polar opposites! For example the RicohjpnR02 that you burned, which had excellent K-Probe results, but had some serious slow down on the transfer rate test!

[Ian]

I'm also a little surprised that there is nothing said to address the fact that most of the tranfer rate tests do not mesh almost at all with the K-Probe scans.... in fact in some cases they are polar opposites!

Good point and unfortunately, I really don't know. It could be due to high jitter rates or something. What are your thoughts?

[Wesociety]

Thanks for the preview Ian.
I thought it was Philips that announced the worlds' first 16X DVD writer?
(Yes I realize that the BenQ is based on the Philips chipset)
Is the Yahoo article actually referring to this BenQ drive?

[Ian]

lol.. they all claim to be the first.

Technically, BenQ "announced" it first. We'll have to see who's drive shows up at retail first though.

If I remember right, that article at Reuters referred to Philips' own drive, the DVDR1640K. Here's the actual press release:

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/sit ... ewsLang=en

[Wesociety]

they all claim to be the first.

LMAO!
I am definitely impressed by the Philips C16 media.
I was expecting worse results at the launch of the new 16X speed discs.
I find it suprising that the BenQ provided TY media didn't do so good. Thanks for rerunning the test with one of your own TY discs.

It will also be interesting to see how the TY actual 16X certified media does (when it is released :p ).

[Wesociety]

Ian, there seems to be a rogue JPG on the loose in the article.
In the Memorex DVD+RW section, you have a screenshot that shows the MID code as CMC MAG E01.
Obviously this is not a DVD+RW disc.

[dolphinius_rex]

Ian, there seems to be a rogue JPG on the loose in the article.
In the Memorex DVD+RW section, you have a screenshot that shows the MID code as CMC MAG E01.
Obviously this is not a DVD+RW disc.

Was wondering why the DVD+RW looked like it supported 8x recording

[dolphinius_rex]

I'm also a little surprised that there is nothing said to address the fact that most of the tranfer rate tests do not mesh almost at all with the K-Probe scans.... in fact in some cases they are polar opposites!

Good point and unfortunately, I really don't know. It could be due to high jitter rates or something. What are your thoughts?

Working on that...

This is why my DVDR reviews will all feature at least 2 Pi/Po scans and 1 transfer rate test... it's a lot of time and work, but it gives a more rounded view of the media quality. I'm working on one for the Ritek G05 right now, you can ask Wesociety and Aviationwiz how they're fairing so far if you're interested

[TheCDBurner]

I have to agree that its writing performance is very impressive, even @ 16x! Nice (p)review, Ian!

Huh?

Please explain. Ian's review of the PX-712 showed 6:15 for a 12x write; this BenQ, at 16x, is showing 5:58-6:03. That's not exactly a big improvement - I'd go so far as to say "who gives a ****?"

Only plus: it can do DL. But then so can the $80 2510...

[dolphinius_rex]

I have to agree that its writing performance is very impressive, even @ 16x! Nice (p)review, Ian!

Huh?

Please explain. Ian's review of the PX-712 showed 6:15 for a 12x write; this BenQ, at 16x, is showing 5:58-6:03. That's not exactly a big improvement - I'd go so far as to say "who gives a ****?"

Only plus: it can do DL. But then so can the $80 2510...

Not to mention the fact that the writing quality is sub par at best!!

[Kennyshin]

I have to agree that its writing performance is very impressive, even @ 16x! Nice (p)review, Ian!

Huh?

Please explain. Ian's review of the PX-712 showed 6:15 for a 12x write; this BenQ, at 16x, is showing 5:58-6:03. That's not exactly a big improvement - I'd go so far as to say "who gives a ****?"

Only plus: it can do DL. But then so can the $80 2510...

"Impressive, even at 16x" probably means about quality, not speed.

Compare ND-2510A wish BenQ DW1600 and then compare PX-712A with BenQ DW1600. You are comparing BenQ's DL with NEC's DL and BenQ's 16x with Plextor's 12x. DW1600 has DL which PX-712A does not. DW1600 writes to 4.7GB media a bit faster than ND-2510A.

Anyway, comparing DW1600 from BenQ with Plextor's $200 drive is pointless to most users. Why not just have TWO 16x writers from BenQ instead of getting ONE 12x writer from Plextor? What did you expect when DVD writers have become ubiquitous for a long time, reaching their mechinical limit almost.

[dolphinius_rex]

I have no respect for BenQ drives, at least where burn quality is concerned.

[shimman]

well, if it was an inexpensive drive (probably it would be), i would recommend it....sort of

i think the fair price for this drive is about 100usd, and then this drive can be recommended...-r support would suck imo

off subject, as an owner of 712a ( i fall for q-check stuff ), i like to see booktype change ability since plextor seems inclined to +r. anyone interested to send an email to plextor for booktype support???

[pchilson]

I have no respect for BenQ drives, at least where burn quality is concerned.

You are not impressed by the burn quality of Benq, maybe you just had a bad drive???

The Benq drives deliver some of the best burn quality out there and they do it on a wide variety of media.

I have owned a number of drives (NEC, LiteOn, Cyberdrive, Plextor, Benq, BTC). The Benq has never failed to deliver quality burns...

NEC: Good burns but slow, couldn't read "See Spot Run".
LiteOn: Good burns with good media, great reader.
Cyberdrive: Good burns, +R only, questionable quality.
Benq: Good burns, great reader.
BTC: POS.
Plextor: Just purchased, fast but jury still out...

What would impress you?

[dolphinius_rex]

Well, here are my opinions on the drives you listed:

NEC: Don't have one, but plan to buy one based on *VERY* popular opinion from everyone I know who own one
LiteOn: Crap. Some good burns on DVD+R media, but mostly crap
Cyberdrive: No opinion at all, I don't know this drive well
Benq: Haven't seen anything I like about this drive, from anywhere. Every test I have seen has showed it to be subpar, only maybe the price is good
BTC: On this we agree, total POS
Plextor: A little unimpressed. Good with DVD+R, but rather dissapointing for DVD-R

Pioneer and LG are the two drives makers that have really gone above and beyond in my opinion.

[Vanderlow]

dolphinius_rex is prejuide against BenQ.

[dolphinius_rex]

dolphinius_rex is prejuide against BenQ.

No, I'm predjudiced against BTC, I just don't like BenQ

[Vanderlow]

All I know is most people who have BenQs and know to mainly stick with + media love them even people who own several other burners.

[VEFF]

All I know is most people who have BenQs and know to mainly stick with + media love them even people who own several other burners.

Yes, I love mine.
No problems whatsoever.
I am just as happy with my Benq DW822A-OC2 as I was with my two Plextor PX-708A drives

[dolphinius_rex]

All I know is most people who have BenQs and know to mainly stick with + media love them even people who own several other burners.

Yes, I love mine.
No problems whatsoever.
I am just as happy with my Benq DW822A-OC2 as I was with my two Plextor PX-708A drives

Hrm, given that most people consider the 708a to be inferior to the 712a, and I'm not very impressed with the 712a... you're not giving a very convincing argument

But, the fact is, I'll end up buying one of these drives just because I need to report on compatability with common drives purchased... so whatever drive lot's of people buy, I need to get one too

[VEFF]

All I know is most people who have BenQs and know to mainly stick with + media love them even people who own several other burners.

Yes, I love mine.
No problems whatsoever.
I am just as happy with my Benq DW822A-OC2 as I was with my two Plextor PX-708A drives

Hrm, given that most people consider the 708a to be inferior to the 712a, and I'm not very impressed with the 712a... you're not giving a very convincing argument

But, the fact is, I'll end up buying one of these drives just because I need to report on compatability with common drives purchased... so whatever drive lot's of people buy, I need to get one too

You have the right not to be impressed with the 708A.
The fact remains that the 708A got a 10/10 review by Ian right here on CDRLabs...
Ian also had the following to say about the Benq 1600A pre-Production sample, and I quote:
Ian wrote: I must admit that it is an impressive drive, especially considering this is an early sample. While the drive has a few rough spots that need to be worked out, it performed surprisingly well throughout our tests

I like to consider Ian a knowledgeable and impartial reviewer, unlike
the reviewers at some of the other CD/DVD review/forum sites.

[Ian]

The fact remains that the 708A got a 10/10 review by Ian right here on CDRLabs...

How does that saying go? Hindsight is always 20/20? Looking back now, the drive probably shouldn't have gotten a 10, at least for performance. It was the first drive to write at 8x so there really wasn't much to compare it to.

I like to consider Ian a knowledgeable and impartial reviewer, unlike the reviewers at some of the other CD/DVD review/forum sites.

I try my best to be. I've slammed just as many Plextor drives as say BenQ.. but there's always going to be someone that doesn't agree with me 100%.

Going back to the BenQ, you have to remember a few things. This is an early sample and with early firmware. How many drives are perfect as soon as they ship? Not many. Give BenQ a few months to tweak things. I bet the writing quality will be as good as their 8x drives.

And Cyberdrive? Do they even sell drives anymore? Didn't they use a Philips chipset too, just like the BenQ?

[Wesociety]

How does that saying go? Hindsight is always 20/20? Looking back now, the drive probably shouldn't have gotten a 10, at least for performance. It was the first drive to write at 8x so there really wasn't much to compare it to.

I agree and feel very strongly that the 708 should definitely NOT be rated a 10 out of 10. (absolutely perfect???)

And Cyberdrive? Do they even sell drives anymore? Didn't they use a Philips chipset too, just like the BenQ?

Yes you can find Cyberdrives rebranded as some KHypermedia DVDR drives in the US.