CD Freaks presents Plextor PX-712A review

*G@M3FR3@K* · 23-05-2004

I have finished the review, check it out here. What do you think? Any comments or questions?

Embedded Images

View/download images and remove advertisements by registering now! (it's easy, free and takes less than a minute)

You must be registered in order view images in this forum.

*OC-Freak* · 23-05-2004

PI/PO in plextools VS k-probe.

After checking out the review I think I got it right

Plextools doesn't report Parity Inner errors like K-Probe does!!!!
PIF in plextools is the same as PO in K-Probe.
POF is not reported by K-Probe, but is reported by plextools. Only POF errors will make a disc unreadable.

This means when using plextools:

Use SUM1!!!!

PIF should not exceed a maximum value of 4.
POF should be 0.

*G@M3FR3@K* · 23-05-2004

You sure?

Quite complicated. I've used the basic mode for the other test. This gives you the PIE and POF errors. The POF should be 0 since they are uncorrectable errors. I will change my text a little!

PIE (Parity Inner Errors): No larger areas on the disc should exceed 280 PI-8 errors.
PIF (Parity Inner Fail): No larger areas on the disc should exceed 4 PO-1 (actually PI uncorrectable) errors.
POF (Parity Outer Fail): Should be 0 since they indicate uncorrectable errors.

mexi · 23-05-2004

Thanks for the great review. One question: Do you also have tested SD2.9+?

*G@M3FR3@K* · 23-05-2004

Nope, since I don't have any SD2.9+ discs to test with. If someone else who owns a PX-712A and a SD2.9+ protected game can test it I can add it to the review. Or maybe I can add it myself but I'll have to pick up a game first. I also haven't tested the SecuRom new performance yet but since the Premium drive supported the latest SecuRom protections (using BlindWrite) because of its GigaRec technology I think this PX-712A will support it too.

*OC-Freak* · 23-05-2004

I will do some comparison scans when I get my PX-712A. (Still on order - and yes it's too expensive for my taste

)

Then we will hopefully see some scans that could be compared to scans from my earlier reviews.

+In my opinion it's a bit negative that it doesn't support bitsetting as most new drives nowadays supports it in a way or another.

*gene_simmons* · 23-05-2004

Hmmmm....this seems to be a very good drive,BUT I think I´ll wait with my order until I see the SD 2.9+ review(?) of the 712.I still think you have done a very great review though,and I was THAT close to order a Tosh sd-r 5272.You are a very hard working man GF! /gs.

imbecile · 23-05-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by G@M3FR3@K

Nope, since I don't have any SD2.9+ discs to test with. If someone else who owns a PX-712A and a SD2.9+ protected game can test it I can add it to the review. Or maybe I can add it myself but I'll have to pick up a game first. I also haven't tested the SecuRom new performance yet but since the Premium drive supported the latest SecuRom protections (using BlindWrite) because of its GigaRec technology I think this PX-712A will support it too.

are you sure of securom support like the premium???
lapinou said in this forum that the px-712a will not work like the premium

Quote:

Originally Posted by lapinou

no it doesn't work. plextor 712 prevent to use the same functions we were using before... do a petition to Plextor, not to us ...

*eltranquil* · 23-05-2004

@GF,

excellent review!

Thanks,

ET

*Hemispasm* · 24-05-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by G@M3FR3@K

I also haven't tested the SecuRom new performance yet but since the Premium drive supported the latest SecuRom protections (using BlindWrite) because of its GigaRec technology I think this PX-712A will support it too.

Nope it unfortunately wont work as the Premium does, as imbecile already pointed out.

Seems like the 712A has improved as far as the writequality and media compatability is concerned, compared to its predecessor.

Purple Tentacle · 24-05-2004

Review was a great read lets hope the PX-712SA is as good.

D4rk0n3 · 24-05-2004

excellent review,only two things missing:"PI/PO in plextools VS k-probe" and "SD2.9+ discs test",but nothing can be perfect.

GoodOleJoe · 24-05-2004

Truly another great CDF review!!!

However, what about EAC performance? Do we have another device capable of "perfect extraction" (per EAC)? Does it read the lead-in/lead-out like its CD-R predecessors?

*JeanLuc* · 25-05-2004

Yee-Haw ... Plextor did it again ...

If the drive's reliability is what we should expect from Plextor, this can be the perfect all-in-one solution for users with less space in their pc casings ... at least, until plextor releases a predecessor with 16x and DL ...

And I like the way Q-Check works ... Jitter, Beta (as low-level errors), PI-Sum 8, PIF and PO (as casula errors) reporting on a rather "picky" reader like the 712A will make DVD quality assessment far more accurate.

Over at CDR-Info, the PX712A has already been compared to CATS devices ... the results were always similar in trends (not in pure numbers, though what isn't a big surprise since CATS analyzers use calibrated industry drives) ...

Good review thus far but personally, I'd like to have seen Q-Checks with more different low-price media like CMC ... but availability is always an issue, I guess

*JeanLuc* · 25-05-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoodOleJoe

Truly another great CDF review!!!

However, what about EAC performance? Do we have another device capable of "perfect extraction" (per EAC)? Does it read the lead-in/lead-out like its CD-R predecessors?

As for Lead-In and Lead-Out, take a look at the Nero DAE Quality screenshot ... overread has never been a problem for "real" Plextor drives. And with Plextool's DAE mode, you always have an alternative to EAC in terms of accuracy.

StoopidMofo · 26-05-2004

shame it doesnt support premium style securom, if that goes for sd3+ where it has been deliberatly messed aswell then theyve really shot themselves as its not the all in 1 solution for those who like to backup kidz games properly. Nice drive and I did have high hopes for it but looks like at least 1 of those is dashed. If it cant perform with protection it wont enter many households

ClayBuster · 29-05-2004

This was written at 8x using Verbatim DataLife Plus 8x DVD+R's Media Code MMC003 (This disk will also do 12x) It also played fine in my Pioneer 563A

Embedded Images

View/download images and remove advertisements by registering now! (it's easy, free and takes less than a minute)

You must be registered in order view images in this forum.

K-Probe Comparison

Embedded Images

View/download images and remove advertisements by registering now! (it's easy, free and takes less than a minute)

You must be registered in order view images in this forum.

Same movie written in the Pioneer A07 at 8X

PlexTools Scan

Embedded Images

View/download images and remove advertisements by registering now! (it's easy, free and takes less than a minute)

You must be registered in order view images in this forum.

K-Probe Comparison.

Embedded Images

View/download images and remove advertisements by registering now! (it's easy, free and takes less than a minute)

You must be registered in order view images in this forum.

brian32672 · 30-05-2004

I just bought this drive because of reading this review. Paid 186.00 shipped. Hopefully I'll be satisfied. It is my first dvd writer.....

*JeanLuc* · 30-05-2004

Bought it yesterday for 179€ as retail package (but without blank media) ... burned 4 DVD+R (TY, MCC) at 4x so far ... no problems and Plextools 2.12 PIPO scans show a PI max below 10 ... unfortunately, the Plextools 2.13 download is unavailable at the time so I cannot state which ECC sum I'm scanning ... :-/

I wanted to register my product so I can use their On-Site Collect & Return Service but the PX-712A is not even mentioned in their registration form's drive list yet ... strange things are going on there.

*eltranquil* · 30-05-2004

Hmm.... I am a bit concerned about the unavailability of Plextools updates...

UPDATE: Finally they have released version 2.14 on european site.

ET

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeanLuc

unfortunately, the Plextools 2.13 download is unavailable at the time

Verminaard · 30-05-2004

Hi Leutz,

im new in this Forum.

1st: I want to say, good Job on testing. But it can be better.
2nd: Why you do not use Alc120% and BWSuite to test the most common used copyprotections? CCD ist to old to test the newest copyprotections!
3rd: And i miss some informations like the supportet read modes and especially the supportet write modes like DAO-RAW+96, EFM and so on.

Last i want to say this is one of the best forums is where i am a member.

greetings
Verminaard The Dragon_Lord_Evil

surg · 30-05-2004

@ClayBuster
Your K-Probe Scans don't look too promising. Might it be that the whole K-Probe thing is a misconception?

*OC-Freak* · 30-05-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by surg

@ClayBuster
Your K-Probe Scans don't look too promising. Might it be that the whole K-Probe thing is a misconception?

Remember that PI errors in plextools = PO errors in K-Probe.

Comparing the PI errors on the plextools scan of the pioneer written disc to PO errors in the K-Probe scan shows that there is some agreement.......

*JeanLuc* · 30-05-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by OC-Freak

Remember that PI errors in plextools = PO errors in K-Probe.

Where did you get that information ?

PO in K-Probe are Parity Inner Failures BTW ...

I am waiting for the first CATS scans of discs that have been recorded with the PX-712A ... both K-Probe and Plextools' results depend too much on the drive's tolerance towards "real" errors on the hardware level (like Jitter and ASYM).

Although I must admit that the CATS comparisons at CDR-Info show that Plextools' results cope very good with CATS scans.

*G@M3FR3@K* · 01-06-2004

As with everything Plextor does, they try to follow the standards as good as possible. They don't support things that are not standard (booktype setting for instance) but when they support something that is standard (error measurement) they follow the 'rules' very closely.

23-05-2004	#1
G@M3FR3@K Senior Moderator Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Utrèg, The Netherlands Posts: 10,654	CD Freaks presents Plextor PX-712A review I have finished the review, check it out here. What do you think? Any comments or questions? Embedded Images View/download images and remove advertisements by registering now! (it's easy, free and takes less than a minute) You must be registered in order view images in this forum. __________________ CDFreaks.com - Independent CD and DVD recording news around the clock! I do not provide support via PM or e-mail, use our Forum instead. Need some help? Please use our search function first. When asking for help, please detail your problem! Become a member of this forum, it's free! Register here!

23-05-2004	#2
OC-Freak Retired Senior Admin Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Cdfreaks review lab - Norway Posts: 5,644	Re: CD Freaks presents Plextor PX-712A review PI/PO in plextools VS k-probe. After checking out the review I think I got it right Plextools doesn't report Parity Inner errors like K-Probe does!!!! PIF in plextools is the same as PO in K-Probe. POF is not reported by K-Probe, but is reported by plextools. Only POF errors will make a disc unreadable. This means when using plextools: Use SUM1!!!! PIF should not exceed a maximum value of 4. POF should be 0. __________________ I'm a real freak in many aspects!

23-05-2004	#3
G@M3FR3@K Senior Moderator Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Utrèg, The Netherlands Posts: 10,654	Re: CD Freaks presents Plextor PX-712A review You sure? Quite complicated. I've used the basic mode for the other test. This gives you the PIE and POF errors. The POF should be 0 since they are uncorrectable errors. I will change my text a little! PIE (Parity Inner Errors): No larger areas on the disc should exceed 280 PI-8 errors. PIF (Parity Inner Fail): No larger areas on the disc should exceed 4 PO-1 (actually PI uncorrectable) errors. POF (Parity Outer Fail): Should be 0 since they indicate uncorrectable errors. __________________ CDFreaks.com - Independent CD and DVD recording news around the clock! I do not provide support via PM or e-mail, use our Forum instead. Need some help? Please use our search function first. When asking for help, please detail your problem! Become a member of this forum, it's free! Register here!

23-05-2004	#4
mexi New on Forum Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Austria Posts: 2	Re: CD Freaks presents Plextor PX-712A review Thanks for the great review. One question: Do you also have tested SD2.9+?

23-05-2004	#5
G@M3FR3@K Senior Moderator Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Utrèg, The Netherlands Posts: 10,654	Re: CD Freaks presents Plextor PX-712A review Nope, since I don't have any SD2.9+ discs to test with. If someone else who owns a PX-712A and a SD2.9+ protected game can test it I can add it to the review. Or maybe I can add it myself but I'll have to pick up a game first. I also haven't tested the SecuRom new performance yet but since the Premium drive supported the latest SecuRom protections (using BlindWrite) because of its GigaRec technology I think this PX-712A will support it too. __________________ CDFreaks.com - Independent CD and DVD recording news around the clock! I do not provide support via PM or e-mail, use our Forum instead. Need some help? Please use our search function first. When asking for help, please detail your problem! Become a member of this forum, it's free! Register here!

Today
Adbot Always the best offers Join Date: Today Location: Myce HQ Posts: Zillions

23-05-2004	#7
gene_simmons MyCE Resident Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Urdibuntu Posts: 1,072	Re: CD Freaks presents Plextor PX-712A review Hmmmm....this seems to be a very good drive,BUT I think I´ll wait with my order until I see the SD 2.9+ review(?) of the 712.I still think you have done a very great review though,and I was THAT close to order a Tosh sd-r 5272.You are a very hard working man GF! /gs. __________________ ʞuıɥʇ ı ǝɹǝɥ ɯoɹɟ ʇɹɐʇs ı

23-05-2004	#9
eltranquil CDFreaks Resident Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 4,533	Re: CD Freaks presents Plextor PX-712A review @GF, excellent review! Thanks, ET

24-05-2004	#11
Purple Tentacle New on Forum Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 2	Re: CD Freaks presents Plextor PX-712A review Review was a great read lets hope the PX-712SA is as good.

24-05-2004	#12
D4rk0n3 CD Freaks Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 137	Re: CD Freaks presents Plextor PX-712A review excellent review,only two things missing:"PI/PO in plextools VS k-probe" and "SD2.9+ discs test",but nothing can be perfect.

24-05-2004	#13
GoodOleJoe New on Forum Join Date: May 2002 Location: Atlanta Posts: 28	Plex PX-712A & EAC Q Truly another great CDF review!!! However, what about EAC performance? Do we have another device capable of "perfect extraction" (per EAC)? Does it read the lead-in/lead-out like its CD-R predecessors?

25-05-2004	#14
JeanLuc MyCE Resident Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Cologne, Germany Posts: 696	Re: CD Freaks presents Plextor PX-712A review Yee-Haw ... Plextor did it again ... If the drive's reliability is what we should expect from Plextor, this can be the perfect all-in-one solution for users with less space in their pc casings ... at least, until plextor releases a predecessor with 16x and DL ... And I like the way Q-Check works ... Jitter, Beta (as low-level errors), PI-Sum 8, PIF and PO (as casula errors) reporting on a rather "picky" reader like the 712A will make DVD quality assessment far more accurate. Over at CDR-Info, the PX712A has already been compared to CATS devices ... the results were always similar in trends (not in pure numbers, though what isn't a big surprise since CATS analyzers use calibrated industry drives) ... Good review thus far but personally, I'd like to have seen Q-Checks with more different low-price media like CMC ... but availability is always an issue, I guess __________________ Rig 01: Core i7 920 on ASUS P6P Deluxe V2 12 GB Corsair XMS 1x 128 GB SSD 3x 1 TB HDD ASUS GTX560Ti ESI Juli@ Win 7 64 Ultimate - SATA as AHCI on Intel ICH10 BenQ DW2010 5B33 External USB2 LG BE06LU10 YE05 External USB2 Plextor PX-716A 1.11 IDE LiteOn LTR-52246S 6S0F IDE Pioneer BDR-206DBK 1.06 SATA2 Samsung SH-B123L SB04 SATA2

26-05-2004	#16
StoopidMofo CD Freaks Rookie Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 34	Re: Plex PX-712A & EAC Q shame it doesnt support premium style securom, if that goes for sd3+ where it has been deliberatly messed aswell then theyve really shot themselves as its not the all in 1 solution for those who like to backup kidz games properly. Nice drive and I did have high hopes for it but looks like at least 1 of those is dashed. If it cant perform with protection it wont enter many households __________________ Quote "Emulation is the way forward from now on" Please dont think like that Emulation should be an option, there for when all else fails. Emulation and virtual drives are blacklistable. Look at emulation as a software modchip for a PC, New console ver = New modchip New PC protection ver = new emu-soft

29-05-2004	#17
ClayBuster CD Freaks Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 55	Re: CD Freaks presents Plextor PX-712A review This was written at 8x using Verbatim DataLife Plus 8x DVD+R's Media Code MMC003 (This disk will also do 12x) It also played fine in my Pioneer 563A Embedded Images View/download images and remove advertisements by registering now! (it's easy, free and takes less than a minute) You must be registered in order view images in this forum. K-Probe Comparison Embedded Images View/download images and remove advertisements by registering now! (it's easy, free and takes less than a minute) You must be registered in order view images in this forum. Same movie written in the Pioneer A07 at 8X PlexTools Scan Embedded Images View/download images and remove advertisements by registering now! (it's easy, free and takes less than a minute) You must be registered in order view images in this forum. K-Probe Comparison. Embedded Images View/download images and remove advertisements by registering now! (it's easy, free and takes less than a minute) You must be registered in order view images in this forum. __________________ Rick

30-05-2004	#18
brian32672 New on Forum Join Date: May 2004 Location: Sunrise, Florida USA Posts: 22	Re: CD Freaks presents Plextor PX-712A review I just bought this drive because of reading this review. Paid 186.00 shipped. Hopefully I'll be satisfied. It is my first dvd writer.....

30-05-2004	#21
Verminaard New on Forum Join Date: May 2004 Location: Germany Posts: 1	Re: CD Freaks presents Plextor PX-712A review Hi Leutz, im new in this Forum. 1st: I want to say, good Job on testing. But it can be better. 2nd: Why you do not use Alc120% and BWSuite to test the most common used copyprotections? CCD ist to old to test the newest copyprotections! 3rd: And i miss some informations like the supportet read modes and especially the supportet write modes like DAO-RAW+96, EFM and so on. Last i want to say this is one of the best forums is where i am a member. greetings Verminaard The Dragon_Lord_Evil

30-05-2004	#22
surg CD Freaks Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 330	Re: CD Freaks presents Plextor PX-712A review @ClayBuster Your K-Probe Scans don't look too promising. Might it be that the whole K-Probe thing is a misconception?

01-06-2004	#25
G@M3FR3@K Senior Moderator Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Utrèg, The Netherlands Posts: 10,654	Re: CD Freaks presents Plextor PX-712A review As with everything Plextor does, they try to follow the standards as good as possible. They don't support things that are not standard (booktype setting for instance) but when they support something that is standard (error measurement) they follow the 'rules' very closely. __________________ CDFreaks.com - Independent CD and DVD recording news around the clock! I do not provide support via PM or e-mail, use our Forum instead. Need some help? Please use our search function first. When asking for help, please detail your problem! Become a member of this forum, it's free! Register here!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
CD Freaks presents Plextor PX-716A review	G@M3FR3@K	Plextor Writer	39	17-02-2005 10:43
CD Freaks presents Plextor PX-708A review!	G@M3FR3@K	Plextor Writer	20	24-09-2003 09:44
CD Freaks presents Plextor Premium review!	G@M3FR3@K	Plextor Writer	6	13-06-2003 14:50
CD Freaks presents Plextor PX-W4824TU review !	G@M3FR3@K	Plextor Writer	0	06-11-2002 19:20
CD Freaks present Plextor PX-W4824A review!	G@M3FR3@K	Plextor Writer	10	04-10-2002 18:56