Plextor releases the Premium2 CD-RW !

Look at Plextor Japan:

http://www.plextor.jp/product/premium2/index.php

Some new (compared to the first Premium) stuff i noticed:

- added 2x and 48x writing speeds
- added Yamahas Audiomaster mode
- Varirec now can be set in .1 steps
- Gigarec 0.6x up to 1.4x (adding .9x and 1.1x settings)
- added Plexeraser
- short build (17cm)

a complete comparison table is here: http://www.plextor.jp/product/premium2/spec.php

Mechanical translation from the product page:

As for function of CD-R/RW drive although presently it is included in record type DVD drive the customer who records CD-R/RW with record type DVD drive still it is to be many, and others the っ plain gauze is. On the one hand, with business use demand for CD-R/RW drive was high, we had received the demand of new product development from your many customers. This way furthermore with プレクスター, to develop PlexWriter Premium2 as a succession type of type PlexWriter Premium "PX-W5232TA" until recently and to sell by the demand from the customer. As for "Premium2" the front model, "Premium" being similar, technology "AudioMASTER of the Yamaha corporation which has established reputation in addition to the numerous Premium function which it actualizes for the first time in the world, as a treble quality record? "Loading the function and corresponding to 2 time stenography record and adopting etc. the acoustic condenser, until recently you adhered to the sound quality which is not in the product. In addition, it corresponds to also the specification harmful matter use restriction "RoHS order" of Europe, as one for business and sufficient, we have become the product which can be used. AudioMASTER? It is registered trade mark of the Yamaha corporation in Japan.

Now I know what I´m going to purchase in the future (as soon as it appears in Europe)
Good news and thanks hwp

Thanks hwp!

I'm waiting for the excuses from some members...

Thanks hwp!

If I read the speficication page correctly, 2x has been added as a speed for GigaRec too.

ET

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Last edited by eltranquil; 18-04-2006 at 11:14.

Wow! Too bad I don't burn more than one CD per month any more.

Let's see how it deals with SecuRom etc...

- added Yamahas Audiomaster mode

That's something i wish my 48/24/48 had but i'll have to live with vary rec

Does it still work with BlindWrite 'tho...?

But not from me...i believed in you

Ok, that are great news!!

thanks for the news hwp!

Aaaargh. Hhhmmmm. Sorry Mr. eltranquil
I will be a nice little guy in the future (say for 5 minutes )
Ok, ok, will add some more minutes

*adds Premium 2 to his wishlist*

I was so depressed when Plextor announced they dropped the first Premium, only to know that Premium2 is coming out relieves my worries.

I hope Plextor is planning to release an external model because I've got no more open bays to fit the Premium2 in!!!

time to build a new rig Two Degrees

Plextor disappointed me with the 716, so I'm definitely waiting for experiences of the users here before I rush out and buy one. My Premium1 will have to suffice until then.

Regards,
weaker

If the BlindWrite "trick" still works, this one will defenitely go right into my rig.

Plextor.

Incredible! Seems to be the definitive CD writer for Hi-Fi enthusiasts.
Premium functions & AudioMASTER together! Unbelieveble!
Anyway, GigaRec was a "AudioMASTER like" function, with values set to < 1.0 (0.9 - 0.6)
I own the Yamaha CRW-F1, featuring AudioMASTER.
It always made good recordings, with very low Jitter and an almost perfect Beta...

Contrary to the most replies here I think Plextor has finally lost its head. As I understand the main feature is writing audio CD's at 2x. That's good, but the thing is, most of the CDRs sold today are optimized for high speed writing, even the TY. I checked 4x and 8x on TYs and 4x gives twice as many C1 errors as writing at 8x does. I suppose writing at 2x will give even more errors. This drive is completely pointless. If anything I'd rather buy second premium.

And the price tag of ~$170 for pretty much useless 2x speed? Keep dreaming plextor, keep dreaming...

The main feature is the Audio Master mode, and the fact that a high end CD-RW burner is going to give better results than a DVD burner on CD-R/RW. This is an enthusiast item, for people that are really serious about their audio CD burning. Obviously it's not for you, but Plextor definitely has not lost its head. This thing WILL sell with the target market. And the prices are always higher in Japan, so you don't know what the US price will be. Besides, where are you going to get another Premium1?

AudioMaster is the same thing as Gigarec <1 which first Premium already had and 716 still has. Plextor is just using the term for PR to justify high price tag. What now?


It's a marketing item. The only situation I see myself buying it if my Premium goes out. And even then it's still questinable for several reasons, one AFAIK sanyo stopped producing CDRW chipsets so the drive will most likely use DVDRW one, in which case it will be a completely different product with potentially different writing/ripping copyprotected disc quality, maybe even worse than Premium, and two if they will be using DVDRW chipset, I might as well buy DVDRW drive using the same chipset which will cost twice less but will be able to burn DVDs as well.

Contrary to other people here your requirements for CDRW drives seem to be different. What does that have to do with the mind state of Plextor?

That's not it's main feature but one of (several) new features.

You're contradicting yourself. How can 2x be good if there are no suitable media around?

That statement is utterly meaningless! Twice as much of how much? 0.4 instead of 0.2 average or 0.8 instead of 0.4?

I suggest you come back and we discuss this when we have some hard facts.

Good luck. Ebay prices on a regular basis go even higher than the list price of the Premium2

I'm not cotradicting myself, plextor is. If it's not good, then why did they implement it? That would be because of the long lived myth that burning at 1x gives you the best sounding quality. Right.


Nitpicker. You expect me to go and find those discs among the hundrends I recorded? The error rate was twice as big at 4x. Do the tests yourself if you want to.

Once again you are nitpicking on my argument fully knowing that the only way to really test it would be to buy an overpriced piece of hardware that isn't even available in the US yet. That and you're completely ignoring the fact that it would be the most likely outcome given that media is optimized for high speed recording and that my tests at 4/8x confirm it.

I also suggest you pipe down on your personal attacks. As far as I know, there isn't a rule on this particular forum forbidding any discussion of the upcoming products.

YOU said "That's good". But now Plextor is right and 2x is no problem with modern media as you claimed before? Make up your mind!

No. But you seem to fail to understand that even a double error rate can be meaningless. Let's assume that a 4x burn would result in 50 errors per second and a 2x burn would result in 100 errors per second. In such a situation i'd agree with you and prefer the 4x burn any time. However if the error rates would be 0.4 (@4x) versus 0.8 (@2x) errors per second i wouldn't care because both are outstanding results and the difference dosen't matter at all in real life. That's why i say your statement is meaningless unless you can give us at least a basic number of just how many errors per second we're talking here. Just 'double' doesn't tell anyone anything. Period.

Well, yes, why do you think i said let's wait until we can get some hard facts?

What test? With what drive? With what media? Simply speculation based on different hardware? Are you aware that there are media that are not high speed (48x, 52x) optimised? ... I'll respect your personal experiences but what you are saying is speculation right now and you choose to bash Plextor quite hard for offering 2x on your pure speculation. What am i ignoring here?

But I was discussing your points on the upcoming product! Or are you undestanding 'discussions' as unilateral rants from your point of view only? If you choose to voice your opinions here you'll have to expect someone to reply to them...

Here's hoping it is a real Plextor and not a re-branded BenQ or Liteon.