High Quality CDRW + DVD-ROM Combo

[JKing76]

Anyone know what options there are for high quality CDRW + DVD combo drives? After Anand's review, I'm seriously considering getting that Shuttle SFF. One of the issues, though, is the single external 5.25 bay. I make frequent use of the Pioneer DVD-ROM and Yamaha CDRW in my current machine, and I'm wondering if there's a combo device that could offer the quality of both those drives.

So far, I've seen the Sony CDRW/DVD+RW drive, but I'm not THAT interested in DVD-writing -- at least not $500 interested. I think Plextor has a combo device, too, but IIRC the specs were slow, and their site is down now.

Something like a combo of the new Yamaha CRW-F1 and a Pioneer DVD would be perfect, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[JKing76]

Actually it was the Sony that was slow -- $500 for a 12X CD burner? No thanks.

The Plextor is OK -- 20/10/40 for DD-RW, 12X for the DVD read. The DVD's good -- not the best, but certainly acceptable. But 20/10 doesn't hold a candle to the new Yamaha burner.

 

[SUOrangeman]

There's a Toshiba combo on NewEgg for $85 or so. Same speed as my Ricoh MP9120A at a third of the cost I paid 18 months ago. :/

-SUO

 

[nortexoid]

12X is good for a DVD but not the best?...how fast are u watching your movies?..they all play at 1x..

my 5x is not the best but it's acceptable...a 1x wouldn't be the best but it's still acceptable...maybe not for ripping..

anyway, the ricoh drive should be good but i can't recommend ricoh anyore...all of the 7120a and 7125a drives have difficulty reading certain discs and return "medium speed errors" in nero (or just report the disc unwritable in other programs)...other drives aren't as picky.

i'd recommend the plextor one, and the toshiba drive sounds like a good bet.

I've built three computers now using the LG 12x/8x CDRW/DVD combo drive and it works exceptionally well too - DIRT cheap as well...sure, 12x isn't the fastest writer on the planet, but i find it quite acceptable, even still.
besides, the fastest burners will average, at max, barely over 30x for a full disc written....after all, they never start off at their rated speed if they're over ~16x or 20x burners.

 

[MWink]

I think Samsung has a combo drive. I would probably give it my vote. Plextor would probably be my second choice.

 

[Cosmic_Horror]

i have a ricoh mp9120A 12x 10x 32x +8x dvd combo drive and found it too be great!
Ricoh also make a faster version now.. Mp9200A (i think).

 

[Mavrick007]

I like the quality and the speed of the Toshiba dvd/cdrw combo. Like someone suggested, it is listed at Newegg.
I have heard other good models out there too, just check around a bit.