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Kenwood 72x True-X owners: Are you happy with it??

rimshaker

Senior member
The company (Zen) that introduced this 7-beam laser reader is pretty much broke and left for dead. While it may be very fast most of the time, it's got a lot of problems with cd-rw and burned discs. I was thinking about getting rid of it and getting something more 'reliable' 100% of the time. Anyone else feel the same way? Opinions?
 
My 72x Kenwood broke down multiple times (spent more time in transit then it did in my tower), had problems reading many discs, and just was a major hastle. Ditch it and get maybe a 52x CD-ROM drive or a DVD Drive for a lil extra cash.
 
I guess I just got lucky. My 72X has been going strong for over 2 years now. It does have trouble recognizing CDR's as fast as stamped CD's..but it just takes a second or two more for it to recognize it. After that it runs them fine. I do not use CDRW's very much, so I can't comment on those.
 
i must've got lucky too cause i've had mine for almost 2 years as well and it's never broken down once.
 
Funny that this post is around . . . my 2nd 72x drive is now on it's way to Kenwood after the power supply shorted (again!). The tech rep told me that these drives have a KNOWN problem with their power supplies. So the power supply problem plus the crappy CD-R performance suggested that my newly repaired 72x is headed for egay asap! I just got in on the Lite-On DVD-ROM 16x deal @ DELL (see the hot deals forum). The only reason why I wanted the 72x was for fast DAE with the newer faster burners. The Lite-On does fast enough DAE so no more Kenwood for me!!!

Suggestion for those that own a 72x. Ship your drive to Kenwood to have the power supply checked out before your drive is out of warranty!
 
My 72x is crap imo. I just bought Medal of Honor AA, and when i went to install, it wouldnt read it all. Also hasnt read any of my cdrw's that i had saving backup HDD's. Im getting ready to sell it on ebay. Maybe i should try to rma it.....
dunno.
 
I sold my 72x a long time ago. I now enjoy my 30.00 Afreey 56X (Storagereview.com leader). 🙂
 
Guess I got lucky 3 times! I have 2 systems I use both with 72X Kenwoods and a system built for a friend and none have had any problems in the past 2 years. I also don't have a use for CDRWs, but don't any any problems with CD-Rs.
I have about five 50X and 52X CD Drives (non-Kenwoods) sitting in a closet that were bought for free after rebates over the past few years so if these Kenwoods EVER die I'm ready.
 
Never used the 72X, but I have a 52X model and it's been very good to me. No problems whatsoever.
 
I had one laying around that was working ok but removed from service because of poor quality DAE. I installed it in a server the other day. Have you seen what people are getting for those drives on ebay? :Q

Cheers!
 
i have noticed prices on 72x kenwoods even on the forums is going for a pretty good sum lately




Jen
 
I'm an X-owner;

After months of bitterness over paying $90 for it, I finally called kenwood and had them replace it for me (they lost it and took a couple months to get it back [i didn't miss it anyway]. The replacement from Japan was just as slow or slower, and just as unreliable. I finally sold it on e-bay for $120!!! It was a stupid mistake to buy it, but it was smart to sell it. I'm happy with a Pioneer 16x dvd now. Much faster/ reliable!
 
My 72x required RMA about a year ago and the returned product with updated firmware runs well, except for being unable to read some CD-Rs on some media. I use it whenever I make a new machine that requires the clean installation of software. For that purpose it is unbeatable: very fast, relatively quiet too, but has limitations as described in this thread. Once all my OS and applications are loaded, then I switch out the Kenwood for an Afreey 56x (also fast, but loud).

I also got the Dell Lite-On DVD deal this month and will switch out the Kenwood for this 16x/40x DVD this time. Waiting for my next board-chip combo to arrive this week to finish off the newest machine (1.6a overclocked to a sizzle).
 
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