Review: Best CD-RW drives on the market

From...

Plextor PlexWriter 12/10/32A has BURN-Proof, a new technology that allows you to eliminate buffer under-run errors

(IDG) -- What a difference two months can make. The last time we looked at CD-RWs, drives with 8X CD-R write speeds dominated our chart. Now 12X-generation drives have taken over.

Eight of the ten drives -- including the sole newcomer, LG Electronics' CED-8120B -- feature speeds of 12X/8X/32X or greater. The only 8X/4X/32X drive to make the chart this month is Sony's CRX140E/CH2, which now sells at a rock-bottom price.

Top 10 CD-RW Drives

1. Plextor PlexWriter 12/10/32A: One of the best drives for audiophiles, and great for anyone who burns a lot of CD-R discs or frequently backs up files to CD-RW.
   

IDG.net INFOCENTER PCWorld.com home Free daily newsletters PCWorld.com: Week in Reviews TechInformer Related IDG.net Stories Top 10 CD-RW Chart A CD burner for music lovers Addonics unveils slim CD recorder/player Features Top 15 notebook PCs An inside tour of the Pentium 4 Surviving a disk crash: A checklist Visit an IDG site Choose a site: IDG.net CIO Computerworld Darwin Dummies.com GamePro.com The Industry Standard ITWorld.com InfoWorld.com JavaWorld LinuxWorld Macworld Online Network World Fusion PC World Publish.com SunWorld IDG.net search

2. Ricoh MediaMaster MP9120A: If you're looking for top-notch DVD, CD-R, and CD-RW performance, plus the convenience and space savings of an all-in-one drive, look no further.

3. Ricoh MediaMaster MP7120A: This is a fast, all-purpose 12X/10X/32X drive, but it lacks the PlexWriter 12/10/32A's digital audio extraction speed.

4. LG Electronics CED-8120B: This quiet, sturdy drive features excellent overall performance and value, and should deftly handle most any task thrown at it.

5. Sony Spressa Professional CRX140E/CH2: If you want a quick 8X/4X/32X drive, the Spressa Professional CRX140E/CH2 is a solid bet.

6. TDK 12/10/32: The TDK 12/10/32 is a fast drive that's only slowed down by its software bundle for recording CD-R and CD-RW discs.

7. Acer CRW1032A: The 10X/4X/32X Acer CRW1032A is a solid performer and a step up from its 8X/4X/32X predecessor. Budget users looking for something faster than 8X CD-R should give this drive a look.

8. Creative Labs CD-RW Blaster 12-10-32: Creative's CD-RW Blaster is a solid, all-around 12X/10X/32X drive, but it's a bit pricey compared with similar offerings.

9. AOpen CD-RW 12/10/32: The AOpen CD-RW 12/10/32 is one of the more affordable 12X/10X/32X drives we've seen and a solid performer, once you upgrade the software.

10. Iomega ZipCD 12x10x32: : Easy software installation, a well-rounded software bundle, and great support make this drive a better deal than its steep price might indicate.

Toshiba to launch music download service
February 16, 2001
MP3PRO offers better sound in less space
January 12, 2001
Sony squeezes MP3 player into cell phone
December 12, 2000
Top 5 CD-rewritable drives
September 29, 2000

Top 10 CD-RW Chart
(PCWorld.com)
A CD burner for music lovers
(PCWorld.com)
Addonics unveils slim CD recorder/player
(PCWorld.com)
Recordable DVD: Great idea, but which format?
(PCWorld.com)
Bring MP3s to your stereo with ease
(PCWorld.com)
HP, RealNetworks to develop home entertainment devices
(IDG.net)
The best value PCs
(PCWorld.com)
Top 10 scanners
(PCWorld.com)

Ricoh MediaMaster
Plextor
LG Electronics

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.