Sony DRU-530A: a first look

Sony’s DRU-530A, due in December at around £179 (inc. VAT), writes DVD+RW media at 4X, DVD+R at 8X, CD-R at 40X and CD-RW at 24X.

Sony has a rock-solid track record in optical storage, and with the DRU-530A, it's simply improving on an already excellent product. The DRU-510A received an Editors' Choice for its blazing speed -- and the DRU-530A is even faster.

However, this time it's Sony who is playing catch-up in the speeds-and-feeds race. Plextor's remarkable PX-708A, which hit the streets at the end of August, writes DVD+R at 8X (to 4X-rated media, no less); it also writes CD-R/RW at 40X/24X. Plus, the PX-708A has a headphone jack and volume control, which the DRU-530A lacks.

Sony's DRU-530A, initially priced at £179 (inc. VAT) may end up playing second fiddle to Plextor's impressive PX-708A, which sells for around £175 (inc. VAT). Still, Sony's DRU-510A, which now goes for less than £150 (inc. VAT), remains a solid deal for multi-format aficionados who don't need state-of-the-art speed.

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