2X Speed DVD-RAM Write 2X Speed DVD-R Writing 1X Speed DVD-RW Writing 12X Speed C D-R Writing 8X Speed C D-RW Writing 32X Speed C D-ROM Read 12X Speed DVD-ROM Read Buffer Under Run Protection DVD MULTI Read/Write DMA66 support
Drive Specifications	Download Official Spec Sheet (PDF)
Transfer Rate	UDMA Mode 4: 66.6 MB/s PIO Mode 4: 16.6 MB/s
Data Capacity	4.7Gbytes
Interface	IDE/ATAPI
Error Rate	Soft Read Error: Less than 10-9 Hard Read Error: Less than 10-12
Power Supply	12 V � 10% / 5 V � 5%
Environmental Temperature	Operating: 5~45�C Storage: -30~65�C
Relative Humidity	Operating: 10~80% (No condensation) Storage: 5~90% (No condensation)
Weight	1.1 kg 2.4lbs
Dimensions (W x H x D)	146 x 41.3 x 196 mm 5.75" x 1.63" x 7.72"
Buffer Capacity	2 MB
Capacity	4.7 GB / 9.4 GB DVD-RAM (rewritable) 2.8 GB / 5.2 GB DVD-RAM (rewritable) 4.7 GB DVD-R for General Use (write once) 4.7 GB DVD-RW (rewritable) Ver. 1.1 C D-R (write Once) C D-RW (rewritable)
Write Transfer Rate	DVD-RAM (4.7 GB): 2,770 KB (2X) DVD-RAM (2.6 GB): 1,385 KB (1X) DVD-R (4.7 GB): 2,770 KB (2X) DVD-RW (4.7 GB): 1,385 KB (1X) C D-R: Max 1,800KB C D-RW: Max 1,200 kb
Read Transfer Rate	DVD-RAM (4.7 GB):2,770 KB (2X) DVD-RAM (2.6 GB):1,385 KB (1X) DVD-R / RW (4.7:GB): 8.310 KB (Max 6X) C D-R: 1,520 KB - 4.800 KBs C D-RW:1,520 KB - 3,600 KBs DVD-ROM: 3,438 KB - 16.224 KBs C D-ROM: 1,520 KB - 4,800 KBs
Average Seek Time	DVD-RAM: 120 ms DVD-ROM/DVD-R, C D-ROM: 110 ms
Write Compatibility	4.7 GB DVD-RAM, 2.6 GB DVD-RAM 4.7 GB DVD-R (for General Ver 2.0) 4.7 GB DVD-RW (Ver 1.1) C D-R C D-RW
Read Compatibility	C D-DA C D-ROM/XA Photo C D Video C D C D-Extra C D-R C D-RW DVD-ROM DVD-R DVD-RW DVD-Video DVD-RAM (4.7 GB, 2,6 GB)

This drive is the latest release from Panasonic and it supports DVD-R/RW C D-R/RW and DVD-RAM, it is an ideal partner to the Panasonic DMR DVD Video Recorder range, being able to read and write to DVD-RAM discs. The SW9571-CYY has a tray that will take the DVD-RAM disc complete in its cartridge as well as a normal disc, whereas the SW 9581-C has a normal disc tray and takes a normal DVD blank disc the RAM disc has to be removed from the cartridge to fit into the tray apart from this obvious difference both drives have the same basic functions.

I fitted the drive into my PC as a master on my secondary IDE and was immediately able to burn DVD-R discs.

BURNING TESTS on the following DVD-R media
Media	Speed	Result
FWS 4speed	2x	GOOD
Datawrite Classic	2x	GOOD
Datawrite Yellow	2x	GOOD
Nanya	2x	GOOD
Bulkpaq 2x	2x	POOR
Ritek GO3	2x	GOOD
eProformance	2x	GOOD
Datasafe DVD-RW	1x	GOOD
WhiteLabel DVD-RW	1x	GOOD

The burn quality is good for all the media I tried except for the Bulkpaq with which I have never had much success.
The drive supports buffer under run protection which enabled me to use it as a partner to my 2 A05 drives and burn 3 copies at the same time.
In comparison with the Pioneer A04 this drive burns the lower quality media better and burns most media satisfactorily at 2x speed.

C D burning is 12x speed and when I inserted a blank C D-R the drive spin up to full speed whilst it recognised the disc and the vibration from the drive was annoying and when the burn started at 12x speed there was this annoying vibration for the first couple of minutes the burn took about 7 minutes for a 700meg C D and the burn quality was good.

READ SPEED TESTS
Media	Start	Notes	End
DVD-R	2.49	-	5.94
DVD-RW	2.12	Peaking @2.8	2.05
DVD-ROM	5.06	-	9.03
DVD-RAM	2.08	-	2.00
DVD+R	2.50	-	4.49
DVD+RW	2.50	-	6.00
DVD-VIDEO (4.7)	2.51	-	5.81
DVD-VIDEO (9.4)	2.54	Middle - 6.0	3.1
C D	16.45	-	36.96
C D-R	16.45	-	36.96
C D-RW	16.45	-	36.96

Conclusion
In conclusion this is a good quality DVD burner from Panasonic which is not picky over media and burns all the DVD-R media I have tried at 2 x speed. With consistently good burn quality added to the ability to burn to DVD-RAM this a good piece of kit. The current street price is just over �160 and if you do not require 4x burning this has to be the one to buy.

Added:  Tuesday, March 18, 2003
Reviewer:  Flash

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