Which DVD Recorder, NEC ND4551 or LG LG4166....

[retroborg]

Hello,
I’m interested in buying one of these two DVD Recorders, as they’re supposed to be the best in the market at the moment:

NEC ND4551
http://www.nec.co.uk/ND4551.aspx

LG LG4166 Black
https://www.24hours-open.net/index.php?a=shop&s=&h=1&u=16&uu=018&showartikel=000002621&hersteller=%&seite=1
http://www.plaisio.gr/IWCatProductPage.process?Section_Id=904&Nav_Section_Id=27&Catalog_Id=1&Product_Id=308180&Merchant_Id=1&sts_cid=3

So which one should I get?

Thanks in advance.

[CWR03]

You do realize that you've basically asked a "what's best" question while only avoiding the actual words? Asking "so which one should I get" is a totally subjective question and can't possibly be answered objectively.

[retroborg]

Well, basically I wanted opinions & experiences from users that have used the above two burners, so I don't mind if they're subjective or not.

[communist]

Well it seems they're equally good - if you have no preference for Lightscribe or LabelFlash then pick the one you can get for less.

You may also want to look which one can easily be turned into a region free drive or may employ 'Riplock'.

There is a Lightscribe vs LabelFlash article at THG - their 'conclusion' is that the LabelFlash discs looked slightly better but the pictures arent really supporting this. I gues you have to look at the real discs. The prices for LabelFlash discs are supposed to be lot higher than for Lightscribe media.
http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/02/14/labelflash_vs_lightscribe_dvd/page11.html

[retroborg]

By the way, what's the best burning software to use for PS-1/PS-2 CD/DVD backs ups?

Nero, Alcohol, CloneCD?

I've had some issues with Nero not including the audio tracks session for a RayStorm PSX CD image.
Back then, I used the basic Nero image-creating settings (3 years ago), on a Plextor 16X burner and ended up with a coaster with no audio.

However, the image was created successfully with CloneCD and worked perfectly when I burned it on CD.

I have a tendency in using Verbatim & TDK CD/DVDs, which I consider the best judging from experience, rather than technical facts.

Conserning Labelflash vs LightScribe DVD/CD Labeling review:
http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/02/14/labelflash_vs_lightscribe_dvd/page11.html

Is this factor really that important to determine one’s choice?

As for which one of the two can more easily be turned into a region free drive or may employ 'Riplock', I had not thought of that! Thanks!
I'll have to look it up.
What's Riplock by the way?

Thanks in advance.

[communist]

Lightscribe or LabelFlash might not be determining factors but I thought I'd mention that they use different label techniques. I for one dont care cause I mostly do DATA backups and I hardly ever feel like having a fancy disc. As long as I can easily label it with a marker I'm fine.

Riplock:
When you insert a Video DVD it will run at 1x DVD speed.
Advantage: No or very low noise when you want to watch the DVD from the Drive.

Disadvantage: Ripping Video DVDs will take very long.

Oh and please dont ask the 'best' question.. especially not about something that isnt discussed here - there are certainly better places on the net to ask that question ;)

[retroborg]

So basically if you use RipLock, it will handicap your DVD?!

I just noticed, the NEC 4570A sure does Kick Ass, judging from specs!

http://www.nec.co.uk/ND4570.aspx

It’s faster than the NEC ND-4551A and even supports DVD-RAM (4551A does not)
It does not support LabelFlash Labelling System, but I’m not sure if it’s worth getting the more expensive NEC 4571, for that reason alone.

Thanks in advance.

[CWR03]

By the way, what's the best burning software to use for PS-1/PS-2 CD/DVD backs ups?
One of the reasons I posted earlier about your questions is that the forum rules (http://forum.doom9.org/forum-rules.htm) specifically state not to ask a "what's best" question.

[retroborg]

I just read an interesting article concerning the copy protection capability of the NEC ND-4551A:

The “Sheep Test”:
http://www.cdfreaks.com/article/266/11
In this case we are interested in the writer’s ability to backup/write weak sectors. Also called: “Correct EFM encoding of regular bit-patterns”.
• No sheep: Can’t backup any Safedisc 2 versions without the help of software tricks
• 1 Sheep: Can backup Safedisc 2 up to version 2.4x without software tricks
• 2 Sheep: Can backup Safedisc 2, including version 2.5x
• 3 Sheep: Can write all possible weak sectors, few if any writers could do this.

It concludes that the NEC ND-4551A is a “Two Sheep Burner”, but it however failed to write the Safedisc V2.90 and Sheep3 tests.

So, would this incapability, render this specific NEC 4551 Model and the later 4770 & 4571, not fitting enough for the job of backing up my protected PS-1/2, X-BOX & PC CD/DVD games successfully, which so happens to be my primary concern.