Conclusion

The BenQ DW1620 drive pleased me with its ergonomics. I guess many users will like its cute and original design, and its LED indicator is very informative. Its operational noise isn’t annoying – I’d even say it is one of the quietest devices of its class I’ve tested so far (I guess the GSA-4160B is a little bit quieter, but that’s an exception). The disc tray goes in and out quickly and smoothly, but with an annoying thump when the tray hits the case. The BenQ DW1620 is also among the fastest in its class in the disc recognition time.

This overall nice impression is somewhat spoiled by some flaws concerning DVD burn operations which I hope will be corrected in future firmware updates. Another point in favor of the BenQ is its wide functionality. Besides Plextor’s devices of the 712 and 716 series, the BenQ DW1620 is among the most feature-rich optical drives in the market. And it costs much cheaper than its competitors, mind you!

Highs:

• Nice design;
• High CD-R burn quality;
• Informative indicator;
• Rich functionality;
• Low level of noise and heat;
• Good error-correction mechanism;
• Good accessories;
• Low price.

Lows:

• Flaws in the DVD burn strategies;
• High offset;
• Can’t read the Lead-Out area.