CR52-M: CDRW ramps up to 32X

Interface

Reading The left button flashes blue while drive is reading data.	Writing The left button flashes green while drive is writing data.

The drive comes with two multi-color LEDs in the front, which get the message across. The left LED blinks blue when media is being read from the drive and green when writing. Furthermore, the LED can be depressed to play or forward to the next track on an audio CD. The right LED button is used for eject, stop and throttle. Depressing the button once quickly stops Audio Media (or ejects Data CDs); a longer depression ejects the media; and finally, a three-second depression increases the CD max read to 52X (from 40X). The left LED stays lit while on Full Speed mode.

Although this is an interesting feature, we greet it with mixed feelings. To begin with, the only way to return to 40X read is to eject the media. Furthermore, there is no software control for this feature, which is really the upsetting point. What if you use the machine remotely and want to copy a CD? Granted, the difference between 40X and 52X is less than a minute to copy the whole CD, but it seems if you buy a 52X reader, it should read at 52X by default.

Click to enlarge.	Click to enlarge.
Nero reports different information when the Turbo mode is enabled.

On the other hand, kicking the CDRW up to 52X results in a substantially higher pitched whine, and also is probably neither good for the media nor drive itself. Again, using our sound meter from 12" away, we determined the 40X reads to vary between 39dBA and 41dBA. The 52X reads would sometimes peak as high as 48dBA. Maybe MSI has the right idea by reserving the 52X read for only when you know you are using it.