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If I had to choose one word to describe Pioneer's new DRM-604X CD-ROM minichanger, "remarkable" is the word I would choose.
Physically, the DRM-604X looks like a slightly smaller version of its older brother, the DRM-600 minichanger. Though the 604X is the same width as the 600, it is about .5" thicker and about 1.25" shorter than its sibling (13.75"Dx4"Hx8.25"W). There are some subtle differences that immediately set the two apart when compared side-by-side. In addition to the Power, Busy and Audio LED's found on the front panels of both models, the DRM-604X also has an additional LED to signify when it is in "x4" (Quadraspin) mode. A push-button power switch is also mounted on the front of the 604X, whereas the 600 has a rocker-type power switch located on is rear panel. Pioneer has retained the same location on the front of the new drive as on the older model for the eject switch and the stereo miniphone jack with rotary headphone volume control knob, making these items easily accessible for the user.
Other design changes are also found at the rear of this multidisc drive. A 6-position DIP switch is mounted between the dual SCSI jacks, and the positions of these switches select the following operational modes:
Switch# Function: 1 Block size: 512K/on--2048K/off
2 Parity check 3 Fixed standard speed 4 SCSI 2 command set 5 Reserved 6 Disable eject switch
For selecting the SCSI device ID, a push-button selector switch has been added just below the DIP switch bank; on the 600 model, an 8-position DIP switch is used for selecting the device ID as well as all other operational parameters. Another new feature on the 601X is the inclusion of a slider switch to turn the built-in terminator on or off, thus negating the need to use a plug-in terminator when SCSI termination is required. A thumb-screw grounding post is present on the rear of the unit, next to the socket for the detachable power cord, as are the right and left RCA audio line output jacks. These jacks are next to each other (horizontal placement) on the 604X, whereas they are vertically mounted on the DRM-600.
INTERFACE
The standard PC interface kit recommended and supplied by Pioneer as an additional...