Using ECDC6 with latest drive updates applied, my Plextor 708A is writing
Princo DVD-RW at 1X (instead of 2X) and Sony DVD+RW at 2.4X (instead of 4X).

Are different brand media hardcoded with a max rated speed for writing?

Is there any utility to read any such information off the DVD (+-R +-RW)
media?

Thanks.

Aloke