Dot-matrix technology continues to fill an important niche for those who need workhorse printers for multipart forms, large runs of labels, and oversize paper. We evaluated 10 high-end dot-matrix models (none supported the Mac) that serve these needs as no laser or ink-jet printer can. Several of these printers, all priced above $1000, run faster than typical low-end lasers. However, there are two trade-offs for this speed: noise and inferior print quality.
These printers emphasize raw output over fancy formatting. None offers PostScript, PCL, HPGL, or scalable fonts. All distinguish draft from letter-quality mode, at typical speed differentials of 500 percent. All offer at least two paper-feed paths to accommodate your preferred setup. For those who do not require presentation-quality output, the A
dvanced Matrix Technologies AMT Accel-535dsi, Brother M4309-A, Okidata Microline 395, and TI Omni 800 Model 8930 support color printing.
The Mannesmann Tally MT 360-2T provides the fastest available output and more font options (nine) than most of the other printers. The Dataproducts Dot Matrix 8524 scores just behind the TI Omni 800 Model 8930 in most categories, but it gave our testers trouble aligning margins.
Although the Advanced Matrix Technologies AMT TracJet III doesn't quite fit in this category, it deserves mention as the only laser printer tested that uses pin-feed instead of sheet-feed paper. Its quality is comparable to that of the best dot-matrix printers; however, it cannot handle wide paper or multipart forms. If you need good print quality on narrow-width, pin-feed paper, consider this unusual and (at $7995) expensive niche product.
Want the leader for multipart forms?
BEST OVERALL
Texas Instruments Omni 800 Model 8930
For high-volume printing of
multipart forms and continuous-feed stock, no other printer matches the output quality of the 18-pin Omni. In our high-quality-mode speed tests, this printer ranks second to the 24-pin Mannesmann Tally MT 360-2T, which places fourth among printers here for print quality. The Omni is also only one of two printers we ranked that offers as standard the ability to print bar codes. If print-head noise is a concern, however, note that the Omni's decibel rating is the highest of all the dot-matrix printers we ranked.
SPEED (HIGH QUALITY CLASS
QUALITY) INDEX (CPS)
BEST TI Omni 800 Model 8930 2.96 ppm 4.42 600
RUNNER-UP Mannesmann Tally
MT 360-2T 3.52 ppm 3.89 720
RUNNER-UP Dataproducts Dot
Matrix 8524 2.70 ppm 4.14 780
RUNNER-UP Epson DFX-8000 2.03 ppm 3.72 1066
RUNNER-UP Brot
her M4309-A 2.24 ppm 4.11 800
RUNNER-UP Genicom Model 3840EP 2.16 ppm 3.56 600
RESOLUTION STANDARD WARRANTY
PRICE (DPI) MEMORY (YEARS)
BEST TI Omni 800 Model 8930 $2545 216 32 KB 1
RUNNER-UP Mannesmann Tally
MT 360-2T $2795 360 128 KB 1
RUNNER-UP Dataproducts Dot
Matrix 8524 $2395 360 60 KB 1
RUNNER-UP Epson DFX-8000 $3199 300 32 KB 1
RUNNER-UP Brother M4309-A $2195 216 96 KB 1
RUNNER-UP Genicom Model 3840EP $2922 400 64 KB 1
RESIDENT OPERATING NUMBER OF
FONTS NOISE (DB) PINS
BEST TI Omni 800 Model 8930 2 63 18
RUNNER-UP Mannesmann Tally
MT 360-2T 9
55 24
RUNNER-UP Dataproducts Dot
Matrix 8524 10 55 24
RUNNER-UP Epson DFX-8000 3 55 9 (two rows)
RUNNER-UP Brother M4309-A 9 57 18
RUNNER-UP Genicom Model 3840EP 9 55 18
Want high quality for an economical price?
LOW COST
Okidata Microline 395
The Microline 395 combines economy with highly readable output. It ranked second among all the dot-matrix printers we tested in overall quality and costs about $1000 less than the other quality leaders. Its speed is much slower than that of the Best Overall contenders, but the Microline easily outruns the only other Low Cost candidate. As a bonus, the standard-configuration Microline 395 can print bar codes (like the Omni; bar code printing is an option on the AMT Accel-535dsi).
SPEED (HIGH QUALITY CLASS
QUALITY) INDEX (CPS)
BEST Okidata Microline 395 2.78 ppm 4.14 607
RUNNER-UP AMT Accel-294d 1.61 ppm 3.96 540
RESOLUTION STANDARD WARRANTY
PRICE (DPI) MEMORY (YEARS)
BEST Okidata Microline 395 $1499 360 64 KB 1
RUNNER-UP AMT Accel-294d $1190 240 8 KB 1
RESIDENT OPERATING NUMBER OF
FONTS NOISE (DB) PINS
BEST Okidata Microline 395 12 58 24
RUNNER-UP AMT Accel-294d 4 55 9 (dual heads)
Want the speed leader?
HIGH SPEED
Epson DFX-8000
This is the dot-matrix printer to choose if flat-out speed for large print runs is an overriding requirement for you. Although its quality is acceptable, thi
s printer's forte is fast print-head and paper-handling performance, as evidenced by its draft-mode speed score of 4.77--6 percent faster than that of the nearest competitor, Genicom's Model 3840EP. The DFX-8000 comes standard with a Centronics port and offers RS-232 as an option. For only slightly slower performance with a price saving of about $300, consider the Genicom 3840EP.
SPEED (HIGH QUALITY CLASS
QUALITY) INDEX (CPS)
BEST Epson DFX-8000 4.77 ppm 3.72 1066
RUNNER-UP Genicom Model 3840EP 4.47 ppm 3.56 600
RUNNER-UP Dataproducts Dot
Matrix 8524 4.07 ppm 4.14 780
RUNNER-UP Mannesmann Tally
MT 360-2T 4.02 ppm 3.89 720
RUNNER-UP TI Omni 800 Model 8930 4.00 ppm 4.42 600
RESOLUTION STANDARD WARRA
NTY
PRICE (DPI) MEMORY (YEARS)
BEST Epson DFX-8000 $3199 300 32 KB 1
RUNNER-UP Genicom Model 3840EP $2922 400 64 KB 1
RUNNER-UP Dataproducts Dot
Matrix 8524 $2395 360 60 KB 1
RUNNER-UP Mannesmann Tally
MT 360-2T $2795 360 128 KB 1
RUNNER-UP TI Omni 800 Model 8930 $2545 216 32 KB 1
RESIDENT OPERATING NUMBER OF
FONTS NOISE (DB) PINS
BEST Epson DFX-8000 3 55 9 (two rows)
RUNNER-UP Genicom Model 3840EP 9 55 18
RUNNER-UP Dataproducts Dot
Matrix 8524 10 55 24
RUNNER-UP Mannesmann Tally
MT 360-2T 9 less than 55 24
RUNNER-UP TI Omni 800 Model 8930 2 63 18
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