Pioneer DVR-111 DVD Burner Review


 

 

Review: Pioneer DVR-111
Reviewed by: Dee-27
Provided by: Pioneer Europe NV
Firmware: 1.02 - 1.06
Manufactured: January 2006

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Pioneer Europe NV was kind enough to send us their latest DVD Multi drive, the DVR-111. Pioneer has a good reputation for producing quality products. In this review, will be putting the Pioneer DVR-111 through its paces to find out how well this latest drive performs.

The Pioneer DVR-111 supports 16x DVD±R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW and 8x/8x DVD+R DL/DVD-R DL writing technology, allowing Double/Dual Layer discs of 8.5GB to be written. The DVR-111 also supports DVD-RAM reading and writing at 5x. 

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Company information:

1937
Pioneer's founder, Nozomu Matsumoto, successfully develops the A-8 dynamic speaker.

1938
Fukuin Shokai Denki Seisakusho (predecessor of Pioneer) is established in Tokyo.

1947
Incorporated as Fukuin Denki.

1953
Introduces PE-8.

1961
Changes the name to Pioneer Electronic Corporation (now Pioneer Corporation) and shares are listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Second Section.

1962
Introduces the world's first separate stereo system.

1966
Establishes sales companies in Europe and the U.S.

1967
Shares are listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange First Section and the Osaka Securities Exchange.

1969
Shares are listed on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange (now Euronext Amsterdam). Starts U.S. GAAP consolidated financial reporting.

1975
Introduces the world's first component car stereo.

1976
Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Introduction of the Supertuner, a high-sensitivity tuner for the car stereo. This marked the first time a car audio tuner offered the same high quality sound that was found in a home audio tuner.

1977
Introduces the world's first two-way addressable CATV system in the U.S. (with Warner Cable).

1979
Introduces the industry-use LD player.

1980
Introduces LD player for home use, the VP-1000, in the U.S.

1981
Introduces LD player for home use and 70 titles of LD software in Japan.

1982
Introduces the LD Karaoke system for business use. Introduces CD player.

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Pioneer's first dynamic speaker

1937
Pioneer's first dynamic speaker

World's first separate stereo system

1962
World's first separate stereo system

World's first component car stereo

1975
World's first component car stereo

Pioneer's first LD player

1980
Pioneer's first LD player

Pioneer's projection monitor

1985
Pioneer's first projection monitor

World's first GPS car navigation system

1990
World's first GPS car navigation system

World's first DVD/LD/CD compatible Player

1996
World's first DVD/LD/CD compatible Player

World's first XGA plasma display

1997
World's first XGA plasma display

World's first product equipped with OEL display

1997
World's first product equipped with OEL display

Digital STB for Time Warner Cable

1999
Digital STB for Time Warner Cable

World's first DVD recorder

1999
World's first DVD recorder

1984
Introduces the world's first LD combination player compatible with CDs and LDs, and releases the world's first car CD player.

1985
Introduces the 40-inch projection monitor.

Introduction of the first multi-play CD "magazine format" for the home.

1986
Introduction of the first stereo receiver for the home incorporating Dolby Surround sound.

1987
Introduction of the car electronics' industry's first 3-source DIN head unit with tape deck, CD player and radio tuner. Introduction of the first multi-play CD "magazine format" for the car.

1989
Introduction of Detachable Face Security system, providing car stereo owners with added protection against theft.

1990
Introduces the world's first GPS car navigation system.

1992
Introduces the world's first 4x CD-ROM changer.

1995
Debut of the first GM/Chrysler-sized aftermarket CD headunits. Introduction of the first home stereo receiver with Dolby Digital.

1996
Introduces DVD/CD player and the world's first DVD/LD/CD compatible player for home use. Tokorozawa Plant earns ISO 14001 certifications.

1997
Introduces world's first DVD car navigation systems, world's first OEL-equipped car audio product, world's first DVD-R drive, world's first high-definition 50-inch plasma display for consumer use. Supplies digital DBS IRDs to CANAL+ in France.

1998
Announces 2005 Vision with new CI. Introduces the world's first DVD car navigation system featuring 8.5GB dual-layered DVD disc.

1999
Introduces the world's first DVD recorder compatible with the DVD-RW format. Supplies digital CATV STBs to Time Warner Cable in the U.S.

2000
Shares of Tohoku Pioneer are listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Second Section.

2001
Reviews 2005 Vision to reorganize it as the Pioneer Group Vision.

Drive specifications:


The specifications of the Pioneer DVR-111 were found at the Pioneer UK website.

Key features

DVR-111

 

Writes and reads DVD-RAM, DVD-R/RW, +R/RW and CD-R/RW formats

 

Buffer under-run protection for CD/DVD, Performance Adjusting Firmware

 

Max. 16x writing speed for DVD-R/+R*
Max. 8x writing speed for DVD-R DL (Dual Layer) and +R DL (Double Layer) Discs
Max. 6x writing speed for DVD-RW
Max. 8x writing speed for +RW
Max. 5x writing speed for DVD-RAM.
*It is required to use a cable corresponding to U-ATA66 (80-wire conductor cable).

 

DVD data capacity: 4.7GB single-sided disc, 8.5GB Dual/Double Layer disc, DVD-RAM 4.7GB disc (Ver.2.0, 2.1 and 2.2, non-cartridge version)

 

Software bundle not included

Specifications

DVR-111

Write Support

 
DVD-R (Ver 2.0 & 2.1 for General disc only), DVD-R DL (Dual Layer, Ver
3.0), DVD-RW (Ver 1.0, 1.1 & 1.2) , +R (Ver 1.0, 1.1, 1.2 & 1.3),
+R DL (Double Layer Ver 1.0 & 1.1), +RW (Ver 1.1, 1.2 & 1.3), +RW
High Speed (Ver 1.0), DVD-RAM (Ver 2.0, 2.1 & 2.2, non-cartridge
version)
  CD-R (Type 74, 650MB & Type 80, 700MB), CD-RW (including HS, US, US+)

Read Support

 
DVD-ROM (Single & Dual Layer, Single & Dual Sided)

 
DVD-RAM (Ver 2.0, 2.1 & 2.2, non-cartridge version)
 
DVD-R, DVD-R DL (Dual Layer), DVD-RW
 
+R, +R DL (Double Layer), +RW
 
CD-ROM Mode 1, CD-ROM XA Mode 2 (Form 1, Form 2)
  CD-Text, Photo-CD (Single & Multiple Session), CD-DA, CD-Extra, CD-Text, Video CD, CD-R, CD-RW (including HS, US, US+)

Write Speed DVD-R


 
16x CAV (22.16 MB/sec)
 
12x PCAV / Zone CLV (16.62 MB/sec)
 
8x PCAV / Zone CLV (11.08 MB/sec)
 
6x CLV (8.31 MB/sec)
 
4x CLV (5.54 MB/sec)
 
2x CLV (2.77 MB/sec)
  1x CLV (1.385 MB/sec)

Write Speed DVD-R Dual Layer


 
8x Zone CLV (11.08 MB/sec)*
 
6x CLV (8.31 MB/sec)
 
4x CLV (5.54 MB/sec)
  2x CLV (2.77 MB/sec)
*This specification describes
the maximum speed in one zone

Write Speed DVD-RW

 
6x CLV (8.31 MB/sec)
 
4x CLV (5.54 MB/sec)
 
2x CLV (2.77 MB/sec)
  1x CLV (1.385 MB/sec)

Write Speed 8cm DVD-R/RW with Adapter

 
2x CLV (2.77 MB/sec)
  1x CLV (1.385 MB/sec)

Write Speed +R

 
16x CAV (22.16 MB/sec)
 
12x PCAV / Zone CLV (16.62 MB/sec)
 
8x PCAV / Zone CLV (11.08 MB/sec)
 
6x CLV (8.31 MB/sec)
 
4x CLV (5.54 MB/sec)
  2.4x CLV (3.32 MB/sec)

   

Write Speed +R Double Layer

 
8x Zone CLV (11.08 MB/sec)*
 
6x CLV (8.31 MB/sec)
 
4x CLV (5.54 MB/sec)
  2.4x CLV (3.32 MB/sec)
*This specification describes the maximum speed in one zone

Write Speed +RW

 
8x Zone CLV (11.08 MB/sec)
 
6x CLV (8.31 MB/sec)
 
4x CLV (5.54 MB/sec)
 
3.3x CLV (4.57 MB/sec)
  2.4x CLV (3.32 MB/sec)

Write Speed DVD-RAM

 
5x Zone CLV (6.92 MB/sec)
 
3x Zone CLV (4.15 MB/sec)
  2x Zone CLV (2.77 MB/sec)

Write Speed CD-R

 
40x CAV (6.00 MB/sec)
 
32x PCAV / Zone CLV (4.80 MB/sec)
 
24x PCAV / Zone CLV (3.60 MB/sec)
 
16x CLV (2.40 MB/sec)
 
10x CLV (1.50 MB/sec)
  4x CLV (0.60 MB/sec)

Write Speed CD-RW

 
32x Zone CLV (4.80 MB/sec) (US+)
 
24x Zone CLV (3.60 MB/sec) (US and US+)
 
20x Zone CLV (3.00 MB/sec) (US and US+)
 
16x CLV (2.40 MB/sec) (US and US+)
 
10x CLV (1.50 MB/sec) (HS, US and US+)
  4x CLV (0.60 MB/sec) (Normal and HS)

Write Speed 8cm CDR/RW with Adapter

4x CLV (0.60 MB/sec)

Read Speed DVD-ROM (Single)

Max. 16x CAV (22.16 MB/sec)

Read Speed DVD-ROM (Dual)

Max. 12x CAV (16.62 MB/sec)

Read Speed DVDVideo (with CSS, Single / Dual Layer)

Max. 5x CAV (6.925 MB/sec)

Read Speed DVD-RAM

Max. 5x Zone CLV (6.92 MB/sec)

Read Speed DVD-R, DVD-R Dual Layer, DVD-RW

Max. 12x CAV (16.62 MB/sec), Max. 8x CAV (11.08 MB/sec), Max. 8x CAV (11.08 MB/sec)

Read Speed +R, +R Double Layer, +RW

Max. 12x CAV (16.62 MB/sec), Max. 8x CAV (11.08 MB/sec), Max. 8x CAV (11.08 MB/sec)

Read Speed 8cm DVDROM DVDR/RW DVDVideo with Adapter

Max. 3.4x CAV (4.70 MB/sec)

Read Speed CD-ROM

Max. 40x CAV (6.00 MB/sec)

Read Speed CD-R,CD-RW

Max. 40x CAV (6.00 MB/sec), Max. 32x CAV (4.80 MB/sec)

Read Speed 8cm CDROM CDR/RW CDDA with Adapter

Max. 6.1x CAV (0.91 MB/sec)

Read Speed CD-DA CD-TEXT Mixed CD CD-Extra (Play audio)

Max. 9.3x CAV (1.39 MB/sec)

Read Speed CD-DA CD-TEXT Mixed CD CD-Extra (Data extraction)

Max. 40x CAV (6.00 MB/sec)

Read Speed Video-CD

Max. 9.3x CAV (1.39 MB/sec)

Access Time DVD-ROM

130 msec (Random Average)

Access Time DVD-RAM

210 msec (Random Average)

Access Time CD

120 msec (Random Average)

Interface

ATAPI (ATA-5, SFF-8090 Ver.5)

IDE Data Transfer Mode

PIO Mode 4, Multi Word DMA Mode 2, Ultra DMA Mode 2, Ultra DMA Mode 4 (Ultra-DMA66)*

*It is required to use a cable corresponding to U-ATA66 (80-wire conductor cable)

Data Buffer

2 MB

Mounting Orientation

Horizontal and Vertical (+/- 5 degrees)

*80mm discs cannot be used when the drive is vertically mounted. The case remains even when an adapter is used.

Power Requirement

+5V 1.2A
+12V 0.8A (Average during 16X DVD-R writing process)

Power Consumption

15.6W (Average during 16X DVD-R writing process)

Regulatory Approval

UL60950-1 First Edition, CSA C22.2 No.60950-1-03, EN60950-1:2001+A11, CB Report: IEC60950-1:2001, FIMKO, SEMKO (Optional)

Dimensions (W x H x D)

(Including height of Front Bezel) 148 x 42.3 x 180  mm

Net Weight

0.9 kg

What's inside the box?


Now it's time to take a look at the drive itself:

The drive supplied was an OEM version, so only the bare drive was supplied.


Bezel

The bezel of the Pioneer DVR-111 is plainly styled. On the tray we can see various logo's, and we can also see an emergency eject hole, a single coloured green LED for read and write, and an eject button.


Top


Label

On the top of the drive we found one label, and we can see that the drive was made in China, dated January 2006.


Bottom


Rear

On the rear of the drive starting from the left, we can see a diagnostics connector, analogue audio connector, jumpers for cable select, slave, and master; IDE connector, and finally the power connector.

Let's head on to the next page where we will take a look at our test PC and the drive features....


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