Pioneer DVR-112 DVD Burner Review

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Author

Dee
Senior Administrator and Reviewer
Article posted 24 Mar 07 17:58

DVD-R/RW Writing performance

  

DVD-R media compatibility and write quality:

In these tests we will be using a Lite-On LH-20A1P with firmware KL05 along with K-Probe to measure the disc quality. We will also be using the Optiarc AD-7173A with firmware 1.01 along with CD-Speed for our read-back tests.

 

Brand:

Taiyo Yuden unbranded – Thanks to SVP (UK) for sending us this media.

Manufacturer:

Taiyo Yuden

Code:

TYG03

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4483MB

Certified Speed:

16x

Write Speed:

18x (CAV)

Write Time:

5m:18s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

1.15

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.03

The result is excellent and the media was burned at higher than its rated speed.

Brand:

Verbatim – Thanks to Verbatim (UK) for providing this media.

Manufacturer:

Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation

Code:

MCC 03RG20

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4483MB

Certified Speed:

16x

Write Speed:

18x (CAV)

Write Time:

5m:21s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

1.44

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.01

Again the result is excellent and the media was burned faster than its rated speed.

Brand:

Ricoh – Thanks to Ricoh Europe for sending us this media.

Manufacturer:

CMC Magnetics

Code:

CMC MAG AM3

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4483MB

Certified Speed:

16x

Write Speed:

16x (CAV)

Write Time:

5m:41s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

2.43

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.07

The result is very good.

Brand:

TDK

Manufacturer:

TDK

Code:

TTH02

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4483MB

Certified Speed:

16x

Write Speed:

16x (CAV)

Write Time:

5m:42s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

3.51

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.08

The result is very good.

Brand:

Sony

Manufacturer:

Sony Corporation

Code:

SONY16D1

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4483MB

Certified Speed:

16x

Write Speed:

16x (CAV)

Write Time:

5m:40s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

2.32

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.05

Once again the result is very good.

Brand:

BenQ – Thanks to Daxon (Taiwan) for sending us this media

Manufacturer:

Daxon Inc.

Code:

DAXON 016S

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4483MB

Certified Speed:

16x

Write Speed:

16x (CAV)

Write Time:

5m:42s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

6.85

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.07

The result is very good.

Brand:

Pleomax – Thanks to Pleomax (NL)
for sending us this media.

Manufacturer:

Opto Disc

Code:

OPTODISCR016

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4483MB

Certified Speed:

16x

Write Speed:

12x (Z-CLV)

Write Time:

7m:06s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

0.37

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.09

The result is very good although the write speed was 12x.

Brand:

Taiyo Yuden unbranded – Thanks to SVP (UK) for sending us this media.

Manufacturer:

Taiyo Yuden

Code:

TYG02

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4483MB

Certified Speed:

8x

Write Speed:

12x (Z-CLV)

Write Time:

6m:59s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

2.69

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.00

Once again the result is excellent and the disc was burned at higher than its rated speed.

Brand:

Verbatim – Thanks to Verbatim (UK) for sending us this media

Manufacturer:

Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation

Code:

MCC02RG20

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4483MB

Certified Speed:

8x

Write Speed:

8x (Z-CLV)

Write Time:

8m:07s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

0.65

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.02

The result is excellent.

Brand:

HP – Thanks to Medea International UK for sending us this media

Manufacturer:

CMC Magnetics

Code:

CMC MAGAE1

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4483MB

Certified Speed:

8x

Write Speed:

12x (Z-CLV)

Write Time:

7m:13s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

7.84

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.01

The result is very good and the media was written at faster than its rated speed.

DVD-RW media compatibility and write quality:

For this test we used the same testing procedures as in our DVD-R tests.

Brand:

Verbatim – Thanks to Verbatim (UK) for sending us this media.

Manufacturer:

Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation

Code:

MKM01RW6X01

Disc Type:

DVD-RW

Capacity:

4483MB

Certified Speed:

6x

Write Speed:

6x (Z-CLV)

Write Time:

9m:50s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

2.04

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.02

The result is excellent.

Brand:

Traxdata – Thanks to Conrexx Europe for sending us this media.

Manufacturer:

RITEK

Code:

RITEK W06

Disc Type:

DVD-RW

Capacity:

4483MB

Certified Speed:

6x

Write Speed:

6x (CLV)

Write Time:

9m:50s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

2.92

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.07

Once again the result is excellent.

Summary:

The Pioneer DVR-112 has written our DVD-R media with excellent/very good quality and wrote selected media at faster than its rated speed. Again just like DVD+R media, it wrote some media at lower than its rated speed. DVD-RW writing quality and performance was excellent.

Let’s head on to the next page where we will test DVD R DL writing performance and quality……

26 Comments

guest
Posts: 15284
Posted on: 27 Mar 07 08:02
crap review where are the advance tests to test error correction and audio protections
Dee
Posts: 11995
Posted on: 27 Mar 07 14:35
@Sean Protected audio CD's are not available in my location. Maybe you can send me some to test :*
Hypnosis4U2NV
Posts: 1465
Posted on: 31 Mar 07 01:56
Its a good review, thanks for posting its chipset..
Wischmop
Posts: 404
Posted on: 01 Apr 07 20:20
I like that writer and review :B
guest
Posts: 15284
Posted on: 07 Apr 07 14:49
I am confused as to why this drive got editors choice and the DRW-1612BL didn't as it is the only sheep 3 burner I have ever seen. What makes this burner better then the DRW-1612BL?
Dee
Posts: 11995
Posted on: 09 Apr 07 12:43
^ Writing quality on all media groups won it the award.
guest
Posts: 15284
Posted on: 10 Apr 07 17:15
"As we can see from the screenshot below, the drive supports accurate stream and C2 error info and doesn’t support caching." Doesn't screenshot show contrary(C2 - no, cache - yes)? Or it is wrong screenshot?
Dee
Posts: 11995
Posted on: 10 Apr 07 18:38
^ Correct screenshot but wrong information. I corrected it now, thanks for reporting it. :X
ptch
Posts: 7
Posted on: 12 Apr 07 18:57
This message was edited at: 12-04-2007 20:20
ptch
Posts: 7
Posted on: 12 Apr 07 20:18
This message was edited at: 12-04-2007 20:20
ptch
Posts: 7
Posted on: 12 Apr 07 20:21
I've bought this burner because of the "editors choice" and because it "can be used along with Nero CD-Speed for Disc Quality Scanning”. To my surprise Disc Quality Scanning is completely irrealistic (e.g. PIE is about 10 times higher that with Lite-ON). Googling showed that it's a known problem of all Pioneer burners. For example, see that link http://www.videohelp.com/forum/archive/t319198.html Please update the review, because it's misleading.
Dee
Posts: 11995
Posted on: 15 Apr 07 11:28
Other makes of drives report PI/PIF errors differently than Lite-On and Plextor drives, NEC and BenQ for example. The fact is they do support PI/PIF scanning just like the Pioneer drives do and that is all that is claimed in the review.
ptch
Posts: 7
Posted on: 17 Apr 07 14:45
Pioneers do report the errors, but PIE level is far beyond the 280 set by DVD+/-R specifivation. Consequently that reporting has a very limited utility. In addition huge spikes (up to PIE > 17 000) are often present on the graphs. Your answer reminds me an old story with hotel reservation in India. If you just reserve a room with aircond there is a great chance that it will not working. In fact you must always precise "with working aircond" while booking. I refolmulate me request. Could you please precise in the review that although the error reporting is indeed working, but the PIE level always exeeds the DVD+/-R specs. That is not the case with Lite-on, BENQ, NEC and Plextor.
Dee
Posts: 11995
Posted on: 17 Apr 07 14:58
"but the PIE level always exeeds the DVD+/-R specs. That is not the case with Lite-on, BENQ, NEC and Plextor." This is not the case, BenQ and NEC drives often report out of spec scans on perfectly good burns. The Pioneer scan in the review is within specifcation. :*
ptch
Posts: 7
Posted on: 17 Apr 07 15:42
OK, the aircond is blowing the air. And we don't care that the air is hot
guest
Posts: 15284
Posted on: 27 Apr 07 14:48
has anyone used this burner with the wytron 688 ? i am 5 of them with a wytron 688 andhave been burning successfully at 8x, just wondering if anyone is burning at a faster rate with success.
guest
Posts: 15284
Posted on: 05 May 07 23:01
CRAP! Pioneer SUCK!, i have just returned my 5th drive for replacement, dont buy this shit, pioneer drives are cheap for a reason, they suck!. I guarantee if you buy this, you will have lazer failiure in months, you have been warned. :r
r_saotome
Posts: 484
Posted on: 06 May 07 06:14
Bought BestBuy's version of the DVR-112D, died inside of a week. A week later bought 2 Pioneer DVR-112D's from NewEgg, both of them are still working perfectly since March 2007, nothing but smooth sailing. Also, overall the best DVD burner I've owned, next to the BenQ 1640...^_^
guest
Posts: 15284
Posted on: 09 May 07 05:32
return my 112D. It will just stop writing on Verbatim/Sony/Philips and hang the whole computer.
dvddvd
Posts: 1
Posted on: 20 May 07 23:19
This test is very funny because it's so misleading. It totally ignores the lack of write quality as revealed in the well-known German computer magazine "c't" issue 2007/11 p. 122 which affects not only the Pioneer DVR-112 but a couple of new competitors drives as well. Compared to an old test where they tested the DVR-111 (which I own) the write quality of the DVR-111 exceeded the write quality of the DVR-112 except for CD-R where the DVR-112 was better. If these problems are not firmware based I would rather buy a DVR-111 again than a DVR-112. c't assumes that the enourmous price pressure may have caused the degraded write quality with those new drives (not only Pioneer!) in their test.
guest
Posts: 15284
Posted on: 12 Jul 07 13:54
I bought 3 of these. All are now in the bin. 2 would still burn DVD's but won't read or write CD's!!! I'm looking for some 110's or even 111's to replace them with. Might try lite-on's instead next batch. Nightmare for me as a supplier. Cost me heaps ... just replacing discs alone.
guest
Posts: 15284
Posted on: 16 Jul 07 11:43
Took 46 minutes to read 26% of a test-recorded dvd-ram of just 1minute 48 seconds recording time. No problem with any other type of disc. Awaiting advice from Pioneer. Had 111D before this burner, excellent performer but couldn't write to dvd-ram.
guest
Posts: 15284
Posted on: 08 Sep 07 19:06
My Plextor PX-760A failed again, my first PX-760A lived only 12 months, then I purchased a PX760A - lived for 5 months. The returned unit wrote disks at very bad quality and was replaced 2 weeks after. 6 months after that, on 2007-September 4th I just sent that 3rd PX-760A for warranty services. It did about 15 Excellent quality recordings on DVD+R16 Plextor media (I haven't used it more), but now it stopped writing on DVD+/-RW. That's total of 4 recorders send for warranty services, I'm waiting to receive the 5th. I have 9 more months remaining for warranty services, I bet it won't make it By the way I'm going to buy another brand recorder for fail safe. Plextor - King of the quality? Well yes, but as well king of short life and failures! My opinion: never again! I wonder what should I buy for second (backup-reserve) recorder? I was just thinking about Pioneer, while reading this review, when I read in the previous comments that they live short too. What a shame on Pioneer!
guest
Posts: 15284
Posted on: 19 Sep 07 02:21
Stays in PIO mode, can't seem to force it into DMA. Thus, record speed maxes at 1X for DVD+RW. Bleah!
guest
Posts: 15284
Posted on: 15 Jan 08 00:49
Replaced my first one for a second and this second one seems to have problems with audio extraction, some glitches which a generic DVD-reader doesn't produce...
guest
Posts: 15284
Posted on: 01 May 08 04:44
I added two of these drives when I built a new system in January. I finally got me some ultra high speed CR-RWs (24X rewrite speed)from Memorix as I tend to create a lot of CDs that I rewrite often. Looks like this drive has issues re-writing to this brand of CD-RWs at anything over 12x. I've had mulitple verification failures at speeds of 16x or higher. Testing using the latest CDSpeed Nero utility now called DiskSpeed not DriveSpeed. AFAIK I have the latest firmware...124. Gonna replace both of these with some newer DVR-115's

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