SONY DRU-810A DVD Burner Review

To review archive

Author

Zevia
Senior Administrator and Review Coordinator USA
Article posted 06 Nov 05 00:18

DVD+R/RW Writing performance

 

DVD-R media write quality:

In these tests we will be using a Lite-On SOHW-1693S drive with firmware KS0A along with K-Probe to measure the disc quality. We will also be using the Sony DRU-810A itself with firmware 1.0a for our read-back tests.




 

Brand:

Verbatim ‘� thanks to Verbatim USA for providing this media

Manufacturer:

Mitsubishi Chemicals Company

Code:

MCC03RG20

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4489MB

Certified Speed:

16x

Write Speed:

16x

Write Time:

6m:11s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

5.55

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.00

It looks like the Sony DRU-810A can write this media nicely as the result is very good.




Brand:

Taiyo Yuden unbranded

Manufacturer:

Taiyo Yuden

Code:

TYG03

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4489MB

Certified Speed:

16x

Write Speed:

16x

Write Time:

6m:08s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

19.75

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.02

The result is very good with clean read-back curve.




Brand:

Memorex

Manufacturer:

CMC Magnetics Corporation

Code:

CMCMAG AM3

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4489MB

Certified Speed:

16x

Write Speed:

16x

Write Time:

6m:09s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

170.60

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.09

The PIF levels appear to be within standard, but we can see quite high PI errors and the reading curve shows problems. The Sony is not optimized for this media yet.





Brand:

Optodisc ‘� Thanks to Optodisc USA for sending the media

Manufacturer:

Optodisc

Code:

OPTODISC R016

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4489MB

Certified Speed:

16x

Write Speed:

4x

Write Time:

16m:22s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

55.60

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.03

The error levels are very nice and reading curve shows no problem at all. The maximum supported write speed for this media is 8x, however, the drive will only write at 4x speed.




Brand:

RiData ‘� Thanks to RiDATA for sending us this media.

Manufacturer:

Ritek

Code:

RITEK F1

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4489MB

Certified Speed:

16x

Write Speed:

8x

Write Time:

8m:50s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

20.66

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.01

The error levels come out within limits, but there are some glitches in the reading curve near the end of the disc. And it also wrote at 8x only.




Brand:

Fujifilm

Manufacturer:

Taiyo Yuden

Code:

TYG02

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4489MB

Certified Speed:

8x

Write Speed:

8x

Write Time:

8m:40s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

0.59

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.00

As expected: brilliant write quality with this high performance Taiyo Yuden media. Recommended!




Brand:

Sony

Manufacturer:

Sony Electronics Inc.

Code:

SONY 08D1

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4489MB

Certified Speed:

8x

Write Speed:

8x

Write Time:

8m:57s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

17.64

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.07

Again no problem with this media. There is a hitch in the transfer rate curve but nothing to worry about.




Brand:

Maxell

Manufacturer:

Maxell

Code:

MXL RG03

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4489MB

Certified Speed:

8x

Write Speed:

8x

Write Time:

8m:34s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

10.21

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.08

Both quality scan and read transfer rate are very good and shows that this media works fine with the Sony drive.




Brand:

Verbatim

Manufacturer:

Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation

Code:

MCC02RG20

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4489MB

Certified Speed:

8x

Write Speed:

8x

Write Time:

8m:38s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

1.68

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.01

Wonderful, highly recommended!




Brand:

Teon

Manufacturer:

CMC Magnetics

Code:

CMCMAG AE1

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4489MB

Certified Speed:

8x

Write Speed:

8x

Write Time:

8m:34s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

1.67

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.02

Another excellent result!




Brand:

Memorex

Manufacturer:

Fuji

Code:

FUJIFILM 03

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4489MB

Certified Speed:

8x

Write Speed:

8x

Write Time:

8m:45s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

19.49

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.04

Some drives have problems with this media but apparently Sony DRU-810A can handle it very well.




Brand:

Maxell

Manufacturer:

Ritek

Code:

RITEK G05

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4489MB

Certified Speed:

8x

Write Speed:

8x

Write Time:

8m:53s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

76.15

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.05

Higher PI errors but everything is good within limits.




Brand:

Fujifilm

Manufacturer:

Prodisc Technology

Code:

Prodisc F01

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4489MB

Certified Speed:

8x

Write Speed:

8x

Write Time:

8m:34s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

1.29

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.03

Another excellent result.




Brand:

TDK

Manufacturer:

TDK Corporation

Code:

TTG02

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4489MB

Certified Speed:

8x

Write Speed:

8x

Write Time:

8m:47s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

1.30

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.02

A very high quality burn with this media.

 

DVD-ReWritable media:




Brand:

Verbatim ‘� Thanks to Verbatim USA for sending us this media.

Manufacturer:

Mitsubishi Chemicals Corporation

Code:

MKM 01RW6X01

Disc Type:

DVD-RW

Capacity:

4483MB

Certified Speed:

6x

Write Speed:

6x

Write Time:

10m:31s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

3.90

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.01

This Verbatim media produces a very high quality burn.




Brand:

RiDATA ‘� Thanks to Advanced Media/Ritek USA for sending us this media.

Manufacturer:

Ritek Corporation

Code:

RITEK W06

Disc Type:

DVD-RW

Capacity:

4483MB

Certified Speed:

6x

Write Speed:

6x

Write Time:

10m:30s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

2.01

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.04

No problem with this media.




Brand:

Optodisc ‘� Thanks to Optodisc USA for sending us this media.

Manufacturer:

Optodisc

Code:

OPTODISC W004

Disc Type:

DVD-RW

Capacity:

4483MB

Certified Speed:

4x

Write Speed:

4x

Write Time:

15m:27s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

9.95

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

1.81

This media produces solid and high PIF error levels that quite concern us. Luckily, only minor drops in the transfer rate curve.

 

DVD-R/RW Summary:

Here’s the summary of DVD-R and DVD-RW media we have tested along with the resulting write quality:

DVD-R
Brand

Code

Certified
Speed

Write
Speed

PIE
Avg/s

PIF
Avg/s

Verbatim

MCC 03RG20

16x

16x

5.55

0.00

Taiyo Yuden

TYG03

16x

16x

19.75

0.02

Memorex

CMCMAG AM3

16x

16x

170.60

0.09

Optodisc

Optodisc R016

16x

4x

55.60

0.03

RiDATA

RITEKF1

16x

8x

20.66

0.01

Fujifilm

TYG02

8x

8x

0.59

0.00

Sony

SONY08D1

8x

8x

17.64

0.07

Maxell

MXL RG03

8x

8x

10.21

0.08

Verbatim

MCC 02RG20

8x

8x

1.68

0.01

Teon

CMCMAG AE1

8x

8x

1.67

0.02

Memorex

FUJIFILM03

8x

8x

19.49

0.04

Maxell

RITEKG05

8x

8x

76.15

0.05

Fujifilm

ProdiscF01

8x

8x

1.29

0.03

TDK

TTG02

8x

8x

1.30

0.02

DVD-RW
Brand

Code

Certified
Speed

Write
Speed

PIE
Avg/s

PIF
Avg/s

Verbatim

MKM 01RW6X01

6x

6x

3.90

0.01

RiDATA

RITEK W06

6x

6x

2.01

0.04

Optodisc

Optodisc W004

4x

4x

9.95

1.81

In the area of DVD-R, the Sony DRU-810A is quite optimized to burn high quality DVD-R and DVD-RW media with good to excellent results. There are some issues with media compatibility, i.e. OptodiscR016 and RITEKF1 are not supported at their certified write speed. Sony should investigate on these issues. We also hope that Sony would support overspeeding in future firmware, especially for higher quality media.

Head on to next page and read about DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL compatibility and write quality…

6 Comments

lui_gough
Posts: 1239
Posted on: 07 Nov 05 09:43
basically a benq dw1640. read curves should not be done on the sony because the benq dw1640 is known to have great error correction and read curves can't be compared to those done on more sensitive drives (166s for example which was the standard)
twsyf
Posts: 14
Posted on: 07 Nov 05 23:28
Dahlings, If this is a rebadged BenQ, it only cost less than £20 [before VAT] in the trade. So why sell your soul for this? What do you mean you feel the need to be near to them because they are like royalty !! You mean like those halleluja types who watches those lovely things at the choir practice dreaming what they could do if they can get their grubby hands on those little angels. Shameful or what. Hold up your dignity and let 'royalty" show others how they hold up theirs, if they can find theirs. And it matters not if others aren't doing it either. We have to start somewhere or else we become pimps for every 'royalty" flashing their bit. For heaven's sake, trying to sell 'royalty" instead of doing a little hardware review. Just look at the front bezel, where is the inspiration, eh? Know that ancient wisdom describes traders as worse than scum NOT because trading is bad but what types trading generally attracts. Like stools attracts flies. Being dignified AND balanced in a review breeds honesty and quality and let the reviewed item stand for itself. Reviews that tries to sell is NOT a review. It's solicitation and colloquially, that's called pimping.
eltranquil
Posts: 4533
Posted on: 09 Nov 05 19:42
zevia, congrats for your review! (is it the first one?) ET :g
Viper1957
Posts: 1
Posted on: 27 Dec 06 01:52
This Drive rips faster than my plextor 716, I checked it on 4 dl dvd movies so far its the fastest ripper that I have ever had.
guest
Posts: 15288
Posted on: 24 Apr 07 17:53
HELLO COULD YOU TELL ME WHY WHEN I DOWNLOAD NERO 6.3 MY SOFTWARE CDRIP MP3 DIDN'T START I HAVE XP PRO AND A DELL PENTIUM CELERON 4 DIMENSION 2400 THANKS A LOT TO THE SONY TEAM
guest
Posts: 15288
Posted on: 09 Nov 07 15:11
I have this drive and I tried ripping Click in DVD Decrypter. I unchecked all the crap cells in ifo mode and started to rip. It gave me an error and so I closed it down. The my drive wouldn't read more than 2.0x. I am not sure how it happened but I believe the drive DOES have drive lock. I ended up crossflashing to the BenQ 1640 and it reads at full speed now. J_K_M_A_N

Post a comment

Hello guest,
default
To benefit from all extra features you need to log in or sign up.
signup log in
Digital Cameras
Canon Cameras
Nikon Cameras
Digital Camera News
Reviews on Cameras
Canon EOS 40D
Blu-Ray Writers & Players
Sony Blu-Ray Writers
LG Blu-Ray Writers
Blu-Ray Reviews
Blu-Ray News
LG BH08LS20
Solid State Drives
Intel SSD products
Solid State News
Intel X25-M Review
OCZ Agility Review
SSD FAQs
Netbooks
Asus Netbooks
All netbook products
Five tips on buying a Netbook
Netbook News
Acer Aspire One D250
Mobile Phones
Nokia Cell Phones
List of phones
Mobile Phone Reviews
Apple iPhone 3GS
HTC Touch Pro2