Sony DRU-820A DVD Burner Review

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Author

Zevia
Senior Administrator and Review Coordinator USA
Article posted 05 Mar 06 05:42

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 NEC ND-3540A with firmware 1.3 for our read-back tests. Please read page 5 if you need explanations on how to interpret the write quality result.



 

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:03s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

14.05

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.18

The Sony DRU-820A produces higher PIF errors at the beginning of the disc and we can see at the data side there are dark rings due to writing strategy used. However the read-back curve is smooth.



Brand:

Taiyo Yuden unbranded

Manufacturer:

Taiyo Yuden

Code:

TYG03

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4489MB

Certified Speed:

16x

Write Speed:

16x

Write Time:

6m:05s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

2.48

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.00

Quality scan result is very nice but looking at the Transfer Rate test, there exist read-back problem! Also there are dark rings on the data side of the burnt disc due to bad writing strategy.



Brand:

Maxell ‘“ Thanks to Maxell USA for providing the media

Manufacturer:

Maxell

Code:

MXLRG04

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4489MB

Certified Speed:

16x

Write Speed:

16x

Write Time:

6m:02s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

5.93

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.02

Very good quality scan and no read-back problem, but we can see soft rings on the data side.



Brand:

Memorex ‘“ Thanks to Memorex USA for providing the media

Manufacturer:

CMC Magnetics Corporation

Code:

CMCMAG AM3

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4489MB

Certified Speed:

16x

Write Speed:

16x

Write Time:

6m:08s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

4.73

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.09

Nice quality scan and no read-back problem, but we can see dark rings on the data side.




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:

16x

Write Time:

8m:37s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

4.11

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.07

Although quality scan is good with minor single PIF spikes, we can clearly see that the Sony DRU-820A drive cannot maintain the burn speed at the end of the disc. The Transfer Rate test also proved that there are read-back problems at the end of the disc. There are also dark rings on the data side of the disc which means that writing strategy is not optimized for this media.



Brand:

RiData ‘“ Thanks to Advanced Media/RiDATA for sending us this media.

Manufacturer:

Ritek

Code:

RITEK F1

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4489MB

Certified Speed:

16x

Write Speed:

16x

Write Time:

6m:07s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

11.55

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.14

We can see some single PIF spikes above 5 and jump of PIE levels after the first OPC around 0.4GB. Nevertheless the Transfer Rate test is smooth showing there is no read-back problem.



Brand:

Sony

Manufacturer:

Sony Corporation

Code:

SONY 16D1

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4489MB

Certified Speed:

16x

Write Speed:

16x

Write Time:

7m:06s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

2.01

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.04

Very nice quality scan but unfortunately from the Transfer Rate test we can clearly see there is a read-back problem with this media.



Brand:

Fujifilm

Manufacturer:

Taiyo Yuden

Code:

TYG02

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4489MB

Certified Speed:

8x

Write Speed:

8x

Write Time:

8m:09s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

1.45

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 Corporation

Code:

SONY 08D1

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4489MB

Certified Speed:

8x

Write Speed:

8x

Write Time:

8m:10s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

3.43

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

.06

Clean quality scan but read-back problem at the end of the disc.



Brand:

Maxell

Manufacturer:

Maxell

Code:

MXL RG03

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4489MB

Certified Speed:

8x

Write Speed:

8x

Write Time:

8m:14s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

1.03

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.06

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:20s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

0.54

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.01

Wonderful, highly recommended!



Brand:

Memorex ‘“ Thanks to Memorex USA for sending this media

Manufacturer:

CMC Magnetics

Code:

CMCMAG AE1

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4489MB

Certified Speed:

8x

Write Speed:

8x

Write Time:

8m:16s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

4.79

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.01

Very nice result!



Brand:

Maxell

Manufacturer:

Ritek

Code:

RITEK G05

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4489MB

Certified Speed:

8x

Write Speed:

8x

Write Time:

8m:09s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

10.44

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.02

Again very good result.



Brand:

TDK

Manufacturer:

TDK Corporation

Code:

TTG02

Disc Type:

DVD-R

Capacity:

4489MB

Certified Speed:

8x

Write Speed:

8x

Write Time:

8m:13s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

0.49

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:43

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

3.29

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.02

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:

11:08

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

3.21

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

0.11

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

Very nice quality scan but from the transfer rate curve we can see one minor read back problem.



Brand:

Maxell ‘“ Thanks to Maxell USA for sending us this media.

Manufacturer:

Optodisc

Code:

OPTODISC W002

Disc Type:

DVD-RW

Capacity:

4483MB

Certified Speed:

2x

Write Speed:

2x

Write Time:

29m:34s

PI-8 errors Average/Sec:

23.58

PI-1 failures (PIF) Avg/Sec:

1.04

Some PIF spikes of 5 towards the end of the disc but transfer rate curve is smooth.

 

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

14.05

0.18

Taiyo Yuden

TYG03

16x

16x

2.48

0.00

Maxell

MXL RG04

16x

16x

5.93

0.02

Memorex

CMCMAG AM3

16x

16x

4.73

0.09

Optodisc

OPTODISCR016

16x

16x

4.11

0.07

RiDATA

RITEKF1

16x

16x

11.55

0.14

Sony

SONY16D1

16x

16x

2.01

0.04

Fujifilm

TYG02

8x

8x

1.45

0.00

Sony

SONY08D1

8x

8x

3.43

0.06

Maxell

MXL RG03

8x

8x

1.03

0.06

Verbatim

MCC 02RG20

8x

8x

0.54

0.01

Memorex

CMCMAG AE1

8x

8x

4.79

0.01

Maxell

RITEKG05

8x

8x

10.44

0.02

TDK

TTG02

8x

8x

0.49

0.02

DVD-RW
Brand

Code

Certified
Speed

Write
Speed

PIE
Avg/s

PIF
Avg/s

Verbatim

MKM 01RW6X01

6x

6x

3.29

0.02

RiDATA

RITEK W06

6x

6x

3.21

0.11

Optodisc

OPTODISCW004

4x

4x

5.10

0.13

Maxell

OPTODISCW002

2x

2x

23.58

1.04

For DVD-RW, all results are very good with smooth read-back curve. However, in the area of DVD-R the Sony DRU-820A is not yet optimized to burn 16x media with high quality result. We can see on Transfer Rate test on some 16x burns it will produce read-back problems at the end of the discs and also on the data side (burnt side) shows dark rings which means write strategies were not optimized for the media. Sony needs to investigate on these issues.

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

8 Comments

Blodulv
Posts: 710
Posted on: 14 Apr 06 15:42
Sony 820A=Benq1670? i heard someone mention this...i know its strange since the 1670 isnt out yet!:d
taylor30
Posts: 56
Posted on: 18 Nov 06 12:52
Anydvd is better but it costs 39.00 this is free and does the same job.
mstone.870
Posts: 1134
Posted on: 22 Dec 06 07:04
Hi, I've been using Fab Decrypter and it's great. I've tried other software that's been much more expensive and promised many things , but Fab has out done them all. I love it when they say that they will copy all movies and when you try, screens pop up saying they can't for whatever reason or other. But Fab, always comes through. There have been times when there have been problems but between the very timely updates and the outstanding help I've gotten at the CD Freaks Forum I've been able to always resolve any issues that have arisen. Thanks Fengtao for a great product and hard work
guest
Posts: 15284
Posted on: 23 Mar 07 18:15
I HAVE THIS. but it reads my dvd's like cd's. my dvd's has 4.7 gb of space. but when i go to my computer it only show me 638 mb. can anyone help me with this problem
guest
Posts: 15284
Posted on: 04 Jun 07 02:30
well, I couldn't write with it with DVD-cloner 4, after taking image from several movies it turned out that the software doesn't support it, and I'm very very disappointed for the money I've lost over the writer and the software.
guest
Posts: 15284
Posted on: 20 Jul 07 04:14
The only reason I have this burner is because my other two burners ate it. And I use Sony Vegas and Architect-- so its compatible. Otherwise, its a piece of crap, the slowest burner I have ever had in my life. When it runs, my entire computer is virtually unusable. Discs take for freaking ever to write. Not recommended unless you are desperate. :r
guest
Posts: 15284
Posted on: 13 Nov 07 16:19
I don't understand how something that costs $39.00 is better than something that does the same thing for free. Strange logic. All I can say is that there is nothing that I have come across that I haven't been able to copy using Fab Decrypter
guest
Posts: 15284
Posted on: 20 Nov 08 07:57
i also have this burner this is really shit... suppose i burn 10 dvd/cd than the result is 6-7 dvd/cd burn successful rest are verification fail ... tried on windows ,linux,hackintosh same result .... not suggested for purchase.... pls tell me which dvd writer should i purchase lite on/samsung/hp or any other :c :c :c :c :c :c :c :c :c :c :c :c

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