Pioneer BDR-101A Blu-ray Burner Preview

August 3, 2006

Preview: Pioneer BDR-101A
Previewed by: Dee-27
Provided by: Pioneer Europe NV
Firmware: 1.01
Manufactured: March 2006

Pioneer Europe NV was kind enough to send us their first Blu-Ray drive, the BDR-101A. Pioneer has a good reputation for producing quality products. In this preview, will be taking a look at what this new technology has to offer

The Pioneer BDR-101A supports 2x BD-R/RE, 8x DVD±R, 4x DVD+RW/-RW and 2.4x/2x DVD+R DL/DVD-R DL writing technology, allowing BR-R/RE discs of 25 GB and Double/Dual Layer DVD+R/-R DL discs of 8.5GB to be written.

Drive specifications:

The key features and specifications of the Pioneer BDR-101A were found at the Pioneer UK website.

Key features ADVERTISEMENT	BDR-101A
	Writes and reads BD-R/RE, DVD-R/RW and +R/RW formats

	Buffer under-run protection for BD/DVD

	Max. 2X writing speed for BD-R/RE Max. 8X writing speed for DVD-R/+R Max. 2X writing speed for DVD-R DL (Dual Layer) Max. 2.4X writing speed for +R DL (Double Layer) Discs Max. 4X writing speed for DVD-RW/+RW

	BD data capacity: 25GB Single Layer disc. DVD data capacity: 4.7GB Single Layer disc, 8.5GB Dual/Double Layer disc.

	Software bundle included - Roxio DigtalMedia LE Ver.7

Specifications	BDR-101A
Write Support	⋅ BD-R (Ver 1.0 Single Layer), BD-RE (Ver 2.0 Single Layer) ⋅ DVD-R (Ver 2.0 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), +R DL (Double Layer Ver 1.0), +RW (Ver 1.1 & 1.2), +RW High Speed (Ver 1.0)

Read Support	⋅ BD-ROM (Ver 1.0 Single & Dual Layer)* ⋅ BD-R (Ver 1.0 Single Layer) ⋅ BD-RE (Ver 2.0 Single Layer) ⋅ DVD-ROM & DVD-Video (Single & Dual Layer, Single & Dual Sided) ⋅ DVD-R, DVD-R DL (Dual Layer), DVD-RW ⋅ DVD-R (Ver 1.0 & 2.0 for Authoring) ⋅ +R, +R DL (Double Layer), +RW *Copy protected discs are supported

Write Speed BD-R Single Layer	2x CLV (8.99 MB/sec)

Write Speed BD-RE Single Layer	2x CLV (8.99 MB/sec)

Write Speed DVD-R	⋅ 8x Zone CLV (11.08 MB/sec) ⋅ 4x CLV (5.54 MB/sec)* ⋅ 2x CLV (2.77 MB/sec)* ⋅ 1x CLV (1.385 MB/sec)* *The specification for 8cm discs is identical

Write Speed DVD-R Dual Layer	2x CLV (2.77 MB/sec)

Write Speed DVD-RW	⋅ 4x CLV (5.54 MB/sec)* ⋅ 2x CLV (2.77 MB/sec)* ⋅ 1x CLV (1.385 MB/sec)* *The specification for 8cm discs is identical

Write Speed +R	⋅ 8x Zone CLV (11.08 MB/sec) ⋅ 4x CLV (5.54 MB/sec) ⋅ 2.4x CLV (3.32 MB/sec)

Write Speed +R Double Layer	2.4x CLV (3.32 MB/sec)

Write Speed +RW	⋅ 4x CLV (5.54 MB/sec) ⋅ 3.3x CLV (4.57 MB/sec) ⋅ 2.4x CLV (3.32 MB/sec)

Read Speed BD-ROM Single and Dual Layer	2x CLV (8.99 MB/sec)

Read Speed BD-R Single Layer	2x CLV (8.99 MB/sec)

Read Speed BD-RE Single Layer	2x CLV (8.99 MB/sec)

Read Speed DVD-ROM (Single Layer)	Max. 8x CAV (11.08 MB/sec)

Read Speed DVD-ROM (Dual Layer)	Max. 8x CAV (11.08 MB/sec)

Read Speed DVD-Video (with CSS, Single / Dual Layer)	Max. 5x CAV (6.925 MB/sec)

Read Speed DVD-R, DVD-R Dual Layer, DVD-RW	Max. 8x CAV (11.08 MB/sec), Max. 6x CAV (8.31 MB/sec), Max. 6x CAV (8.31 MB/sec)

Read Speed +R, +R Double Layer, +RW	Max. 8x CAV (11.08 MB/sec), Max. 6x CAV (8.31 MB/sec), Max. 6x CAV (8.31 MB/sec)

Access Time BD-ROM/DVD-ROM	250msec, 150 msec (Random Average)

Interface	ATAPI (ATA-5, SFF-8090)

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	BD = 8MB, DVD = 2MB

Mounting Orientation	Horizontal and Vertical (+/- 5 degrees)* *8cm discs cannot be used when the drive is vertically mounted. The case remains even when an adapter is used.

Power Requirement	+5V 1.25A +12V 1.6A (Maximum peak during start up)

Power Consumption	25.4W (Maximum peak during start up), 3.09W (Standby average, Laser & Motor OFF), 7.42W (Average during BD-RE 2X CLV write), 7.57W (Average during DVD-R 8X Zone CLV Write)

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 198 mm

Net Weight	1.1 kg

What's inside the box?

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

The drive supplied was the retail version, and was supplied with software and instruction booklet.

Bezel

The bezel of the Pioneer BDR-101A is cleanly styled. On the tray we can see the Blu-Ray logo, and we can also see an intake cooling vent, 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 two labels, and we can see that the drive was made in Japan, dated March 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. We can also see a cooling fan just above the IDE connector.