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Review: Pioneer DVR-109 Reviewer: OC-Freak Provided by: Pioneer Europe Firmware: 1.40 & 1.50 Manufactured: December 2004 |
Finally the time has come to take a look at the new Pioneer DVR-109 16x DVD-Writer. Let us see if Pioneer have been able to hit the nail on the head this time and create an excellent DVD-Writer. Our hopes are high at least.
Some Pioneer history:
Pioneer is a large company that is known worldwide and has since the 1930s been providing quality products, so let us take a look at their product history:
As we can see, they have been providing high tech, quality products for a long time. Pioneer, as we know them now, has the following vision:
Sound.Vision.Soul
Pioneer group's sense of purpose
Everyone's got soul. The never-ending challenge is to find better ways to feel it deeper down inside. At Pioneer, 'Move the Heart and Touch the Soul" means more than words can express. It's our mission to stir as many senses and sensibilities as we can through the wonders of everlasting sound and vision.
Since we are pretty sure that almost everyone knows Pioneer, we do not think a longer company presentation is needed and go directly to drive specifications.
Drive specifications:
These are the specifications of this drive, found at the Pioneer Europe webpage:
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| Key features | DVR-109 | |
| Writes and reads DVD-R/RW, +R/RW and CD-R/RW formats | ||
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| DVD/CD buffer under-run protection | ||
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| Max. 16x writing speed for DVD-R/+R Max. 6x writing speed for DVD-R Dual Layer and +R Double Layer Discs Max. 6x writing speed for DVD-RW Max. 8x writing speed for +RW |
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| DVD data capacity of 4.7 GB per single-sided disc and 8.5 GB Dual/Double layer discs | ||
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| Software not included | ||
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| Specifications | DVR-109 | |
| Write Support |
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| Read Support |
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| Write Speed DVD-R |
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| Write Speed DVD-R Dual Layer |
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| Write Speed DVD-RW |
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| Write Speed +R |
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| Write Speed +R Double Layer |
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| Write Speed +RW |
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| Write Speed CD-R |
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| Write Speed CD-RW |
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| Read Speed DVD-ROM (Single) | Max. 16x CAV (22.16 MB/sec) | |
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| Read Speed DVD-ROM (Dual) | Max. 12x CAV (16.62 MB/sec) | |
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| Read Speed DVDVideo (with CSS, Single / Dual Layer) | Max. 5x CAV (6.925 MB/sec) | |
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| Read Speed DVD-RAM | Max. 2x ZCLV (2.77 MB/sec) | |
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| 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) | |
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| 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) | |
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| Read Speed CD-ROM | Max. 40x CAV (6.00 MB/sec) | |
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| Read Speed CD-R,CD-RW | Max. 40x CAV (6.00 MB/sec), Max. 32x CAV (4.80 MB/sec) | |
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| Read Speed CD-Audio (DAE) | Max. 40x CAV (6.00 MB/sec) | |
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| Read Speed Video-CD | Max. 9.3x CAV (1.395 MB/sec) | |
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| Access Time DVD | 130 msec (Random Average) | |
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| Access Time CD | 120 msec (Random Average) | |
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| Interface | ATAPI (ATA/ATAPI-5 and SFFC INF-8090i Ver.5.11) | |
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| Data Buffer | 2 MB | |
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| Mounting Orientation | Horizontal and Vertical (+/- 5 degrees) | |
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| Power Requirement | +5V 1.2A +12V 0.8A (Average during DVD writing process) | |
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| Power Consumption | 15.6W (Average during DVD writing process) | |
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| Regulatory Approval | UL60950-1 First Edition, CSA C22.2 No.60950-1-03, EN60950-1:2001, EN60825-1:1994+A2+A1, CB Report: IEC60950-1:2001, IEC60825-1:1993+A1+A2, FIMKO, SEMKO (Optional) | |
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| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 148 x 42.3 x 180 mm | |
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| Net Weight | 1.0 kg | |
The specifications are very good, but we would like to see higher CD-R/RW writing speeds as well as higher CD-reading speed. It should also write DVD with CAV technology, which is promising for low recording times and high average recording speeds.
What's inside the box?
The drive we received was an OEM drive that came in a grey boring box , but let us look at what we got:
It's only a drive, a small reference guide and a paper telling they have added 6x DVD+/-R DL speeds.
Now it's time to take a look at the drive itself:
Nothing new under the sun here, there are only minor differences compared to the front of earlier pioneer drives.
Our sample was produced in China and has a production date of December 2004.
The only difference on the back is that the air-vent holes have been removed. From the left: undocumented connector; analogue audio connector; pins and jumper to set the drive to cable select, slave or master; IDE connector and finally the power connector.
Now, let us connect the drive and check out the features and program bundle of this drive on the next page…
