Which brand is better for dvd+-rw?

[Lager]

I'm looking to purchase a dual dvd burner and I need help on choosing which brand is better, Sony or Pioneer. These two seem to be the most popular. Which one is better in terms of performance and personal preference? Thanks.

 

[Oyeve]

I personally love my pioneer a05 and can get compusa dvd-r discs for a buck a pop. But the sony support both the - and + formats. I dunno, its a war now with the plus and dash formats but I believe dvd-r/RW is more compatable with most players. If you want to be future proof go with the sont multi format one. Its more money but at least it will survive the war. (until Blue laser devices come out then all formats will be dead)

 

[DurocShark]

And I personally love my Sony DRU-500A. The prices on them keep going down. (Along with the others of course.)

 

[OddTSi]

I think he's asking about the Pioneer DVR-A06, the new one with dual format support. Not the A05.

 

[DaveSimmons]

A lot of positive comments on the A06 at www.vcdhelp.com so it's probably what I'll buy.

 

[OddTSi]

I think that if the quality of the A05 is any indication of the quality of the A06 I wouldn't even give the Sony one a first thought, let alone a second. The Pioneer DVD-R drives up to the A05 have been amazingly good quality, I assume once more people get the A06 it'll turn out to be just as good.

 

[Lager]

I narrowed my list to 4. I'm leaning toward Pioneer. Any other suggestions or last minute thoughts before I get the Pioneer?

The choices are,

Pioneer A06
Sony DRU500A
Optorite DD0203
NEC 1300A

 

[MikeMike]

LITE-ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MIKE

 

[Lager]

Is their much difference between Pioneer A06 and Sony DRU500A except the $10 difference?

 

[Lager]

Please help me choose between NEC 1300A, Pioneer A06 and Sony DRU500A.

This is a big investment for me and I want to make the right choice.
Thanks.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
A lot of positive comments on the A06 at www.vcdhelp.com so it's probably what I'll buy.

you might go there and read the comments on all 3. I don't think any of them is a bad choice so don't stress about it so much -- if all else fails roll a die and 1-2=NEC, 3-4=Pio, 5-6=Sony.

I'll probably get the Pioneer myself but that's really based on the reputation of the A04 & A05 not any knowledge of why the A06 is better. (except that the Pio's software bundle looks good.)

 

[Lager]

Does the buffer matter? Sony burners have 8mb while Pioneer has 2mb.

 

[JackBurton]

The Sony DRU-510A is the TOP DVD+-RW drive now. HOWEVER, this thing sucks ass at ripping DVDs!! I haven't tested the other DVD burners out, but if you'd like a perfect combo, I'd get a Pioneer DVD-120S reader and a Sony DRU-510A burner. PERFECT combo! You can get the DW-U12A (which is the OEM version on the DRU-510A) here for $271 shipped and you can get the Pioneer DVD-120S here for $42 shipped. Like I said, if you want to do everything, this combo ROCKS!

 

[DaveSimmons]

The Sony DRU-510A is the TOP DVD+-RW drive now

hmm, exactly how is it better than the Pioneer? any (comparison) review links? You could be right, I just haven't seen anything to convince me that either one is better than the other.

 

[JackBurton]

hmm, exactly how is it better than the Pioneer? any (comparison) review links? You could be right, I just haven't seen anything to convince me that either one is better than the other.

Pioneer DVR-A06
Write Support:
DVD-R: 4X, 2X, 1X
DVD-RW: 2X, 1X
DVD+R: 4X, 2.4X
DVD+RW: 2.4X
CD-R: 16X, 12X, 8X, 4X
CD-RW: 10X, 4X

Read Support:
DVD-ROM: Max 12X CAV
CD-ROM: Max 32X CAV

Sony DRU-510A
Write Support:
DVD-R: 1X, 2X, 4X
DVD-RW: 1X, 2X
DVD+R: 2.4X, 4X
DVD+RW: 2.4X, 4X
CD-R: 4X, 12X, 16X, 24X Z-CLV
CD-RW: 4X, 10X, 16X

Read Speed
DVD-ROM: 8X max.
CD-ROM: 32X max.

I haven't seen any reviews, but as for what each drive supports, I think the Sony offers more. The DVD+RW is 4X where as the Pioneer is 2.4X. Also the CD-R is 24X compared to the Pioneers 16X. My friend just got the 510A and I installed it for him. It is pretty sweet thus far.

 

[Belzer]

Originally posted by: JackBurton
You can get the DW-U12A (which is the OEM version on the DRU-510A) here for $271 shipped

No the DW-U12A is the OEM version of DRU-500AX and hence it won't support 4x DVD+RW and 16x CD-RW.
DW-U14A is the OEM version of DRU-510A.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: Belzer

Originally posted by: JackBurton
You can get the DW-U12A (which is the OEM version on the DRU-510A) here for $271 shipped

No the DW-U12A is the OEM version of DRU-500AX and hence it won't support 4x DVD+RW and 16x CD-RW.
DW-U14A is the OEM version of DRU-510A.

Check out the link and say that again.

 

[DaveSimmons]

I haven't seen any reviews, but as for what each drive supports, I think the Sony offers more. The DVD+RW is 4X where as the Pioneer is 2.4X. Also the CD-R is 24X compared to the Pioneers 16X. My friend just got the 510A and I installed it for him. It is pretty sweet thus far.

OK, those specs are a little better, though I don't expect to burn many DVD+RW, but the Pioneer is $51 cheaper OEM, or $26 cheaper for retail with software (vs. OEM Sony).

So on a dark and stormy night when the pillars of heaven are shakin'....I'll probably still get the Pioneer.

 

[randumb]

The Sony has good reviews. I have a +/- external CenDyne drive I got for $270 off of Costco's site. It works great, and I like being able to move it around.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons

I haven't seen any reviews, but as for what each drive supports, I think the Sony offers more. The DVD+RW is 4X where as the Pioneer is 2.4X. Also the CD-R is 24X compared to the Pioneers 16X. My friend just got the 510A and I installed it for him. It is pretty sweet thus far.

OK, those specs are a little better, though I don't expect to burn many DVD+RW, but the Pioneer is $51 cheaper OEM, or $26 cheaper for retail with software (vs. OEM Sony).

So on a dark and stormy night when the pillars of heaven are shakin'....I'll probably still get the Pioneer.

I think both drives are great. Your right, some people may not burn alot of +RW discs, but the cool thing about +RW is you can use those as test discs. -R/+R have come down in price but they still aren't cheap. So when I test a new burning program out, I like to do a trial run with RW discs. But the thing that REALY sticks out about the Sony is the faster CD-R/RW burning (mainly the CD-R burning). I'm going to get this drive and I plan for it to replace my CD-RW drive. In doing so I'd like to get the fastest CD-R burning possible (I burn ALOT of CDs).

If you don't have any need for the little extras the Sony offers, I'd get the Pioneer.

 

[JackBurton]

Well a FIFTH choice may have just been introduced!

 

[Lager]

Originally posted by: JackBurton
Well a FIFTH choice may have just been introduced!

Probably the reason for some of the dvd burner price drops.

I decided to go with Pioneer A06. Wanted the DRU500A, but the DVD+R write speed is only 2.4X at default. Although the Sony has been around longer and has 8mb buffer, Pioneer's 4X DVD+R write speed was more important to me.

Thanks everyone.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: coldcut

Originally posted by: JackBurton
Well a FIFTH choice may have just been introduced!

Probably the reason for some of the dvd burner price drops.

I decided to go with Pioneer A06. Wanted the DRU500A, but the DVD+R write speed is only 2.4X at default. Although the Sony has been around longer and has 8mb buffer, Pioneer's 4X DVD+R write speed was more important to me.

Thanks everyone.

Dude, all you do is flash the Sony DRU500A with the new firmware and it will bring the DVD+R burning speed to 4X.

 

[Fallengod]

Originally posted by: JackBurton
The Sony DRU-510A is the TOP DVD+-RW drive now. HOWEVER, this thing sucks ass at ripping DVDs!! I haven't tested the other DVD burners out, but if you'd like a perfect combo, I'd get a Pioneer DVD-120S reader and a Sony DRU-510A burner. PERFECT combo! You can get the DW-U12A (which is the OEM version on the DRU-510A) here for $271 shipped and you can get the Pioneer DVD-120S here for $42 shipped. Like I said, if you want to do everything, this combo ROCKS!

Sony is decent drive, but it also costs double the price of a Pioneer A05. + is useless, so might as well get a good cheap drive and save some cash on media. If you are worried about it though, guess you should just get a combo. I would agree, that the A06 would be a good drive. I think lite-on has one out, I want to try that bad boy out sometime myself. Plextor has new one out also, although knowing plextor its going to cost an arm and a leg and not be worth it. Pioneer and Lite-on baby. Pioneer 4X A05 = $130 after rebate. ;p

 

[Lager]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: coldcut

Originally posted by: JackBurton
Well a FIFTH choice may have just been introduced!

Probably the reason for some of the dvd burner price drops.

I decided to go with Pioneer A06. Wanted the DRU500A, but the DVD+R write speed is only 2.4X at default. Although the Sony has been around longer and has 8mb buffer, Pioneer's 4X DVD+R write speed was more important to me.

Thanks everyone.

Dude, all you do is flash the Sony DRU500A with the new firmware and it will bring the DVD+R burning speed to 4X.

I read somewhere that even after flashing, it doesn't always write at speed 4X. Might show that it is writing at 4X but actually writing at 2.4X.

Can the firmware be downloaded at Sony website?