DVD-R & burner opinion needed

[ab21]

I recently bought a Sony DRX-720UL (16x single layer, dvd+r dual layer) and some cheap GQ (Fry's) DVD-R with printable tops but the discs work 70% of the time on my DLL laptop dvd rom ONLY. (skips frams on a 5yr old Panasonic dvd player & my 1st generation xbox) about half of the times the bonus feature part of the disc will not load.

I'm thinking about buying new media discs and/or a new dvd burner (since it's still within 30 days of purchase) I just want some personal opinions on the DVD-R medias and burners (internal or external) I read the "Ultimate Compatability List" but I noticed most of them are performed with a Pioneer burner, which makes me wonder if I should get it. I've read a few pages of threads and believe Verbatim & TDK are the most recommanded or popular discs.

If you guys recommand a different DVD Burner, I would like to know how can I find out the model of the burner (eg how can I tell if it's a Poineer A03 or A04)

If you guys recommand a different brand of DVD-R (most likely you would) I would like to know how to find out the versions of the media (eg Verbatim 1.0 or Verbatim 2.0)

I know my Panasonic DVD Player is over 5 years old so most likely I need a new one, I heard great things about SONY NS-700P, which is about $80. But, I'm attending college and most of the time I won't be staying at home, so can you guys recommand me a DVD Rom with very high compatabilities with the DVD-R and/or DVD Burner recommanded by you or others here. I know the DVD Rom they put in the xbox is a piece of garbage because my xbox has been opened numerous times. I would like to change the DVD Rom in my xbox to play the DVDs I burned.

Sorry for the length of this thread but there are just so many questions in my head. I have less than a week to return my DVD burner or send out the rebates if I decide to keep it. Please give personal opinions and anything else you can through at me :)

[sNNooPY]

Pioneer DVR-109
http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/product_detail.jsp?product_id=9914&taxonomy_id=43-92

medium: VERBATIM DataLife Plus Scratch Resistant Surface, 16X, DVD-R

Personally, I own Pioneer DVR-108D. A great burner. I've worked with DVR-109 on many ocasions and I've never had any problems with it. Buy it, update the firmware, and you're safe.
Regarding the medium...well...over 100 burned DVDs and still counting. Every one of them is working perfectly.

[ab21]

i went to bestbuy today and i just went on their website and searched for verbatim, I only found the 4x, 8x and 16x dvd-r discs, but non of them is said to have "DataLife Plus Scratch Resistant Surface". is there another place I can get this specific kind of DVD-Rs?

[r0lZ]

IMHO, Pioneer burners are not so good. I have had many problems with a Pioneer DVD-ROM, and an old Pioneer burner. So I bought a Nec ND3520, which is considered as one of the best burner currently available. And it is also very cheap.
See the ND3520 reviews here (http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/Reviews/Specific.aspx?ArticleId=12314), here (http://www.cdr-zone.com/reviews/nec_3520_review_page_1.html) and here (http://www.cdfreaks.com/article/214). You will find complete reviews of other burners on these sites as well.

I use Verbatim 16x media, without problem.

[ab21]

this is my 1st time hearing about Nec Burners and I can't tell the difference between a Nec and the Pioneer-109 but I will listen to more people's opinions and decide what burner to get. thanks for the info both and keep more coming :) thank you.

[sNNooPY]

i went to bestbuy today and i just went on their website and searched for verbatim, I only found the 4x, 8x and 16x dvd-r discs, but non of them is said to have "DataLife Plus Scratch Resistant Surface". is there another place I can get this specific kind of DVD-Rs?
um...really? wel, just go for 16x DVD-R spindle. I think it's the same deal. :)
Traxdata works good also.

now, regarding the burner(s), read this review:
http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/Reviews/Specific.aspx?ArticleId=14511

I don't think it will help you in your decision, because:
"...So, we won't recommend which drive you should buy. This is something you'll have to decide for yourself. What we would recommend is that you look at what needs you have and find the most suitable burner for the job. We hope this comparison has helped make your decision a little easier :-)..."

Replies you'll get from people here will be purly subjective.
r0lz,you said Pioneer readers/burners are bad. Well, I've had a Pioneer DVD-ROM (DVD-120) for 3+ years and it's working perfectly. And many of my friends & colleagues own Pioneer burners (from the A04 series to DVR-109) and each time someone asks me to recommend him/her a burner, I go for Pioneer, because I trust Pioneer the most & I have many recorded CDs/DVDs under it.

[r0lZ]

I haven't said that Pioneer is bad. Only that I have had many problems with 2 Pioneer dirves. Without changing anything else, replacing my burner with a Nec has magically solved all problems. That's a fact.
Another fact is that this burning forum is full of threads about problems with Pioneer drives. For example, see this recent thread (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=704850#post704850). I haven't seen any complain on Nec so far.
Furthermore, in the latest reviews, Nec is often cited as the best buy for now. Pioneer has lost much of his popularity, and Sony is very expensive.
Another good and cheap choice may be LG drives, but I have no experience with them.

[ab21]

i read the reviews and eventhough i can't fully understand each of the tests and such, but i did realize that BenQ & LiteOn drives performed best, there weren't a lot of bads about Pioneer or Nec but the review makes me wonder about the cheaper and more common LiteOn DVD Burners... any comments?

[Taelon]

I'm no expert but Lite-On 8xx series used to be extremely popular and highly regarded for price/performance. At the time Plextor and Pioneer cost about double the price of the Lite-On's. But times have changed, it seems that the many Lite-On fans were unhappy with the 16xx series and have switched or added NEC's or LG burners.

Sony & Teac have always been (and still are?) rebadged lite-on's, so replacing your Sony with a Lite-On wouldn't make any sense. You can find lots of opinions, at cdfreaks (http://club.cdfreaks.com/forumdisplay.php?f=61)

[BitBurner]

i read the reviews and eventhough i can't fully understand each of the tests and such, but i did realize that BenQ & LiteOn drives performed best, there weren't a lot of bads about Pioneer or Nec but the review makes me wonder about the cheaper and more common LiteOn DVD Burners... any comments?

Well my Pioneer DVR-109 has always been little bit better in writing quality than my Lite-On SOHW-1693S (maybe it's just a matter of chance). I just ordered the Benq DW1640, I hope it will be good for PIE/PIF scans.

[ab21]

so i guess Pioneer 109 combined with Verbatim DVD-R 16x discs is the final result? i'm returning my Sony 1st thing tomorrow and I'll take a look at the price of the two at Fry's. Can you guys recommand me a DVD-Rom for the PC? My already burnt DVDs can only be played smoothly in my DELL Inspiron 8600 DVD-Rom (not on my desktop, xbox or panasonic dvd player) I'm planning to buy a good DVD-Rom and put it in my xbox so I can watch these movies on the TV screen instead of a 19''

[sNNooPY]

Can you guys recommand me a DVD-Rom for the PC? My already burnt DVDs can only be played smoothly in my DELL Inspiron 8600 DVD-Rom (not on my desktop, xbox or panasonic dvd player) I'm planning to buy a good DVD-Rom and put it in my xbox so I can watch these movies on the TV screen instead of a 19''
try reading some of this: http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/Reviews/Home.aspx?ArticleTypeId=2&SubCategoryId=17

[ab21]

i only found the PIONEER A09XLB at the local Fry's store, I did a little research and found that The Pioneer DVR-109 is the bulk version of the DVR-A09XL series and I just want to make sure they are exactly the same...

p.s. I also found the Pioneer DVR-509 at BestBuy, is it a newer or more stable version of the DVR-109 or?

p.s.s. I'm looking at Verbatim DVD-Rs online and I'm wondering if I would burn them with 2x or 4x (which ever is the slowest possible) does it matter if I get the 16x DVD-Rs or 8x DVD-Rs? and is it safe to get DVD-Rs online instead of at a local BestBuy?

[sNNooPY]

and I just want to make sure they are exactly the same...
yes, true...A09XL is just a retail version of the burner. you get in a box with software, etc. been the same deal with A08.
p.s. I also found the Pioneer DVR-509 at BestBuy, is it a newer or more stable version of the DVR-109 or?
*puzzled look* never heard of DVR-509.
p.s.s. I'm looking at Verbatim DVD-Rs online and I'm wondering if I would burn them with 2x or 4x (which ever is the slowest possible) does it matter if I get the 16x DVD-Rs or 8x DVD-Rs? and is it safe to get DVD-Rs online instead of at a local BestBuy?
um...buy 16x DVD-Rs and burn them at 8x. works fine for me.

[samab]

Most of the problems can be attributed to older firmware in the burner and outdated burning software. Pioneer uses the NEC chipsets so the only difference between the 2 brand is how good they can write their firmware.

Sony latest firmware is dated 2 weeks ago.

http://sony.storagesupport.com/dvdrw/firmware.htm#720

The latest Pioneer DVR-109 firmware was released 2 days ago.

http://wwwbsc.pioneer.co.jp/product-e/ibs/device_e/dev00002r_e.html#f_109

Nero 6 has a new release only 3 weeks old.

http://ww2.nero.com/enu/nero-up.php

[ab21]

i already returned my sony and i'm shopping around for a poineer dvd burner with the best price along with verbatim dvd-r, i don't really know what firmware really is but i'll make sure i have it up to date.