[charlie_ps2]

I would like to make what I hope is a definitive statement on DVD9.

DVD9 CHARACTERISTICS
DVD9, being dual layer, has low reflectivity as compared with DVD abd DVD-R. According to my information it scrapes through at around 40 to 45% whereas DVD is in the range 65% to 85% and DVD-R in the range 45% to 65%. This low relectivity is necessary to allow light at a different frequency through to the second layer.

So DVD9 operates at one end of laser capability, stretching it to read especially in older units.

DVD9 MOVIES
Many movies are dual layer and play across the PS2 range. There are no complex protection checks associated with DVD9 movies and, if your laser is in reasonable condition, they play without too much difficulty.

DVD9 GAMES
I specially bought Xenosaga so that I could research this for you demanding people.

DVD9 games conform to Sony's special protection check which is a complex algorithm based on a sequence stored in a data wobble deliberately pressed into the groove at the start of the disk.

This deliberate aberration has to be focussed and read in via the laser and this is where, I believe, the PS2 laser has difficulty at such low reflectivity.

We recently chipped a couple of PAL V5s with genuine Magic 2s. They booted Xenosaga first time every time.

When we chipped a US v7 (with any of genuine Magic 2, Magic 2 clone, Apple), Xenosaga would load 1/5 or worse times from the RESET button (usually going to the browser or red screening in the browser).

However we had 100% success booting Xenosaga behind AR2/GS2 v2 without codes. This worked because the groove wobble has been passed OK on the AR2/GS2 disk and when Xenosaga loads, it is handed over to the PS2 at the next stage in booting.

So I hope this clears it all up for you. DVD9 is not affected by the no-swap modchip so far as I have been able to discover.