Recommendation on DVD burner needed

wildsau · #1 04-08-2003, 04:53

These are the candidates:

Pioneer DVR 106

Pioneer DVR A06

Toshiba SD-R5002

I need it for the following purposes:

1. Copying DVDs.
2. Copying PS2-Games.
3. Copying PC-Games.
4. Data storage.

Now which one should I go for?
Or is there any bargain I should know about?

Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers,

_wildsau

bighap · #2 04-08-2003, 05:07

I wouldn't get any of those. Get the A05 or 105. Do you really need to be able to burn to both -r and +r?

wildsau · #3 04-08-2003, 05:24

Dont know if I need it.

Maybe you can tell me as you know what I want to do with it.

bighap · #4 04-08-2003, 11:07

No you don't need +r. The media costs more anyways. If you are going to be playing backup dvds in something besides your ps2 or computer, make sure your dvd player supports dvd-r here

gtapex_trueno · #5 04-08-2003, 11:17

Yeah, truth be told I have a A06 and I don't really burn any +R media. Only did a couple and then I started purchasing bulk blank DVD-R media (Ritek of course), DVD+R just faded out. I suggest don't spend the extra cash and get a A05. Hope this helps!

rms2001 · #6 04-08-2003, 15:01

I would buy the Sony DRU510A. This is an updated drive from their DRU500A that came out awhile ago. Sony was the first to come out with a DVD±RW, meaning it will burn + and - media types.

As for +R/ costing more, thats really not true. They are really the same price. But for the most part -R is used more, and works on the PS2 where +R dose not.

I would get this drive, it can do more than the A06 and I think is from a better maker. I was in Atlanta last week and went into a BestBuy and saw them on sale for under $300 and the older models for around $250. The older models are more or less the same drive as the DRU510A, just with an older flash. Talk to any one here with a Sony DVD burner and they will tell you they love it too.

charlie_ps2 · #7 04-08-2003, 15:13

A05/105 or A06/106 and you won't go wrong. You'll get lots of support on the forums.

The Pioneers burn DVD-R at 4x (on suitable media). And suitable media means RITEK dye - trust me.

wildsau · #8 04-08-2003, 23:31

Thank you very much.

I think I 'll get myself a A05 at Ebay for just 150 Euro, ie about 160 $.
That should do it.

bighap · #9 05-08-2003, 09:54

Excellent choice.

gtapex_trueno · #10 05-08-2003, 11:26

Just Remember, Don't forget the Ritek!

spedmetal · #11 05-08-2003, 19:43

I have a sony DRU-500A and yes i do love mine too!!!

Gurm · #12 06-08-2003, 07:15

The problem with the dual-media drives is that their first iteration is always garbage. I don't know what the issue is, but I think there's some sort of inherent "media compatibility" difficulty in making a dual-media burner.

Sony's DRU-500 had MAJOR issues. Practically every firmware update had hundreds of users screaming on various forums that now their favorite media didn't work.

NEC had the same issues with their ND-1300, it just had LOUSY media compatibility for a couple months.

The 106/A06 will have (or is already having) the same trouble. *shrug*

I'd pick a media type and run with it. If playing PS2 games were my primary concern, I would have gotten an A05/105. But since it's NOT, I got a Plextor +R. *shrug*

- Gurm

rms2001 · #13 06-08-2003, 08:42

I have never had a prob with the Sony DRU500 burning any disk, may it be + or -. And for that matter, neither has any one I know who has one of Sony's ± drives has had any probs like that.

There was a firmware update that came out a little while after the DRU500 came out, but that was to up the DVD burn speed from 2x to 4x.

Gurm · #14 06-08-2003, 19:32

Then you and your friends are out-of-the-ordinary. Go check back a couple months on the firmware forums at firmware-flash.

There was a great moaning and wailing and gnashing of teeth over there.

But it really doesn't surprise me. It's pretty complex just getting good media compatibility with ONE type of media.

- Gurm

kyle · #15 10-10-2003, 08:58

Hi people,
I have just bought a pioneer dvr-106 and i haven't burned much yet. I hope this drive will be the best on the market to date. Remember, it was Pioneer that first bought the DVD-r to market and so they have the know how longer than others, right?
Anyway, i don't think i'll be burning much + media as i think it sucks! It's more expensive than - Media from what i have seen and i know that + media don't go well with the PS2 laser.
Anyway, i needed a dvd burner so i went for this which has dual support. Atleast i have the best of both worlds. I finishing off my Bulkpaq media as it works for the PS2 but i think in the long run it's a crap media for the Ps2 laser.
I've ordered some RITEK media and i'll be using those more.
Only if Verbatims get their act together and bring down the price if their media, i'll be sticking with RITEK's for now...