CDRLabs DVD Writer Poll - October

[Ian]

Vote for what you think is the best, all around DVD writer. By doing so, you'll hopefully help those looking to buy a new drive. Once again, I tried to chose original drive designs that are currently available or will be soon.

Feel free to leave comments and an explanation as to why you voted the way you did. Also, if there's a drive you'd like to see added to the poll, let me know.

For reference, here's the top drives from September's poll:
1. Pioneer DVR-111/A11
2. BenQ DW1650/1655
3. LG GSA-H10N/H10L/H10A
4. (tied) Lite-On SHM-165H6S/165P6S and Plextor PX-760A/760SA

[Ian]

As promised, the Samsung SH-S162A/S162L has been removed from the poll. On the other hand, I added the LG GSA-H22N.

This will also probably be the last month for the NEC ND-3550A/3551A and ND-4550A/4551A as both drives are being phased out. I should probably remove the DW1650/1655 too as the drives are nearly impossible to find now.

[dolphinius_rex]

Don't remove the BenQ DW165x just yet... it may be impossible to find, but a LOT of people still own and use them. Might as well give them a few more months (besides, the DVR-111D needs SOME competition!! )

[aviationwiz]

I'd say remove the DW165x after this month, just because if someone is looking at this poll and see's the DW165x at a good score and tries to look for one to buy, they pretty much can't, and if I recall, the point of these polls was to assist people in making DVD Writer choices.

[MonsterMan]

My 1st choice is still the 1655. But given they can't be found easily, I'd also say drop it after this month.

I voted for the 111D this time...it's really grown on me. I'm not at all happy with my new 18x LS Samsung, and I had problems with the non-LS one too. So I give up on Samsung. I'll get the 18x LG when it hits Newegg...

[dodecahedron]

OK Ian, i think the LG GSA-H10N/H10L/H10A should be changed to include the H12 drive. however LG GSA-H10N/H10L/H10A/H12N is getting a little cumbersome.
i suggest: H10A/N/L,H12N/L, seems simpler.
likewise: H22N should be H20N/L, H22N/L
E30N/E30L to E30N/L

[Ian]

What is the difference between the GSA-H10 and H12? Just 18x DVD+R/-R right?

[dodecahedron]

What is the difference between the GSA-H10 and H12? Just 18x DVD+R/-R right?

yep.
they're both the same chipset (proof here). and subsequently the H10N can be crossflashed to H12N.

[Ian]

Alright, I'll add it next month. Since it writes at 18x, I'm going to make it separate from the H10 series.

Has anyone seen the H12N for sale anywhere? I googled it and saw that it was listed primarily on asian websites.

[Scour]

Also not avaible in Germany

[Grain]

Stuck with the Pioneer 111 again, but was very tempted to vote for the LG GSA-H22N, I really like it. Maybe after another month of testing. If the Pioneer could bitset +R DVD5's, it would truly be "the shit". Awesome reader I've discovered, handles duffed discs that choke all my other drives with ease.

[[buck]]

If the Pioneer could bitset +R DVD5's, it would truly be "the shit". Awesome reader I've discovered, handles duffed discs that choke all my other drives with ease.

The Buffalo 8.xx firmwares support bitsetting. You might want to check out CD Freaks' Pioneer forum.

[Grain]

I might have to try that Buck, thanks. Using Dangerous Brothers right now, but not quite as happy with the burn quality as I was with the stock Pioneer firmware.

[rahzel]

pretty much everyone over at CDFreaks seems to prefer the TDB 8.29 DVR-111L firmware. i've tested Sony branded YUDEN000T02, MCC 004 (CMC made), Imation branded OPTODISCR16 with both the DVR-111D 1.29 firmware and with my drive crossflashed to a DVR-111L with the TDB 8.29 DVR-111L firmware, and i slightly prefer the TDB firmware. with my YUDEN000T02, i get unusually high PIE's at the start (usually around 30-40, with all the firmware ive tried) but drops around the 0.5 mark (scanned with my DW1640 BSLB). when i burn these discs with my DW1640 and my old DW1650 (i sold it), the PIE's are normal. overall, though, i still like the DVR-111 so thats what i voted for.

[Ian]

Wow.. the Pioneer DVR-111/A11 cleaned house this month. I'll post the November poll later today.