CDRLabs DVD Writer Poll - November

[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 October's poll:
1. Pioneer DVR-111/A11
2. BenQ DW1650/1655
3. (tied) LG GSA-H10N/L/A and Plextor PX-760A/760SA
4. LG GSA-H22N/L

[Ian]

As promised the BenQ DW1650/1655, NEC ND-3550A/3551A and NEC ND-4550A/4551A were retired as they're all phased out. I also dropped the BenQ DW1670 as I don't think anyone ever voted for it.

I also added the LG GSA-H12N/L, Lite-On LH-18A1H/18A1P and Sony NEC Optiarc AD-7170A.

I have a feeling we'll be seeing at least one 20x DVD writer on next month's poll.

[ala42]

I also dropped the BenQ DW1670 as I don't think anyone ever voted for it.

No votes, but still hard to drop

[dolphinius_rex]

I also dropped the BenQ DW1670 as I don't think anyone ever voted for it.

No votes, but still hard to drop

So hard to drop, it didn't even work!

I don't think most people can even BUY the DW1670

[[buck]]

I also dropped the BenQ DW1670 as I don't think anyone ever voted for it.

No votes, but still hard to drop

So hard to drop, it didn't even work!

I don't think most people can even BUY the DW1670

Most people can in the form of the Sony DRU-820 ...not that anyone does!

[Justin42]

Would it be possible to split the H22L and H22N into 2 different options? I'm thinking about returning my second H22L (returned the first hoping it was defective but I don't think it was) because it just seems VERY picky about media and nowhere near as good as the H22N scans I see, and it's definitely not as good of a burner as the H10L is.

The H22N looks great, but my H22L performed nowhere near the scans I saw for the H22N.

I am REALLY torn, though, about returning it-- I keep thinking if LG could just release 1 firmware update they could fix the problems and bring the H22L up to the H22N's level.... I'd kick myself if they did that, but I gotta return it by Tuesday...

(but my point is, they perform very differently, so should be possibly seen as different units)

[Dartman]

Well out of all those my 111 is now best so now I go for the 111 The sammy 182d as we've noticed has some problems still so I don't use mine much.
Might like to try that LG h22n but don't have it yet so can't vote for it

[Ian]

Would it be possible to split the H22L and H22N into 2 different options? I'm thinking about returning my second H22L (returned the first hoping it was defective but I don't think it was) because it just seems VERY picky about media and nowhere near as good as the H22N scans I see, and it's definitely not as good of a burner as the H10L is.

I could, but then I'd have to split the rest. For now, I'd recommend voting for the two and do what you're doing now and stating that the H22N is the better of the two.

[Grain]

Voted for the LG H22N, consistent excellent burns with my favorite media, Verb 16X-R's(CMC not Prodisc) & TYG02's(Sony & TY branded). It's not the excellent reader the Pioneer 111 is, but that's why I have both

[skymist]

I voted for the Benq1670. I have it and Pioneer111, and definitely get better burns on Mitsui and Taiyo Yuden media. In particular, Pioneer111 and 110 cannot properly burn Mitsui media with the mid of TTH01, but the Benq can. I got mine from Meritline. Actually I bought 3. Note that my vote applies to firmware 1.03. (1.01 which ships with it seems to behave differently for some media.)

[Ian]

Hi skymist. Welcome to CDRLabs.

I think you're the first person to actually vote for the DW1670. It's good to hear that the 1.03 firmware is better. That drive had a lot of issues when it first came out.

[skymist]

Hi skymist. Welcome to CDRLabs.

I think you're the first person to actually vote for the DW1670. It's good to hear that the 1.03 firmware is better. That drive had a lot of issues when it first came out.

Thank you for the welcome.
The pics below illustrate the problem I had to solve. The Pioneer 110 (and at 8X, the Pioneer 111) made a mess of Mitsui 8X Silver media, which has a misappropriated MID of TTH01. The 2nd pic is a typical burn using Pioneer 110 at 8X. These disks were playing badly in DVD players, often giving pixellated results, and failing early. The first picture below is a typical burn using the DW1670.103 at 8x on same type of media. What a relief that I was able to find a drive which likes these nice silver disks. Both scanned on Pioneer drives.

My guess is that the Pioneer drives are using an inproper laser power setting for this particular Mitsui dye.

In case you were going to ask, I did do tests on multiple drives to verify that it wasn't a case of just a bad drive.

[raphaelc]

Hello!

It's great to see a place where there is so much talk about optical drives!

I have some questions...

I don't see so much talk about ASUS DVD Burners. Why so? They've realeased a burner with LightScribe, ASUS DRW-1612BL/BLT.

Can you please tell me what brands which firmware have. I saw that SONY can come with a BenQ firmware, LG with Panasonic...I'm new to this; which are the major brands that make Firmwares and what other brands are using them?

And the last one. I have a LG GSA-H22L with the version of firmware 1.00. Where could I find the newer firmware, 1.01?

Thank you!

[dodecahedron]

welcome to CDRLabs, raphaelc

the Asus drives have thus far been Pioneer rebadges. so any discussion about Pioneer drives applies to them too.

the ASUS DRW-1612BL/BLT has been discussed a little (try the forum search). it's a very new drive so not discussed much till now.

the LG GSA-H22L is a relatively new drive, there's now firmware update for it yet. wait!

[SkaarjMaster]

I couldn't really vote in this poll, but it's interesting to see Pioneer on top. A couple more months of waiting and I probably would have bought the 111 instead of the BenQ 1655. I usually use a burner until it's outdated anyway and the Lite-On LDW-851S was at that. I needed a DL disc burner (as I was getting into DVD backing up again) and decided to upgrade to the 1655. I'm sure it will serve me well for a while.

[LordTrace]

Was looking to buy the LH-18A1P-185 (on sale for $35) as i need a drive to do quality scans but this poll scares me .. 0 votes!? hehe

[vio_man]

Was looking to buy the LH-18A1P-185 (on sale for $35) as i need a drive to do quality scans but this poll scares me .. 0 votes!? hehe

That drive is not recommend ATM, go for one of the 6S series, they're much reliable.

[dolphinius_rex]

Well, it seems like aside from media testing, Pioneer is the new BenQ

[Ian]

Just a reminder that the poll ends tonite. Get your votes in NOW!

Also, if you'd like to see new drives included in the next poll, list them here or send me a PM.