Pioneer Announces DVR-2920Q and DVR-X162Q Qflix DVD Writers

[Ian]

Pioneer Electronics has unveiled their first Qflix-enabled DVD writers. I haven't seen a full list of specs yet, but the DVR-2920Q and DVR-X162Q both offer 20x DVD±R writing speeds and Pioneer's Optimal Write Speed function.

The internal DVR-2920Q will begin shipping in October 2008 for a suggested price of $69.99. The external DVR-X162Q won't ship until November 2008 and will cost $114.99,

http://www.cdrlabs.com/News/pioneer-ann ... iters.html

Advancing the current state of digital downloading for entertainment fans everywhere, Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. today introduces two DVD/CD computer writers featuring Qflix™ DVD Download & Burn technology, enabling users to download their favorite movies directly from the Internet to DVD. As personal computers become media centers for many consumers, the new Pioneer® internal DVR-2920Q and external DVR-X162Q DVD/CD writers allow users to take advantage of this exciting technology while expanding their entertainment collections with a tangible, familiar media that will maintain into the future.

Jointly developed by Pioneer and Sonic Solutions®, Qflix is an emerging DVD technology that gives consumers the opportunity to purchase licensed Hollywood films, and eventually TV shows, from CinemaNow, some of which have previously been unavailable at retail.

"Consumer adoption of digitally distributed entertainment will happen at a far greater rate than the extinction of the DVD player," said Mark Ely, executive vice president of Strategy, Sonic Solutions. "Qflix is an important and necessary bridging technology that allows content owners to deliver a more flexible product that combines the convenience of digital distribution with the permanency and portability of the DVD."

[Ian]

I just got an email from Pioneer's PR people with the specs. Judging by the read/write speeds, the drives are very similar to the DVR-216D.

Write Speeds:
DVD±R SL: 20x
DVD±R DL: 12x
DVD-Download (Qflix): 8x
DVD+RW: 8x
DVD-RW: 6x

Read Speeds:
DVD-ROM SL: 16x
DVD-ROM DL: 12x
DVD±R SL: 16x
DVD±R DL: 12x
DVD±RW: 13x
DVD-RAM: 5x

[Scour]

The LED looks not Pioneer-like, but overall nice looking

[Ian]

I don't have a DVR-216, but the DVR-2920Q looks very similar to the DVR-116D. The chassis and bezel are the same. Aside from the SATA interface, the only obvious differences are the Qflix and DVD download logos on the front.

Pioneer DVR-2920Q Front.png (117.85 KiB) Viewed 5920 times

On the label, the model name is DVR-216MBK but the drive identifies itself as a DVR-216R.

Pioneer DVR-2920Q Label.png (267.73 KiB) Viewed 5915 times

Pioneer DVR-2920Q InfoTool.png (27.8 KiB) Viewed 5915 times

It will be interesting to see if the DVR-216 can be hacked to use the DVR-216MBK firmware.

[Ian]

One more picture showing its support for Qflix and DVD Download.

Pioneer DVR-2920Q DIP Features.png (1.59 KiB) Viewed 5911 times

[Scour]

Yeah, looks like the 216

Between the 216 and 215, Pioneer designed a different bezel, the LED on 216 is a circle, the 215 have a rectangular LED, the position is also different.

Hope it´s still a real Pioneer and not a rebadge

[Ian]

I was concerned about it being a rebadge too but it appears to be a real Pioneer.

[Scour]

Hope so

The only other brand that uses circular LED is imho Samsung. But the Pioneer 216 looks much better in writing-quality than the Samsung-drives, and the emergency hole is on a different place

[SkaarjMaster]

I wonder if this could be my BenQ replacement down the road? Hmmmmmmmmmm...........
(for those wondering, of course on a new system):)

[Scour]

Well, the Benq had 2 strong skills: Scanning and writing-quality. And Pioneer isn´t a good scanner