DRU-500A updated alphabetized media list (Nov 9 2002)

[cdrfreak]

Check out some pics from the CD Speed website:

[ajp32]

i don't think it's the drive since i can use any other media cept those. I can burn and multi task with any media. Those riteks work great i am 20/20 on the riteks and many other brands dvd-r dvd+r +rw -rw
just these khypermedia are blowing up on me everytime.

Regarding Ritek, ditto. I've been using Ritek DVD+RWs and they're AOK (my only Ritek +R test failed (but that might be Nero)). I've burned a few of these, erased and reburned a few, and was able to read each one and verify them in a Liteon LTD-165H DVD-ROM and was able to play a DVD+RW-Video burn (from Sonic MyDVD) in a three year old Sony 850D standalone DVD player. I'm using the 1.0d firmware and latest Nero.

[tazdevl]

So is this pretty much the best drive on the market guys? Thinking about pulling the trigger, but not entirely there yet.

I like what I'm seeing but it seems like there might be some new tech on the market soon that could be interesting.

Also, any good deals out there? Seems to be hovering at $300.

[Kennyshin]

Since there will always be new DVD and post-DVD writers, not much point in waiting if you can afford one right now. For now, Sony DRU-500A looks like the one for those who are new to DVD writing and want just one drive. In South Korea, there's no Sony DRU- drives at all. In Japan, DRU-500A still costs at least 45,000 to 48,000 Yen which is about US$400. You are lucky if you can have one for $300 (even luckier for lower).

[tazdevl]

Ha... thanks Kenny. I figured you'd be one of the first to respond.

I want to wait and see how the new firmware update performs that's supposed to be released in December with 4X writing for all formats. Or am I mistaken and it's out already.

CDR drive just isn't cutting it for backup etc...

[Kennyshin]

According to Sony:

Thank you for your interest in the free firmware upgrade for Sony Dual RW drive models DRU-500A and DRX-500UL. This new firmware will allow your Dual RW drive to record at 4X on 4X compatible DVD+R media as well as improve the DVD-ROM reading performance with DVD recordable/rewritable media.
We expect this firmware to be released on or before December 9th, 2002. Please check back on this site then to download and install the firmware. We anticipate that 4X compatible DVD+R media will be commercially available later in December.

Not yet.

[Kennyshin]

My closest friends are buying Pioneer DVR-A04 and DVR-A05 instead since the Sony drives are so rare and so expensive in areas around the Sea of Japan. It takes about 300,000 won (US$250) to have a DVR-A05 shipped from Tokyo to Seoul. It takes about 450,000 won to buy one from a distributor directly in Seoul. It takes even more to have a DRU-500A here. So those who can are buying the A05. I asked some of my friends for mine but it seems to take more time than expected. I'm in no hurry anyway.

I hope Taiyo Yuden 4x DVD-R/+R media will become available for 3,000 won ($2.5) per disk by the time I get a 4x writer.

[mike_s104]

I received my order of DVD-Rs today. I have not burnt any of the DVD-Rs yet, but I did find out some info on them. my last DVD-Rs I orderd from www.cdrdvdrmedia.com . (see http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=7574 before buying anything from them) the discs were listed as "High Quality 2X DVD-Rs". I placed this present order from www.allmedaoutlet.com . these were listed as "Generic 2X DVD-Rs" ($56 US including shipping for 50 piece spindle). after getting home I used ADVDInfo ( http://www.vcdhelp.com/dvdmedia?advdinfo=1#advdinfo ) to view info on both blanks. below is the pre-recored info in lead-in on both:


00 6A 00 00 01 40 C1 FD 9E D8 50 00 02 38 0C 13 .J...@....P..8..
76 78 80 00 03 54 44 4B 47 30 32 00 04 30 30 30 VX...TDKG02..000
30 30 30 00 05 88 80 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 000.............

so they are the same media.

[VEFF]

I received my order of DVD-Rs today. I have not burnt any of the DVD-Rs yet, but I did find out some info on them. my last DVD-Rs I orderd from www.cdrdvdrmedia.com . (see http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=7574 before buying anything from them) the discs were listed as "High Quality 2X DVD-Rs". I placed this present order from www.allmedaoutlet.com . these were listed as "Generic 2X DVD-Rs" ($56 US including shipping for 50 piece spindle). after getting home I used ADVDInfo ( http://www.vcdhelp.com/dvdmedia?advdinfo=1#advdinfo ) to view info on both blanks. below is the pre-recored info in lead-in on both:


00 6A 00 00 01 40 C1 FD 9E D8 50 00 02 38 0C 13 .J...@....P..8..
76 78 80 00 03 54 44 4B 47 30 32 00 04 30 30 30 VX...TDKG02..000
30 30 30 00 05 88 80 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 000.............

so they are the same media.

The letters TDK seem surprising, considering they were only $56 for 50.
If they mean what I think they mean, then it sounds like a great deal.

Have you burned any of them yet? at 2X?

Thanks!

[mike_s104]

yep, they all burn at 2X. I burnt all 25 from the last order at 2x with no problems at all. I have done 5 from this order at 2x and they were fine too. I think I am sticking with this media.

[edthesped]

I just received my order of the 2x from allmediaoutlet.com very prompt service. One complaint is that the top disk is all scuffed up from bouncing around the top of the spindle cover. It would have been nice if they would have put a small piece of styrofoam in the spindle to keep the disks from flopping around in transit but I guess that's the price I pay for low cost media. Also the disks have alot of what appears to be cardboard dust on them, I like very clean media. I guess I'll have to blow them all off with air before I use them.

I can't wait to get home and burn one

[VEFF]

yep, they all burn at 2X. I burnt all 25 from the last order at 2x with no problems at all. I have done 5 from this order at 2x and they were fine too. I think I am sticking with this media.

Thanks for the info Mike.
Just to confirm (since I couldn't find the word "generic" on the web site)
is the item number P-DVD-R/2XP50?

Thanks!

[bac]

these were listed as "Generic 2X DVD-Rs" ($56 US including shipping for 50 piece spindle). after getting home I used ADVDInfo ( http://www.vcdhelp.com/dvdmedia?advdinfo=1#advdinfo ) to view info on both blanks. below is the pre-recored info in lead-in on both:


00 6A 00 00 01 40 C1 FD 9E D8 50 00 02 38 0C 13 .J...@....P..8..
76 78 80 00 03 54 44 4B 47 30 32 00 04 30 30 30 VX...TDKG02..000
30 30 30 00 05 88 80 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 000.............
.

The letters TDK seem surprising, considering they were only $56 for 50.
If they mean what I think they mean, then it sounds like a great deal.

Have you burned any of them yet? at 2X?

Thanks!

Generic media that says TDK on it? Sounds like fake TDK
media reported over at:
http://www.dvdwriters.co.uk/
See 12/6 message, excerpt:
"Confirmed products violating the TDK DVD manufacturer identification code include SuperX and Princo DVD media. "

[burnout]

Generic media that says TDK on it? Sounds like fake TDK
media reported over at:
http://www.dvdwriters.co.uk/
See 12/6 message, excerpt:
"Confirmed products violating the TDK DVD manufacturer identification code include SuperX and Princo DVD media. "

Here's the original TDK press release:
http://www.tdk-europe.presscentre.com/c ... 20Releases

Pity I found this the day my order arrived, instead of before I ordered what are probably counterfit TDK discs. Oh well, let's see how they work.

[memobug]

all i know is khypermedia is crap. Riteks has not fialed on me yet. Neither has Fuji films or HP media. Even Optodisc rw works great.

I bought 50 pieces of Khypermedia DVD-R at CompUSA on one of their big sales and it worked out to $.80 each or so. I have never had so much trouble with media. Half the disks skip or refuse to load on my DVD Players. My PC is a little more forgiving but I hear it chugging away sometimes.

I inspected the written surface and discovered spots that appear like splatters or even streaking on the surface of the embedded layer and even found one with a discernible fingerprint WITHIN THE DISC! This stuff isn't easy to see until the disc is written.

I bought these for a mix of data and home video but there is no chance I could trust data to them. We'll see if they follow up on their "lifetime warranty"

Regards,

Matt

[fumjum]

Has anyone tried burning 4x DVD-Rs on the Sony DRU-500a? I have 100 "4x" medias from Princo and 100 "4x" DVDs from Ritec, but though Nero says they are burning at 4x they still take 30 minutes to burn a full disc. I cannot believe I bought 4x discs when they only burn at 2x! Is this a problem with the sony drive or could it just be the media? Please help

[fng]

What firmware do you have? If you don't have the latest firmware it could cause the drive not to recognize some 4x media.

[fumjum]

I have the latest firmware (version 2.0F). It recognizes them as 4x on my burning software but it only burns at 2x (takes 30 minutes)