In which order would you rate these FIVE DVD writers ?

[MacPCConsultants]

Hi. My first post on this website, so I hope this is the best Forum to ask this. My Pioneer DVR-111DVK internal DVD burner in my WinXP tower began giving "power calibration error" notifications.

It was replaced with a Philips SPD2413BD internal drive, but at 40x to 48x the vibration and noise was intolerable. A second Philips of the same model did the same thing... marked noise and vibration with any blank or disc. Does Pioneer know about this drive's problem ?

The drives will be used in a PC Tower for audio and video disks, 50% of the time using dual layer media. Rewriteable disks are not used. Plextor drives are not available at this store (Fry's).

I already own an unopened Pioneer DVR710. Please rate these drives in order of quality/performance/reliability, etc.

The exhaustively detailed reviews here did not seem to indicate there was a clear winner of these models, and I cannot understand parts of the reviews - - -too technical for me !!


• Samsung SH-S182M/BSBN

• LG GSA-H55LI

• Sony DRU840A

• Pioneer DVR-710 (already own, new, unopened)

• Pioneer DVR 1810

[Ian]

Here's the way I'd rank them:

1. Pioneer DVR-1810
2. Pioneer DVR-710
3. Sony DRU840A
4. LG GSA-H55LI
5. Samsung SH-S182M/BSBN

Keep in mind that most drives that read/write to CD's at 48x or DVD's at 16x or higher are going to be loud.

[MacPCConsultants]

Here's the way I'd rank them:

1. Pioneer DVR-1810
2. Pioneer DVR-710
3. Sony DRU840A
4. LG GSA-H55LI
5. Samsung SH-S182M/BSBN

Keep in mind that most drives that read/write to CD's at 48x or DVD's at 16x or higher are going to be loud.

So you were not surprised that the two Philips drives (both the same model) mentioned in the starting post vibrated and hummed excessively ?

Have you ever tested one ?

I have a Plextor external drive (CD writer) burning CD's at 48x and it is quiet.



Ian: I went to get the 1810 drive, and the model inside the box was 114D. Is this an error, or is the 114D the exact equivalent of the 1810 ?

Keep those exhaustive reviews coming, Ian. Amazing.

[Ian]

I'm not surprised that the SPD2413BD was loud. It's based on a Lite-On design and they're quite loud, especially when writing DVD's at 18x or 20x.

Which Plextor drive? Some of the ones that they actually manufactured were quite good about noise. Then again, they were quite expensive too but IMO, they were worth it.

The DVR-1810 should be a DVR-112D. I'm not sure why Pioneer is doing this. It confuses customers. If you're going to sell the DVR-112D, name it that.

[Scour]

I don´t know these Pioneer-models, but a MTK-chipset-burner like Samsung/Sony or Panasonic-chipset-based LG have not a real chance to beat Pioneer´s writers

[MacPCConsultants]

I'm not surprised that the SPD2413BD was loud. It's based on a Lite-On design and they're quite loud, especially when writing DVD's at 18x or 20x.

Which Plextor drive? Some of the ones that they actually manufactured were quite good about noise. Then again, they were quite expensive too but IMO, they were worth it.

The DVR-1810 should be a DVR-112D. I'm not sure why Pioneer is doing this. It confuses customers. If you're going to sell the DVR-112D, name it that.

Spoke with Pioneer today. The overseas operation refuses to make a box change, but as stated before, the model number change only represents software in the box with the drive.

The tech also said that only the initial production had fast CD burning failures, and this problem has been cured in the present production. He refused to give me the serial numbers affected, but one can call 800-872-4159 and give your drive's serial number and they will give you the date of production and whether or not your unit is one which will be prone to that failure.

Fry's plans to put a note on the shelves stating to expect the different drive model number in the box so that customers stop returning the "1810" box thinking an error was made.


IAN: In this month's POLL, you voted for the Samsung SH-S203B. Do you think this Samsung SH-S203B is better than the DVR-1810 ?

[Ian]

The tech also said that only the initial production had fast CD burning failures, and this problem has been cured in the present production. He refused to give me the serial numbers affected, but one can call 800-872-4159 and give your drive's serial number and they will give you the date of production and whether or not your unit is one which will be prone to that failure.

If I remember right, that problem affects drives manufactured before March of 2007. If your drive is dated after that, you're in the clear.

I really can't comment on the DVR-1810. I don't have the time or the patience to deal with Pioneer USA's marketing people so I never got one of those in for review.

[MacPCConsultants]

Acquired four of the Pioneer 1810 drives (Manufacture date 8/07) for $40 each.

Fast & quiet. What a nice noise reduction compared to the Philips.

Thank you everyone.

[Scour]

Nice to hear u like the Pioneer drives