STRICKLY FOR SONY DRU 500 A & AX USERS ONLY

[muratturel]

Dear DRU 500 A & AX USERS,

I searched the relevant forum pages ( found some reports with multiple variables !!! ) , now I am asking for an updated report from all of you about;
" WHICH 4X MEDIA DO YOU USE WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS (with which firmware) ".

If everbody be very clear and specific about the description of the media, contributions may be usefull to all of us SONY users.

Best regards

Murat Turel
( I have never had a nick name )

[SaSi]

I voted NO, because I have been annoyed by the "incompatibilities" I've encountered in DVD recording.

It should be stated that I NEVER had NO problem recording on +RW or -RW disks of any make (I've used SONY, Sentinel, Intenso, TDK, Maxell and Ricoh).

Earlier firmware versions (1.0x) have been generally incompatible with +R disks. Also, the drive appeared to have problems with Nero. RecordNowDX worked better, most of the time BUT NOT ALWAYS.

The latest f/w version appears to work fine with the latest upgrades from Nero (5.5.10.35 and later).

However, I still encounter problems with some disks, although now the problem is not fatal (the drive won't record on certain media), but selective (the driver won't record on some disks of a batch of a certain media).

The most succesfull brand I've used is TDK. I never had any problem recording on TDK disks, either +R or -R. Correction, out of more than 200 disks, I only had one recorded ok that failed to verify and found out it was totally dead).

The Sentinel disks I tried (10) had a failure rate of almost 30% (3 coasters) plus another one that repeated attempts to record failed with the disk remaining empty (so make that 40%).

I could also add HP +R 4X disks to the list, but only as second, since out of 20 pieces I had 2 failed writes.

To add to the comments, it is interesting that some of the Sentinel disks could not be recorded by Nero but were recorded by RecordNow DX, while RecordNowDX failed to record on some (not all) HP disks but Nero succeeded.

And as a final comment, I have noticed that when recording starts, the lead-in phase can range between 15 seconds for some TDK 4x +R media up to 3 minutes. And this is on same type of media out of the same box (i.e. batch). This comment may be slightly off-topic on the media question, but is supportive of my NO vote.

[ptmurphy]

Yes, very satisfied. I have had ZERO problems burning 4X on Verbatim media.

[muratturel]

thanks sasi and ptmurphy,

I actually expected more reply to my topic as it will make everyones life easier ( and cheaper )by sharing each others good and bad experiences experiences.
As you might have gathered I am facing a 4x media problem like thousands of others around the world.
T
he media is the most important issue about this hobby of ours. Remember; we do not buy a recorder/writer every week but we always need media ...

bye

[Roll Tide]

I've been pretty satisfied with my DRU500A until lately. I don't think I've burned a coaster yet that was the drive's fault. I've used firmware 1.0f since getting the drive (upgraded on day 1). I've used about 75 Ritek G03 DVD-R, 20 Accu (LeadData) inkjet printable DVD-R, and about 5 Fuji DVD+R with no problems.

My only complaint is that it has recently stopped recognizing rewritable media. I have used 5 Memorex DVD-RW as "test" discs and all of a sudden it has stopped recognizing them. I haven't bought any new RWs to see if it is the media, but I don't think it is because it also will not recognize the Sony DVD+RW that came with the drive. The drive still works flawlessly with DVD-R media.

Has anyone else had this issue?

[SLICK RICK]

I am so paranoid about mine acting up that I never changed the firmware. So I have been burning a 2x since day 1 with no problems.

SLICK RICK

[handyguy]

meritline.com lists what media to use with these, I only use Accus cause they also work with my dvd recorder.

Often the media people reformulate so that can effect whether it reads the media or not.

[jamerican]

I have the 500ULX (Firewire/USB 2) model with firmware 2.0f which I use with USB 2. I have great difficulty with -R discs - recording errors, slow speeds - and problems using it on a Firewire port.
It works perfectly fine with +R media with which I have never had a coaster. It's performance with -R discs and Firewire has turned me off.

[Popee]

I have a 500AX. Firmware 2.0f. I have had no problem burning 4x on TDK +R media. I have not tried 4x -R media yet, but have had no problem with 2x -R media.

I have never made a coaster, and I use Nero Express and DVD Architect.

[makntraks]

I am running a 500ULX using the Firewire connection and to be honest, burning at 2x or 2.4x or whatever is fine with me... I am not looking for speed nor do I look to save a few bucks on generic media...
For some things, nothing can replace name brands...
As for media - I have only used Verbatim -R's (but leery of them from reading assorted posts) and now switched to TDK -R's and +RW's....
Only coasters I've created are one I've caused by my own accord..

So in closing - I am pretty satisfied...
out....

[xxBladExx]

I'm using Thast's Right DVD-R and never have problems.....[/b]

[SLICK RICK]

I am on the same boat as makntraks, although I use USB2.0 for mine, I was using Verbatim DVD-R but since I read about the CMC media codes and also seen it for myself using DVDinfo. I now use TDK DVD-R, I like the fact that the dvd itself says TDK and DVDinfo gives a media code of TDK.

SLICK RICK

[GrrRon]

I'am very pleased with my Sony.
I wish only Sony would update the firmware for better compatability with cheaper DVD-R.

[bmiller]

Dru500A I've been using Ritek G03's and firmware 1.0f with no problems.They work in every player i've tried.2X is fast enough,as it works flawlessly.If it ain't broke don't fix it.Besides,i've got a stack of Riteks to use up.

[Gregg]

No problems with Verbatim /RICOHJPNR01/. Firmware 2.0c /as bought/.

[turk690]

I'm currently staying in Saudi Arabia and use an ATAPI DR500AU 2.0f. I'd like to use 4x blanks but they are not available here, all I can use are DVD-R MARK brand (really Princo, on inspection by DVDDecrypter) 1x, which have a fail rate of at least 10% (1 in a stack of 10 is a coaster, no matter which of Nero 5.5.10.42, RecordDXnow (that came with the burner), or the DVD-writing modules that come with TMPGEnc DVD Author and DVD-lab are used; DVD-R and +R Imation 1x (have used only about 30, since even at 1x they ARE still expensive here (US$2 apiece), but all turned out OK save for one, which split into the two disks that each DVD originally is before being glued together); and SKC and OptoDisk, both 2x (but cheaper than Imation at about US$1.60 each), which behave and record successfully at 2x ALL the time, and so which I use regularly, unless I want to be mean then I use the wretched MARK above (about $1.20 each). One stated goal for the 2.0f firmware update is increased reliability with cheap media; either the MARK DVD-R (Princo) is really wretched or the firmware is not really up to its goal. Yet. (Pending further updates of course, which as has been observed on some entries in this forum, can make life better or worse for any of us using a certain type/brand/batch of DVD media.)

[super-al]

i have tried some differnt DVD-Rs with my sony the Optodisc 4x silver and gold will burn at 4x that i get for 1.00 each ..also the fujifilm 4x ...nothing else ive tried burned at 4x it said it was but took 30 min to burn so i would sat it was not.