Where can I buy a Pioneer DVR-106D in the UK?

[daamon]

Hi,

Does anyone know where I can buy a Pioneer DVR-106D (OEM) at a decent price in the UK?

Ebuyer.co.uk have got the 106RD (as opposde to the 106D) but I have read that the firmware can't be updated from Pioneer's site coz it's not technically a Pioneer drive.

Thanks.

[clanger]

Try SVP - £99 inc vat

http://www.blankdiscshop.co.uk/

I've got one which I'm sure is a 106D (not an RD), although I'm at work at the moment and can't remember for sure..... 99% sure it is tho.

[JimM]

I just got one from www.planetmicro.co.uk for £106 inc vat and it flashed no problem

[daamon]

I just got one from

Sorry Jim, which "one" are you referring to - the 106D or the 106RD?

All - Thanks for your responses.

[luke2578]

Hi I highly recommend www.zyaan.com

I got my Pioneer 106 from there and have had no problems with it at all. They even have a selection of really cheap DVD-R's and DVD+R's in the Blank Media section which all work with this DVD-writer.

It's currently £98.70

[daamon]

Cheers Luke.

I've just had a quick look on the site - it doesn't state whether it's the 106D or the 106RD. Do you know which?

[earlneath]

I think you are mistaken in your concern about not being able to flash the firmware. The following recent article on dvd-recordable.net points to a "universal flasher" that can flash all OEM versions of this drive with the official firmware, or any other version of the firmware for that matter. I'm interested to know if there's any reason (apart from firmware flashes, which appears not to be an issue) why one should be prepared to pay a bit more for a genuine Panasonic drive? Is the quality better?

http://www.dvd-recordable.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=918&mo...rder=0&thold=0[/url]

[daamon]

Hi Earl,

Cheers for the link - interesting, and may well prove useful.

In various customer reviews I've read (eBuyer, Aria etc.) as well as concerns over flashing the firmware (seemingly resolved) there have also been issues with quality of support - i.e. it's better from Pioneer compared to Asus or Acer (or whoever). I guess that's worth the extra £5 or so... Even if it's peace of mind.

Thanks all.

[daamon]

I've done a bit of scouting around, and found that clanger's recommendation of SVP has the DVR106 (not sure if it's the D or RD) at £94.67 incl. VAT AND postage - bargain!. They also appear to do the cheapest media (I checked eBuyer, Aria, Planet Micro and Zyaan).

I checked out their Support / Helpdesk and came across the following:

"We have the firmware v. 1.07 available for download for this drive. Note that although the 106RD has a different electronic ID to the Pioneer 106D it is the same drive.

Use of this firmware is likely to improve writing performance if you are having problems. Its use will not invalidate the warranty that SVP Communications provides its customers.

See link on the right of the page to download."

So, big thanks to clanger and Earlneath - I'll reckon I'll end up getting the DVR106 from SVP and flashing the firmware on it to FW v1.07.