Pioneer, Sony and NEC owners please respond!

[drewson99]

I recently bought an NEC 2500A to supplement my current burner, a Pioneer 105.

After 30-40 burns, it died.

AccuPC is taking it back, but should I get a straight replacement or toss a few more bucks into the mix and get a Sony or Pioneer instead?

I liked the NEC a lot, and if this is truly just a fluke, then I would like to get a straight swap for a new one, but I am nervous now.

I burn dozens of discs a week and will need this drive to burn 2000+ discs before I am willing to have it go bad, as I got out of my 104 and 105.

Can the NEC handle this traffic? Was it just a fluke?

What should I get in the end?

thanks all,

Andy

[SaSi]

Don't get a Sony. I've got one and it's "media nervous". Sony say it will properly work with brand name disks.

Almost a year ago I couldn't make it record to Verbatim +R media. TDK was fine and I am using TDK almost for a year. Several f/w versions later it will work with Verbatim +R media but record 4x media at 2.4x. Same with -R 4x media. They record at 2x.

Same happened with TDK media almost a month ago. 4x +R and -R media record at 2x now.

I don't think you would need to get 2000+ disks from a burner now. Buy a descent low cost one at $150-200 and budget $0.5 for each burnt disk. You will have it depreciated after 300-400 disks. I've burnt more than that with the Sony.

[sumibas]

i have the sony DRU 500a and Never had a Problem. i have it for the past year and a half and i have burnt around 200+ DVD's and 300 + cd's no problem so foir but i have always used name barand and Ritek medias and most of my name brand is 90 % made by richo japan

[candsh]

I have both the Pioneer A05 and A06. Only got the A06 because I got nervous about the way the disk manufacturers were drifting back and forth with the +/- formats. Both are great drives and will burn any media I have put in them, but have settled on Ritek because it is reasonably priced and have had excellent results.

Do not make the mistake of "flashing the drive so that they will write 1X disks at 2X. They will do it (I did with the A05). The disks burn fine and playback fine the first few times, but start freeze framing after that.

Pioneer has long been at the top as far as durability, compatibility and customer support.

Might point out that I also have a Ricoh burner (+RW) on another computer and it is just like I bought it. Will rip faster than my DVD-Rom or the A05 that has been flashed. Have written many a disk with it, just the +RW disks are the most expensive you can get and when I need that option I have the A06 now.

[ViRaL1]

Not that I necessarily suggest everyone do it, but I've been running 2x4all on my Cendyne / Pioneer 105 for over a month now and I've yet to make a coaster (burning with DVD X Copy Xpress) since I switched, versus 1 coaster out of 3 with Princo and KHypermedia 1x discs before the upgrade. I also have a Sony 500a, pretty good burner, but I had problems in the beginning with Verbatim 2x media and results were so-so with KHypermedia 1x DVD-R. KH 2.4x +RWs come out fine as well as 4x Verbatim +Rs. Sony's good but usually overpriced. I pre-ordered the Sony because it was the best thing available at the time, but they're playing catch up now.

[bmwu14]

Dont' get a SONY.

I got one and regretted it.

I bought the 510UA or something like it;
it's 4X DVD+/-R.

I did not the the burning software that
came with it.

I used Nero 6.x.

I get coasters pretty often without reason.
It always give "communication error"

I kind of figured that my free memory can't
be low when I am trying to burn and
I can't have too many other applications running
at the same time.

I never had this type of problem with my cheap
Asus 4X DVD-R burner.

[ccbadd]

I have a 105 and a 1300A and I really have had no problems with either. I use fairly common media that can be picked up locally (Memorex, Imation, TDK) and all have worked fine. I think that I would just get a straight exchange for another 2500, but if you prefer switching drives, I go with the Pioneer 107.

[LeoNapier]

Very pleased with Pioneer durability and performance so far!

Used the A03, A04, A05 and A06 (Teac OEM) over the years and they (especially the A05 and A06) were virtually prob free, regardless of media manufacturer or quality. Tried Sonys and they were media fussy.

I would reccomend Pioneer all the way! (maybe the new a07?)

LeoNapier

[edsmith77]

In spite of the negative responses from those against SONY, I happen to like mine (DRU-510a) and I have not made a coaster yet. I usually buy media that is ON-SALE regardless of the "labeled" brand.
So far I am pleased.

[smearbrick1]

Liteon 451s or 851s and get some cash back.

[jurynel]

When the punches started to fly, I played on being a capitalist and got a Sony DRU500. Then a Pioneer A06. Then the Sony DRU510. Then a BTC 1008. DVD brand names? Well, name it. If it had a name, it would cost more than the ones without names. I bought the cheapest. Without names. If none was available, I would buy something with a name. Result?

Writers (all of them) Full marks Coasters 0%

I think the manufacturers would say I am doing something right. Everybody else would say I am bragging or lying.

Wanna see my collection of coasters? It's small...

[drewson99]

well, I returned it today and asked for a replacement. if thie new one goes bad, I'll prolly get a Pioneer, as I have had two pioneer burners to date that were great.