Which do you say is the best DVD Writer?

[dead_indian_walking]

HEllo,
I have been away from this IT section for several months, I was wondering, is Pioneer still the way to go or is there something else which is better.

[rfielder]

I have been away from this IT section for several months, I was wondering, is Pioneer still the way to go or is there something else which is better.

Plextor all the way! You get what you pay for.....

Plextor is shipping a SATA version of the PX716, and has announced the PX740.

[lordsmurf]

Pioneer ... no contest

[rfielder]

Pioneer ... no contest

Before I comment further - are we referring to a DVD+-RW Burner for a PC, or a standalone home stereo device?

[lordsmurf]

This is in the DVD WRITERS section, so it is assumed this topic is about computer DVD writers.

NOT standalone DVD recorders (VCR replacements).

[jimmalenko]

I always thought DVD Writers were what we call a DVD Burner, and DVD Recorders were the standalones

I've only ever used Pioneer drives (105, 106 & 107) and can't fault them at all.

[mikesbytes]

Whats your requirement.
- Burn Speed
- Burn Quality
- Read Speed
- CPU Usage
- How long it lasts
- Cost
- Dealing with poor quality disks
- Noise
- ?
- CDR/W capacibilites
- DVD RAM
- ?
- ?

[rfielder]

Before I comment further - are we referring to a DVD+-RW Burner for a PC, or a standalone home stereo device?

This is in the DVD WRITERS section, so it is assumed this topic is about computer DVD writers.

NOT standalone DVD recorders (VCR replacements).

In that case, I stand by my reccomendation of Plextor.

Others are good. I also have a NEC 3500 which I like. But my Plextor PX712 is outstanding. Friends have the PX716, one with IDE, and one with the new SATA version, and they say the same thing.

You pay more, but you get what you pay for.

[normcar]

I tried a plextor, and had to return it because I could not get it to work, but I have 3 Benqs on my 3 computers, and all of them work fine as long as I have the DMA set correctly. I do not have to get "fixes" to set the booktype, or any other unusual changes. I have seen many problems from people with Plextor, Pioneer, and NEC writers, but few have problems with Benq. I know I will hear from the other owners, but this is my opinion.

[rfielder]

I tried a plextor, and had to return it because I could not get it to work, but I have 3 Benqs on my 3 computers, and all of them work fine as long as I have the DMA set correctly. I do not have to get "fixes" to set the booktype, or any other unusual changes. I have seen many problems from people with Plextor, Pioneer, and NEC writers, but few have problems with Benq. I know I will hear from the other owners, but this is my opinion.

If you got one of the PX716 16X drives when they were first released, then you would have had problems. Plextor released those before they were ready for prime time. Really not a smart move.

Firmware updates have fixed the issues. Newer drives with hardware revisions may exist as well - I would not be surprised if the SATA drives have differences under the skin.

Plextor is not perfect - you can have problems. Other brands do make good stuff. I had a NEC 2500, and have a NEC 3500, and both are great drives. Having them in systems side by side to the system with the Plextor PX712, you do see differences.

[budz]

BENQ 1620 blows the PIONEER 109 away. BENQ has bitsetting out of the box, no need for any 3rd party firmware/hack. It burns -/+ media well and has good support from BENQ with frequent firmware upgrades for all the latest dvd media.

[jimmalenko]

BENQ 1620 blows the PIONEER 109 away. BENQ has bitsetting out of the box, no need for any 3rd party firmware/hack. It burns -/+ media well and has good support from BENQ with frequent firmware upgrades for all the latest dvd media.

Bitsetting isn't an issue for me - I burn DVD-R