Pioneer DVR-A06 DVD±RW recorder



Pioneer Electronics is topping its already outstanding DVD burner (A05) with the new Pioneer DVR-A06 DVD/CD writer. Being a "pioneer" in the area of DVD recording, this company decided to launch this multiformat drive in order to take the confusion out of choosing your next DVD writer. The new burner supports all major formats. It is remarkable, and thus a clear indication of the very advanced technology this company owns, the fact that it was again able to deliver to market drives supporting formats which their "inventors" thus so far proved unable to do so.



Pioneer DVR-A06 DVD±RW recorder - Page 2
CD Reading Tests
- Pressed CD results (Click to see the CD Speed Graphs)


Pioneer DVR-A06 supports 32x reading speed for CD-ROM/R media.The drive read the inner part of our test disc at 14.55x and gradually accelerated to finish the task at 33.91x CAV, resulting to an average speed of 25.48x. The Optorite DD0203 is faster in this test with 30.39x average reading (40X CAV), and the Sony drive is slower with 24.02X.



The specifications of the Pioneer DVR-A06 state that the drive needs around 130msec for random seeking. Our measurements agree with this statement, giving a 127msec result in this test. The drive is slower in the full seek mode (294msec). Sony DRX-500UL gave almost the same results as the Pioneer drive, while the Optorite DD0203 is the clear winner in the test with only 179msec for the full stroke.

- CDR Media results (Click to see the CD Speed Graphs)


With respect to CD-R media, the Pioneer drive performed well and read the disc at a 25.25x average speed.



With respect to the seek times on recordable discs, the Pioneer drive performed almost the same as in the previous tests with a pressed test-disc.

- HS-RW Media
CDSpeed 10x HS-RW
CDSpeed 24x US-RW


Pioneer DVR-A06 supports 32x CAV reading when it comes to rewritable media. The results illustrated above are the reading tests using Verbatim 10x HS-RW media. The drive performed well and read the disc at an average speed of 24.89x. We also checked the behavior of the drive with 24x US-RW media (Mitsubishi Chemicals). The drive read the disc at full speed (25.76x average).




- Features
The DVRA06 offers wider compatibility over the previous Pioneer DVD writers since it supports high speed writing with various format media. DVD±R writing is achieved at 4x and DVD±RW at 2x and 2.4x. Moreover, Pioneer has developed a series of technologies towards the improvement of final recording performance.

Precision Recording Technology


DVR-A06’s development began by improving conventional algorithms and re-evaluating the record and overwrite characteristics of DVD-RW media to apply a sequence that optimizes recording conditions. The DVR-A06 achieves approximately ten times better overwrite performance than previous Pioneer recorders. It also uses an industry- first DRT-DM (Distributed Real Time Defect Management) offering a form of defect management that conforms to the DVD format without sacrificing write performance. The result is highly compatible writing even on discs that have been rewritten many times, without causing a degradation of actual disc quality.

Ultra DRA (Dynamic Resonance Absorber)
Poorly balanced discs can cause vibrations that affect performance during high speed recording and playback. The DVR-A06 significantly reduces the effects of these vibrations with the implementation of Ultra DRA technology, allowing the high precision servo system to remain stable during both high speed recording and playback.

In the picture below you can see the Ultra DRA effect on the total vibrations of the drive. This feature reduces the vibrations by 65% at 9200rpm rotation speed.



Smart laser drive technology
Pioneer’s advanced laser driver uses a pickup that incorporates a write strategy control circuit, ensuring stable write performance at high speed recording.

Liquid crystal tilt technology
Pioneer’s liquid crystal tilt mechanism provides accurate and reliable operation with discs having uneven curvature or thickness. This mechanism is used for both recording and playback.

- Specifications
Write support DVD DVD-R 4.7GB, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW
CD CD-R 700 (type 80), 650MB (type 74), CD-RW, Highspeed CD-RW
Read support DVD DVD-ROM, DVD-VIDEO (Single & Dual layer), DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW
CD CD-ROM(Mode1&2), CD-ROM XA, CD-DA(CD Audio), Video CD,
PhotoCD (single/multi-session), CD EXTRA(CD-Plus), CD-Text, CD-R, CD-RW
Interface ATAPI(PIO Mode4)/Multi Word DMA Mode2) Ultra DMA33(Ultra DMA Mode2)
Audio Interface Analog out
Write Speed DVD-R 4x, 2x, 1x CLV (5.54MB/s)
DVD-RW 2x, 1x CLV (2.77MB/s)
DVD+R 4x, 2.4x CLV (5.54MB/s)
DVD+RW 2.4x CLV (3.32MB/s)
CD-R 16x, 12x, 8x, 4x CLV (2.4MB/s)
CD-RW 10x, 4x CLV (1.5MB/s)
Read Speed DVD-ROM (Single) Max 12x CAV (16.62MB/s)
DVD-ROM (Dual) Max 8x CAV (11.08MB/s)
DVD-R, DVD-RW Max 6x CAV ( 8.31MB/s)
DVD+R, DVD+RW Max 6x CAV (8.31MB/s)
CD-ROM Max 32x CAV (4.8MB/s)
CD-R,CD-RW Max 32x CAV (4.8MB/s)
CD-DA(DAE) Max 32x CAV (4.8MB/s)
CD-DA Max 10x CAV (1.5MB/s)
Video-CD 4x CLV (0.6MB/s)
Access Time (Random Average) DVD-ROM 140 msec
CD-ROM 130 msec
Seek Time (Random Average)
DVD-ROM 130 msec
CD-ROM 120 msec
Data Buffer (size) 2Mbytes

As you can see from the specifications of the drive, Pioneer supports writing of all DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW and CD-R/RW media. DVD-R and DVD+R writing can be achieved at 4x CAV maximum. Rewriting is allowed at 2.4x CLV for DVD+RW and 2x CLV for DVD-RW. The maximum reading speed for DVD-ROM is 12x CAV.

As for the CD-R media Pioneer supports 4x, 8x,12x and 16x CLV for CD-R and 4x, 10x CLV writing for the CD-RW. The CD-R/RW reading speed is 32x CAV.

Buffer Underun protection is also applied for both DVD-R/RW and CD-R/RW media.



Pioneer DVR-A06 uses the RPC II region control, allowing a user to change the drive's region 5 times in total. For our tests, we set the region code to 2 (Europe).

The drive supports reading of all the DVD recordable/rewritable discs except DVD-RAM. Video CD, CD+G and CD Text are also supported

RAW DAO 96 writing mode is included in the drive's capabilities. In addition, packet writing, SAO, TAO and RAW SAO 96 are supported as well.

- Unpacking
The retail package includes the Pioneer DVR-A06 IDE drive, one 4.7GB 4x DVD-R Ver. 2.0 disc for data/video by Maxell, one 4.7GB 1/2x DVD-RW disc by Maxell, a multilingual manual with basic operating instructions, an audio cable and the accompanied mounting screws.

The bundled software comes from Pinnacle, and includes the Pinnacle Instant CD/DVD v7.06 (OEM version), and Pinnacle Studio v. 8 SE.

Instant CD/DVD includes InstantDisc for CD/DVD creation, InstantWrite for "drag and drop" operations on CD/DVD, InstantCopy for one-to-one copies of CD's and DVD's, and InstantBackup for easy backup tasks. The software also offers a built-in DVD player for playback of DVD movies on the PC.

Pinnacle Studio v.8 SE is a video editing and authoring software with a user-friendly interface and advanced features like scene detection, title generation and scene transitions. The software also supports capturing from DV and Digital8 cameras through an IEEE1394 interface.

The front panel of the drive is white and the originate of the drive is easily identified by the Pioneer logo stamped on the right side of the disc tray.Two ventilation holes are placed on the front panel of the drive, right next to the Busy indicator.



On the disc loading tray you can see both DVD-R/RW and DVD+Rewritable logos, revealing the dual DVD format support of the unit. Two operation LED are placed on the front panel. The Busy LED lights when the drive is accessing/reading a disc, while the Write LED is active while recording.



On the rear panel you can see the analog output, the ATAPI interface connector and the power input.

The mainboard of the drive is available in the following picture. You can click on the picture to see it in a higher resolution, but in case your internet access is rather slow, please be patient while it is loading.



- Installation
The Pioneer DVR-A06 drive was connected to our test PC and was identified as "PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-106D" under WinXP. All tests were done with firmware revision v1.06. In the test graphs, we compare the new drive with two other dual DVD recorders, the Optorite DD0203 (Sanyo CRD-BPDV2) and the Sony DRX-500UL



In the following tests we check the drive's behavior when it comes to reading scratched / defected discs. As usual, the test discs we use are the ABEX Test Discs series from ALMEDIO.

- ABEX TCD-721R


Errors total Num: 890027
Errors (Loudness) dB(A) Num: 50620 Avg: -72.6 dB(A) Max: -14.3 dB(A)
Error Muting Samples Num: 2938 Avg: 1.1 Samples Max: 40 Samples
Skips Samples Num: 7 Avg: 6.9 Samples Max: 12 Samples
Total Test Result 69.1 points (of 100.0 maximum)


Pioneer DVR-A06 performed quite well in the specific test, although the ABEX TCD-721R disc is always very hard for the testing drives to be read accurately. The average error level is -72.6dB(A), and according to EAC author, such level is acceptable and does not lead to audible problems in the output signal.

However, the amount of errors muted is not very low and this weighted negatively to the total score. Overall, the score is 69.1 points out of 100, which is a good score compared to other DVD and CD recorders / readers.

- ABEX TCD-726
Errors total Num: 221253
Errors (Loudness) dB(A) Num: 10116 Avg: -72.8 dB(A) Max: -15.2 dB(A)
Error Muting Samples Num: 1223 Avg: 13.2 Samples Max: 1095 Samples
Skips Samples Num: 11 Avg: 38.2 Samples Max: 168 Samples
Total Test Result 64.7 points (of 100.0 maximum)


The ABEX TCD-726 test disc contains defects and artificial fingerprints. The drive behaved adequately concerning the reported level of errors, although again some samples were muted. The score is better than in the previous test, reaching 64.7 points out of 100 possible.

- Conclusion
Test Disc Reading Speed Score
ABEX TCD-721R Max 69.1
ABEX TCD-726 64.7
Average Score 66.9


Pioneer DVR-A06 gets a good score of 66.9 out of 100 at the error correction tests. The drive gave almost the same amount of errors with both scratched and defected discs, and the overall behavior with problematic media is obviously positive.

- CDSpeed Quality Test


Nero CDSpeed quality test applied on the ABEX TCD-721R also showed that the drive is able to read accurately defected discs. Although the reported C2 accuracy is low, the quality score is high.


Single Layer DVD-ROM (Click for CDSpeed results)


Pioneer DVR-A06 supports 12x CAV (5-12x) reading speed for single layer DVD-ROM media. The drive finished the test with an average reading speed of 9.52x. The performance is very good and the drive is faster than the Optorite DD0203. Sony DRX-500UL supports 7x CAV DVD-ROM reading, so it gave the lower performance in the same test.



The seek times of the Pioneer A06 is 132 msec (random seek). The drive is slower in the 1/3 full seek modes. Although the drive performed as it was expected according to its specifications, the Optorite DD0203 offered lower seek times.

- Dual Layer PTP DVD-ROM (Click for CDSpeed results)
Pioneer DVR-A06 supports 8x CAV reading for the dual layer DVD-ROM. The specific DVD-ROM disc is PTP and the drive read it at 6.16x average.



As you can see from the above graph, Pioneer DVR-A06 is faster than Optorite DD0203, which supports only 4x reading and Sony DRX-500UL (2x CLV reading).



The seek times of dual layer DVD-ROM is slightly increased over those reported for the single layer discs. The performance is adequate, although the Optorite drive is faster. Sony DRX-500UL is slower in al the seek modes.

- Dual Layer OTP DVD-ROM
The first layer of an OTP dual layer DVD-ROM is read exactly the same way as the PTP disc we tested previously. The difference here is the reading strategy of the second layer of the disc. The beginning of the second layer is located in the outer part of the disc, so the drive starts reading from the outer tracks toward the inner part of the disc.The performance is not different than in the previous test, since the drive gave a 6.12x average reading speed, very close indeed to the previous case.

The full seek result reported by CDSpeed is not accurate, and users should expect a performance around 330msec in this test.



- DVD Ripping Tests
We measured the DVD Ripping speed using the "Matrix" DVD Video title and DVD Decrypter software.



Pioneer DVR-A06 is not a very fast ripper, following the "tradition" of the previous Pioneer DVD recorders. The average ripping speed is 2789KB/sec. The Optorite drive is faster at 5846KB/sec, and Sony DRX-500UL gave the same results as Pioneer.

- DVD Recordable/Rewritable Tests
The chart below shows the Nero CDSpeed results when using the following media

DVD-R
DVD-RW
DVD+R
DVD+RW