Pioneer 520H-S can't read DVD+/-R containing single files?

[tralalalalere]

(Note: English is not my mother tongue.. Sorry.)

I'm a happy new owner of a Pioneer DVR-520H-S. I got my recorder
3 weeks ago. Since this time, I have made a lot of tests. So, now I know it can read my already burn CD-R; Video-CD on CD-R; DVD-R or DVD+R if they're in a DVD-Video structure. But I have a problem: This recorder cannot read a DVD-R (or DVD+R) containing only files like MP3 or MPEG-1 (outside a VCD structure)? My old cheap, cheap (you won't believe it) Norcent DVD Player accept to play directly singles files from a DVD+R.

But my Pioneer response to this is: cannot read this disk. It's strange because with a CD-R full of MP3, it works. Because of this, it sounds to me it's not a file system incomprehension. Do I need some kinds of firmware? By the way, what's the deal with this firmware we have to buy for the Pioneer DVR-520H-S? There is no easy way, as an example, to made this fantastic machine multi-region? Thanks.

[markhamPete]

It's a dvd recorder. Therefore I don't think you should expect it to be a multi-purpose player. I don't use my Pioneer 520-H for playback at all. I wouldn't want to wear it out playing CDRs and VCDs.
It's not surprising that your cheap Norcent plays most media. I own cheap Apex and Malata players that play all regions, all formats (NTSC and PAL), and are even able to bypass CGMS and Macrovision.
If you have a Norcent player that plays everything, why try to force your Pioneer to do the same? Just use the Norcent.

[Synergy]

But I have a problem: This recorder cannot read a DVD-R (or DVD+R) containing only files like MP3 or MPEG-1 (outside a VCD structure)? My old cheap, cheap (you won't believe it) Norcent DVD Player accept to play directly singles files from a DVD+R.

What types of media which can recognized by the player/recorder is determined by the decoder chipsets. Most DVD players these days use the MediaTek decoder chipsets which can generally read DVD-MP3, DVD-JPG, and even DVD-MPEG files, even though they are not part of DVD standards. The irony is that since Pioneer started using the MediaTek chipsets in their latest generations of DVD players, you can get these functions from their latest players as well.

All the major manufacturers of DVD recorders, such as Sony, Panasonic, and Pioneer, use their own instead of off-the-shelf chipsets, and therefore you shouldn't expect tha same type of media compatibility as that of the MediaTek chipsets.