Sony DRU500A - media

[Arlos Guitar]

Well i've followed this fourm very closly and bought rytek dvd-r and almost half of them coasters. The one's that did work played back on at least 10 different standalones and a fw dvd roms though. Still i'm dissapointed as of yet and i agree with a post earlier in the forum. We shouldn't be having these problems. There shouldn't be a hugh CONFLICTING compatablity list. I don't care about it being a new drive and how should i expect new technology to be flawless. The bottom line is something is wrong with the drive. Maybe its quality control problem or maybe technology issue (i have heard the NEC will have these same issues). I'm believing more and more this may be the case. See like alot of you I want this drive to work. So much so that i knew about these issues before i bought it. Now down to business I just bought a Sony DVP-CX875P 300+1 changer (would have bought the Pioneer but my pocketbook wasn't big enough) and i need to get my burning on. I can't afford to be whipping my usless dvd's across the basement (even though in a way the first few were fun). I need to be filling them little spaces. I will be looking into the Pioneer A04. And to be honest with you all Pioneer is just hands down a better company. Go compare the specs on there elite electronics

[JasonK]

You should have read some of the other threads. You need to install the firmware update, then it should work flawlessly.

[calequendi]

hm.. as to the memorex dvd-rs.. i've still had major problems with them .. even after the firmware update.... but the dvd+r's from memorex seem to work well

[Arlos Guitar]

huh didn't u read my post i have been reading these treads for weeks and weeks. Of course i updated the fireware. And 15 out of 25 rytek dvds are now coasters.

[Arlos Guitar]

and i guess i'm gonna have to repeat myself for all u people who arn't letting this sink in. The drive is trash and for what ever reason i don't care. Go read the treads at doom9 about the pioneer or other drives for that matter. None are having these issues. Its not the software or the media its the drive. Plenty of people are still having issues after the firmware.

[zap4]

It works if you use Name Brand media. It's when you use generic that it may not work. Why not go with the name brand? It may be more expensive, but it will last longer. Plus in the long run you will wind up spending less because you won't be wasting your money on coasters trying to find a generic brand that works.

[airbear]

Meritline has media they say works with the Sony. I ordered a combo pack with some 2x DVD-R's that should arrive tommorrow. $1.59 per DVD, .32 per jewel case and free shipping. I think someone here already tested these DVD-R's and said they worked, if not I'll find out soon.

http://www.meritline.com/dvdmedforson.html

airbear

[VEFF]

I have personally successfully used all the media I have happened to try:

TDK 2X DVD-R

DVDPro 1X DVD-R

Princo 1X DVD-R

Princo 2X DVD-R

Sony 2.4X DVD+RW

Prodisc 2X DVD-R (two batches [one with shiny silver top and one with frosted silver top] worked, the third - inkjet printable top [like a label] - did not, although that was with the old firmware).
My vendor told me that this media is being discounted anway, due to quality concerns on the part of the manufacturer (Prodisc).

KHypermedia 1X DVD-R

Philips 2.4X DVD+R


Therefore I personally can't complain!!


I wonder if some or most people who are having problems,
are using the wrong software to burn, or are not enabling buffer underrun protection in the software?

I used StompRecordNow Max 4.5 to burn to all of the media listed above.

[airbear]

The Meritline 2X DVD-R's arrived and worked ok. Slowly, but ok. This was the first DVD-R data CD I've burned, and it was a LOT slower than the DVD+R's I've done. A Verbatim 2.4X DVD+R takes 22 minutes total to burn 4.5GB. This Meritline ML-DVDR44.7G-2XW-025 took 47 minutes to burn 4GB (3944MB)...twice the time it takes the DVD+R's. This was using Nero 5.5.9.17 and the Sony 1.0d firmware. I hate to think how long a 1X DVD-R would take. Nero did show it was burning at 2X, and when it was done I confirmed it said burned at 2X.

I saw a 4-pack of TDK DVD-R's on sale locally for $8.99, I may buy one of those just to compare if they're 2X.

airbear

[-BK-]

I guess your DVD-R wasn't burned at real 2x ?
I burned some Princo DVD-R 2x with FW 1.0d and Nero 5.5.9.17... Nero said also 'burned at 2x', but burning the same discs using VOB Instant DVD told me the discs started to burn at 2x but halfway they slowed down to 1x !

-BK-

[zap4]

I saw a 4-pack of TDK DVD-R's on sale locally for $8.99, I may buy one of those just to compare if they're 2X.

I saw those too. I am going to get some too. I bought 3 TDK DVD-R from Circuit City the day before for $18.00($6 a piece). Then I saw the 4 pack of 2x TDK DVD-R for $8.99. I am going to return the ones from circuit city and get the 4 pack. I tried a TDK DVD-RW and burned it with MyDVD. It works fine on my Toshiba SD1800 DVD player. It wouldn't work on my PS2, but I haven't gotten anything to work with PS2 yet. I am hoping DVD-R or DVD+R will work. I haven't had a chance to burn one yet. So far, I really like the burner.

[VEFF]

The Meritline 2X DVD-R's arrived and worked ok. Slowly, but ok. This was the first DVD-R data CD I've burned, and it was a LOT slower than the DVD+R's I've done. A Verbatim 2.4X DVD+R takes 22 minutes total to burn 4.5GB. This Meritline ML-DVDR44.7G-2XW-025 took 47 minutes to burn 4GB (3944MB)...twice the time it takes the DVD+R's. This was using Nero 5.5.9.17 and the Sony 1.0d firmware. I hate to think how long a 1X DVD-R would take. Nero did show it was burning at 2X, and when it was done I confirmed it said burned at 2X.

I saw a 4-pack of TDK DVD-R's on sale locally for $8.99, I may buy one of those just to compare if they're 2X.

airbear

2X DVD-R takes about 27 minutes for approximately 4 gigs.
Yours burned a bit better than 1X.
Are you sure you have DMA enabled? Next time check to see if the buffer level in Nero is constantly going up and down, that will tell you if that is your problem...

[airbear]

Thanks for suggesting that. I double checked the settings for the secondary IDE channel, both the Sony and my TDK CDRW are set to use Ultra DMA mode 2 if available, and the current modes showed UDMA2. The buffer in Nero stays above 90%. No problem with Verbatim DVD+R's, 22 minutes to burn a full data CD, so either it's an issue with all DVD-R's, or more likely just with these 2X Meritline's. I'll pick up another brand DVD-R at a local store to test the theory. I burned a 2nd 2X Meritline with the same results, 4400MB took just over 50 minutes.

airbear

[JasonK]

Some people are reporting success simply because the disc formats or can be read in their computer DVD drive. But what about DVD Video for playback in standalone DVD Players. See the template:

Media source:
Media name:
Part Number:
Authoring software: (for the video people only)
Burning software:
Media's rated/certified max speed:
Burning speed used:
Firmware version/update:
Computer DVD playback software results:
Computer DVD-ROM drives results:
Standalone DVD players results for each media/test: (for the video people only)

See DRU500A Media Report
http://www.vcdhelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=124157

[airbear]

VEFF was correct about the 2X DVD-R speed. I burned 4470MB on a TDK 2X DVD-R in 30 minutes. So it's an issue with the Meritline 2x DVD-R's. I posted the details in the other thread using JasonK's template.

airbear

[ALUOp]

Is this new?
Pioneer 4X DVD-R!

$8.50 apiece

http://store.yahoo.com/supermediastore/pioneer-dvsr47bf-4x-media.html

[airbear]

First 4X DVD-R's I've seen for sale. They're also 4X the price of 2X media, so I think I'll wait a bit. Important warning on that site for certain Pioneer owners:

This media CAN NOT Be Use in Pioneer DVR-A03, DVR-104, DVR-A04, or SuperDrive if new firmware is not updated. It will Cost a permenent Damage on Drive and media!! Customer are Reponsible at their own action on downloading the new firmware!!!

Airbear

[airbear]

Memorex DVD-RW's still aren't even seen by the DRU500, even with the 1.0d firmware.

Media source: Office Depot
Media Name: Memorex Rewritable DVD-RW version 1.1
Part Number: 3202 5522
Authoring Software: N/A, won't work with anything
Burning Software: ditto
Rated Speed: Unknown
Burning Speed Used: N/A
Firmware Version: 1.0d
N/A for all other info

airbear

[donpedro]

I burned successfully Princo (based on Manufacturer ID)

DVDPro (Grade A) 4.7GB DVD-R Media Unbranded from Meritline.com

http://www.meritline.com/dvdprobul47d.html that I bought a month ago.

I will post details here later.

[Arlos Guitar]

well i no longer own the sony what a piece of crap drive.. bought the pioneer and have had NO problems. And i must add for all u who are buying and burning +r or +rw PLEASE STOP buy only -r and -rw. First of all that standard is gonna win its so much better and less copy protected. Not to mention plays in more standalones then +r and costs less. If u continue to buy + media you a financing a wrong cause. Go read up on the 2 standards and you will see how much extra garbage they put into the + technology to try enforcing copy protection. In no way am i telling anyone its ok to copy unowned dvd's BUT you have to understand all that extra **** they add in makes for unstable burning and playback....

[donpedro]

well i no longer own the sony what a piece of crap drive..

I have to say... Sony works for me great. No problems so far. Even Princo DVD-R works for me.

And i must add for all u who are buying and burning +r or +rw PLEASE STOP buy only -r and -rw.

I am not sure if -r will win against +r. When I go to the stores like Best Buy or Circuit City, you can see that almost all drives are +r. I believe that most people will not do any research befor buying one and they will go with whatever salsman will tell them. And if they start bundle +r drive with new computers.... ?!?! Let' say that I don't know anythink about this and I'll see 8 +r drives and 1 -r drive in the store... I would assume that that is best type and more common so I'll go with +r. Don't you think ?

Not always best wins. As you can see in comuters. Do you think that Windows was best OS on the market ???

[pbuscher]

So what is the best media for DVD-R (only)? What would you all recommend for the DVD-R?
I'm getting ready to purchase some DVD-Rs for the Sony DRU500A and I want to make sure I get the best ones.

Thanks!

[-jsl-]

well i no longer own the sony what a piece of crap drive.. bought the pioneer and have had NO problems. And i must add for all u who are buying and burning +r or +rw PLEASE STOP buy only -r and -rw.

LOL, are you afraid that DVD+R/RW is gonna win and you will be left with an obsolete format?

First of all that standard is gonna win its so much better and less copy protected.

Wrong. DVD+R/RW does not have more copy protections than DVD-R/RW.

Not to mention plays in more standalones then +r and costs less. If u continue to buy + media you a financing a wrong cause.

Wrong again. No reliable tests have shown that one of the formats would have better compability than the other one.

Go read up on the 2 standards and you will see how much extra garbage they put into the + technology to try enforcing copy protection. In no way am i telling anyone its ok to copy unowned dvd's BUT you have to understand all that extra **** they add in makes for unstable burning and playback....

Please, I think that you need to read some more cause you just write BS that is not true. Again, DVD+R/RW does not have any more copy protections than DVD-R/RW. Actually it might be DVD-RW that has a copy protection that DVD+RW misses: CPRM. According to Verbatim that is the case but according to a Pioneer whitepaper DVD+RW does have CPRM too, but Pioneer might not be the most objective source here...
Does anyone know for sure whether DVD+RW has CPRM or not?

[mikey99]

Does anyone have any recommendations for DVD-RW or DVD+RW media for this drive?

[goldfinger]

well i no longer own the sony what a piece of crap drive.. bought the pioneer and have had NO problems. And i must add for all u who are buying and burning +r or +rw PLEASE STOP buy only -r and -rw. First of all that standard is gonna win its so much better and less copy protected. Not to mention plays in more standalones then +r and costs less. If u continue to buy + media you a financing a wrong cause. Go read up on the 2 standards and you will see how much extra garbage they put into the + technology to try enforcing copy protection. In no way am i telling anyone its ok to copy unowned dvd's BUT you have to understand all that extra **** they add in makes for unstable burning and playback....

pioneer a05 or a04?

[airbear]

Does anyone have any recommendations for DVD-RW or DVD+RW media for this drive?

Check this thread for that info:

http://www.vcdhelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=380483#380483

airbear

[Leigh]

Good media

Sony DVD+RW (supplied with drive)
and datasafe DVD-R from www.blankdiscshop.co.uk


Bad media

Only tried the above two so far

[scaftag]

Pray tell leigh, what have you burnt with the datasfe discs?
Ive got the datawrite classics and yellow/black datasafe discs here, and cant burn anything except a data disc. Image files wont burn full stop, and nero freezes when trying to write to any - media.

[pbuscher]

Meritline has their own page for Media specifically for the Sony DRU-500A at:
http://www.meritline.com/dvdmedforson.html

I emailed them asking if they tested ALL these different media and they said YES.

Does anyone know of any good 4x Media that will work for the Sony DRU-500A??? (and is cheap)

[airbear]

4X media is just out and is still expensive. The only one I've seen so far was 25 for $99, but I haven't looked around much yet.

I received the Meritline brand 2X DVD-R's but the Sony usually only records them at 1X. I have had a few record at 2X, usually when I was archiving large files like MPEG's rather than 1000's of small files. I've only used Nero to burn data DVD's with so that may have something to do with it. I didn't return them because they work great in my Apex AD-5131, and my DVD+RW's don't. Haven't tried any DVD+R's in the Apex, and the DVD-RW's from Memorex weren't even seen by the DRU500a. Haven't been able to find any other brand of DVD-RW locally that didn't cost at least $7 each.

If you look at some of the other messages you'll see that allmediaoutlet.com has 2X DVD-R's much cheaper ($1.15) than Meritline anyway, and another poster has verfied they burn at 2X. I'm getting 25 of those DVD's delivered on Dec. 4th (slow delivery but it's free).

airbear