Pioneer DVR-109

[Anders]

Hi, I am not sure if this is a hardware or software issue.

I recently purchased a Pioneer DVR-109, it is a great drive DVD-R wise, burning 8x discs at 12x. With CD-Rs it seems rather picky. Burn-at-once and Alcohol 120% report Plextor and Datawrite discs at 4-speed only, and Creation discs at 32, 24, 16, 10, or 4-speeds. Any ideas on what I can do short of buying different media?

[Nox]

did you get the oem or the retail? sorry, completely irrelevant to answering your question, but the retail is a great looking drive!!

Nox

[Anders]

OEM, how does the retail version differ looks wise?

I have just noticed a new firmware (1.50) for this drive so I will give that try and report back. Always get that slight worry that firmware upgrades will fubar my drive.

[Nox]

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pn...918120,00.html

looks only - the black one is great with a silver eject button, well I think its great anyway!

Nox

[Nox]

infact on that web page, click the 'close up front' button, you'll see all 3 coloured fronts.

Nox

[Anders]

The retail version looks pretty sweet. Had I known I would have considered getting that, depending on how much extra it is.

After the firmware upgrade 40-speed is available, not exactly top performance. Also instead of 8-speed it offers 10-speed? You might think "so what", but my car’s CD-player is picky and sometimes won’t play discs burnt at over 8-speed.

[Nox]

I have just got a little confused now too - scan have that picture (the retail, or so I thought) for some of their OEM drives - wonder if you can now get an OEM version with the same front as the retail?

Nox

[Anders]

Blimey, Scan has three 'Ivory' coloured Pioneers. The regular look drive that I have is suffixed 'XLA', the fancy one with 'XLS'. Both are amusingly listed as 'OEM' and 'limited edition'. XLA is more expensive. The third with no picture is a fiver cheaper. At a glance all the specifications look the same.

It would make sense for the fancy drive to be same a different front. Eject, busy and emergency release look to be in the same place. I will be keeping an eye out for this front plate.