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Posted by Tor Magne
Posted on 07/06/05 17:18
Number of views 22031
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Introduction, drive and specifications
 


 

 

Review: Pioneer DVR-109
Reviewer:
OC-Freak
Provided by: Pioneer Europe
Firmware: 1.40 & 1.50
Manufactured: December 2004

Finally the time has come to take a look at the new Pioneer DVR-109 16x DVD-Writer. Let us see if Pioneer have been able to hit the nail on the head this time and create an excellent DVD-Writer. Our hopes are high at least.

Some Pioneer history:

Pioneer is a large company that is known worldwide and has since the 1930s been providing quality products, so let us take a look at their product history:

As we can see, they have been providing high tech, quality products for a long time. Pioneer, as we know them now, has the following vision:

Sound.Vision.Soul

Pioneer group's sense of purpose

Everyone's got soul. The never-ending challenge is to find better ways to feel it deeper down inside. At Pioneer, 'Move the Heart and Touch the Soul" means more than words can express. It's our mission to stir as many senses and sensibilities as we can through the wonders of everlasting sound and vision.

Since we are pretty sure that almost everyone knows Pioneer, we do not think a longer company presentation is needed and go directly to drive specifications.

Drive specifications:


These are the specifications of this drive, found at the Pioneer Europe webpage:

The DVR-109 offers support for DVD-R/+R Dual/Double Layer media types at 6X* along with 16X writing to DVD-R/+R, 8X** writing to +RW and 6X to DVD-RW. The drive's combined specifications deliver the highest level of all-round DVD-writing performance currently available.

  • Check / Download the latest Firmware Update
  • Press release: DVR-109 new 16x multiple format DVD writer

    *The drive will offer DVD-R Dual Layer compatibility through a firmware upgrade once the DVD-R Dual Layer specification has been officially approved by the DVD Forum. The write speed for selected DVD-R Dual Layer and +R Double Layer media types can also be increased to 6X through this firmware upgrade.

    **The +RW Alliance is now finalising the +RW 8X format and the product can be enhanced to support this media through a firmware upgrade once the +RW 8X specification has been officially approved by the +RW Alliance.

Key features

DVR-109

 

Writes and reads DVD-R/RW, +R/RW and CD-R/RW formats

 

DVD/CD buffer under-run protection

 

Max. 16x writing speed for DVD-R/+R
Max. 6x writing speed for DVD-R Dual Layer and +R Double Layer Discs
Max. 6x writing speed for DVD-RW
Max. 8x writing speed for +RW

 

DVD data capacity of 4.7 GB per single-sided disc and 8.5 GB Dual/Double layer discs

 

Software not included

Specifications

DVR-109

Write Support

  • DVD-R (Ver 2.0 for General disc only), DVD-R Dual Layer, DVD-RW , +R, +R Double Layer, +RW
  • CD-R (Type 74/Type 80), CD-RW (including HS, US, US+)

Read Support

  • DVD-ROM (Single and Dual layer)
  • DVD-RAM (Non-cartridge, Version 2 - 2.1 only)
  • DVD-R, DVD-R Dual Layer, DVD-RW, +R, +R Double Layer, +RW
  • CD-ROM Mode 1, CD-ROM XA Mode 2 (Form 1, Form 2)
  • CD-Text, Photo-CD (Single or Multiple session), CD-DA, CD-Extra

Write Speed DVD-R

  • 16x CAV (22.16 MB/sec)
  • 12x PCAV (16.62 MB/sec)
  • 8x PCAV (11.08 MB/sec)
  • 6x CLV (8.31 MB/sec)
  • 4x CLV (5.54 MB/sec)
  • 2x CLV (2.77 MB/sec)
  • 1x CLV (1.385 MB/sec)

Write Speed DVD-R Dual Layer

  • 6x CLV (8.31 MB/sec)
  • 4x CLV (5.54 MB/sec)
  • 2x CLV (2.77 MB/sec)

Write Speed DVD-RW

  • 6x CLV (8.31 MB/sec)
  • 4x CLV (5.54 MB/sec)
  • 2x CLV (2.77 MB/sec)
  • 1x CLV (1.385 MB/sec)

Write Speed +R

  • 16x CAV (22.16 MB/sec)
  • 12x PCAV (16.62 MB/sec)
  • 8x PCAV (11.08 MB/sec)
  • 6x CLV (8.31 MB/sec)
  • 4x CLV (5.54 MB/sec)
  • 2.4x CLV (3.32 MB/sec)

Write Speed +R Double Layer

  • 6x CLV (8.31 MB/sec)
  • 4x CLV (5.54 MB/sec)
  • 2.4x CLV (3.32 MB/sec)

Write Speed +RW

  • 8x ZCLV (11.08 MB/sec)
  • 6x CLV (8.31 MB/sec)
  • 4x CLV (5.54 MB/sec)
  • 2.4x CLV (3.32 MB/sec)

Write Speed CD-R

  • 40x CAV (6.00 MB/sec)
  • 32x PCAV (4.80 MB/sec)
  • 16x CLV (2.40 MB/sec)
  • 10x CLV (1.50 MB/sec)
  • 4x CLV (0.60 MB/sec)

Write Speed CD-RW

  • 24x ZCLV (3.60 MB/sec)
  • 20x ZCLV (3.00 MB/sec)
  • 16x CLV (2.40 MB/sec)
  • 10x CLV (1.50 MB/sec)
  • 4x CLV (0.60 MB/sec)

Read Speed DVD-ROM (Single)

Max. 16x CAV (22.16 MB/sec)

Read Speed DVD-ROM (Dual)

Max. 12x CAV (16.62 MB/sec)

Read Speed DVDVideo (with CSS, Single / Dual Layer)

Max. 5x CAV (6.925 MB/sec)

Read Speed DVD-RAM

Max. 2x ZCLV (2.77 MB/sec)

Read Speed DVD-R, DVD-R Dual Layer, DVD-RW

Max. 12x CAV (16.62 MB/sec), Max. 8x CAV (11.08 MB/sec), Max. 8x CAV (11.08 MB/sec)

Read Speed +R, +R Double Layer, +RW

Max. 12x CAV (16.62 MB/sec), Max. 8x CAV (11.08 MB/sec), Max. 8x CAV (11.08 MB/sec)

Read Speed CD-ROM

Max. 40x CAV (6.00 MB/sec)

Read Speed CD-R,CD-RW

Max. 40x CAV (6.00 MB/sec), Max. 32x CAV (4.80 MB/sec)

Read Speed CD-Audio (DAE)

Max. 40x CAV (6.00 MB/sec)

Read Speed Video-CD

Max. 9.3x CAV (1.395 MB/sec)

Access Time DVD

130 msec (Random Average)

Access Time CD

120 msec (Random Average)

Interface

ATAPI (ATA/ATAPI-5 and SFFC INF-8090i Ver.5.11)

Data Buffer

2 MB

Mounting Orientation

Horizontal and Vertical (+/- 5 degrees)

Power Requirement

+5V 1.2A +12V 0.8A (Average during DVD writing process)

Power Consumption

15.6W (Average during DVD writing process)

Regulatory Approval

UL60950-1 First Edition, CSA C22.2 No.60950-1-03, EN60950-1:2001, EN60825-1:1994+A2+A1, CB Report: IEC60950-1:2001, IEC60825-1:1993+A1+A2, FIMKO, SEMKO (Optional)

Dimensions (W x H x D)

148 x 42.3 x 180 mm

Net Weight

1.0 kg

The specifications are very good, but we would like to see higher CD-R/RW writing speeds as well as higher CD-reading speed. It should also write DVD with CAV technology, which is promising for low recording times and high average recording speeds.

What's inside the box?


The drive we received was an OEM drive that came in a grey boring box , but let us look at what we got:

It's only a drive, a small reference guide and a paper telling they have added 6x DVD+/-R DL speeds.

Now it's time to take a look at the drive itself:

 

Nothing new under the sun here, there are only minor differences compared to the front of earlier pioneer drives.

 

Our sample was produced in China and has a production date of December 2004.

 

The only difference on the back is that the air-vent holes have been removed. From the left: undocumented connector; analogue audio connector; pins and jumper to set the drive to cable select, slave or master; IDE connector and finally the power connector.

Now, let us connect the drive and check out the features and program bundle of this drive on the next page…

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