Got myself Pioneer DVR-A05 DVD burner

yamawho · 01-25-2003, 10:23 PM

Well I couldn't stay out of the race forever.
I went to Future Shop today and pickup it up.

It was an open box. The story seems to be that the customer brought it back and claimed there was no manual or cd included in the box and traded it for an other.

The price was 550$ cdn less a 150$ rebate.

After some bartering they let me have it for 499$ cdn less the 150$ rebate. At 349$ I could not pass it up

I upgraded my Nero to version 55100 which supports this drive.

I just ran CD Speed test on it and seek times, read speed are slightly above the published specs.

Now if I could only find some dvd media to test it. I went to afew stores and no stock. I heard there is a place near that has Princo dvd-r, so I'll get some tomorrow.

***Ozzie*** · 01-25-2003, 10:58 PM

Lucky you - that burner is on my short list...

Tried to order it today and they are out of stock.

I hope you like it

Homerclees · 01-25-2003, 11:41 PM

Congratulations on entering the world of DVD burning!!

El Pepe_abx · 01-25-2003, 11:53 PM

wow... seems like they tried to rip you off with that first price... at 550 - 150 rebate? that's exactly what they are selling their brand new, non opened ones for....

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...=1&WLBS=fsweb7

at least you got the $50 off!

yamawho · 01-26-2003, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by El Papa
wow... seems like they tried to rip you off with that first price... at 550 - 150 rebate? that's exactly what they are selling their brand new, non opened ones for....

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...=1&WLBS=fsweb7

at least you got the $50 off!

Well around here they sell for 549$ canadian at other places.

Anyhow, made a svcd on it last night and all seems well at 16x.

Zulee · 01-26-2003, 11:32 AM

What I have heard, those DVD-burners can't burn a real movie-DVD disc... Only the DVD+RW... not the DVD-RW

As for the price, in Sweden the DVR-A05 costs 350$, and the
Sony DRU500A that is DVD+RW costs 388$

lecter · 01-27-2003, 12:35 PM

Neither DVD+RW or DVD-RW can burn double layered discs, so ur stuck with 4.7GB/disc no matter what technology u use....and of course it's not enough for a full movie+special features, which generally occupies about 7GB.

yamawho · 01-27-2003, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by adzu
What I have heard, those DVD-burners can't burn a real movie-DVD disc... Only the DVD+RW... not the DVD-RW

Check this link out http://www.dvdcloner.com/

Jericho_abx · 01-27-2003, 12:58 PM

DVD burners can burn regular dvd movies. You will need 2 disks to equal one double layered dvd. I have used my Sony DRU500A for a few months now. It does not matter what format you use, they all burn movies. Its the compatability that is the issue. DVD-R seems to be the most compatible with stand alone players.

yamawho · 01-28-2003, 10:11 PM

Well ... I got my hands on some dvd-r Princo media and I seem to be in the coaster business

The Verbatim dvd-rw work great but the Princo dvd-r is not.

I burned the same files as I did to the dvd-rw and the system takes forever to read the files. The hdd light on and the cpu usage is zero. Nothing is happening ... nothing.
I see the avi files on the screen but the previews are not loaded up. I tried in another system and same thing. I tried the dvd-rw in another system ... no problem.

wildboar · 01-28-2003, 10:28 PM

Thats why I am holding off. Technology and standards are still all over the place. Right now DVD = high price back-up

yamawho · 01-29-2003, 12:58 AM

Well I think I found the problem.
It seems the Nero (version 55100) I am using has a problem with the dvd wizard. I did some reading and this has been reported.

On my final burn I was able to make a readable disk

I didn't use the wizard and it seems to have worked. It still takes awhile to read it but in the burner anyway the video previews loadup. Still not the case with my asus dvd-rom, loads 2 out of 4 previews. Granted, these are 1 & 2 gig files but the asus is a crappy reader.

I was not able to duplicate by results on dvd-r media since I ran out of coasters, I mean media.

Come to think of it the dvd-rw Verbatim was burned using the wizard and it works great

yamawho · 01-29-2003, 09:25 AM

Another thing I noticed is that the dvd-r's that are coasters look weird on the writting surface. Instead of having the burned lines the surface looks cloudy ... no burn lines. Like the disks are fogged up. They don't look like this before burning, I checked.

yamawho · 01-29-2003, 06:53 PM

I gave up today and returned it

I don't think dvd burners are ready for the market.

Media is hard to find and the standards are not set.

I remember in 1994 - 1995 cd burners were in the same boat.

If your on the fence, wait it's not the time.

Jericho_abx · 01-29-2003, 07:52 PM

I think they are very ready for the market. I have not tried the Pioneer but my Sony DRU 500A works perfect and supports all formats. It also writes at 4x for -r and +r. Just waiting for the 4x media.

Here in the U.S. the media is readily available at alot of retail stores. At Sam's I can get 12 Verbatum DVD+R blanks for $19 US. The RWs are ofcourse more expensive.

I have not had a bad burn yet. I use Sonic DVDit PE, DVDXcopy, Recordnow Max and Nero. I also have a Sony 5 disc DVD player on my home theater system and it plays all of the formats flawlessly.

You need to make sure you have the latest firmware for the drive. That is the first thing I did on mine. Firmware updates fix alot of problems.

01-25-2003, 10:23 PM	#1
yamawho Linux user Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Montreal Posts: 4,074	Got myself Pioneer DVR-A05 DVD burner Well I couldn't stay out of the race forever. I went to Future Shop today and pickup it up. It was an open box. The story seems to be that the customer brought it back and claimed there was no manual or cd included in the box and traded it for an other. The price was 550$ cdn less a 150$ rebate. After some bartering they let me have it for 499$ cdn less the 150$ rebate. At 349$ I could not pass it up I upgraded my Nero to version 55100 which supports this drive. I just ran CD Speed test on it and seek times, read speed are slightly above the published specs. Now if I could only find some dvd media to test it. I went to afew stores and no stock. I heard there is a place near that has Princo dvd-r, so I'll get some tomorrow. __________________
(Offline)

01-25-2003, 10:58 PM	#2
*Ozzie* neutered Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Apple Valley, MN Posts: 10,262	Lucky you - that burner is on my short list... Tried to order it today and they are out of stock. I hope you like it __________________ Have you supported your forum today? Change is the only constant in life
(Offline)

01-25-2003, 11:41 PM	#3
Homerclees Call me Homer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 5,029	Congratulations on entering the world of DVD burning!! __________________ "Statistics can be used to prove anything...40% of people know that!!" -Homer J. Simpson
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01-25-2003, 11:53 PM	#4
El Pepe_abx Unholy Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: tijuana Posts: 358	wow... seems like they tried to rip you off with that first price... at 550 - 150 rebate? that's exactly what they are selling their brand new, non opened ones for.... http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...=1&WLBS=fsweb7 at least you got the $50 off!
(Offline)

01-26-2003, 11:32 AM	#6
Zulee Join Date: Dec 1983 Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 455	What I have heard, those DVD-burners can't burn a real movie-DVD disc... Only the DVD+RW... not the DVD-RW As for the price, in Sweden the DVR-A05 costs 350$, and the Sony DRU500A that is DVD+RW costs 388$ __________________ < ThermalTake Tsunami >< HiperGroup Type R 480W >< P4P800 >< P4 Prescott 3.2@3.8GHz, Idle: 39C, Load 55C >< Zalman CNPS7700Cu >< 2xDiamondMax10 250GB 16MB RAID0 >< Selectra PC3200 2x1024MB 1:1 235MHz, 2.5,3,3,6 >< LeadTek 6800LE (12x1/6) @ 420/900 >< SB Audigy >< NEC-ND3500A >< MX1000 >< Hyundai L90D+ 19" 8ms > 3DMark03 3DMark05
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01-27-2003, 12:35 PM	#7
lecter Killboy Powerhead Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Bangkok Posts: 113	Neither DVD+RW or DVD-RW can burn double layered discs, so ur stuck with 4.7GB/disc no matter what technology u use....and of course it's not enough for a full movie+special features, which generally occupies about 7GB. __________________ All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
(Offline)

01-27-2003, 12:58 PM	#9
Jericho_abx Unplugged Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Vatican City Posts: 550	DVD burners can burn regular dvd movies. You will need 2 disks to equal one double layered dvd. I have used my Sony DRU500A for a few months now. It does not matter what format you use, they all burn movies. Its the compatability that is the issue. DVD-R seems to be the most compatible with stand alone players.
(Offline)

01-28-2003, 10:11 PM	#10
yamawho Linux user Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Montreal Posts: 4,074	Well ... I got my hands on some dvd-r Princo media and I seem to be in the coaster business The Verbatim dvd-rw work great but the Princo dvd-r is not. I burned the same files as I did to the dvd-rw and the system takes forever to read the files. The hdd light on and the cpu usage is zero. Nothing is happening ... nothing. I see the avi files on the screen but the previews are not loaded up. I tried in another system and same thing. I tried the dvd-rw in another system ... no problem. __________________
(Offline)

01-28-2003, 10:28 PM	#11
wildboar ..Pig Man Charade You are Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: New Lenox, Illinois Posts: 2,043	Thats why I am holding off. Technology and standards are still all over the place. Right now DVD = high price back-up __________________ "If A is a success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut." - Albert Einstein
(Offline)

01-29-2003, 12:58 AM	#12
yamawho Linux user Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Montreal Posts: 4,074	Well I think I found the problem. It seems the Nero (version 55100) I am using has a problem with the dvd wizard. I did some reading and this has been reported. On my final burn I was able to make a readable disk I didn't use the wizard and it seems to have worked. It still takes awhile to read it but in the burner anyway the video previews loadup. Still not the case with my asus dvd-rom, loads 2 out of 4 previews. Granted, these are 1 & 2 gig files but the asus is a crappy reader. I was not able to duplicate by results on dvd-r media since I ran out of coasters, I mean media. Come to think of it the dvd-rw Verbatim was burned using the wizard and it works great __________________
(Offline)

01-29-2003, 09:25 AM	#13
yamawho Linux user Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Montreal Posts: 4,074	Another thing I noticed is that the dvd-r's that are coasters look weird on the writting surface. Instead of having the burned lines the surface looks cloudy ... no burn lines. Like the disks are fogged up. They don't look like this before burning, I checked. __________________
(Offline)

01-29-2003, 06:53 PM	#14
yamawho Linux user Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Montreal Posts: 4,074	I gave up today and returned it I don't think dvd burners are ready for the market. Media is hard to find and the standards are not set. I remember in 1994 - 1995 cd burners were in the same boat. If your on the fence, wait it's not the time. __________________
(Offline)

01-29-2003, 07:52 PM	#15
Jericho_abx Unplugged Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Vatican City Posts: 550	I think they are very ready for the market. I have not tried the Pioneer but my Sony DRU 500A works perfect and supports all formats. It also writes at 4x for -r and +r. Just waiting for the 4x media. Here in the U.S. the media is readily available at alot of retail stores. At Sam's I can get 12 Verbatum DVD+R blanks for $19 US. The RWs are ofcourse more expensive. I have not had a bad burn yet. I use Sonic DVDit PE, DVDXcopy, Recordnow Max and Nero. I also have a Sony 5 disc DVD player on my home theater system and it plays all of the formats flawlessly. You need to make sure you have the latest firmware for the drive. That is the first thing I did on mine. Firmware updates fix alot of problems.
(Offline)

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