Hi, I need a DVD burner that will burn at x16 and can handle dual layer media. So my trusty pioneer 107 has to go Normally I'd just upgrade to the newest Pioneer (the 109/A09, right?), but there doesn't appear to be any region-free firmware for it. What I need is a drive that will rip Video DVDs fast and burn at decent speeds with good x16 and DL media compatability. So any riplock must be removable. Must be region free or flashable to region free, I don't have any interest in mucking about with things like anydvd etc. What's a good drive at the moment?
I am partial to Plextors, but no matter what burner you get, you should also have a DVD-ROM for doing your ripping. It saves wear and tear on the burner.
My PC has only one slot for drives. So I can't have a ROM and burner. Wear and tear isn't an issue with this stuff: A decent drive will not wear out before it's obselete (about 18 months at the moment) and they're too cheap to worry about really. Not to seem ungrateful, but can someone recommend a specific model please? "Plextors are good" isn't that helpful. "The Plextor XYZ543 is great and has region free firmware and no riplock" is helpful. I can then look at reviews. Thanks everyone.
Okay, Plextors are the best. Anything that you don't understand about that? You can see the best, in my signature. BTW, you may not want to sound ungrateful, but you sure came across that way, so if you didn't really want advice, why the hell did you come here and post? And, if you don't think that wear and tear is an issue, then you shouldn't be allowed near a computer.
Thanks again grandpa. I had a Plextor CDr drive a few years ago and I was extremely happy with it's performance. And your post suggests that their DVDr drives are just as good, which is reasuring. Your claim that they are the best is a bold one. I'm not suggesting that you are wrong, but such a claim ought to have at least some evidence to back it up. What makes you say that they are the best? Are they the best you, personally, have used or is this based on some kind of survey? But this advice is not that helpful on it's own. Read my post, the bit where I say "Must be region free or flashable to region free". Any post which does not contain that information is not fulfilling my request for advice. Is the Plextor PX 716A DVD Burner region free or flashable to such? What (in your opinion) is the rip speed like? It looks like you don't use your's for ripping, so again, it looks like you can't help me there. Anyone who keeps their equipment long enough for it to wear out isn't keeping up to date. Whatever drive I buy now will be obselete in 18 months time. A decent drive will not wear out in 18 months. What's the point in worrying about wear and tear on something which I'll throw away before it's even out of warranty? I have never, ever had an optical drive wear out. Not in over 10 years in the industry. I have had CD-ROM drives wear out at work, but never in a machine that was less than 3 years old. I don't tend to use anything that's obselete, so I don't see that as an issue. Plus it's a moot point as my PC has only one slot for optical drives anyway. Thanks anyway and I shall see if I can dig up any reviews of the PX 716A. The opinion of one satisfied owner counts for an awful lot.
Thanks again grandpa. I had a Plextor CDr drive a few years ago and I was extremely happy with it's performance. And your post suggests that their DVDr drives are just as good, which is reasuring. Your claim that they are the best is a bold one. I'm not suggesting that you are wrong, but such a claim ought to have at least some evidence to back it up. What makes you say that they are the best? Are they the best you, personally, have used or is this based on some kind of survey? But this advice is not that helpful on it's own. Read my post, the bit where I say "Must be region free or flashable to region free". Any post which does not contain that information is not fulfilling my request for advice. Is the Plextor PX 716A DVD Burner region free or flashable to such? What (in your opinion) is the rip speed like? It looks like you don't use your's for ripping, so again, it looks like you can't help me there. Anyone who keeps their equipment long enough for it to wear out isn't keeping up to date. Whatever drive I buy now will be obselete in 18 months time. A decent drive will not wear out in 18 months. What's the point in worrying about wear and tear on something which I'll throw away before it's even out of warranty? I have never, ever had an optical drive wear out. Not in over 10 years in the industry. I have had CD-ROM drives wear out at work, but never in a machine that was less than 3 years old. I don't tend to use anything that's obselete, so I don't see that as an issue. Plus it's a moot point as my PC has only one slot for optical drives anyway. Thanks anyway and I shall see if I can dig up any reviews of the PX 716A. The opinion of one satisfied owner counts for an awful lot.
Plextor prob is the best and costs more. The NEC 3520/3540 drives are just one notch lower and can be bought for $40-$50 range at newegg.com. I have had two NEC DVD drives and a Pioneer in diferent computers. The NEC drives never complain about media and do a grat job.
Hi Check out a review here on the NEC3540A drive http://www.trustedreviews.com/article.aspx?art=1439 I have always used NEC DVD rewriters without much probem and they are a low price, which cant be bad
Superb. That looks spot on, great reviews and has region free firmware available. Plus it's only £28 from my local retailer, which is wear and tear aren't an issue.
Put that NEC in an external enclosure and you can have both... http://www.byteccusa.com/product/enclosure/ME-340F2U2.htm
Kinda defeats the point of having a small computer, not to mention the fact that a decent enclosure costs more than the DVDr, generates even more noise and requires another power socket. Plus I wouldn't want my burner running externally, even over Firewire/USB2. But just because it doesn't suit me doesn't mean it's not a good idea for some. I'm still yet to "wear out" an optical drive.
That's understandable. All I have are laptops, so, the external route was actually CHEAPER for me...LOL
Laptops are a whole other ballgame. This is a super-quiet and small Shuttle Zen machine. It's in my lounge, so any noise is a real issue. I have external hard drives for straming video off to an XBox as well and I tend to leave those switched off whenever I can. The NEC seem quieter than the Pioneer was though, which is also good. Although I've never used a drive that was noisier than that Pioneer!
