New ASUS 1608?

[ETP]

What up! Is this a Pioneer 109 with FW?

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDe ... 028&depa=1

[Ian]

Yes, its a Pioneer.

[dodecahedron]

Yes, its a Pioneer.

a review in the works ?

[Ian]

a review in the works ?

Hopefully. THe only firmware available (v1.02) is quite old. I'm trying to get ASUS to send me something newer.

[Halc]

I hope it supports PIE/PIF scanning in CD-DVD Speed. Erike had to pull support for Pioneer drives due to their request.

How are the Asus vs Pioneer firmwares in general when comparing similar models: which has better firmware support? Which comes out first? Or are they basically the same in terms of firmware?

[RJW]

And Pioneer had a good reason if I judge what my Pioneer 106D is reporting.
Why we can't test accuracy the precision of my drive just sucks big times.
10 measurements can mean 10 different results.
So not reliable.
The other models might do much better however the first things I heard about it suggest that the results given back are still very questionable.

[Halc]

So, Pioneer scanning results are not consistent from scan-to-scan (same drive specimen)?

If so, that's a major bummer.

I was really looking forward to A09XL or this Asus variant.

I really need a wider transport/puh/chipset combination to my arsenal and Pioneer would have been a nice addition.

[RJW]

Well my Pioneer 106D and my friends 106D drive didn't seem to have any form of constistancy based on 15 different disc's. Yeah the TY's did give a results which was more consistant but still 3 different results on 10 scans is to bad for me.

The newer drives might do better I don't know.

What I currrently suggest for testing is.
PX 712/PX 716 + Lite ON + Benq 1620( PRO.)
The triple combination seems to be able to perform quite good. It will be able to detect most problematic media.

[Halc]

Sorry for off-topic content.

I already have:

- Plextor
- BenQ
- LiteOn
- AOpen

All of them with different transport/puh/chipset.

I'd really like to add LG, Nec or Pioneer/Asus to that set, only if they supported scanning of useful variables in a consistent manner.

Let's hope the Asus unit does not fail in this regard. I'll keep my eye out for it and possible tests that others do on it.

[alexnoe]