Pioneer DVR-A06U RETAIL for $239

[chubz9]

http://www.accupc.com/itemDetail.jsp?pid=DRPIDVRA06

just found that right now. A good deal, if u ask me, cause at BestBuy I think they still have it for $329. $239 is a very competitive price, even when compared to the Sony DRU-510A at $280.89 lowest, online. But of course, Sony has added features, 4X DVD+RW, 24x cd-write, 16x cd-rewrite, and 8mb buffer. But the bottom line is, both drives are dual-format drives.

Pioneer's price (or, maybe, AccuPC's price?) is very good... whew.... i just hope there would be more reviews of this drive...

[Kennyshin]

http://www.accupc.com/itemDetail.jsp?pid=DRPIDVRA06

just found that right now. A good deal, if u ask me, cause at BestBuy I think they still have it for $329. $239 is a very competitive price, even when compared to the Sony DRU-510A at $280.89 lowest, online. But of course, Sony has added features, 4X DVD+RW, 24x cd-write, 16x cd-rewrite, and 8mb buffer. But the bottom line is, both drives are dual-format drives.

Pioneer's price (or, maybe, AccuPC's price?) is very good... whew.... i just hope there would be more reviews of this drive...

But Sony DRU-500A has better features and more proven.

Even the old NEC ND-1300A has similar features and it's relatively cheap as well.

ND-1100A is also good, for US$140 (hot deals board), and DVD+R(W) media are no more that expensive in the US market.

[burninfool]

You can get an Optorite DD0203 for $194.50(Retail box),dual format,8MB buffer:http://www.pcsupplysource.com/itemdesc.asp?CartId=7-ACCWARE-881790TGUZT332&ic=DVDRW%2DOP%2DDD0203&tpc=

BTW..no tax(non NJ residents)and free shipping.

[chubz9]

Yeah, i have tried the Optorite DD0203, and i didn't like it... read my post here...

http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=11176

It is a good deal, but i ended up returning it.


I've tested Sony DRU-510A, dunno how better 500A is, but i suppose 510A is better cause it is an improved and updated version, and, latest version of Sony DVD burners? I am working on tests comparing TDK 440N, Plextor PX-504A (+R/+RW only), Pioneer DVR-A06 and Sony DRU-510A. will posts results as soon as possible here...

http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=11517

Thanks...

[Noua]

Does anyone know what are the main differences between A06 and 106 models, besides software bundle?

[chubz9]

that's the only difference, probably... the software bundle... I picked up a A06 from a local store here, and it is the retail boxed DVR-A06U... the drive is labeled DVR-106D, which is the OEM model too... same thing, even the documentation on the drive (not the manual, but it looks like a booklet of the specs and stuff) says DVR-106D on top... on the drive itself, it says DVR-106D on top on the label, and there is no "Pioneer" name on the front of the drive (tray). It just has the -RW and +RW and CD high speed logos on the tray... unlike on the picture on the box of the drive, where it shows it has the "Pioneer" name, it doesnt. I hate that...

aside from those, everything is pretty much the same i guess. It came with Ulead Video Studio 7, Ulead Movie Factory 2 SE, Ulead Picture Show 2 SE, Ulead DVD Player, Nero software... Screws, Sound Card Cable, but i think it did not come with any IDE cable.

[Noua]

What about warrebty and firmware updates? It should be the same but it seems that it's not the case with the Sony, right? Am I missing anything?

[Noua]

Let me clarify why I’m questioning all this. I live in Europe, and I want to buy a DVD Burner. My family is coming to Portugal in August and if I asked them, they will bring me a burner. The big issue is that if I bought it in US, I’ll probably buy it for the 239€ (OEM version), if I get the same version here I’ll probably get it for 300-320€… It’s a huge difference…
The united Nations have obliged manufactures to deliver a 2 year warranty and I know that in US it’s just 1 year, right? And if I have troubles with the drive, will I be able to use the warranty? Does anyone know? I already posted this question before but it was a long time ago, so here goes again…

[chubz9]

although i am not sure, but the usual case on drives are, on OEM, they do not provide support, on the retail box, they cover it for a year...

[Noua]

Well, that's a difference from Europe. Here, they’re forced to give a 2-year warranty, and I believe that goes for the OEM version...
What I don't know is if i buy it there how will that affect the warranty...
I don't want to pay 60€ less and not get the warranty. I'd rather go for the more expensive model then...

[dodecahedron]

my guess is that you won't be covered by a warranty.
it's ususally limited to the country in which you purchase the product.

[Noua]

Well it's not quite that.

For instance if I buy a product here in Portugal and I need to use the warranty on Spain, I can do so. What i don't know i if this is the same with different continents...
According to the European Union, manufacturers are now obliged to offer 2 years warranty available in all the countries that belong to the community.

2 years ago, I bought a DVD player in US and brought it to Portugal. After a while the product had a problem and I had to send him to Sony for a checkup. Sony Portugal wasn’t able to fix the problem cause they didn’t had parts for it so I had to return it to US. Fortunately I had a friend that was flying for US that week and she returned it. No extra charge and no problems.

For what I have learned, a dvd burner in US is exactly the same has in Europe or anywhere else in the world. I mean the hardware, what it changes is the region code. An I right? The Pal/NTSC system is the same in all drives, correct?

[dodecahedron]

warranty in the EU probably works fine.
but if you buy a product in the US, the warranty is probably good only for the US and you won't be covered in Europe.
of course you can always send the product back to the US to have it serviced under warranty.

now as for service:
if the product is identical in the US and in Europe, you probably could get service for it in Europe but you would have to pay for it.
unless the local distributor is particularly nasty and will not agree to provide service...

[Noua]

I see... Nevertheless I'll call Pioneer Portugal to see what they say, and I still need to decide witch drive to get. I have 2 weeks to decide between NEC, Sony and A06... smokey!!!!

[Noua]

Just released on the website of the store i use:

Pionee 106 -> bulk version (just with software) 300€... more 60€ than in US... Too much.

The 510 costs 418€... These prices are just too much...

[TheWizard]

Not to upstage chubz' original post, but I found the Pioneer DVR-106D (OEM of DVR-A06) for $243 with free shipping at Meritline. The AccuPC deal includes $8 shipping, thus bringing the total to $247. It's worth the extra 4 bucks if you want the retail package, but if you don't need the software, cables, or fancy box then save the $4 and get the OEM version.

http://store.yahoo.com/meritline/nepi4xdvdvin.html

[chubz9]

np thewizard, the forum's here for everyone to know the latest everybody finds out... cool deal...

[Noua]

Ian,
Sorry about this, but when are you thinking to get a review on the A06/106. Cause I’m goanna ask my family to bring me one from the US and they are coming on the 25th of July.
Do you know a good review and/or if the drive is as good as the A05/105?

There’s, of course, the warranty issue, but for what I’ve read it’s not goanna be a problem.

[dodecahedron]

There’s, of course, the warranty issue, but for what I’ve read it’s not goanna be a problem.

do you mean your local distributers of Pioneer will honor the warranty for the drive purchased in the US?

[Noua]

Well, just called Pioneer and Sony for warranty information.

So, this is the deal, Pioneer doesn’t honor the warranty. If you buy a drive in Europe then you can only use the warranty in Europe, same goes with drives bought in US.
As for Sony they work a little differently. For them to honor the warranty, they need the receipt with all the information of the product. Of course, there’s the 2 year warranty limitation. In US manufactures (some) offer 1 year warranty while in Europe, the European Union forces manufactures to offer a 2 year warranty. Sony will honor the warranty rights expressed where you bought the drive.

Well, for me there’s 2 issues now. Either buy a drive in US and save something like 100€, as this goes only for Sony due to warranty issues, or buy in Europe (Portugal or other country) and do not save valuable € but have all issues related to warranty… Of course, if I decide to buy in Europe, the Pioneer becomes an option once again…

[dodecahedron]

if i understand correctly, if you buy the sony drive in the US the European Sony distributers will honor the warranty for 1 year.

if so, and like you say the difference is about 100 euro, i would go for the sony.

unless you feel that maybe the software that comes with the Pioneer is much better for you, and this + the extra 1 year warranty i worth the extra money...

[Noua]

Well, it's not really a question of software because if it doesn't came with the drive I can get it in other places... It’s more with the warranty issue. They said to me that if I bought the drive in USA and if I needed to use the warranty, they would need the receipt with all the product information and still it needed to be approved by the department director. Of course, they also said that if everything was according to the rules they would honor the warranty.
On the other hand, the Lady that spoke to me referred to an important issue. Some manufacturers, in US, don’t have 1-year warranty. It would depend on the store where the product was bought, and the type of warranty that the store would give. Let’s say that I would buy it on Best Buy and the store has a 1-year warranty over Sony – Computer Components. Then if they had all the information they need, they would honor the 1 year warranty. But lets say that the store doesn’t have any manufacturer warranty but a 30 days in-store warranty…. Then things are a bit different…

It’s a big dilemma… so far I’m really thinking on getting the Sony-510A from US, but I must find out the cheapest place to get it… I don’t know…

[dodecahedron]

just make sure the store where your relatives buy the drive for you gives a "proper" 1 year warranty, and also make sure they keep for you and give you all the paperwork (receipt etc.) and you'll be fine.

also, call them again to be sure exactly what is "all they information" they need, so that you make sure you can have it.
also what they mean by "still it needed to be approved by the department director" what this means exactly - you don't want surprises later on (if it should come to that)...