What DVD burner should I buy?

by **dolphinius_rex** on Fri Oct 13, 2006 7:06 pm

I'm thinking of buying a DVD burner tomorrow, which one should I get?

Keep in mind, what I buy is going to help me with regard to what questions I can answer, and what media burns I can get tested. I'm NOT looking for a drive to actually use personally. Price is also not an issue really (but NO BluRay drives

)

Please also tell me WHY you think I should get the drive :wink:

My current selection of active drives includes:
LiteON SHW-1635S
LiteON SOHW-832S
Pioneer DVR-111D
Pioneer DVR-110
BenQ DW1620
BenQ DW1640
BenQ DW1650
Plextor PX-716SA (SATA drive)
Sony AW-Q160A (SATA drive)

by **bicomputational** on Fri Oct 13, 2006 8:28 pm

Voted LG. Their burners aren't sexy and can't be used for testing but
media compatabilty and burn quality have always been top notch in my
experience. They just work - and keep on working. Don't get as much respect or discussion as I think they merit.

by **Spazmogen** on Fri Oct 13, 2006 9:56 pm

Samsung SH-S182.

I just ordered on based on Ian's review.

www.directcanada.com has it for $41.80 CDN

The LG H22L is $3.00 more...but only comes in black.

by **Justin42** on Fri Oct 13, 2006 10:15 pm

The H22L I got at Best Buy this week really isn't producing the greatest burns, and some of us on cdfreaks have been trying to figure out what the difference is with the stellar H22N and the not-so-stellar H22L, especially in light of how good the H10N/L are.. I am going to try to exchange the H22 tomorrow to see if it's just a bad unit but it seems like a pattern is forming.

I'd go for an H10L right now (amazing burner, love mine), or a Pioneer 111 (no personal experience but sounds very good)

by **SkaarjMaster** on Fri Oct 13, 2006 11:07 pm

Why can't the LGs be used for testing? I just voted for it because it looked like one that was getting good reviews, but I obviously had the model number wrong.

by **Bhairav** on Sat Oct 14, 2006 12:28 am

I'd be different and vote for the L-O 165H6S. Good drive, HT, OHT will help, and DVDScan is a good tool in conjunction with tests from the Benqs and Plextors, will help you in your scanning work.

by **dolphinius_rex** on Sat Oct 14, 2006 1:10 am

I'm kind of edging towards the LG so I can try to debunk some of the rumours, or the Samsung since it looks like it might really be a half decent drive (emphasis here on the word HALF... they still need to get the bad half fixed

)

I don't need the LiteON for hypertuning or DVDScan since I already have a model that works with both.

And again, pricing is not important :wink:

by **MonsterMan** on Sat Oct 14, 2006 1:37 pm

I'd say the 18x LG...quality looks to be great! Now, know where I can get one in the US? :wink:

As for the Samsung: I had the 182D and 182M. The D was great, except had an odd problem with Verbatium DVD-R's (about half the time, it would randomly freeze during the burn). The 182M seems to be a POS; what kicked butt in the D sucks monkey butt in the M :evil:

Gonna replace it with another 111D if I can't get get the LG soon.

I used to be less than impressed with the 111D. I still like my BenQs ALOT more, but I've changed my mind about the 111D; it's a great drive!

by **TCAS** on Sun Oct 15, 2006 1:00 am

I am still going for another BenQ 1655 so far outperforms many others.

by **dolphinius_rex** on Sun Oct 15, 2006 1:36 am

TCAS wrote:I am still going for another BenQ 1655 so far outperforms many others.

I already have a BenQ DW1650 and a BenQ DW1655. I have not been overly impressed with either really, especially compared to the DVR-111D and BenQ DW1640. So I won't be trying for another BenQ I think :wink:

by **Dartman** on Sun Oct 15, 2006 4:06 am

You don't have a choice in the matter

I like my BenQ's, even my 1655 has been pretty darned good. BUT for DL nothing beats the NEC based chip drives for me so far and the 111 has the coolest toys.

by **dolphinius_rex** on Sun Oct 15, 2006 4:22 am

Dartman wrote:You don't have a choice in the matter I like my BneQ's, even my 1655 has been pretty darned good. BUT for DL nothing beats the NEC based chip drives for me so far and the 111 has the coolest toys.

I'm not bothering with NEC's at all. All I can get is the NEC 3550 here, and it's too old to even bother thinking about. I'll probably pick up the LG based on the poll, but unfortunately I couldn't get out to the store to pick it up today... so it might have to wait until Monday, or next Saturday.

by **Dartman** on Sun Oct 15, 2006 4:35 am

Well I picked the LG on the poll cuase you don't have one and most of the reports on them have been very good. Just stating my choices and poking you with a stick :wink:

I kinda doubt I'll get another NEC either, 111 uses the chipset much better I think.

by **Scour** on Sun Oct 15, 2006 4:38 pm

I voted for the LG. I have seen some pretty scans with H22N/L-burned media, and the other reason is that u have the 111, some Liteons and Plex

BTW, i voted it before I see that the most voted for the LG

by **dolphinius_rex** on Sun Oct 15, 2006 7:29 pm

the poll should be closed now, so I don't mind saying I was kind of leaning towards the LG anyways.... I've seen a lot of people post positive things about it, but I'm quite skeptical based on the way the scans are being done, and how much countrari information has to be ignored in order for the scans to be considered good. So I'm hoping I can debunk (or alternatively proove) some of the rumours about the drive :wink:

by **dodecahedron** on Mon Oct 16, 2006 3:03 am

what rumors are you speaking of ?

also, are you thinking of the H22N or H22L?
over @ cdfreaks there's a few guys no so happy with the H22L, results are'nt as great as the H22N.

by **Wischmop** on Mon Oct 16, 2006 3:15 am

Because the scans? U talk about H22 or H12? H12 show very bad scans in a Benq-drive.

What about the new Asus 1612-series? Should be avaible soon

by **dodecahedron** on Mon Oct 16, 2006 4:44 am

H12x has bad scans on BenQ drives, since it's a Renesas chipset like H10x.

i was talking about the H22L. there's one or two threads @ cdreaks LG forum about the H22L, some people there are getting scans not as nice as H22N. it's not quite clear if it's just a few bum drives or something more serious that that.
just thought to mention it here.

what's the Asus 1612? the 1608 (of various versions) were Pioneer.
the 1608P3S is Pioneer 111. what's the 1612 ???

by **Wischmop** on Mon Oct 16, 2006 5:35 am

The 1612 is not avaible yet here in Germany, so i don´t know all details.

http://www.alternate.de/html/product/de ... hData=true

Some guys think the newer Asus and Pioneer (but never seen a Pioneer with this specs) using not NEC chipsets but Panasonic.

by **Ian** on Mon Oct 16, 2006 8:36 am

Maybe the 1612 is being manufactured by LG? Look at the top of the drive.

by **Scour** on Mon Oct 16, 2006 3:23 pm

Could be, maybe it´s the reason why Pioneer 18x-drives still not announced in the shops

by **Ian** on Mon Oct 16, 2006 3:42 pm

I thought the new Pioneer wasn't supposed to be out until January or something. I could be wrong though.

by **Scour** on Mon Oct 16, 2006 5:28 pm

Dunno. I meant the new Asus 1612 should be avaible on October, but I don´t see anything about a Pioneer 18x, so it could be that the 1612 is not a Pioneer

by **MediumRare** on Tue Oct 17, 2006 12:48 am

@scour: according to your link, the Asus 1612 is a 16x burner (not 18x) so it could still be a Pioneer.

G

by **Bhairav** on Tue Oct 17, 2006 1:20 am

MediumRare wrote:@scour: according to your link, the Asus 1612 is a 16x burner (not 18x) so it could still be a Pioneer.

G

Yep, it's a 16X burner over at the Asus website as well.

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